Spiritual Flow

Back to the Basics
Week 1: Surrender
10 minutes


There comes a point in our lives where we have to ask ourselves, “Am I really fully surrendered to God?”

     …if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is LORD,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.    Romans 10:9-10
   
    Grk: Kyrios: Lord, master, owner.

It’s hard, but it is so easy…I have to purposely pursue this. Denying myself and surrendering my life to my King. It’s hard, but it is so easy…because the Spirit of God enables me to do it.

Surrender

    And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple…any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.    Luke 14:27, 33

    For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.     Matthew 16:25





    For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.    John 3:16

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Discussion Questions:

    What is hindering you from fully surrendering to God?

    Write out 2 things you need to move out of the way of your path with God.

    Write out 2 things you need to, and purposely will, move into your journey with God.

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them…    Acts 2:1-4

Part of the above can also be written like this: Suddenly a sound like the carrying of a strong breath came from the residence of God and filled the whole house where they were sitting…

Sound a little weird? Mysterious? Cool? Yes, yes annnnnnd heck yes!

Do you want to hear something else strange? I believe it.

You could call me a nut, or insult me even further by reversing it and calling me a tun, but either way I’ve got to say it: I completely believe it.

Why? Because I can totally understand it. I’ve experienced the Holy Spirit too.

Here’s the point I want to make: As a believer in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit is living inside of you (Mark 1:8).

Understand and see that the power of the One who shook a building with a single breath is living within you – if you are in Jesus Christ. What does that mean? 

For me, it means that when I feel weak, depressed, stressed and burnt out, the Spirit of God changes me and refreshes me. The Spirit of God can do way more in & through me than I can by myself.

Realize who is in you. Draw closer to the Holy Spirit and seek its presence, guidance and help throughout your life. Then praise God for this glorious Counselor!

Wait…….but how do we get the Spirit of God within us? We surely aren’t born with His Spirit inside of us...we're born with sinful natures. In the Bible, John the Baptist answers this question quite clearly, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he [Jesus Christ] will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 1:8) Now, remember that what is contained in Scripture is theopneustos, the very breath of God – so these are trustworthy words.

It is by believing in the name of Jesus Christ, and by declaring him LORD, that we are saved from our sins, given eternal life and receive the Holy Spirit.

We are submersed into the One who shook a building – the Spirit of God is living in you as a believer. Now, walk with passion, burden and urgency! :)

I encourage you to pray through this week and weekend, and to make a regular habit of praying, for yourself to recognize the power and blessing of the Holy Spirit more and more.

How has the Holy Spirit of God impacted your life?

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  
Matthew 6:33 (Link to verse)

Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.  Revelation 2:5

What's your 1-degree that you need to eliminate?
How are you going to eliminate it?

Pray and ask God for help in these things! Burn with passion to be on track!

God, Jesus Christ & the Spirit will help you!

LeaderCanoe ’09 – Leadership Event!

For Jesus Christ!


What does God’s Word (the Bible) say about you and leadership?

As a believer in Jesus Christ, you are called to be a leader!

“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”   Matthew 28:18-20

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline.”  2 Timothy 4:12

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”  1Timothy 4:12

“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.”  1 Peter 2:21

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”  1 Corinthians 10:31

(All verses are NIV – New International Version)

“We still have the opportunity to reach a lost and dying generation with the love of Christ. It’s your generation, it’s now in your hands, it’s now your watch. What are you going to do about it?”  - Franklin Graham

Hello ladies and gents!

I have decided to take a one week break/refresher!

I will be posting another video blog next Monday morning and think this one will really be impactful on each one of you. It is a short, one week (atleast that's the plan right now :) ) "Leadership event!"

I really hope you'll join me next week and invite others to join us as we look at what God's Word says about you....and leadership.

I typed out, "Love you all!" and then wrote after it, " (I'm gonna say that even if it sounds weird!)"......but it actually feels a little too weird.

So, I care about you guys! Ok, now that's just weird too. Heck, God bless :) Look forward to seeing you next week!

And don't forget to invite somebody if you can!

Jared

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.
2 Corinthians 10:3-4

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Ephesians. 6:10-12

STANDING FIRM

Base everything below on this truth: We are fighting with God. We are putting on His Armor. Fight, using the steps below, knowing this truth.

1) Keep truth tight w/ you
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist... Eph. 6:14

2) Protect your heart with Christ through deeds of righteousness
...with the breastplate of righteousness in place... Eph. 6:14

3) With readiness and the message of Jesus Christ (Be ready in Christ!)
...with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace... Eph. 6:15

4) With your faith in God protecting you from all the lies of the evil one.
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Eph. 6:16

5) Know how to be saved. If you are saved, remember: you are saved.
...Take the helmet of salvation... Eph. 6:17

6) Read, know and meditate on the Bible, the Word of God.
"Take... the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Eph. 6:17

Lastly, pray.
...And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Eph. 6:18


You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
1 John 4:4


"19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,

20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should." Ephesians 6:19-20

In Christ Jesus we have freedom. Through the Son of God's Life we have freedom. We are free people when we believe Jesus Christ died for us and make Him our LORD and Savior.

Praise God :)