Message 3: Wholly Committed
Someone has said “Superficiality is the curse of the modern age.”
We live in an age of instantaneous everything. Broadband, high speed, on demand – get it now! And while I appreciate the changes that the technological revolution has brought – there is a down side. Getting everything we want, when we want it – has caused us to not take the time to really think through things and evaluate them with depth. Face it, our culture is superficial.
And God bids you to come with Him into the deep places. He is calling you out of the shallows and into the depths.
If there is a reason this fellowship exists, it is to challenge each one of us to look deeply into the things of God and to allow Him to utterly transform us, body, soul and spirit.
In the sixth chapter of Romans, the Apostle Paul is talking about death to self and life in Christ. He talks about baptism as a picture of spiritual death and rebirth. He assures us that if we’ve been united with Christ in his death, we most certainly shall be united with Him in His resurrection.
One of the major challenges that we face – daily – is to stay dead to self and alive in Christ. We all know what it means to battle the flesh. We all know what it means to do the things we don’t want to do and not to do what we really want to do. This is a battle. And it is a battle that will remain with us so long as we live in our corrupted by sin bodies.
Randy Clark, in his book Power, Holiness and Evangelism, writes these challenging words:
“The church as we know it is not transformed; it is not clean and powerful; and it is not victorious. It is not full of healed, delivered, self-denying, transformed believers. Rather, it is often made up of wounded, worn-out warriors. Many of us in our church – leaders and members alike – carry weight of buried, unconfessed past sins that we were never meant to carry. Many of us suffer from unhealed emotional wounds that prevent sus from responding to situations, as the Holy Spirit would like to lead us. Instead, these wounds cause us to respond, consciously or unconsciously, in ways that are influenced or even controlled by our unhealed pain. Many of us are locked into addictions that are ungodly and unseemly, such as gossip, backbiting, dishonesty, pornography, gluttony, outbursts of anger or hate, uncontrollable sex practices, TV, abiding bitterness, and unforgiveness. Many persons, even leaders in the church, live in the realm of the flesh by being touchy, easily offended, controlling, manipulative, greedy and proud.”
Can this be what God intended?
Is this the church that Christ said would storm the gates of hell?
Is this the abundant life that we’ve been talking about for two years?
Christ is calling you into the depths – where He will be empowered to set you free.
Look at Romans 6:13
“Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.” Romans 6:13
Today, God wants to take up an offering. Not one of money, but much more personal than that – He wants us to learn how to offer ourselves to Him as instruments of righteousness.
Look back at verse 11-12
“In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.” Romans 6:11, 12
Paul is saying that in order to live – you’ve got to die. “Dying to self” is not an uncommon theme in the NT, but it’s time for us to learn how to do so.
When I die to myself, I am dying to sin, dying to selfish desires and dying to personal agendas. I’m dying to the ways of the world and the traps of the enemy. I am dying to these things in order that I might live to a higher purpose, agenda and reason.
What happens a believer dies physically? There is a separation between the flesh (the body) and the spirit. The flesh goes into the ground and the spirit of man goes directly into the Presence of God.
When we learn to die to self daily, what is happening is that we are putting ourselves into a place of becoming alive – in the now – to the Presence of Christ.
Missionary Heidi Baker says: “God wants to kill us in order to give us real life – His life!”
Now turn to Proverbs 6:16…
“There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.” Proverbs 6:16-19
I want you to notice something very clear: Eyes, mouth, hands, heart and feet.
When I live my life seeking to please my natural senses, I will miss out on experiencing the amazing plans that God has for my life. But, when these natural senses are yielded ‘die’ to God, than I can begin to move into the abundant life and experience of His presence like never before.
That’s the message. God is calling you to experience real and lasting life through dying to self and surrendering daily the fleshly desires that scream for attention.
And here’s what I want to do now. I want to teach you how to pray through the realities of Romans 26:13.
EYES
Ezekiel 12:2 warns about spiritual blindness.
“Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.” Ezekiel 12:2
I lived most of my life in this condition. I just didn’t get it. I thought that it was all about me. I didn’t see what God was doing and I wasn’t seeing with the eyes of the Holy Spirit.
1 John 2:16 cautions us against the lust of the eyes. This speaks to eyes that wander and are drawn to all kinds of sensual pleasures. No one succeed in the spiritual life with eyes that are full of lust.
What is the focus of your eyes?
Look at John 5:19…
“Jesus gave them this answer: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” John 5:19
Jesus was so in tune with God that He saw exactly what His Father was doing. He was not looking with the eyes of the flesh, He was looking with the eyes of the Spirit.
Let’s get the eyes of the Spirit today.
• Give your eyes over to the Lord.
• Tell Him that you want to see with His eyes.
• Repent of lustful eyes.
