How can we live “strong in grace.”? 

The answer is quite plain and simple:  

We grow strong in grace when we understand God’s unconditional forgiveness of us, then learn to unconditionally forgive others. 

God calls us to grow strong in giving grace to others — growing in Christlikeness 

Giving grace to another person is simply to forgive them, unconditionally, just as God forgave us through Christ 

SO, WHAT IS FORGIVENESS? 

Forgiveness = Deliberate release of anger, resentment, and other negative feelings toward someone who has wronged you 

GRUDGE (Merriam-Webster) 

• A persistent, long-lasting feeling of deep-seated resentment, bitterness, or ill will toward someone, often stemming from a past insult, injury, or perceived wrongdoing. It involves holding onto anger rather than letting it go, sometimes leading to a desire for retaliation or a continued refusal to forgive.  

• Not all negative emotions are the same.  

• Healthy anger motivates action, sets boundaries, and seeks solutions.  

• Grudges, however, act as long-lasting emotional weights with negative outcomes. 

It  negatively impacts your relationship with God. 

It negatively impacts your other relationships. 

It affects your health. — mentally and physically 

It affects your soul 

Hebrews 12:14-15 (tells us what happens when we fall short of grace): 

• Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 

Ephesians 4:30-32 

• 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. 

DO YOU UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN? 

Oswald Chambers. 

We trample the blood of the Son of God if we think we are forgiven because we are sorry for our sins. The only explanation for the forgiveness of God and for the unfathomable depth of His forgetting is the death of Jesus Christ. Our repentance is merely the outcome of our personal realization of the atonement which He has worked out for us. It does not matter who or what we are; there is absolute reinstatement into God by the death of Jesus Christ and by no other way, not because Jesus Christ pleads, but because He died. It is not earned, but accepted. All the pleading which deliberately refuses to recognize the Cross is of no avail; it is battering at a door other than the one that Jesus has opened. Our Lord does not pretend we are all right when we are all wrong. The atonement is a propitiation whereby God, through the death of Jesus, makes an unholy man holy. 

“The purpose of the cross,” someone observed, “is to repair the irreparable.” 

• “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother who he has seen, how can he love God who he has not seen?” (1 John 4:20-21 NKJV). 

• If our relationship with God is so intricately connected with how we relate to others, it won’t be surprising then for us to read what Jesus said 

• Matthew 6:14-15 (directly after teaching them how to pray ‘Lord’s Prayer’) 

• 14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.  

• Matthew 6:12 

•  And forgive us our debts, 
      as we also have forgiven our debtors. 

• Imagine that, before we get this warning from Jesus (14-15), Jesus told us to ask God for grace (forgiveness) but only at the same level and frequency as the forgiveness we extend to others.  

• Whether we admit it or not, we often think we have the right to “punish” others because they have hurt us or offended us. We believe we are justified in withholding forgiveness from them. 

Unforgiveness is inherently contradictory to godliness 

“Often it is the case that we judge others by their worst actions, and we judge ourselves by our best intentions.” 

Just as we don’t deserve God’s forgiveness, someone you know may not deserve yours.  

• It doesn’t matter 

• We are still commanded to forgive them because we have been forgiven so much first. 

“The devil doesn’t care if you go to church or read your Bible as long as you don’t apply it to your life.” 

THE LITMUS TEST FOR GRACE  

Have you extended the grace of God, the grace of forgiveness, towards the person(s) who has hurt you the most and least deserves it? 

Forgiveness is an action you must choose, rather than a feeling you must create 

THE CHOICE IS CLEAR AND IT’S YOURS TODAY 

Repent of unforgiveness & Release it so you no longer carry that anger/resentment/grudge no matter how justified you feel in doing so. 

The Hurdle of Unforgiveness

Recap – Pastor Jared has been sharing over the past few weeks about the hurdles to our faith sharing and asking to evaluate us where we are in these potential hurdles and how they are impeding us?

Are we attempting to live a saved life without actually giving our life to Jesus, have we fully surrendered and received the gift of sanctification that frees us from a desire to live in the depths of sin, and then he reminded us the destruction that even a little bit of sin will bring to our lives (or our water!).

