I. Strength is found in surrender v. 16
A. “servant” – one who is swallowed up by another
- Luke 7:1-10
- Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness,
B. How do we surrender?
1. We surrender first in salvation
- There is only one way to God and heaven
- That fact is offensive to many because people want their own way
- But we must surrender to God’s way
- Rom_9:33 as it is written, "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."
- Joh_14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
2. We surrender second in our daily walk
- Illustration # 2
II. “so that” Christ may dwell in our hearts v.17
- “So that”
- Romans 8:9 you, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
- If you are not surrendered you do not belong to God
- Mat_10:38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
- Mat_26:39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will."
- To be a servant we must be swallowed up by Christ
- Illust # 3
III. And that we may know the love of Christ v.19
- To know the love of God
- To know the fullness of God
- Which surpasses all understanding (who’s understanding)
- To be filled with the fullness of God
- These words seem rather grandiose and above what we can know, have or obtain
- Illlust. # 3
Conclusion:
Mark 8:35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.
Mark 8:36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?
“A wise man once said “The slave to the compass has the freedom of the seas. The rest must sail close to the shore.”