• Tell Him that you want to see what He’s doing in the earth.
• Tell Him that you want to see from His perspective.
• Tell Him that you want to behold His beauty.
• Tell Him that you want to experience dreams and visions.
Let’s say outloud together: “God who gave me eyes, I return my sight to you. Grant me true sight through your Holy Spirit. Amen.”
EARS
The same Ezekiel passage we just read also mentions those who have ‘ears to hear, but do not hear…’
We live in a very noisy world. The problem is that we are listening to the wrong sounds. For two years I’ve been teaching you about how to hear the voice of God, yet, many of you are simply not listening to Him!
2 Timothy 4:3-4 says:
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2 Timothy 4:3, 4
Listen to me: Truth has the power to set you free! Truth has the power of overcome your problems. Truth has the power to bring you into places of great blessing and favor with God.
Therefore, it is vital for you to learn to hear His voice correctly.
Jesus said:
“Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you--and even more.” Mark 4:24
The more we listen to certain things, the more they will become part of our lives. If you will discipline yourself to listen carefully to the voice of God, you will experience increased levels of His peace, His joy, His righteousness and His power.
Nothing is better than knowing beyond a shadow of doubt that God is intimately and accurately directing your life!
So, let’s give Him our ears.
Tell Him you want to have ears to ear.
Tell Him you want to filter out the junk and receive the good.
Tell Him you desire His voice above all others.
Now pray this outloud with me:
“Lord, I give you my ears. Grant me discernment to know your voice. Separate me from the noise and move me into the quiet places with you. Amen.”
MOUTH
The Bible makes in clear in numerous places that what comes out of your mouth can either be a blessing or a curse.
Proverbs 18:21 says:
“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:21
It’s time to give Him your mouth.
It’s time to ask Him to use your tongue for His purposes.
It’s time to ask Him to speak through you.
So, we pray: “Lord, I give you my mouth. My mouth, my lips, my tongue, my voice – all to your glory! Let my mouth speaks the praises of God!”
NOSE
It may strike you as funny that we are to give God our nose.
But 2 Corinthians 2:15 tells us something special about ourselves.
“For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.” 2 Corinthians 2:15
When you are being touched by God, your life takes on a fragrance of Christ! Your life becomes more fragrant and more aromatic – and like a great homecooked meal – you draw people into Christ through your life.
And God wants us to give Him our noses.
• Aren’t you tired of smelling the stench of this dead and dying world?
• Isn’t it time to ask for a new intimacy with Him – so much so that you can move in close and smell His sweet fragrance?
Let’s pray:
“Father, I am yielding my nose to you. I want to smell the fragrance of Christ. I want to breathe in the Spirit of God. I give you my nose. Amen.”
HANDS
The Apostle Paul talks about the importance of not dirting our hands with sinful things. Look at 2 Corinthians 6:17:
“Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” 2 Corinthians 6:17
• What are you touching that is unclean?
• What are you doing with your hands that isn’t of God?
It’s time for God’s people to embrace holiness and purity as important virtues. It’s time that we live differently than the people of this world.
• God wants to use your hands as if they were His.
• God wants your hands to accomplish His goals.
Pray with me:
“God, I give you my hands. Use them to serve you. Use them to touch those in need. Use them as instruments of healing. Cause me to touch only that which you are touching. Amen.”
FEET
Proverbs 4:26-27 says…
“Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” Proverbs 4:26, 27, NIV.
How many times have you ended up someplace in your life that you had no intention of going to? Every step you take to please your flesh is a step you are taking away from God. It’s time to be wise as to where you walk.
On the other hand, Isaiah 52:7 says:
“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Isaiah 52:7
A life that is dedicated to only going where God leads is a life that will bring beauty to all those you touch.
Let’s pray:
“Lord, I give you my feet. Order my steps that I will be at the right place at the right time. Keep me from steps that lead to evil. My feet are yours. I will walk as you lead. Amen.”
And lastly…
HEART
Jesus gives this warning in Matthew 15:8…
‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” Matthew 15:8, NIV.
I have discovered that many people in church have hearts that are far, far away from Christ. They weren’t always that way, but they let little compromises turn into hardness of heart. Tragic and unnecessary. God wants all of your heart. All of it.
Jesus said:
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8
It’s time for you to give your heart fully to Him. Nothing less will do and nothing less will satisfy.
Pray with me:
‘GOD, I give you my heart – all of it! Take my wounds and heal me. Replace my heart of stone with a heart of tenderness and compassion. Give me a heart of love and a heart that is passionate for You above all else! Amen.”
CONCLUSION:
Living for Christ on a daily basis will change everything. It’s time to come out and be counted as truly His.
Give Him your EYES, MOUTH, EARS, NOSE, TONGUE AND HANDS!