This morning, we will look at another hurdle that often impedes our faith. This hurdle is one that will keep us bound, keep us stuck, cause physical illness, and even paralyze us in hopes to hurt another – the hurdle of unforgiveness.

I don’t want you to stop listening before we even dive in this morning so I want to speak to those of you in the room that may have suffered deep betrayal, hurt, or abuse – whatever your story – forgiveness is essential BUT is not forgetting, it is not validating a persons poor choices.  Forgiveness is not an invitation to more hurt, it is an invitation in Christ for healing. It does not even require reconciliation it is an invitation to our release and restoration.

And though it does not require reconciliation with those relationships that need boundaries or are no longer continued at all–  I will also remind you that all relationships this side of heaven at some point will require forgiveness – even the best ones.

PRAY

When I heard we were going to tackle hurdles to our faith – I chuckled as I remembered in middle school being asked by a friend if I would run track with her and be on her hurdle relay team – I think that is what its called.  We ran with our batons and passed it as we also ran and jumped over the hurdles. We even went home with a metal from a huge track and field event that we had the opportunity to participate in.  Wow! Cant you just see me jumping over hurdles with ease?  Me neither, not now. It is only a fond memory, and  I can only think of the physical pain that would result if I attempted anything remotely like that now.  For me it feels more like a wall than difficulty or an obstacle.

Do we feel the same way about forgiving those in our lives that have wronged us.  It is more than a hurdle – it’s a wall, it feels impossible.  You may be thinking to yourself, You don’t know what I’ve been through, what they did, what they said – if I forgive I will give freedom to hurt me again, it will validate their behavior, or they don’t deserve it. 

Forgiveness is a gift … a gift I just can’t give them.

And for those moments you carry – I am truly sorry.  This is a tough message but one with deep hope on the other side.

FORGIVENESS is a GIFT that we have all been given the opportunity to receive, and one we CERTAINLY don’t deserve.

Isaiah 53:5 

“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed”.

We have all been given opportunity for forgiveness of our sins through his name –  through his wounds. All of us simply by believing, by receiving.

 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace. Ephesians 1:7

This is the foundation of our faith – the gift we are given through Christ. He bought our redemption by his blood, his sacrifice allows for the forgiveness of our sin according to the riches of His incredible, indescribable grace.  We have (present tense) redemption as we say yes to him and invite him in.

If you have not received him as your Savior – that is the most important message of forgiveness that you should hear this morning. He died to provide forgiveness for our sins, to provide redemption when we do not deserve it, when we will never deserve it. That’s what makes it the greatest gift.

Receiving this gift available to us is foundational to our Christian faith.

As we walk out our journey, recipients of this grace, we will be faced with our own decisions to forgive.

You may feel the nudge of the holy spirit in you saying okay it’s your turn!  You know the elbow nudge that parents give their kids when they want them to listen to what the Pastor is saying or want to spur them on to take a step of courage toward what is good?

Let’s take a look at scripture.

Join me in Matthew 18:21-35

 – key verses will be on the screen

Matthew 18:21-35

New International Version

The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant

²¹ Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

²² Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.^[a]

²³ “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. ²⁴ As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold^[b] was brought to him. ²⁵ Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

²⁶ “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ ²⁷ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

²⁸ “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins.^[c] He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.

²⁹ “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’

³⁰ “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. ³¹ When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.

³² “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. ³³ Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ ³⁴ In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

³⁵ “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

Now, lets flip back a few chapters to Matthew 6 where we find Jesus giving his sermon on the mount –  specifically in verse 9 – 13 where he gives us the Lords prayer –  every line giving us a direction as to a child

Its says

⁹ “This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
¹⁰ your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹ Give us today our daily bread.
¹² And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³ And lead us not into temptation,^[a]
    but deliver us from the evil one.^[b]’

And goes on to say:

¹⁴ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

This my friends is a command for those of us in Christ.  It is a command and any command he gives – He will equip us and we can trust it is for our good.

