My cup would be filled because Christ would provide everything I need.

Peter was just a fisherman—a foul-mouthed, rude, selfish, proud fisherman. Then Jesus came along and called him to something more. As Peter spent time with Jesus, he discovered a life he had never expected. He found Jesus to be Someone who could be trusted, and Peter put his faith in Him. Peter placed everything in Jesus’ hands and opened his heart to the gift that Jesus had promised him: the gift of the Holy Spirit. He was then filled with love for his friends, fellow disciples, and even his enemies. This was a complete transformation of Peter’s heart, from hardened and worldly to Christ-like, sharing the same tenderness, joy, peacefulness, and overflowing love as the heart of Christ.

Consider this: I am Peter, and you are Peter. Jesus called Peter the fisherman just as He calls you, every day, to a life spent with Him. What if you give Christ everything? If Peter started out just like you, imperfect and unqualified, couldn’t you end up just like him? Just like Peter, when you surrender to Christ, you will be changed, used by God, and filled with the Holy Spirit.

[Option for speaker—here, tell about your personal experience with giving Jesus everything: add your own testimony. How was your life beforehand? How is it different now? Use a single instance or a compilation of your experiences.]

What is God calling you to today? Complete surrender? Daily time spent getting to know Him? Letting Him help you forgive those who have hurt you? You know that Jesus is trustworthy and that you are most secure when you trust in Him. What would happen if you give Him everything? There is only one way to find out. In the book Ministry of Healing we read, “There is no limit to the usefulness of one who, putting self aside, makes room for the working of the Holy Spirit upon his heart and lives a life wholly consecrated to God. All who consecrate body, soul, and spirit to His service will be constantly receiving a new endowment of physical, mental, and spiritual power. The inexhaustible supplies of heaven are at their command.”

Date: 2015-02-16; view: 461