Take My Life, and Let It Be (Living The Surrendered Life)

“Anyone who does not  give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.”  (Luke 14:33)

 

What does a surrendered life look like?  The answer is TOTAL SURRENDER.  Jesus said that  “anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. And  if anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters, even his own life cannot be my disciple.”  (Luke 14:26-27).

In 1874, Frances Ridley Havergal  who was just thirty-eight years old,  penned a hymn that has become a beloved treasure of the church.   Written as a prayer,  each line focuses on one dimension of  what it means to be fully surrendered to Christ:

Take My Life,  and Let It Be

Take  my life, and let it be. 

Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;

Take my hands, and let them move.

At the impulse of Thy love,

At the impulse of Thy love.

Take my feet, and let them be.

Swift and beautiful for Thee;

Take my voice, and let them sing,

Always, only, for my King,

Always only,  for my King.

Take my silver and my gold.

Not a mite would I withhold;

Take my moments and my days,

Let them flow in ceaseless praise,

Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my will, and make it Thine. 

It shall be no longer mine;

Take my heart, it is Thine own;

It shall be Thy royal throne,

It shall be Thy royal throne.

Here are some questions for  us to answer: 

Have I consciously acknowledged Christ’s ownership of my life? 

Do I live with the conscious realization that all my time belongs to God?

Am I yielding the members (parts) of my body to God as instruments of righteousness?

Do the words that come out of my mouth reveal that my lips and tongue are fully surrendered to God?

Do I give generously,  sacrificially, and gladly to the Lord’s work and to others in need?

Am I wasting my mind on worldly knowledge or pursuits that do not have eternal spiritual value?

Do I consistently seek to know and to do the will of God in practical and daily matters of life?

Am I moody? Temperamental? Hard to please?

Do I enjoy and seek out the friendship of God as much as I do human friendships?

Have I surrenderd all that I am and all that I have to God?

God is asking us every part of our being.  He wants us to consecrate our life to Him:  our body...our tongue...our possessions...our mind...our will...our  affections....our relations and.... ourselves.

(From the book  “Living the Surrendered Life” preached by Mrs. Xenia Solidum  Foja during Joint Fellowship of Men, Women and Youth of Odiongan Baptist Church).

Functions of the Church

“And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." (2 Timothy 2:2)

The  main functions of the church are:

Evangelism

Edification

Worship

Social Concern

I -  Evangelism –“Go, therefore and make disciples of all nations.”  (Matthew 28:19).  Jesus’ last words to his disciples is evangelism.   The call to evangelize is a command “go.” Jesus said “if you love me, you will keep my commandments.”  (John 14:15).  “You are my friends if you do what I command you.”  (John 15:14).  If the church is to be faithful to its Lord and bring joy to his heart, it must be engaged in bringing the gospel to all people whom we like and dislike.  We have to take the gospel everywhere.  “But you shall receive power when the Holy spirit has come upon you; and you will be by witness in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”  (Acts 1:8).

II – Edification –meaning,  building up or  strong fellowship with each member of the church.  “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”  (Ephesians 4:12).  “From whom the whole body fitly joined together, and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”  (Ephesians 4:16). Like the human body parts with its own function, each member has its own role in the church to do. It is not merely the minister or pastor who is to build up other members. Ways by which members of the church are edified are through fellowship, instruction or teaching and preaching. 

In fellowship, Paul speaks  of sharing one another’s experiences like suffering, success, burden, honouring, and rejoicing.  “And whether one member suffer, all members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.”  (1 Corinthians 12:26).   Meaning, we are to encourage and sympathize with each other.  Believers are to bear one another’s burden.  “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”  (Galatians 6:2). In fellowship also, this may entail correction or rebuke which should be administered lovingly.  Jesus laid the pattern of discipline in Matthew 18:15-17. “If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go tell him his fault between thee and him alone.”  In severe cases, there may even be excommunication from the group , as in the case of immoral man mentioned in 1 Corinthians 5:1-2.  The primary reason is to restore such person to righteous living.

In instruction or teaching,  the church also edifies its members through education which is part of discipling. Education may take many forms and occur on many levels like Sunday school, theological seminaries, and divinity schools.  Since the truth of God is found in the Bible, it is a must for a church to send Bible students to Bible schools or mission schools.

