Today I'm Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram. Before I had trusted Christ, I wondered if God existed and if he did, What does he want from me and why? Today, I'm going to answer that question. Stay with me. What does complete surrender to God actually look like?
It's not an emotional moment that fades by Tuesday. Today, on Living on the Edge, Chippingram gets intensely practical about total commitment. Using the picture of a blank check made out to Jesus Christ, he shows exactly what you're saying yes to and why it's not the sacrifice you think it is. This teaching will challenge your assumptions about control, safety, and what makes life truly exciting. You'll discover why settling for plastic pearls keeps you from experiencing the treasure God wants to give you.
Well, here's Chip Ingram continuing his message, how to give God what he wants the most. When Jesus is teaching this, it's out of Matthew chapter 13, verses 44 and 45. But he says, The kingdom of heaven. is like a treasure hidden in the field. which a man found Then he hit again.
And from joy over it, he goes and sells all that he has, and he buys that field.
So look at verse 45. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, of exquisite value, of over-the-top, priceless value is the idea. He went and sold all the pearls that he had. anybody.
So if you have a pen, pull it out. Let's go up to verse 44. I want you to see something. Jesus isn't talking about money and treasure. He's making a very profound spiritual point and principle about decision-making.
And what he's saying is this. Jesus is saying when you understand who he is and you get the treasure of what it is to have relationship with him and the plan that he has for you on this earth You would, with reckless abandon and joy, forsake all else to get that. Put another way, his thesis is Total commitment. is the channel. through which God's biggest and best blessings flow.
Did you realize that? I mean, total commitment. He sold all that he had. Motive joy. Above the word in your notes where it says total commitment, would you write the word surrender and put a box around it?
Surrender. Is the conduit, it's the channel through which God's best and biggest blessings flow. And so what I want to do in the remainder of our time, I want to define very specifically what total commitment looks like. We are not leading up to some emotional moment. We're leading up to a wise decision where you're going to weigh the risk and the logic of saying to God in a few minutes, I surrender all to you.
I would sign a blank check. made out to you. I would say to you, From this day forward, I'm all in. I may be a little fearful, but I'm all in. But in order to do that, you know, what's that look like?
The answer is in Romans chapter 12, verse 1. And after 11 chapters of treasure of what God has done, of how much He loves you, of His sovereignty, His goodness, His forgiveness. His power, his spirit living within you, his gifts, all the plans that he has for you. In chapter 12, Your response to that is: therefore, I urge you, brothers. Sisters Fellow family members, the Apostle Paul writes, in view of God's mercy, offer your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.
This. is your spiritual act of worship. Notice the structure. There's a command. There's a motivation.
And there's a reason. I'd like you if you will put a box around the word offer. Put a box around Living sacrifice. and then put a little box around the word holy. The command is to offer your body to God.
And this isn't metaphorical. This is like your physical body, your eyes, your head, your hands, all that you are. And the word offer here is in a tense in the Greek language that's punctiliar. And what that means is, on a certain day at a certain time, this passage is not explaining how to have your sins forgiven. This passage is not explaining what it means to be in God's family.
Salvation occurs at the end of chapter 3, 4, and right in chapter 5: the work of Christ by grace. You receive the free gift by faith. Chapter 12 is saying, How do normal Christians follow Jesus out of gratitude? And God says, are you ready? This is what I want.
I want you to. On a certain day At a certain time, to say to me All I am. All I have is yours. That's what it means to offer. I will tell you that Tens of thousands of people in America and around the world do not understand the channel through which God's best and biggest blessings flow.
the power for the Christian life. comes in this moment of offering.
Now it requires faith. requires believing in an invisible treasure that you can't see. It's a historical Living God who's walked upon the earth and died in your place and rose and sits at the right hand of God and says to you, There's an unspeakable treasure who, for joy, says to you, let me give you the best. And then notice it's not just one big emotional experience. What's the next box?
It's living sacrifice, right? Many of you in this room will make that step today. Many in this room have already taken that step. But it's you offer your body as a living sacrifice.
So the living sacrifice. You know, is a lot like marriage. You know, in 1978, I said to Teresa, I surrender to you, nobody else but you. And she said, I surrender to you. And we said, let's do this together forever, no matter what.
But I've had to renew that commitment almost every day. And there's times we needed marriage counseling, we've had hard times with some of our kids, and we've had health issues, and we've had cancer, and we've had all kinds of problems. But no matter what, because we said, boom. We commit to one another no matter what. It was that commitment that kept us together.
And it's been the channel of God's biggest and best blessings. I got a great wife. I got a loyal wife. I got the best friend I've ever had. I've got a relationship I never saw in my family growing up.
I never dreamed. Has it been easy? No. It's been great. See, the issue is not he wants to take something good away.
The issue is any good thing that stands between you and him that's an idol will destroy your relationship with him. And by the way, it'll destroy your relationship with the idol.