He does not direct us this way to harm us but to heal us.

This command ultimately is for our freedom. 

What if we say no ?

What does it look like to remain in unforgiveness?

Take a look at this picture on the screen.  This is a picture of Kudzu – this is  an ornamental plant intended for shading porches,     and later promoted in the 1930s-1950s as a crucial solution for soil erosion control. 

While now considered a major invasive pest in the U.S., it was initially treated as a beneficial agricultural tool.  It is now known as “the vine that ate the south”. 

I remember as a little girl seeing this along sections of route 11 in the little town I grew up in – always fascinated at how it covered everything.

It starts out as this small plant with one intended purpose to shade and protect. and  then it becomes a invasive vine that overtakes forests, structures, and all the beauty around it. It overtakes the trees by smothering them, blocking sunlight, and creating excessive weight that breaks branches or uproots them.

Unforgiveness is the root of bitterness and just like we see here, it takes over, it festers and it suffocates us both physically, emotionally, and spiritually – we become just like these trees… trapped.

HURDLES

Physically – this root  – it will make us ill. Bitterness settles in as anger and resentment.  It causes us to live in constant in a mode of fight or flight. Leading to constant changes in our heart rate, blood pressure, and immune response.  These changes increase the effects of depression, heart disease and diabetes.  Now not everyone suffering from these illnesses are the result of unforgiveness – but for many it is the very reason.

Emotional bondage becomes another trap.  We believe we are holding something over another for hurting us – causing them some sort of discomfort, vengeance or harm – when truly we are not at all – the only person we are hurting is ourself. It can cause us to be harsh, sarcastic, condemning – leading to nasty distorted thinking toward others…even toward those it is not intended for.

Have you ever heard the quote? “Holding onto anger/unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die”

And this bitter root of unforgiveness also effects our spiritual life in a crippling way– hindering our relationship with God – causing us to miss his grace.

Holding on to unforgiveness depletes our ability to have peace and joy.

We live in a cycle of judgement and condemnation – missing yet again out on the mercy our Savior desire to show us.

            James 2:12-13 says

                        Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, ¹³ because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

And ultimately, it will hinder our connection and conversation with Jesus.   These effects my friends are soul injuries.

               So lets revisit our Matthew text…

First we saw Peter asking – how many times do I have to forgive my brother or sister if they sin against me?

He asks 7x?

No – replies the Lord 70 x7.

Jesus is correcting Peter here – saying, “STOP! Forgiveness should not be limited by a number. Essentially, he is saying “as many times as it takes”. Limitless forgiveness.

He then gave a view of what the kingdom of heaven is like – a king who forgave a servants unfathomable-crippling debt (200,000 years’ worth of wages)  and then when the servant had a the opportunity to forgive a debt that was 600,000 times less than the debt he was just forgiven- he refused.

³² “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. ³³ Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ ³⁴ In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

³⁵ “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

 We are reminded that our Lord us expects us to forgive as he forgives – even when forgiving seems unfathomable.

As we saw in the Sermon on the Mount he repeats this command to us, when he teaches us to pray…

               Lets pray the Lords prayer together using phrases debts and debtors.

Right in the middle of the prayer where we are being taught to pray – the importance of forgiveness is reiterated. Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.

Our release, our forgiveness matters.

¹⁴ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15

What would it look like today if the only forgiveness and grace you received was the same grace and forgiveness you gave others?

You know the old adage, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” … the one we sang on the playground but along the way we discovered it was a lie. We don’t have to pretend it doesn’t hurt – we just don’t want to hold onto the offense so it continues to hurt us more.

Forgiven people, forgive people. -Dave Wilson

What has a greater impact in our lives, the abundant grace of forgiveness God has given us or the root of unforgiveness living in us.

Forgiveness is not a condition of our salvation, but a expectation as a result of the gift we have been given in Him.      (REPEAT)

If the unwillingness to forgive grips us – it begs us to ask if we fully grasp what he has done for us in Christ.

This command is ultimately to our benefit because our Lord wants us to live in freedom, peace, and on a path to healing.  He again will be our help through the power of his holy spirit. WE can simply begin by asking him to search our hearts.