In preaching, the church also is edified. Paul speaks of prophesying and referred to this as preaching and exhortation.  “But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation and comfort.”  (1 Corinthians 14:3-4).  To the end of mutual edification, God has equipped the church with various gifts apportioned and bestowed by the Holy Spirit.  “But all these worketh that one and the self same spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.”  (1 Corinthians 12:11) (Romans 12:6-8,  1 Corinthians 12:4-11, Ephesians 4:11 and 1 Peter 4:11).

III – Worship – Another function of the church is worship.  If edification focuses on the belivers, worship focuses on God.  “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is;  but exhorting one another:  and so much the more,  as ye see the day approaching.”  (Hebrews 10:25).  We declare God’s greatness in worship.  We glorify God and praise him.  Who is God and what God is.

The right pattern in the book of Acts is, worship God, be edified and evangelize.  Worship of God will suffer if oriented only in edification or if service is aimed exclusively at evangelizing unbelievers.

IV -  Social Concern  -  If the church is to carry on his ministry, it will be engaged in some form of ministry to the needy and suffering. “Concern for  the widow, the sojourner is appropriate.”  (Deuteronmy 10:17-19).  “To visit the orphans and widows in their affliction.”  (James 1:27).  God also stressed that faith without action or social concern is dead .  “Even so faith, if it hath no works, is dead,  being alone.  “ (James 2:15-17).  “Let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and truth.”  ( 1 John 3:18).  Social concern includes the condemning of unrighteousness as well.   John the Baptist likewise condemned the sin of Herod even though he was imprisoned and lost his liberty and lost his life. (Mark 6:17-29).

(From the Sunday School Preaching of Mr. A. Famero taken from the Book Christian Theology by Millard Erickson).

Secrets of Success

“Cast me not away from thy presence;  and take not thy holy spirit from me”  (Psalm 51:11)

I -  Do Not Joke With Your Quiet Time  -  Your quiet time is when you  pray.  There are 3 important prayer principles: 

1.       Do not worry .  Instead pray.

2.       Don’t quit . Pray persistently.   “ As for me,  I will call upon God;  and the Lord shall save me. Evening, and morning, and at noon,  will I pray and cry aloud:  and he shall hear my voice.”  (Psalm 55:16-17)

3.       Don’t doubt.  Pray positively. Alway push!  PUSH  means:  Pray Until Something Happen!  “But let him ask in faith,  not wavering.  For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.  For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.”  (James 1:6-7). 

II – Do Not Neglect The Fellowship Of The Saints – “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is;  but exhorting one another:   and so much the more,  as ye see the day approaching.”  (Hebrews 10:25).  “ For if I build again the things which I destroyed,  I make myself a transgressor.”  (Galatians 2:18).

III – Always Hunger And Thirst For God – There are many benefits of staying close to God:

1.        Your case will be given priority. “If ye walk in my statutes and keep my commandments, and do them; then will I give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the filed shall yield their fruit.”  (Leviticus 26:3-4).

2.       Your prayers will be answered -  “He shall call upon me, and I will answer him:  I will be with him in trouble;  I will deliver him,  and honour him.”  (Psalm 91:15).

3.       Your life will never get misled -  “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and He shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:6).

4.       Your life will be prosperous -  “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth;  but thou shalt meditate therein day and night,  that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein:  for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous,  and then thou shalt have good success.”  (Joshua 1:8).

5.       You will experience overflowing blessings – “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33).

6.       Your life will be fruitful  -  “Abide in me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of  itself, except it abide in the vine;  no more can ye,  except ye abide in me.  I am the vine,  ye are the branches:  He that abideth in me,  and I in him,  the same bringeth forth much fruit:  for without me ye can do nothing.”  (John 15:4-5).

(From Rev. Teofilito A. Rufon Sunday Worship Messages)

What Have They Seen In Thine House?

