Courageous Through Adversity

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Courageous Through Adversity

Nehemiah 4

“Now it came about that when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious and very angry and mocked the Jews. He spoke in the presence of his brothers and the wealthy men of Samaria and said, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Are they going to restore it for themselves? Can they offer sacrifices? Can they finish in a day? Can they revive the stones from the dusty rubble even the burned ones?” Now Tobiah the Ammonite was near him and he said, “Even what they are building—if a fox should jump on it, he would break their stone wall down!” Hear, O our God, how we are despised! Return their reproach on their own heads and give them up for plunder in a land of captivity. Do not forgive their iniquity and let not their sin be blotted out before You, for they have demoralized the builders. So we built the wall and the whole wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work. Now when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repair of the walls of Jerusalem went on, and that the breaches began to be closed, they were very angry. All of them conspired together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause a disturbance in it. But we prayed to our God, and because of them we set up a guard against them day and night. Thus in Judah it was said, “The strength of the burden bearers is failing, Yet there is much rubbish; And we ourselves are unable To rebuild the wall.” Our enemies said, “They will not know or see until we come among them, kill them and put a stop to the work.” When the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times, “They will come up against us from every place where you may turn,” then I stationed men in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, the exposed places, and I stationed the people in families with their swords, spears and bows. When I saw their fear, I rose and spoke to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people: “Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your houses.” When our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had frustrated their plan, then all of us returned to the wall, each one to his work. From that day on, half of my servants carried on the work while half of them held the spears, the shields, the bows and the breastplates; and the captains were behind the whole house of Judah. Those who were rebuilding the wall and those who carried burdens took their load with one hand doing the work and the other holding a weapon. As for the builders, each wore his sword girded at his side as he built, while the trumpeter stood near me. I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “The work is great and extensive, and we are separated on the wall far from one another. “At whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.” So we carried on the work with half of them holding spears from dawn until the stars appeared. At that time I also said to the people, “Let each man with his servant spend the night within Jerusalem so that they may be a guard for us by night and a laborer by day.” So neither I, my brothers, my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us removed our clothes, each took his weapon even to the water.” (Nehemiah 4, NASB95)

CPT: Nehemiah courageously faces adversity.

CPS: We need to courageously face adversity.

Question: How can you courageously face adversity?

Me

I know it comes as a surprise but life isn’t easy? In life troubles arise. If you want to see this truth real and in a theater near you just take a look at my life. Nothing has ever been handed to me because I’ve had to work hard for everything I have and have achieved. I have had my fair share of struggles. At the ripe age of 32 I am a widower. I have multiple friends who have died for one reason or another. It seems at times that the dark cloud of troubles just follows me around.  I am a person who faces adversity. Some small and some that makes me feel small.

We

What about you? Would you say that in life troubles arise? What adversity are you facing as you sit here this morning? Is it adversity at work? Maybe a boss is being overly demanding. Maybe a project isn’t coming together as you hoped. Maybe it is a coworker creating trouble for you. Is it adversity at home? Is your marriage not quite what you signed-up for? Are decisions that you or your spouse or your children have made creating adversity in the home life? What adversity are you facing today?

Would you say that at times it feels like a dark cloud follows you around? Are you a person who faces adversity?  Do you ever just feel like giving up?

Let’s see what the Bible has to say about adversity?

God

Background and Read Nehemiah 4

Before we start digging into the ins and outs of this passage I want you to see an unfortunate truth. This truth is ready or not adversity will come. We can’t run from it, we can’t hide from it, and we can’t escape it. Ready or not adversity will come. You may be living in that reality now as you are facing some type of adversity. This world is full of different types of adversity. Some adversity we would just consider nuisances. Some adversity are real problems that threaten to sink us.

A similar truth is that we are either about to face some type of adversity, in the mist of an adversity, or just left some type of adversity behind us.  Adversity is like flies, mosquitos, and those aggravating gnats, it is part of this world we live in. No one likes adversity and we all have battle scars from facing adversity.