Lets watch this together. – PRODIGAL SON VIDEO

Our Lord does not ask us to forgive to hurt us – he asks us to forgive for our healing and his glory. He says hang out your white sheet, pull up the roots of bitterness – I have more for you. As we sing, lean into him – pressing in trusting him to meet you here.

The alters are open as we sing – there will be people in the back to pray with you.

WEEK 3 OF SERIES ON HURLDES

  A TEMPORARY OBSTACLE OR DIFFICULTY, A BARRIER A WALL OF FENCE.  NOT A DEAD END

WEEK 1 HURDLE- READ FIRE AIM                                          

   IS IT POSSIBLE SOMEONE IS TRYING TO

• LOOK LIKE A GRAPE- ACT LIKE A GRAPE- SMELL LKE A GRAPE TASTE LIKE A GRAPE – AND THEY ARE NOT SAVED

WEEK 2-

• WHAT ARE POSSIBLE HURDLES FOR US AS CHRISTIAN PEOPLE RELATED TO CULTURE?

WEEK 3.  …

STEALTH BOMBER                                             

• February 23 2008, Spirit of Kansas, a B-2 STEALTH BOMBER Spirit  crashed.
• aircraft  destroyed, crew members EJECT
• The accident marked the first operational loss of a B‑2 bomber
• TINY SENSOR FROM UNDER WINDSHILED
• 1/100^TH OF 1 % OF COST OF PLANE HUMIDITY SENSOR
• estimated loss of US$1.4 billion- NOW 2 BILLION.       

TODAY WE CONTINUE OUR SERIES ON HURDLES

• WHAT KEEPS US FROM EXPERIENCING FULLNESS OF LIFE WITH GOD?
• EVEN A TINY THING- A SMALL SIN IN OUR LIVES IS TOO MUCH
• IS YOUR LIFE FREE FROM THE CONTAMINATION OF SIN – HOW DID WE GET HERE?                              

SCRIPTURE GENESIS 2:15

    15. “THE LORD GOD TOOK THE MAN AND PUT HIM IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN TO WORK IT AND TAKE CARE OF IT”

SCRIPTURE GENESIS 2:16

  16. AND THE LORD GOD COMMANDED THE MAN, “YOU ARE FREE TO EAT FROM ANY TREE IN THE GARDEN;

SCRIPTURE GENESIS 2:17

  17. BUT YOU MUST NOT EAT FROM THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL, FOR WHEN YOU EAT FROM IT YOU WILL CERTAINLY DIE.”

• PERFECT UNION- HARMONY WITH ONE ANOTHER
• NEED YOU TO KNOW ALL THIS IS YOURS
• JUST ONE SMALL THING- ALL OF IT- BUT …

AN OUTSIDE VOICE- THE DEVIL ARRIVES

 SCRIPTURE GENESIS 3:3                                   

   3. BUT DID GOD SAY, “YOU MUST NOT EAT FRUIT FROM THE TREE THAT IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GARDEN, AND YOU MUST NOT TOUCH IT, OR YOU WILL DIE.”

SCRIPTURE GENESIS 3:4

   4. “YOU WILL NOT CERTAINLY DIE,” THE SERPENT SAID TO THE WOMAN.

SCRIPTURE GENESIS 3:5

   5. FOR GOD KOWS THAT WHEN YOU EAT FROM IT YOUR EYES WILL BE OPENED, AND YOU WILL BE LIKE GOD, KNOWING GOOD AND EVIL.

SCRIPTURE GENESIS 3:6

   6. WHEN THE WOMAN SAW THAT THE FRUIT OF THE TREE WAS GOOD FOR FOOD AND PLEASING TO THE EYE, AND ALSO DESIRABLE FOR GAINING WISDOM

SCRIPTURE GENESIS 3:6

   6. SHE TOOK SOME AND ATE IT. SHE ALSO GAVE SOME TO HER HUSBAND, WHO WAS WITH HER, AND HE ATE IT.

• RELATIONSHIP FRACTURED- ONE BITE?
• THE INTENDED DESIGN NOW BROKEN

SCRIPTURE GENESIS 3:8

   8. “AND THEY HEARD THE VOICE OF THE LORD GOD WALKING IN THE GARDEN IN THE COOL OF THE DAY.”