“What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, all the things that are in mine house have they seen:  there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them.”  (2 Kings 20:15)

What if God suddenly visits our family!  What can be seen in our house? The family is the smallest unit of society yet it is the most important part of the community.  The family is subject to Satan’s wise destruction plans.  King Hezekiah’s life has moral lessons to be learned  in the aspect of  family life and of raising children.  The key Bible verse to ponder and to get lesson  is  “what have you seen in thine house?” One verse that strikes us most!   This is a challenging question to every Father and Mother of a family!  To raise a better home. Here are  four H’s  simply to be followed:

I – Hospitality  - We  must be hospitable.  This should be a culture of a believer.  In our Church we must initiate greetings and warm welcome to our visitors.  And also when someone visits our house we must show  a welcoming atmosphere just like what Hezekiah did. He even showed every thing.  This means all the blessings God gave to us should be repaid by being friendly and  loving our neighbours and visitors.  Not pride and arrogance.  Not being boastful by living in luxury but simple  living by helping the needy and the sick.

II – Holiness -  What can be seen in thine house?  Is there holiness? The Bible says that “we have been crucified with Christ, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me” therefore we live in accordance to His will.   In our house, vices should be eliminated.  The enemies should be cast out. There should be totally no ash tray, no bottles of alcohol, no cigarette butts, no nude pictures in the calendar, no gambling playing cards, no vulgar words, no worldly satanic rock music,  no porn magazines instead our house should be seen with Bible verses written in the framed hanged in the walls and  Bible displayed  in the altar.  God said:  “Ye shall  diligently keep the commandments of the  Lord your God, and His testimonies, and His statutes, which He hath commanded thee.  And thou shalt do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord..and to cast out all thine enemies.” (Deuteronomy 6:17-19).

III-  Happiness –  What can be seen in your house? Is there  happiness?  Home’s purpose is a place of love.  When was the last you said  I love you to your wife? How can a family be happy if the husband and wife are always quarrelling?  Home is a place of rest.  Father and mother should show happiness not strife. Where did the father or mother  slept last night?  Home should be a place of shelter and security.  Acceptance and understanding should always prevail not misunderstanding and rejection.   “ Better is a dry morsel and quietness therewith, than a house full of sacrifices and strife.  (Proverbs 17:1)

IV -   Harmony – What can be seen in your house?  Being parents,  we should a leader!   To be firm in decisions pertaining to discipline and good governance in the house.  A father who is a provider, protector,  a teacher, and a priest.  A father who provides food, clothing and shelter.  Buy your children with clothes presentable so that  they will be happy.   It is odd to see a father with all the new clothes and new shoes while the wife and children are wearing old and worn out clothes and shoes.  We gave cold beverages and fried chicken to our  friends  while enjoying during drinking spree yet we give sardines and a piece of anchovy  to our children while the wife and parent  are starving  to death and sad,  patiently waiting in the house for our return.  We became termites, not pillars of the family.  A father protects his family and wife.   We only protect our wife during the  days when we are courting and wooing her to become a girlfriend,  but now when marriage ceremony  is over and  old, we walk with our wives so far in a distance while arguing with each other.  We even destroy their lives!   If we know our responsibilities, there is harmony in the house. 

(From Abet F. Falcunitin’s Sunday School Message at Odiongan Baptist Church)

Christmas and Jonah and the Big Fish

“Salvation is of the Lord.”  (Jonah 2:9)

This Christmas,   Jesus is commanding us to follow Him.  To follow His orders. Jonah and the whale’s story focus on salvation.  This Christmas the best gift you can ever give to your friend is the gift of salvation.   And this is the right time.

You may have no riches and material things to give,  but you have the abundance of God’s grace that you can give.   Material things like toys and clothes and foods  and even money are temporary and can be destroyed.  Gifts bought on malls and stores and even imported ones are sometimes fake and did not pass quality assurance.  But the Gospel of Christ and the Bible is genuine,eternal and lasts forever.  It will make man a follower of Christ.  Tell  your families, friends, officemates, neighbours, those in prison and hospital that following the life of Christ is the best  and the happiest  gift they can receive!