So it's a living sacrifice. You make the commitment, but then it's daily renewing and living, and it's holy. That's the last word, is holy. You can't come and not deal with your stuff. There's some of you, you're sitting here at this moment, you're thinking, if I surrender this relationship with this rotten guy or this girl that I know isn't God's will, but I sure love her.
God would say, you know it's not right. For some of you, you're realizing we probably, living together is not an option if I surrender. For others of you, you're going, oh my gosh, you know, my priorities are so out of whack, I'm a workaholic, or my finances are a mess. See, it's holy. No blemished sheep.
He's just saying, you come as you are, but there's this commitment to say, God, I. I'm not playing games. I'm going to do life your way. And then I'm going to bring all of me. And that's not only the good stuff, but you're going to come and say, I'm bringing my fears of rejection.
I'm bringing my fears of the future. I'm bringing my fears of what you might do. I trust that you're a good God. In fact, notice the motivation. The motivation is not get with the program.
It's the mercy of God. The mercy of God. He's looking back on the last 11 chapters, but he's saying. God's asking for all of you, but what's He done? He's loved you.
He's forgiven you. He's paid for your sin. He's caused the Spirit to come into your body. He's taken you from the kingdom of darkness and put you in the kingdom of light. He's adopted you as a daughter or as a son.
He has a purpose for your life. He's creating a place at this very moment in heaven for you. He's laid down his life. He says, Can't you trust me? This is like someone who you've given a million dollars.
And they come to you and they say, hey. Um You uh You think I could borrow 20 bucks? He goes, I don't know. I don't know if you pay back. And you go, what do you mean by don't have a payback?
I gave you a million dollars. Yeah, well I don't know. See, that's you start to get the kingdom logic. How could you not to a God? who has demonstrated why you were his enemy and I was his enemy.
laid down his life. How can we not believe that he's good? that is compassionate. that he's kind. See, this is not a get-with-the-program, be a superstar or a Christian Marine.
This is a let your father love you. Let's remove the barriers. And the final Reason? Is Your spiritual act of worship. In other words, what God really wants.
I mean, we started out with a question that leads to a decision. The question is, how do you give God what He wants the most? Are you ready for this? It gets real simple: God wants you. All of you.
Every aspect of you. See, you can read the Bible, you can pray, you can come to church, you can give some money, you can go on a missions trip, you can try and be a good moral person, you can do all kinds of things. There was a group in the New Testament that did all that and more. And Jesus said the harshest things that ever came out of his mouth about those religious people because their hearts weren't his. They were in control and they used their religion and they thought they were better than other people.
They weren't tender, they weren't broken, they weren't loving. Left to ourselves, we are a people who will create some little grid or model about how we're okay with God because we're doing this, this, this, this, and this as we gain and keep control. And your control always is shown by where your money goes, where your time goes, where your energy goes, and what you dream about. And when he has your heart in those areas, I'll tell you what, those things get transformed. And then Then are you ready?
you discover why you're here. You discover what your purpose is. You discovered there really is more to life than setting goals and accomplishing them. you experience the treasure both now and the promise forever. He wants you.
You're listening to Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram. We're halfway through today's message, so don't go anywhere just yet. Today's insightful lesson comes from our series called God's Dream for Your Life. Want to dig deeper into these truths?
Well, the full series is ready for you online at livingonthege.org. You'll discover extra teaching content, downloadable materials, and discussion guides to take you further. Find it all at livingonthege.org.
Well now let's rejoin Chip with today's message. As you turn to the back page, I wanted to just Give you two pictures that have been very helpful to me. One is a a blank check. And I want to tell you, this Please do not hear. Everything will be easy and wonderful and great.
In fact, many of you will be tested. It may get worse before it gets better. The Holy Spirit would say, well, how's it working for you your way? And today. Pay to the order of Jesus Christ and there's a date and you'll write today's date.
And then you'll sign your name. And there'll be a sense of fear in your heart, but it'll be a step of faith, and you'll say, I'm all in, God. You can cash this. You can cash this with my future, you cash this with my relationships, you cash this with my finances, you cash with my career, you cash it with my geography. I will do whatever you want me to do.
I believe you're that good and that kind. And I actually believe that you could pick out what's better for me than I could pick out for me. Do you see how arrogant it is when we say to God, Oh, I want your forgiveness and your salvation, but I'll run my life. 'Cause I'm way smarter than you. I mean, you created the universe, but look at me.
So I really want you to think risk. Reason. the decision-making process. What it means to fill out the check I came across a small excerpt of a of a prayer by a lady named Ruth Myers. And just lean back, you can even shut your eyes.
When you think about what it means for you to sign this check in just a moment, think. of a prayer that might go something like this, Lord, I'm yours. Whatever the cost may be. Your will be done in my life. I realize that I'm not on earth to do my own thing or to seek my own fulfillment or my own glory.
I'm not here to indulge my desires or increase my possessions or to impress people. to be popular or to prove I'm somebody important. or to promote myself. I'm not even here to be relevant and successful by human standards. I am here on this earth to please you.