SCRIPTURE GENESIS 3:8

   8. AND ADAM AND HIS WIFE HID THEMSELVES FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD GOD AMONGST THE TREES OF THE GARDEN

• RELATIONSHIP BROKEN-YET GOD PURSUES THEM

• SIN IS … WE DON’T EVEN USE THE WORD
• SIN COULD BE SOMEONE ELSE SALVATION
• DO SOMETHING YOU KNOW IS WRONG DO IT ANYWAY.
• DANGEROUS/RISKY/UNFORGIVING

SIN: WILLFUL VIOLATION TO THE KNOWN LAW OF GOD

SLIDE 16: TEN COMMANDMENTS

• SERVE THE LORD ONLY DON’T TAKE LORDS NAME IN VAIN
• REMEMBER THE SABBATH (NOT AS SERIOUS)
• HONOR YOUR MOM AND DAD DON’T KILL- BIGGER ONE
• DON’T COMMIT ADULTERY
• DON’T STEAL DON’T BEAR FALSE WITNESS
• DON’T COVET NEIGHBORS WIFE OR GOODS

SCRIPTURE 1 JOHN 1:5

   5. THIS IS THE MESSAGE WE HAVE HEARD FROM HIM AND DECLARE TO YOU. GOD IS LIGHT; IN HIM THERE IS NO DARKNESS AT ALL.

SCRIPTURE 1 JOHN 1:6

    6. IF WE CLAIM TO HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM AND YET WALK IN DARKNESS, WE LIE AND DO NOT LIVE OUT THE TRUTH.

SCRIPTURE 1 JOHN 1:7

   7. BUT IF WE WALK IN THE LIGHT AS HE IS IN THE LIGHT, WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER, AND THE BLOOD OF JESUS, HIS SON, PURIFIES US FROM ALL SIN.  (YOU CANNOT MANAGE SIN)

   THERE IS A FOUNTAIN FILLED WITH BLOOD.               

    DRAWN FROM EMMANUELS VEINS`

    AND SINNERS PLUNGE BENEATH THAT FLOOD

    LOSE ALL THEIR GUILTY STAIN

SCRIPTURE MARK 7:20

  20. HE WENT ON: “WHAT COMES OUT OF A PERSON IS WHAT DEFILES THEM.

SCRIPTURE MARK 7:21

  21. FOR IT IS FROM WITHIN, OUT OF A PERSONS HEART, THAT EVIL THOUGHTS COME-SEXUAL IMMORALITY, THEFT, MURDER,

 SCRIPTURE MARK 7:22

  22. ADULTERY, GREED, MALICE, DECEIT, LEWDNESS, ENVY, SLANDER, ARROGANCE, AND FOLLY.

SCRIPTURE MARK 7:23

  23. ALL THESE COME FROM INSIDE A PERSON AND DEFILE A PERSON.”

PICTURE OF DOG KOBE GRIFFIN

• THIS DOG LOOKS CUTE/FUN/FRIENDLY
• He embodies both a sinful nature and sinful behavior.

• All of the forgiveness and correction we have given him, not affected the sinful dog nature inside of him.

SLIDE 25: SCRIPTURE GALATIONS 5:19                        

  19. THE ACTS OF THE FLESH ARE OBVIOUS: SEXUAL IMMORALITY, IMPURITY, AND DEBAUCHURY;

 SCRIPTURE GALATIONS 5:20

  20. IDOLATRY AND WITHCRAFT; HATRED, DISCORD, JEALOUSY, FITS OF RAGE, SELFISH AMBITION, DISSENSIONS, FACTIONS

SCRIPTURE GALATIONS 5:21

  21. AND ENVY; DRUNKENESS, ORGIES, AND THE LIKE. I WARN YOU, AS I DID BEFORE, THAT THOSE WHO LIVE LIKE THIS WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD.”