What kinds of adversity will you face? In our passage we see at least three types of adversity that Nehemiah faced. Let’s take a look at those.

  1. You will face adversity through ridicule. (1-3)

Notice with me verses 1-3 and look at the ridicule Nehemiah and the Jews faced.

The are called feeble, their resolve is questioned, will they even be able to do an adequate job, can they even finish the project, they don’t even have the right material (rubbish- prior distruction in 586BC that had to be cleared before work could be done, burned stone- stones damaged by fire, most likely limestone that could crack and crumble from the heat), and their work is flimsy.

I have little doubt that you can identify with this type of adversity. Maybe it is name calling. Maybe it is questioning of you as a person that would cause problems in your life. Maybe someone is spreading rumors about you. Maybe it is questioning of your efforts in a project or a life.

Whatever it is people will talk and create adversity for you.

2. You will face adversity through threats. (7-8)

In verses 7-8 we see another form of adversity you will face. You will face adversity in the form of threats. Maybe you are threatened with physical harm as it is in this passage. What will you do? Will you back off when you are threatened? Maybe you are threatened about your job, if you don’t do this for me I’ll say this and have you fired. Maybe you through financial woes you are threatened that your living conditions will be taken away.

You know there are all types of threats you can face. These threats is adversity. Ready or not you will face adversity in the form threats.

3. You will face adversity through discouragement. (10)

In verse 10 we see that you will face adversity through discouragement. Maybe you see the mountain of work that needs to be done and you just want to quit. I have heard that the number one reason that people drop out of school is not because of grades but because they miss so many days that they don’t feel like they will ever catch up. They get discouraged and are not able to overcome this adversity.

What about you, what adversity are you facing that is in the form of discouragement? Maybe this discouragement is the result of a series of failures. Maybe this discouragement is because the problem you are facing seems too big. Maybe you are discourage because of some medical issue.

Friend please know that discouragement will drain you of all your resolve to fight and to carry on.

4. You will face adversity through fear. (14)

In verse 14 we also see that you will face adversity through fear. This is an adversity that we don’t think of often but a wide spread form of adversity. It may be fear of what people may say or think about what you do or say. It may be a fear of the unknown.  It may be a fear change.

Whatever the source fear has a way of radically changing our behavior. It has a way of making us quit before we really begin. Fear has a way of keeping us in mediocrity and never able to excel.

How is fear affecting you? How is fear keeping you from excelling? How is fear being a source of adversity?

You

How can you courageously face adversity?

  1. You can courageously face adversity when you keep your focus on Christ.

When Nehemiah faced adversity what is the first then he did. He went directly to the Lord. He keep his focus on Him.  Notice with me in verses 4 and 9. In the same way you can courageously face adversity when you keep your focus on Christ.

Hebrews 12:1-3- “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:1–3, NASB95)

2. You can courageously face adversity when you trust in Christ knowing all is in His control.

Not only did Nehemiah keep his focus on the Lord, he also knew that everything was in His control. In the same way as you keep your focus on the Lord, also know that everything is in His control. Notice with me verse 20- “Our God will fight for us.”

Jeremiah 32:17- “‘Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You,” (Jeremiah 32:17, NASB95)

Luke 1:37- ““For nothing will be impossible with God.”” (Luke 1:37, NASB95)

I want you to know that as a child of God everything is in His hands, even the adversity you face. Because of this you can face your adversity courageously knowing God is in control.

This simple truth that God is in control is an awesome truth. A truth that is liberating to you because it allows you to trust and act leaving fear out of the equation.

3. You can courageously face adversity when you pray with confidence and act with confidence.

I want you to notice with me that Nehemiah not only prayed with confidence but he also acted with confidence.  Look with me starting in verses 13, 16-23. Nehemiah trusted in the Lord, and with this trust he acted courageously in the face of adversity.

What about you, are you praying about the adversity you are facing? Have you drawn up a battle plan to overcome the adversity you are facing and began acting on those steps.