Take a glance and consider the life of Jonah.  Jonah’s life was full of lessons.  Jonah disobeyed God.  He ran away from God.  Instead of obeying God’s order to preach the Gospel in Nineveh, he went to Tarshish.  Because of Jonah’s disobedience,  God sent a violent storm!   In our lives, sometimes  God will send storms if we disobey Him!  The storms may be in whatever form like illness, accident, financial difficulty, broken relationship, loss of job, or loss of life.

The storms of our life will pass away because God has prepared it.  God knows how ,  when and why to start and stop the storms!    In the Bible it was said that the  “now the Lord HAD PREPARED a great fish.” (Jonah 1:17).    Meaning, God had prepared our  lives. God knows what will happen to us even to Jonah.  The whole of our life was already a finished plan God had prepared, a master piece.  God created everything , from the weather to the  whale to the forgiveness of Jonah’s disobedience to Jonah’s success of making the Ninevites repent and believe God. God is in control to carry out to accomplish His plan to save us when we are troubled.

We must share the Gospel of Jonah to others.  We must not disregard this and assume we knew better than God.  Jonah though stubborn and always complaining, yet, still God extends His loving arm of mercy and forgiveness that extends beyond all people on earth.

This year’s Christmas may be the appropriate and right time for you to change. God is always telling and reminding us to do right things.   Remember,  God wants you to be an obedient son and to be saved!   The only problem of gift giving is your defying self.  Will you accept His gift? 

(From Andrew's Sermon and Pastor John Abet F. Falcunitin during Baptist Men’s Sunday School )

Why Was The Lord Of Glory Laid In A Manger?

“And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”   (Luke 2:7)

Why was the lord of glory laid in a manger? The answer are because of alienation,  because of  association, and because of accessibility!

 

I – BECAUSE OF ALIENATION -  We  alienate or reject Jesus because we cannot accept Him as our  God and Saviour.  The people of  Nazareth love Jesus as a teacher, a healer, a defender of the poor but when Jesus said I am God,  they said No!  You’re only son of Joseph the carpenter. We do not  want God because we cannot  leave our comfort  zones  and  give up our properties. 

II – BECAUSE OF ASSOCIATION – Jesus was born to associate with mankind. To experience man’s poverty, problems, and priorities.  “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”  (2 Corinthians 8:9). God promised us to meet our needs. “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19). God knows our needs, trials  and struggles in life.  “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.” (Isaiah 53:3).  God knows our poverty.  “And Jesus saith unto him, the foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the son of man hath not where to lay his head.” (Matthew 8:20).

III – BECAUSE OF ACCESSIBILITY – Imagine for a moment that Jesus had been born in Herod’s Palace amid all the riches of that place.  Imagine Him being separated from the common man by the walls and grounds of King’s palace. If that was the case, would you feel the freedom and liberty to come to Him? However , He was born in a manger and thereby he made Himself accessible to all who would come to Him. It is noteworthy to see the visit of the shepherds and the wise men.   This is the reason why God is not interested so much in our talents and treasure but in our time and availability! We must always be accessible to God 24/7 and 365 days a year.

(From Rev. T.A. Rufon’s Sunday Worship Messages)

The Biblical Meaning Of Christmas

“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...All things were made by Him; without him was not any  thing made that was made..and the word was made flesh and dwelt among us.”  (John 1:1-5, 10-14)

Christmas means  God is over us, for us, with us and in us!

I – He Is God Over Us –    God is  our Creator, sustainer, Judge, and the Alpha and Omega .“For by him were all things  created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions, or principalities or powers: all things were created by him and for him.”  (Colossians 1:16). He is our sustainer.    “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5). He is our Judge.     “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.” (John 5:22).   “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.”  (Revelation 22:13).

II – He is God For Us – Jesus is for us. He offered His life for us though we were sinners.  “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8).   ^“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”  (Romans 8:31).

III – He Is God With Us -   God is with us...very close to us!  God is with us in our highest and lowest, fastest and farthest and lightest and darkest moments of our lives. “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” (Matthew 1:23).   “If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.  If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.”  (Psalm 138:8-12).

IV- He Is God In Us – Christ is our hope, help and our haven of rest.  “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).   “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began”  (Titus 1:2).     “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  (Matthew 11:28).

(From Rev. T.A. Rufon’s Sunday Worship Messages)