• NOW BREATHE- WE DIDN’T SEE CATALOG-
• JUST READ LIST OF THINGS CONTRARY TO GOD

SCRIPTURE GALATIONS 5:22

  22. “BUT THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE, JOY, PEACE, FORBEARANCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS AND SELF CONTROL.

 SCRIPTURE  JOHN 16:13

  13. BUT WHEN HE, THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, COMES, HE WILL GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH. HE WILL NOT SPEAK ON HIS OWN; HE WILL SPEAK ONLY WHAT HE HEARS, AND HE WILL TELL YOU WHAT IS YET TO COME.”

 PICTURE OF BASEBALL GAME  W B CLASSIC  

• STORY OF A MAN- CATCHER
• ELEM SCHOOL-HS/ COLLEGE/ ADULT LEAGUE
• CAUGHT OVER 1000 BASEBALL GAMES
• COACH-FAN-PARENT-SPORTSWRITER/OPPONENT
• OUR PITCHER STRUGGLING-INJURED
• HE STAYED OUT ALL NIGHT/ DOESN’T LIKE YOU
• PLEASE CHANGE SIZE OF THE PLATE-

Can I ask you this morning-Is your life free from the contamination of sin? THE SMALLEST THING?

• DO WE THINK EVERYONE ENDS UP IN HEAVEN ?

• TABLETS TO CLEAN AND PURIFY

https://www.bible.com/events/49578577

Church of the Nazarene – East Rockingham Campus 

Hurdles Part 3 

Control freak… 

We are continuing in our 4-part teaching series called “Hurdles”. 

Throughout this series we are going to face some of the key obstacles or hurdles that keep us from a full and abundant life in Christ. 

Today we are talking about the hurdle of control. 

The fact is, we love this level of control and in many ways have come to expect it in most areas of our lives… 

Sometimes we expect control in our relationship with Jesus. And control will always be a hurdle for us in growing closer to Jesus. 

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭24‬‬ 

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 

Jesus says that whoever really wants to experience life with him, you have to be all in. 

You have to deny yourself- say no to your desires, your old ways of doing things, what feels good. Give up your right to do your own thing, yoru own way. 

Take up your cross- Jesus is using the cross bearing idea that we would literally die to our old way of life and thinking- that it has no power over us anymore. 

We deny ourselves, put a decisive end to life our way, and we follow after Jesus. We learn to do all of life, his way. 

This is the picture Jesus paints for everyone who wants to know him in relationship. 

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭6‬‬ 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. 

This is one of the often quoted verses of the bible and it’s all about letting go of control. That we would trust the Lord completely, we wouldn’t depend on our perspective or our understanding- we would give that up and trust him. 

In all your ways submit to him, that is a letting go of control. Surrender. 

As long as we clinch on to what we will and wont do, what we will and wont surrender. Our hands and our heart are closed off from receiving more of God’s grace, more of his presence in our lives. We are closing ourselves off from the Lord. 

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭2‬:‭20‬‬ 

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 

Paul is saying that he has put to death his old self, his desires, his self-determination, his rights, he has given all that over to the Lord- it’s as if he died. Complete and total surrender to Jesus himself. 

You could say, Paul has waved the white flag of surrender. 

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬‬ 

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. 

The normal Christian response to all of God’s mercy is that we would give ourselves 100% over to the Lord and whatever he wants and wills for our lives. 

This is not just for pastors, or board members, or those who feel some sort of calling on their life- This is for everyone who wants to be a Christian, a follower of Jesus. 

Because this is exactly what Jesus taught us… 

On the other side of the hurdle of control is grace, peace, life, and freedom that far surpasses anything you are being asked to surrender. 

When we waive the white flag of surrender over our lives, we open ourselves up to receive more of him, more of his grace and presence in our lives. And that’s our invitation this morning. 

To waive the white flag of surrender over our lives. 

Panel Discussion on the hurdles of our culture

““Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.””‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22‬:‭36‬-‭40‬ ‭NIV‬‬