Please hear this. You need to pray, you need to start in prayer. You also need through the guidance of the Lord to act courageously too.

I once heard a story about a town that would be flooded by a rising river. In this town there was a man who prayed and decided he would stay at his house. So the water began to rise and emergency personal began driving up and down the roads telling people to evacuate, yet the prayerful man stayed. The water continued to rise to the point the man had to go to his second floor to stay dry. Along come emergency crews in boats but this man tells them that the Lord will take care of him so he remains. As time progresses the water continues to rise to a point that the prayerful man is forced to go up on top of his roof. Along comes a rescue helicopter, yet he refuses the help saying the Lord will take care of him. This foolish man stayed and died. When he arrived in heaven he questioned the Lord saying he thought the Lord would take care of him. To this the Lord said he sent rescue trucks, a rescue boat, and a rescue helicopter, yet all the while the he refused the help.

This man rightly prayed, yet he refused to put actions in place that were courageous.

You can courageously face adversity when you pray with confidence and act with confidence.

We

When adversity strikes will you be courageous? Will you keep your focus on Christ? Will you trust knowing the Lord is in control? Will you pray with confidence and act with confidence?

Adversity doesn’t have to get the best of us! We can face adversity courageously and grow stronger because of the adversity. What do you think would happen in your life if you courageously faced the adversity that is in your life? Instead of struggling and enduring the adversity you could see that adversity as something that can be overcome. You could see adversity as more than an problem but an opportunity. You can move beyond mediocrity to excellence.

Be courageous in adversity not because of your power, your wisdom, or your effort, but because of your unashamed faith in Christ.

What do you think? Questions or thoughts?

Southern Baptist Convention: Name Change and Perception

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Allow me to digress for a short while and talk about the proposed name change in the Southern Baptist Convention to the non-legal and non-binding Great Commission Baptist. You can read the story here. I have intentionally delayed talking about this topic for a couple of weeks simply because I want to give this proposed non-legal name change some serious thought. You will see from the above article that it will be proposed to keep the legal name Southern Baptist Convention for several reasons including: heritage and name recognition. Yet it is also proposed to have an informal name Great Commission Baptist.  It is stated that the reason for this proposed informal name is because the name Southern Baptist gives the impression of being regional to the South.  This is especially true of churches and church plants whom are ministering in regions outside of the South.

Personally, I believe the reasons for the proposed name change is far more than a regional identification.  I believe that a significant reason why the name change is being proposed is to counteract several negative perception issues.  One such negative perception is an occasion that happened many years ago over slavery. It is over slavery that the Northern Baptist and the Southern Baptist split. I question if this is really an issue this many years later or are many Southern Baptist Churches seen as the ‘old white people’s church’?

A second negative perception is the Southern Baptist are known more for what they are against than what they are for. Let’s don’t forget the boycott on Disney back in the late 1990′s. I agree that an organization and individual people must have principles and convictions but when we as the Southern Baptist are known more for being against stuff more than we are known for being for Jesus there is a series problem.

Here is some research that screams the Southern Baptist have a problem- Perception of the Southern Baptist Convention

These graphs are scary. In fact one statement that has grabbed my attention, “Over a third of Americans strongly agree they assume a Southern Baptist church is not for them.” Further for the SBC to get an unfavorable of 40 in the area they are most common.  This is an indicator or big problems.

If we want to add an informal name I have no problem with that, though I think Great Commission Baptist may be the most ridiculous name I have heard in a while. YET, I will say that the need to deal with the issues that are creating the negative perceptions is far more important. You and I can decide we are going to form a ‘committee’ and change the name of the local trash dump. We can change the name as much as we want but in the end it is still a trash dump.

We in the SBC need to fix the problem of stagnant churches that have lost their purpose, then we can change the name.  Let’s put the horse before the cart and fix the real problem.

 

What do you think? Does the SBC have some serious problems? Should there be a name change?

 

 

Anger with God

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My Beloved Anna

I am continuing the blog post series on the loss of my beloved Anna and how I reacted to her loss.  In fact a question I fielded often in the weeks that followed her death was “how are you doing?”