It’s time to go deep with Christ!
We live in an age of instantaneous everything. Broadband, high speed, on demand – get it now! And while I appreciate the changes that the technological revolution has brought – there is a down side. Getting everything we want, when we want it – has caused us to not take the time to really think through things and evaluate them with depth. Face it, our culture is superficial.
And God bids you to come with Him into the deep places. He is calling you out of the shallows and into the depths.
If there is a reason this fellowship exists, it is to challenge each one of us to look deeply into the things of God and to allow Him to utterly transform us, body, soul and spirit.
In the sixth chapter of Romans, the Apostle Paul is talking about death to self and life in Christ. He talks about baptism as a picture of spiritual death and rebirth. He assures us that if we’ve been united with Christ in his death, we most certainly shall be united with Him in His resurrection.
One of the major challenges that we face – daily – is to stay dead to self and alive in Christ. We all know what it means to battle the flesh. We all know what it means to do the things we don’t want to do and not to do what we really want to do. This is a battle. And it is a battle that will remain with us so long as we live in our corrupted by sin bodies.
Randy Clark, in his book Power, Holiness and Evangelism, writes these challenging words:
“The church as we know it is not transformed; it is not clean and powerful; and it is not victorious. It is not full of healed, delivered, self-denying, transformed believers. Rather, it is often made up of wounded, worn-out warriors. Many of us in our church – leaders and members alike – carry weight of buried, unconfessed past sins that we were never meant to carry. Many of us suffer from unhealed emotional wounds that prevent sus from responding to situations, as the Holy Spirit would like to lead us. Instead, these wounds cause us to respond, consciously or unconsciously, in ways that are influenced or even controlled by our unhealed pain. Many of us are locked into addictions that are ungodly and unseemly, such as gossip, backbiting, dishonesty, pornography, gluttony, outbursts of anger or hate, uncontrollable sex practices, TV, abiding bitterness, and unforgiveness. Many persons, even leaders in the church, live in the realm of the flesh by being touchy, easily offended, controlling, manipulative, greedy and proud.”
Can this be what God intended?
Is this the church that Christ said would storm the gates of hell?
Is this the abundant life that we’ve been talking about for two years?
Christ is calling you into the depths – where He will be empowered to set you free.
Look at Romans 6:13
“Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.” Romans 6:13
Today, God wants to take up an offering. Not one of money, but much more personal than that – He wants us to learn how to offer ourselves to Him as instruments of righteousness.
Look back at verse 11-12
“In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.” Romans 6:11, 12
Paul is saying that in order to live – you’ve got to die. “Dying to self” is not an uncommon theme in the NT, but it’s time for us to learn how to do so.
When I die to myself, I am dying to sin, dying to selfish desires and dying to personal agendas. I’m dying to the ways of the world and the traps of the enemy. I am dying to these things in order that I might live to a higher purpose, agenda and reason.
What happens a believer dies physically? There is a separation between the flesh (the body) and the spirit. The flesh goes into the ground and the spirit of man goes directly into the Presence of God.
When we learn to die to self daily, what is happening is that we are putting ourselves into a place of becoming alive – in the now – to the Presence of Christ.
Missionary Heidi Baker says: “God wants to kill us in order to give us real life – His life!”
Now turn to Proverbs 6:16…
“There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.” Proverbs 6:16-19
I want you to notice something very clear: Eyes, mouth, hands, heart and feet.
When I live my life seeking to please my natural senses, I will miss out on experiencing the amazing plans that God has for my life. But, when these natural senses are yielded ‘die’ to God, than I can begin to move into the abundant life and experience of His presence like never before.
That’s the message. God is calling you to experience real and lasting life through dying to self and surrendering daily the fleshly desires that scream for attention.
And here’s what I want to do now. I want to teach you how to pray through the realities of Romans 26:13.
EYES
Ezekiel 12:2 warns about spiritual blindness.
“Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.” Ezekiel 12:2
I lived most of my life in this condition. I just didn’t get it. I thought that it was all about me. I didn’t see what God was doing and I wasn’t seeing with the eyes of the Holy Spirit.
1 John 2:16 cautions us against the lust of the eyes. This speaks to eyes that wander and are drawn to all kinds of sensual pleasures. No one succeed in the spiritual life with eyes that are full of lust.
What is the focus of your eyes?
Look at John 5:19…
“Jesus gave them this answer: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” John 5:19
Jesus was so in tune with God that He saw exactly what His Father was doing. He was not looking with the eyes of the flesh, He was looking with the eyes of the Spirit.
Let’s get the eyes of the Spirit today.
• Give your eyes over to the Lord.
• Tell Him that you want to see with His eyes.
• Repent of lustful eyes.
• Tell Him that you want to see what He’s doing in the earth.
