FOLLOWING JESUS REQUIRES SURRENDER Luke 5:1-11; Galatians 2:20

FOLLOWING JESUS REQUIRES SURRENDER Luke 5:1-11; Galatians 2:20

Introduction Continuing our series Be Transformed We need to get rid of stinking thinking We need to be transformed by the renewing of our minds Today, we will begin to deal with the truth that following Jesus will cost you You can t do it half way or casually it requires surrender

Introduction The concept of surrender is difficult for many to grasp Many think surrender is

Introduction The concept of surrender is difficult for many to grasp Many think surrender is

Introduction The concept of surrender is difficult for many to grasp It is often resisted because it is seen as a sign of weakness giving up This is what the world teaches more of that stinking thinking What is surrender?

Introduction What is surrender? To surrender means to relinquish possession or control to another, to submit to the power, authority, and control of another Still sound like weakness? Look in Philippians 2

Philippians 2:5-8 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man,

Philippians 2:5-8 He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Introduction Still sound like weakness? Jesus the very Son of God submitted His life, His deity, His everything to the will of the Father It was a conscious and willful choice Joyful who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross Heb. 12 Let s look at surrender in another life

Luke 5:1-11 So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. Then He got into one of the boats, which was

Luke 5:1-11 Simon s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch. But Simon answered and said to Him, Master, we have toiled all

Luke 5:1-11 night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net. And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the

Luke 5:1-11 boats, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus knees, saying, Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord! For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee,

Luke 5:1-11 who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men. So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.

Surrender is a choice Peter s first choice He (Jesus) got into one of the boats, which was Simon s, and asked him to put out a little from the land v3 Why did he agree to do it? Could have refused too tired; need to go get rest to try again tomorrow He did it anyway

Surrender is a choice Peter s second choice Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch. v4 Had to think about this one Jesus was not a fisherman Peter did his best all night to no avail He did it nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net v5

The blessing of surrender What if Peter had refused to take his boat out again? What if Peter had refused to let down his nets? Failure to fully surrender = no blessing Complete surrender = blessing Complete surrender = special experience with God

Even James and John SURRENDERING TO JESUS The blessing of surrender Peter s willingness to surrender led to him experiencing who Jesus really was When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus knees, saying, Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord! v8 This experience affected others with him all who were with him were astonished

The blessing of surrender Peter s willingness to surrender led to him experiencing who Jesus really was Jesus said to Simon, Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men. v10 This experience prepared him to surrender everything to follow Jesus Experiencing Jesus faithfulness led to the willingness to surrender everything

The blessing of surrender Experiencing Jesus faithfulness led to the willingness to surrender everything So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him. v11 Wow! Peter, Andrew, James and John surrendered everything to follow Jesus

The blessing of surrender Peter, Andrew, James and John surrendered everything to follow Jesus Simon and Andrew left their sole livelihood to follow Jesus James and John left their job and their father to follow Jesus They never hesitated at following Jesus no matter what the cost

What about us? Do we struggle with surrendering everything to Him? To fully surrender means You are put to death all of your wants, all of your desires, and what you think you should be doing with your life You embrace fully what He has for you Are you willing?

What about us? Charles Stanley's plaque: "God takes full responsibility for the life that is totally yielded to Him." Surrendering to God isn't about fish, rings, dollar bills, businesses, jobs, or relationships It's about knowing you are right where God wants you and doing what He wants

What about us? All of this takes a complete surrender of everything about us It is the idea of truly dying to self It s about being a living sacrifice for Him Paul said it this way

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Conclusion He wants total surrender from us When we are crucified with Christ by faith in Him, we are to completely surrender every selfish desire and ambition to the perfect will of God Don't miss what God has for you because you're unwilling to surrender something to Him

Have you surrendered everything to Him?

Remember. He has more for you than you can imagine!