One of the reactions that should not have surprised me but did was an intense anger. I have heard it said that some express anger at the lost loved one. I have also heard that with the loss of a loved one that a person can exhibit anger at God or in some cases a total rejection of God (extreme form of anger). For me it was an anger at God. Now let me get one thought out of the way before we go any further: Never, in this whole process did I question my faith. Some may say, “why would a good God take Anna away?” To this I would respond the Lord gives and then there are times that the Lord takes away. In fact, with Anna being in such pain and agony I actually prayed that the Lord would either heal her or take her. While I did not want to let her go I knew there was no way that she could continue as she was. Though, her mind weighed heavy on leaving her loved ones behind, my mind weighed heavy on the fact that I did not want her to be in pain and suffering.

What is a person to do who truly loves someone who is terminal? Refuse to let them go and see them in pain and agony? Or should we let them go? While agonizing I realized that I had no choice at all, I had to let Anna go.

Yet, even through this knowledge that I had to let Anna go, I was still angry at God. In fact I had multiple arguments with God. These arguments where literal arguments. I gave Him everything I had. I would scream WHY!!!???? WHY GOD!!!??? WHY!!!??? Even a year and a half since Anna passed I still don’t know why? To be honest I don’t know if I will ever know why? Even if this answer were given to me, would I accept the answer. While I am coming to some peace with the loss of Anna, I still don’t think like it that the Lord took Anna away from me.

Yet why was I angry at God? There are several reasons.

First, I had prayed more times than I could count that Anna would be healed or at the very least that she could catch a break from all the sickness. For instance over the significant part of our marriage it seems like it was one thing or another. She was either in the hospital with her CVID (common variable immune deficiency), multiple cases of shingles, some kind of infection, and of course the rounds with cancer over my last year with her. She could not even catch a break. Why couldn’t God have healed her? Why couldn’t God have just given her a break? Didn’t she have enough going on with her health? Why!? Why!?

Second, here is my precious wife that fought hard and strived to be all that she could be, yet the Lord still took her away. Here is my thinking. The world, it seems, is increasing with people that are lazy, unwilling to work, and looking for a hand out. Yet, so often they are as healthy as they can be. The world is full of stories of people abusing their bodies with drugs and alcohol, yet it seems as if they get off ‘scott free’. Why? It’s not fair!!! Why is it that while my wife was told not to even worry about going to college because of her health, she proceeds to finish high school as valedictorian, graduate UNC with a biology degree with nearly a 4.0, and graduate medical school, why did the Lord take her? Why did the Lord take her when she was trying so hard to make something out of her life? Why did the Lord take her even when she had fought so hard to overcome her different obstacles? She was trying to make a positive contribution in the world that we live in. All she wanted to do was to use overcoming these obstacles as a testimony for the Lord. Why!? Why!?

Third, let’s for a moment stop pretending that we are super spiritual people and let’s be real, God had taken something at was near and dear to me and I was angry. You and I get angry when people take something from us that we believe ‘belongs’ to us. We get angry when people steal ‘our’ parking space or ‘our’ seat. We get angry when people take our stuff without telling us. We get angry when people try to steal our stuff. We get mad and angry. I was mad and angry and I was going to let God know it. Why!? Why!?

Fourth, I was angry at God because after all that she did for Him and in particular after all that ‘I’ had done for Him, He still took Anna away. I was angry and there was nothing to stop me from being angry.

Now for those super spiritual people who never have any struggles with their faith, you are probably astonished that I would be angry at God, so here is a good question. Can you be angry at God? Is being angry with God incompatible with a saving faith in Jesus?  Without getting all theological, I don’t believe for a moment for it to be incompatible. Our faith in Christ is a relationship, in fact when we are believers/followers in/of Jesus we are said to be a child of God. In John 15 Jesus states that when we follow Him we are His friends. Relationships of all kinds experience a spectrum of emotions. With you spouse, children, family members, or friends you can be happy, sad, excited, and even angry. Anger is an emotion and at times it can be a normal part of a relationship. I would go so far to say that anger in and of itself is not necessarily a bad thing, yet unresolved and uncontrolled anger is a bad thing. Here is the point: God is a big God and He is big enough for our questions, doubts, and even our anger.

