Surrendering the “Me” for “We” Philippians 2:5-8 Sunday, December 6, 2009 Jim Beasley

Surrender to God

If I Do That, What Am I Giving Up? If I Do That, What Am I Giving Up? Surrender means to yield ownership, to relinquish control over what we consider ours: our property, our time, and our "rights." Surrender means to yield ownership, to relinquish control over what we consider ours: our property, our time, and our "rights." What is it that you desire today? What is it that you desire today?

Living Sacrifice - A Biblical Truth As Christians, we're called to give ourselves to God as a "living sacrifice." As Christians, we're called to give ourselves to God as a "living sacrifice." Jesus said that in order for us to be effective servants in His kingdom we must die to self. Jesus said that in order for us to be effective servants in His kingdom we must die to self. Dying to Self Dying to Self

When you are forgotten, neglected, or purposely set at naught, and you don't sting or hurt with the oversight, but your heart is happy being counted worthy to suffer for Christ; That is dying to self.

When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinion ridiculed, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart or even defend yourself, but take it all in patient, loving silence; That is dying to self.

When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, any annoyance; when you can stand face to face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensibility, and endure it as Jesus did; That is dying to self.

When you are content with any food, and offering, any raiment, any climate, any society, any solitude, any interruption by the will of God; That is dying to self.

When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation or record your own good works or itch after commendation, when you can truly love to be unknown; That is dying to self.

When you can see your brother prosper and have his needs met, and can honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy, nor question God, while your own needs are far greater and you are in desperate circumstances; That is dying to self.

When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself and can humbly submit, inwardly as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart; That is dying to self.

Get Out of Your Comfort Zones Each of us here has a comfort zone. Each of us here has a comfort zone. We believe that each Christian ought to have the desire to be better, but "better" cannot be achieved when we limit ourselves to the satisfaction of our comfort zones. We believe that each Christian ought to have the desire to be better, but "better" cannot be achieved when we limit ourselves to the satisfaction of our comfort zones. Our being better cannot be achieved when we as Christian folks limit ourselves to our comfort zones. Our being better cannot be achieved when we as Christian folks limit ourselves to our comfort zones.

The Body and “Me” I Corinthians 12:12 I Corinthians 12:12 Like a human body is Christ's church; we are an organism. Like a human body is Christ's church; we are an organism. When you were added to the body at baptism you cease to be “Me” and became “We”. When you were added to the body at baptism you cease to be “Me” and became “We”. There is no real reason for you to say, "I don't matter. I can hang loose on the fringe. I'm not really a part." There is no real reason for you to say, "I don't matter. I can hang loose on the fringe. I'm not really a part." We are one. We are one.

Let’s Get Practical Surrender past hurts and disappointments to the past (Philippians 3:13-15). The past can cripple God’s work for the future if “I” let it control how “I” interact and work with “You”. Surrender past hurts and disappointments to the past (Philippians 3:13-15). The past can cripple God’s work for the future if “I” let it control how “I” interact and work with “You”. Ask yourself, why am I here, why has God placed me in this body and what is it God wants me to do? Ask yourself, why am I here, why has God placed me in this body and what is it God wants me to do? Understand that if you are not feeling connected, it could be because you are not initiating with others. Understand that if you are not feeling connected, it could be because you are not initiating with others. Become a part of the solution and not the problem. Become a part of the solution and not the problem. Realize that if you are not willing to invest in the work here you should not expect to benefit from it. Realize that if you are not willing to invest in the work here you should not expect to benefit from it.