Over It - Midyear
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At the start of this year we started a series - our theme for the year of
Making Jesus Overall
Overcoming through Christ
Overwhelming others with Jesus
This morning as we are half way through the year, I wanted to revisit this theme and remind ourselves of the blessings that come in our lives when we enact these Biblical truths.
Just like an athlete who clears the hurdle sees victory and reward in sight, we need to realize when Jesus is overall, and we overcome through Christ and overwhelm with Christ, our victory is in sight for our perseverance and faithfulness.
I beleive the hurdles we experience are the challenge to surrender - to allowing God to be God, trusting in the Lord and making Him first, walking in obedience so we can overcome through Him, and yielding ourselves to His service in sharing Christ with others.
When we get OVER those hurdles of surrender - we see smooth sailing to the finish line! and with it comes some rewards!
1. Making Jesus Overall Brings Peace
1. Making Jesus Overall Brings Peace
Making Jesus overall in our lives ---- it is such an important goal for the year, that no matter what comes our way to put JESUS above all other things...
To SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD and HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS
There is a powerful benefit to Making Jesus Overall! When He is first, when we are living in SURRENDER to Christ and HIS WILL - there is an amazing sense of peace and rest knowing that we have yielded full control to Him and He will ordain the outcome in our lives!
28 For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
23 The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
Knowing that we can trust in God and live surrendered to Him is finding a place of rest.
30 God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.
By surrendering our lives to God and allowing Him to direct our lives, by making Him overall, we can rest knowing He is working out His perfect plan in our lives.
I read a devotional that said, every step God takes us to is strategic in His overall plan for our lives!
This allows us to be at peace in whatever circumstance comes along.
What robs us of peace is our fighting for our own control in what we are doing. Wrestling down getting OUR WAY instead of letting go and trusting God’s way.
This morning I want to remind us all, to live in surrender and obedience is to live in the FAVOR OF GOD!
How many stories in God’s Word do we read where once surrendered to the Lord, the hero discovers the strategic path God was planning.
Is Jesus OVERALL in your life today, are you living in SURRENDER TO HIM, there is no more restful place to be then in complete yieldedness to Christ.
2. Overcoming Through Christ is Assured Victory
2. Overcoming Through Christ is Assured Victory
Our second goal is to overcome through Christ.
Once again, this is a point of surrender in our lives. It is not overcoming in our own power, but in His power.
Even AA recognizes that man needs a higher power, even though they are vague as to what that power is...
6 Then he said to me, “This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
6 So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.
Very quickly we are reminded that the victories in this life are not gained by our own ability, and when they are they are subject to fail, but VICTORY IN CHRIST is assured as we continue to live according to His plan and truths.
22 “Be careful to obey all these commands I am giving you. Show love to the Lord your God by walking in his ways and holding tightly to him.
There was a promise to the people of Israel that if they continued to walk in the ways of the Lord and love Him, than they would remain safe and protected in the promised land!
There is victory by living in obedience to God’s commands!
We overcome through our surrender to Christ and obedience.
Name one hero in the OT who didn’t find victory through obedience --- or, who was victorious in disobedience?
That surrender to the Lord, his Word, and His plans allows us to be true overcomers
14 But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.
Those who allow the Lord to captivate their lives become triumphant with His KINGDOM!
44 “During the reigns of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed or conquered. It will crush all these kingdoms into nothingness, and it will stand forever.
25 But the word of the Lord remains forever.” And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.
11 But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken.
When the Lord is in the plan, and we are following Him, victory is assured. He is worth surrendering control to gain the VICTORY!
3. Overwhelming with Jesus Fufills Purpose
3. Overwhelming with Jesus Fufills Purpose
Just like you wouldn’t stir a pot of oatmeal with a flute, our lives need to fulfill their designed purpose to have real meaning.
A flute is intended to make beautiful music, not stir food.
How often are we allowing this world to whip us around to spend all of our time doing what this world wants us to do instead of doing what God wants us to do!!!
Once again, it is a hurdle to get over - a place of surrendering our time and talents to the ONE who died for us to save us - to put a greater priority on making Christ known then our own fame and fortune.
When we do this… we overcome that hurdle and find that our PURPOSE FOR LIVING is realized.
Someone told me this week when we are baptized into the family of God, our reason for existing changes...
What a tremendous truth to realize. What we live for gives way to WHO WE LIVE FOR --- no longer ourselves, but for JESUS.
15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”
7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns!
2 I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.
Our purpose is to KNOW CHRIST AND MAKE CHRIST KNOWN!!!! Once we become His children, adopted into HIs family by the blood of Jesus - our Destiny and path change.
When we prioritize this and start to SHARE CHRIST WITH OTHERS we find the deeper meaning of who we are in Christ.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
This morning, remember that there are always rewards at the end of the race for the diligent.
8 And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.
In addition to that crown at the end, as we manage the hurdles and
Make Jesus Overall - we encounter greater peace
Overcome through Christ - we find Victory in the Surrender
and
when we Overwhelm others with Christ we experience fulfillment in our God ordained purpose to advance His Kingdom