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Church of the Nazarene - East Rockingham Campus
Hurdles Part 3
Control freak...
Locations & Times
Church of The Nazarene- East Rock
East Side Hwy, Elkton, VA 22827, USA
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
You could say, Paul has waved the white flag of surrender.
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…
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.
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.