Notes - 12th March 06

Bible passages:
Read Acts 9:1-19

The heart of worship is surrender. Surrender is an unpopular word. Why? What does it imply to you?

Many of us may have negative associations with the concept: defeat, losing, forfeiting, yielding, submitting.

But when surrender is a response to God's power, love and mercy that is offered not out of fear, but out of love, then the result is quite different: it brings God pleasure and releases us into a new life in God. Indeed, this can be seen as what worship is all about.

'So then, my friends, because of God's great mercy to us, offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer.' (Rom 12:1)

In what ways would you say that this offering is more costly than offering your money, talents, service to God?

(Read Acts 9:1-4) It would be hard to imagine someone further from becoming a worshipper of Jesus than Saul. He tells us his religious background in Philippians 3:5-6. But the Spirit was working in this man's life. Can you think of examples of how the Lord worked in your life when you were sceptical and unbelieving?

Rick Warren says there are three barriers that block surrender to God: fear, pride and confusion. We don't realise how much God loves us, we want to control our own lives, and we misunderstand the meaning of surrender. How much would you say these were factors in your life before your came to Christ? What evidence is there that they were in Saul's life?

FEAR

Can I trust Jesus? Appreciating that God loves you infinitely more than you can imagine, whatever your past, offers you forgiveness when you turn to him, and has good plans for your future, banishes fear. God does not coerce us into submission, or break our will, but woos us to himself so we might offer ourselves freely to him. 'When we completely surrender ourselves to Jesus, we discover that he is not a tyrant, but a saviour; not a boss but a brother; not a dictator but a friend.' How has your concept of Jesus changed since you came to offer yourself to him?

PRIDE

(Read Acts 9:5-9) What suggests that Saul immediately had a change of view about Jesus when he encountered him on the road? Why do you think the Lord made himself known to him in such a dramatic way? How do you feel when someone else has a testimony of coming to Jesus that seems so much more dramatic than yours?
Saul was used to being in control, leading and directing. What effect would his instant blindness, dependency on others to get to the city and waiting for three days have upon him? Saul had to learn to obey before the Lord would reveal more of himself to him and intimacy deepen.
A. W. Tozer said, 'The reason why many are still troubled, still seeking, still making little forward progress is because they haven't yet come to an end of themselves. We're still trying to give orders, and interfering with God's work within us.'

CONFUSION

(Read Acts 9:10-19) Saul was not the only one having to wrestle with pride in surrendering to Christ. How was Ananias also battling with it in responding to God's call to minister to Saul? Why did God not just heal Saul directly? What confusion do you think he was dealing with in his spirit? How often do you prejudge how God will act and whom God should work through? What light does the Lord's words about Saul's future work cast upon the confusion? (see v15-16) How would Sauls' background and contacts equip him for this work? What would Ananias' greeting have meant to Saul and God? (v17) What essential preparation was needed for Saul to fulfill this calling and why?

Both men in this encounter say, 'Yes, Lord', to Jesus. This is what it means to surrender. It does not mean that we become identical clones or robots - we each have our unique personality, but it is enhanced when it is surrendered to God for service.

C. S. Lewis said, 'The more we let God take us over, the more truly ourselves we become - because he made us. He invented all the different people that you and I were intended to be. It is when I turn to Christ, when I give myself up to his personality, that I first begin to have a real personality of my own.' How do you react to that?

Surrender is the way to blessing. For some it takes years to discover that the greatest hindrance to God's blessing in your life is not circumstances, or others, it is yourself - your-self-will, stubborn pride and personal ambition.

'So give it all to God: your past regrets, your present problems, your future ambitions, your fears, dreams, weaknesses, habits, hurts and hang-ups. Put Jesus Christ in the driving seat of your life and take your hands off the steering wheel. Don't be afraid - nothing under his control can ever be out of control.'

Surrendering is not just a one off event, there is a decisive moment of surrender, but then there is the practice of surrender which is moment by moment, and lifelong.
What area of my life am I holding back from God?
What fears surface when you think of surrendering your whole life to Christ?