Romans 6:13-22
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Introduction: You have a huge project going on at your place and you need help. Someone comes by and tells you that they have a free day and that they are at your disposal for the day.
What is the first thing that comes to mind? How serious are they really about being at your disposal? What does that really mean? How would you describe what being at someone’s disposal means? For me it means that what ever they ask me to do I will do with all my ability. I will strive to do it right and with care.
How is this proved out? By how they work and act during the time they offer to you, right? If they don’t do what you ask or goof off when ever they get the opportunity, were they really serious? No. When we asked Jesus to be Lord and Savior of your life what did we have to confess to Him? That we were doing things our way, which doesn’t work and only leads us into sin, that being so, then what way should we be living our lives now? His way.
As we have gone through our study on the power available to us from God, we have seen first and foremost that all power belongs to God. The power of the Blood of Jesus to save us from sin’s consequences and deliver us into relationship with God, as His children, the power of the Word of God to give us all the wisdom and understanding we need to live a godly life and to know all that God has available to us. The power of the Holy Spirit to lead us and direct us in Christian life and service, defeating sin in us and sanctifying us, The Power of Prayer, asking as God’s children.
All this power is available to us but there is a condition to receiving it; the condition is that we put ourselves completely at God’s disposal, offering ourselves up to Him in complete surrender to His will and way. Vs 13, 22.
How would you treat someone who does everything you ask?
Only when we have put ourselves completely at God’s disposal will we know the blessedness and power available to us from God. Vs 13 is the secret revealed to living a life of power from God. When we offer ourselves to God we are putting ourselves fully at His disposal. We have now become His property, 1 Pet. 1:18–19 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. We were redeemed, bought back, and as His property we must allow Him to use us how ever He will.
By doing this we will be making the wisest choice we could ever make for our lives, because by doing so we will secure all the blessedness that is possible for man to receive from God. He will bless all who surrender to Him, putting them selves at His disposal, blessed with an ever increasing measure. James 4:6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
Every day when we rise up there should be a new prayer upon our lips as R. A. Torrey prays; “Heavenly Father, from now on, I have no will of my own. Let Your will be done in me, through me, by me and regarding me, in all things. I put myself in Your hands. Please do what ever You desire with me.”
How do you think God, who is infinite in love, wisdom and power will answer this prayer? Luke 18:1-8 God would do His very best for us. We may not see it immediately, but trusting God for who He is, we will see the result of this sooner more than later. God will pour out His love into our hearts, filling us with joy, peace, the light of Jesus and with power. Rom. 5:5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Absolute surrender to God and His will is the secret of being blessed by God and filled with power for Christian life and service. The truth of God’s word will begin to fill our being and will illumine, light up, our path that lay ahead. 1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all
When we act in self will instead of a surrendered will the darkness of our understanding takes over and we grope about in the dark trying to find our way. When we put ourselves at God’s disposal the questions that have bothered us for a long time begin to be answered. When we walk in the darkness of our own understanding and will we begin to be filled with doubt and unanswered questions, like we are slipping and sliding about in moving water neck deep on slimy rocks.
Vs 15-16 The deep truths of God and of life can not be learned by mere study or investigation. They can not be reasoned out. They must be revealed to us. This will only happen when we have laid our lives and wills into the hands of God. Matt. 6:24
When we surrender ourselves completely to God’s will for us we will begin to know the power of prayer at work in us and through us. 1 John 3:22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him.
When we are fully submitted to God’s will we will begin to pray for the things God wants us to have and to pray for and when we pray according to His will we are promised to receive what we have asked for. 1 John 5:14–15This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
Vs 17-18 This is so because when we are at God’s disposal we are keeping His commands for our lives which are pleasing to Him.
When we don’t receive it is because we have refused to be at His disposal and are no longer are asking according to His will for us but asking for our own selfish desires. Jam. 4:1-4
Jesus had confidence that the Father heard His every prayer and would answer them. John 11:42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
Why? Because He came to earth and lived His life here completely surrendered to the Father’s will for Him. John 6:38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.
If we will put ourselves at God’s disposal we will know the power of God working in us, through us and by us. There will be great joy in our lives by living a surrendered life.
John 15:10–11 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. Jesus knew the joy of a surrendered life and we His disciples can know that joy as well.
Ever meet a half hearted Christian?
Even when we are going through the toughest times of life we can know the joy of God’s love and will, carrying us through.
When we live a surrendered life to God we will see God go to work in us giving us peace, revealing truth to us, watching our prayers get answered and having our hearts filled with the joy of His presence and knowing Jesus active in our lives.
John 14:21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”
Jesus will be evident to us, loving us, walking with us and even carrying our burdens. We will know His gentle leading and instructing. Matt. 11:28-30
Living our lives at God’s disposal will give us all these things and even a fullness of the Holy Spirit in us, as we have never known before. We can ask all we want for the fullness of the Spirit but will never know that fullness unless we are completely submitted to doing God’s will in our lives. Only then will we know the power of the Holy Spirit in us and working through us.
Crumbs to feed our hunger. Oh, we can know bits and pieces of God’s power at work in us. But if we want the fullness of God’s power at work in our lives then we need to put ourselves at God’s disposal, willing to do His will for our lives no matter what.
Doing so we will begin to operate in the power of the Blood, the power of the Word, the power of the Spirit and in the power of Prayer, but we must ask for it and tell God we are His to do with as He pleases because we are fully submitted to Him and His will for us. Then as we saw in vs 17-18, we must obey and do what he says, showing we are serious.
Vs 19-23 What benefit do we have in not surrendering to God? Living according to our will only leads us away from God and His blessings. Will we surrender to Him today? Will we know the joy and power that will fill us if we put ourselves at God’s disposal?
Will you come and pray with me the prayer the prayer Torrey prayed; “Heavenly Father, from now on, I have no will of my own. Let Your will be done in me, through me, by me and regarding me, in all things. I put myself in Your hands. Please do what ever You desire with me.”
Benediction: Rom. 6:22-23
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