You ask, am I still angry with God? No. I was angry for awhile, yet how can I stay angry at the Lord? I can’t.

I close with this story of the morning of October 18, 2010, exactly a month since Anna’s death. Through this process I have tried to keep myself busy. This past weekend I went to Wilmington to spend time with a friend from high school, Nicolas Capps. This morning before leaving I watched the sunrise as it pierced the horizon over the ocean. I don’t know what it was about this sunrise but I knew everything was going to be okay. I also as I walked the beach I made this vow as I found a smooth stone that had been washed up by the waves. “I know the Lord has been with me through this whole ordeal. I know He has not abandoned me even in the darkest of days. The Lord has sustained me and comforted me and for that I will rejoice. I don’t know what You have in store for me, I don’t know why all this had to come about, and I don’t know if You will provide another wife, yet I will still rejoice even as this new and uncertain day in my life dawns.”

Stone found on beach

Psalm 42- “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng. Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me—a prayer to the God of my life. I say to God my Rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?” My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, “Where is your God?” Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”

 

What do you think? Is it okay to be angry at God? Have you ever been angry at God?

Courageous in Surrender

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Courageous in Surrender

Acts 6-7

CPT: Stephen was courageous even in surrender.

CPS: The most courageous thing we can do is surrender.

Question: How is surrender courageous?

Me

As many of you know I’m a very competitive person. I want to win. I fight to win. I work tirelessly to win. In fact a couple of the sayings I believed in for a very long time is: “Win or don’t play” and “Second place is the first loser”.

I don’t want to fail. I don’t want to be second place. This competitive spirit for myself has given me the drive to never give up and to push myself to become better and better, to never surrender even in the face of certain defeat.

History is full of stories of people who have an attitude of “never say never”. They would not surrender even in the face of certain defeat. You have the battles such as Thermopylae, the Alamo give evidence of this never surrender attitude.

We

What about you? What do you think of the concept of surrender? Have you ever had to surrender in your life? Is surrender for those who just can’t hack it? Or do we have the wrong idea of surrender?

Let’s see what the Bible has to say about surrender.

God

Our passage looks at the life of Stephen, the first martyr. We will be looking at Acts 6-7. Because of the length there will be some parts I will read but for time sake we will summarize most of the story we have before us.

As the story of Acts progresses we find that the church is growing by leaps and bounds.  They are growing so fast that they stop counting the number of converts. In fact the last full count we are given is found in Acts 4:4 when it states that the number of men cam to be about 5000. That is 5000 men plus women plus children. We are dealing with a number somewhere in the ball park of 20,000 people that are in the church of Jerusalem.  What a task the 12 Apostles had to disciple and give pastoral care to so many people. In fact with so many people there was bound to be a group that would fall through the cracks. That is what we find in chapter 6. The widows of Jewish believers that had come from more of a Greek culture were not being cared for, as much as some thought they should.  To solve this problem the Apostles told the people in verse 3 “‘Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.” The first of the seven that is mentioned is Stephen. We are told further of Stephen in verse 8, “And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.” From these verses we find that Stephen was a man of character. He was someone that is characterized with godliness, integrity, faith, and wisdom. It is in Stephen that we find a key and influential figure in church history. It is in Stephen that we realize that the impact of one courageous person no matter the length of ministry can have far reaching effects.

As our story proceeds we see that Stephen is a great evangelist as he performs great wonders and signs. Not only this but he would go into the synagogues and have a formal debate that Jesus is the Christ. In verse 10 it states, “But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.” It is because of this they lies begin to be spread about Stephen and he is brought before the religious council.  In chapter 7 we see a great and bold defense as Stephen recounts the history of Israel and ends with the cross of Christ.

