Sermon by Pastor Melvyn Mak
Title: Surrender is the key to victory
Scripture reading: Phil 2:5-11
Philippians 2:5-11
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in very nature[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7but made himself nothing, taking the very nature[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
How can we experience this kind of victory?
1. SONSHIP - encounter God's love as a son/daughter
Philippians 2:5-6
5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in very nature[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped
God himself portrayed this sonship through his own son, Jesus Christ while he was baptized by John the Baptist
In Luke 3:22,
and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."
At that point of time Jesus was only 30 years old and had yet to start his ministry. Although he did nothing to serve God or his ministry, but yet God affirmed him as his son and confirmed his identity and sonship in him. This phrase gave him the endurance and security which brought him right up to the cross.
We shouldn’t seek the approval of our parents/teachers/bosses to feel loved and accepted. Instead, we should place our sense of identity and security in God’s unconditional love. Our worth is not dependent on our performance, rather, we are all precious in God’s sight regardless of our achievements as we are his sons/daughters.
Luke 15 talks about the Prodigal Son.
The father looked out everyday for his son, waiting for him to come home, and when he did, ran out all the way to embrace him. The son himself did not run to the father, but the father to the son. Just like God running towards us, if we repent he will accept us no matter what we have done.
Galatians 5:1
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
The love of God gives us a position of freedom.
John called himself “the disciple Jesus loved” and really believed it with all his heart. John was the only disciple who had the courage to witness Jesus’ death on the cross, and so Jesus assigned him to take care of his mother, Mary. While the rest of the disciples fled, John believed that “perfect love drives out all fear” and he was secure enough in that love to stay on.
Numbers 13:33
We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them."
______ (fill in your name), the disciple whom Jesus loves!
We will have victory over the inheritance!
2. SURRENDER - Enthrone God's right over your life
Philippians 2: 7- 8
7but made himself nothing, taking the very nature[a] of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!
Adam never took ownership of his sin. The devil stirred up the desire within Adam to lead his own life. Adam never repented, but God forgave him. However, the intimacy was broken, and they left the Garden of Eden.
The tower of Babel.
Genesis 11:4
Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth."
Their motivation was to make a name for themselves, not for God.
Although we don’t surrender, God still loves us. But we can never enter into the victory of God.
2 Chronicles 20:33
The high places, however, were not removed, and the people still had not set their hearts on the God of their fathers.
Does God have a monopoly over your life?
Joyce :D
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