The key to following Jesus

Sketch note done live, colored with Pentel Oil Pastel Sticks before Choir Practice

Bible Passage: Luke 9:23 Jesus says we are to take up our cross daily....

When we pass the family car key to teenage child who just learned to drive we are anxious: can they control car safely?

When we invite Jesus into our lives we dont want to hand over the contols to him.
We want Jesus in the passenger seat, available to help us in times of trouble.
But we dont want Jesus to be in the driver's seat.
FOR if Jeis is driving our lives then all parts of our life are controlled by him
Our Time, Wallet, Ego, Agenda, Mouth, Life....

Who is diving your life
Have you surrendered control of your lif?
We can not come to God without surrender
We cannnot surrender to God without faith/trust

Surrender is not passive
It is active
it requires great courage
It will cause us pain
What we surrender is a life of falsehoods
Surrender should be glad and voluntary.

TURN TO NEIGHBOUR AND STATE
"There is a God and it is not you!"
"There is a God and it is not me!"

Allow Jesus to come into your life and rearrange it
to bring order to chaos


Personal testimony
Pastor felt insecure
Need to be "somebody"
"Leader of the pack"
pressure to perform
did not work
brought frustration

One day surrendered this "false self" to God
Died to false self
Gained Freedom
Gained true life
Subsequently achieved position of leadership,
often in the limelight
but no pressure to be thus

The first 3 steps of 12 step program also involve surrender
It needs to be a daily process
an ongoing process
a continuous process
RE: Romans 12:1To be a living sacrifice
By your own volition
stay on that altar
allow the flames to burn
SCARY!

BUT we can not get out of these troubles just by our own will.
Own will fails because of our craziness
Complete failure of defense
We forget past failure
We are misled by self deceit
we think "this time my mind will help me avoid it"
We are overcome by temporary insanity

ONLY WAY OUT IS TO HAND THE KEYS TO JESUS

Anger is classic example

Someone makes you really angry.
You have violent thoughts
God speaks to you,"No murder" You say "OK"
God speaks to you,"No violence" You say "OK"
God speaks to you,"No gossip" You say "But But But"
It takes some time for you to get used to the idea of "No gossip"
Then you remember the incident and you are angry again.

You need to surrender DAILY to repeat the process.

Surrender is morethan just an internal process
It need to be reflected in your external action
Surrender is costly:
Ego, Pride: Hurt, Shame, Status

Testimony
Angry with daughter
slapped
God says "Apologise"
Struggle, pride issue.. finally did it
Daughter says "ok"
Freedom of soul that came with surrender

HAVE YOU Surrendered your life to Jesus.
Jesus is in relentless persuit of you 
Do you have problem with Grudge, Attitude, Habit, Drug, Sex, Money??

At Gethsemane Jesus prayed "Not my will but thine"

As the choir sang, congregation was invited to make that surrender.

To "seal the deal" to write their name on Key Token, and acknowledge their life belonged to Jesus.