• Tell Him that you want to see from His perspective.
• Tell Him that you want to behold His beauty.
• Tell Him that you want to experience dreams and visions.
Let’s say outloud together: “God who gave me eyes, I return my sight to you. Grant me true sight through your Holy Spirit. Amen.”
EARS
The same Ezekiel passage we just read also mentions those who have ‘ears to hear, but do not hear…’
We live in a very noisy world. The problem is that we are listening to the wrong sounds. For two years I’ve been teaching you about how to hear the voice of God, yet, many of you are simply not listening to Him!
2 Timothy 4:3-4 says:
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2 Timothy 4:3, 4
Listen to me: Truth has the power to set you free! Truth has the power of overcome your problems. Truth has the power to bring you into places of great blessing and favor with God.
Therefore, it is vital for you to learn to hear His voice correctly.
Jesus said:
“Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you--and even more.” Mark 4:24
The more we listen to certain things, the more they will become part of our lives. If you will discipline yourself to listen carefully to the voice of God, you will experience increased levels of His peace, His joy, His righteousness and His power.
Nothing is better than knowing beyond a shadow of doubt that God is intimately and accurately directing your life!
So, let’s give Him our ears.
Tell Him you want to have ears to ear.
Tell Him you want to filter out the junk and receive the good.
Tell Him you desire His voice above all others.
Now pray this outloud with me:
“Lord, I give you my ears. Grant me discernment to know your voice. Separate me from the noise and move me into the quiet places with you. Amen.”
MOUTH
The Bible makes in clear in numerous places that what comes out of your mouth can either be a blessing or a curse.
Proverbs 18:21 says:
“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:21
It’s time to give Him your mouth.
It’s time to ask Him to use your tongue for His purposes.
It’s time to ask Him to speak through you.
So, we pray: “Lord, I give you my mouth. My mouth, my lips, my tongue, my voice – all to your glory! Let my mouth speaks the praises of God!”
NOSE
It may strike you as funny that we are to give God our nose.
But 2 Corinthians 2:15 tells us something special about ourselves.
“For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.” 2 Corinthians 2:15
When you are being touched by God, your life takes on a fragrance of Christ! Your life becomes more fragrant and more aromatic – and like a great homecooked meal – you draw people into Christ through your life.
And God wants us to give Him our noses.
• Aren’t you tired of smelling the stench of this dead and dying world?
• Isn’t it time to ask for a new intimacy with Him – so much so that you can move in close and smell His sweet fragrance?
Let’s pray:
“Father, I am yielding my nose to you. I want to smell the fragrance of Christ. I want to breathe in the Spirit of God. I give you my nose. Amen.”
HANDS
The Apostle Paul talks about the importance of not dirting our hands with sinful things. Look at 2 Corinthians 6:17:
“Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” 2 Corinthians 6:17
• What are you touching that is unclean?
• What are you doing with your hands that isn’t of God?
It’s time for God’s people to embrace holiness and purity as important virtues. It’s time that we live differently than the people of this world.
• God wants to use your hands as if they were His.
• God wants your hands to accomplish His goals.
Pray with me:
“God, I give you my hands. Use them to serve you. Use them to touch those in need. Use them as instruments of healing. Cause me to touch only that which you are touching. Amen.”
FEET
Proverbs 4:26-27 says…
“Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” Proverbs 4:26, 27, NIV.
How many times have you ended up someplace in your life that you had no intention of going to? Every step you take to please your flesh is a step you are taking away from God. It’s time to be wise as to where you walk.
On the other hand, Isaiah 52:7 says:
“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Isaiah 52:7
A life that is dedicated to only going where God leads is a life that will bring beauty to all those you touch.
Let’s pray:
“Lord, I give you my feet. Order my steps that I will be at the right place at the right time. Keep me from steps that lead to evil. My feet are yours. I will walk as you lead. Amen.”
And lastly…
HEART
Jesus gives this warning in Matthew 15:8…
‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” Matthew 15:8, NIV.
I have discovered that many people in church have hearts that are far, far away from Christ. They weren’t always that way, but they let little compromises turn into hardness of heart. Tragic and unnecessary. God wants all of your heart. All of it.
Jesus said:
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8
It’s time for you to give your heart fully to Him. Nothing less will do and nothing less will satisfy.
Pray with me:
‘GOD, I give you my heart – all of it! Take my wounds and heal me. Replace my heart of stone with a heart of tenderness and compassion. Give me a heart of love and a heart that is passionate for You above all else! Amen.”
CONCLUSION:
Living for Christ on a daily basis will change everything. It’s time to come out and be counted as truly His.
Give Him your EYES, MOUTH, EARS, NOSE, TONGUE AND HANDS!
It’s time to go deep with Christ!
posted by Doug Love at 12:51 PM
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