Follow along with me as we read Acts 7:51-60.

My friend I want you to know a truth that I am still coming to grips with. The most courageous thing we can do is surrender. 

You

How is surrender courageous?

  1. Surrender is courageous by revealing an undeniable dependance on the Lord Jesus Christ.

You remember one of the characteristics for these first deacons was that they had to be full of the Holy Spirit. That means that they were fully yielded or dependent on the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit. You see Stephen knew full well that he couldn’t fulfill his God given purpose through his own abilities.  He had to be completely dependent on the Lord Jesus Christ.

When you surrender you reveal you absolute dependance on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Saw for instance you have been working so hard for a particular goal. Maybe you are working hard be to get that job you have been wanting, but you just can’t seem to get it. Maybe you are working hard to impress that girl you like, but everything you do just doesn’t seem to be working.  Maybe it may be a sin struggle in your life maybe it may be a pornography struggle, maybe a lust struggle, or maybe it may be some sort of addiction, you work so hard to overcome that struggle but you just fall back down into the struggle. In all of these things it is about you. Your strength, your wisdom, and your effort. Yet isn’t it funny that when you get to the end of your rope and you have given up, the answer appears before you. It may not be the answer you are looking for or wanting, but it is still the answer. You don’t think this is coincidence do you?

I want to encourage you my friends be dependent on the Lord Jesus Christ.  When we are dependent we surrender our wisdom, our strength, and our effort. It is at this point of  surrender that you are truly courageous.

  1. Surrender is courageous by doing what you have been called to do and leaving the results to the Lord.

For many years churches across the United States have judged their success on the three B’s- Buildings, Budgets, and Butts. Let me define this a little further, buildings are the quality and quantity of the facilities that the church occupies, budgets is the amount of money a church may bring in to do this ministry or that ministry, and butts well that is the number of people that are present on any given Sunday.  These three things signified a win. If these three things were growing then the church was a success, yet I would ask did this focus really amount to success? Just look at the world around you, are we in our society more godly or less? Here is the point we in and of our selfs as churches have control over buildings, budgets, and butts. If you do the right things, attract the right people, and have that charismatic personality these three things can be controlled.

What about you, are you trying to control all the results? Maybe you think if you do the right things that you can control the results of your family? Maybe this is what you try to do in your work life? How is that working for you? When you do this are you really having success or just limiting the failures?

One glaring omission in the life of Stephen is the list of converts. In fact we are not told of even ONE convert to Christ. While this may be the case I want you to know that Stephen was simply focused on living out his God given purpose and he left the results to the Lord.

My friend, aren’t you tired of trying to control the outcomes of all the things in your life? Will you simply surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ, be the person He has called you to be and leave the results to Him.

  1. Surrender is courageous because it leads to an eternal reward.

We see in our passage that the ultimate end of Stephen’s surrender is an eternal reward.  Stephen had accomplished his task fell to his knees and surrendered to an eternal reward. One moment he was in this world and the next he was in heaven with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Surrender is what faith is all about. Faith is to put your unyielding trust in a person or an object. This trust is not just a little trust but all of your trust. It isn’t to put a few eggs in the basket of the object of faith but to put all of your eggs in the basket of the object of your faith. When you put your faith in Jesus Christ you put your unyielding trust in Him. I want to encourage you that when you surrender self and put your faith in Jesus Christ you have an eternal reward of heaven.

We

The most courageous thing we can do is surrender. Are you surrendered?

Maybe this morning you have never surrendered to the Lord Jesus Christ. You have never made Him Lord and Savior of your life. Will you do that this morning? Will you turn from self and sin to the Savior?

You can do this by a simple prayer such as this. “Lord Jesus, I know I have sin in my life that separates me from you. Knowing that Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross for my sin and arose again on the third day I ask that you would forgive me of my sins. Be Lord of my life and my Savior. Amen.”

How about you Christian? Are you totally surrendered to the Lord Jesus Christ? What area in your life are you still holding on to? Isn’t it time to totally surrender to Him?

Prayer