And so now I offer myself to you, for you are worthy. All that I am or hope to be, I owe to you. I am yours by creation, and I am yours by the purchase price of your Son on the cross that paid for my sin. And so right now I give you My body in each of its members. My entire inner being.
I give you my mind, my emotional life, my will, my loved ones, my marriage, or my hope for marriage. I give you right now my abilities and my gifts, my strengths and my weaknesses, my health and my status, whether it be high or low. I give you my possessions, my past, my present, and my future. And I even give you when You want to bring me home to be with you. I'm here to love you.
and to obey you. and to glorify you. You ready to take that step? It'll be the greatest decision you ever, ever make. And for some of you that are a little bored, If you play lots of video games, watch a lot of TV, have to go to a lot of movies, find yourself shopping or eating a lot.
You know what those are? That's symptoms of a life. of boredom. That's a symptom of nothing of genuine purpose and focus. That's a symptom of medicating yourself.
With plastic pearl beads. And I had a little struggle growing up long before I was a Christian. I like adventure, I like excitement, I like risk. And so someone early introduced me to cards, so I played cards Friday night, gambled. And then I was fascinated with horse racing, so by my senior year, Tuesday and Friday nights.
I played the horses. And I just can't tell you the thrill that it is. to put down two dollars your very first bet and win a $103 quinella. Yeah. I thought, what an easy way to make money.
And so that sent me on a journey where I found myself about a year and a half later, literally in the boys' bathroom. I put my feet up on the commode so they couldn't see me. And when the three linemen on the football team that I owed a few hundred dollars to were coming to collect, in a very inappropriate way to my body. I decided to quit gambling. I wasn't a Christian, it wasn't anything spiritual to it, it was like this is nuts.
And I get a problem. But I have to tell you I'm going to turn on the old T V. And the world poker Texas Hold'em is on. I just have to check it out. And Here's what I love.
Because there's a great principle. You know, it's the final table. They got all these stacks, millions of dollars. The pots worth, you know, $14.7 million. Two loho cards, those Risk.
These are good cards. Reason. evaluating everything I've seen this guy do in response. Action, faith. You could probably finish it with me, right?
I'm... All In and then what happens? Electricity happens. The game completely changes. Then he steps up, he starts walking around.
Yeah. Why? Here's why because something's gonna happen There's no reward until you get to the point where you say, I'm all in. He's either going to get a bracelet and multiple millions of dollars, or he's going to lose. And I want to tell you that the God of the universe brought you in this room on this day for you to say to him, I'm all in.
And when you do, you will begin to experience power and excitement and challenge. and purpose like you've never known. Because just like in Texas, hold them. The game never really gets interesting. Until you're all in.
And my my sad observation Is the great majority of Christians that I know are just trying to be nice people. Trying to get a little bit better mobility for their family. Trying to figure out how to balance all the demands. Be a little bit more polite than most people. Read their Bible now and then and come to church.
and put a little salve on the gilt of your soul. And your Heavenly Father, I think with tears in his eyes. Say, why won't you taste the treasure? Without faith, it's impossible to please God. But those that come must believe that he is.
And that he's a Rewarder. of those who diligently seek him. Father, as we bow our heads, And you are working deeply and powerfully inside the hearts and minds. of the people in this room. I pray that you would grant faith and courage to sign the check, not just the perfunctory action of doing it in just a moment.
but the signing of the check from their heart even with the fear and concern, and say, God. I'm yours. All I am. All I have All I hope to be. You deal.
Lord, I pray for those that know that there's real hard decisions that need to be made. That you give them the courage to mentally make that, to tell you in their heart right now what they're going to do. and find a trusted friend. that they can share that with. Lord, for those that this is the first time, God, I pray for supernatural grace.
For those that have made this commitment before as they sign it, Could you help them reaffirm and be reminded? This is what the Christian life's all about. And then finally, Lord, for those that in their heart of hearts just say, in integrity, I couldn't sign that. I got a deal with something. I've got to resolve a couple things.
Lord, would you help them to be honest with themselves and honest with you? and get help. We love you. Help us. To want more of you.
Help us to turn in our plastic pearls for the real thing. Amen. This is Living on the Edge Chip Ingramram and some challenging teaching about what it means to go all in with God. Chip will return shortly with closing thoughts. Want to hear this message again or share it?
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Well, now here's Chip. Before we say another word today, I want to ask you a very important and life-changing question. Are you ready to take that step? Are you ready to say in your heart of hearts, Lord, yes, I am afraid? but I want you to know that by faith I'm all in.
I'm signing the bottom of the check. I'm taking all the chips of my life and I'm pushing them to the center of the table. And I want to say today: all that I am. all that I have, all that I'll ever be, they're yours.
Now lead me. guide me. I'll address whatever you show me, but I can't do it on my own. Lord, I'm telling you today, I want you to be the Lord of my life. I want you to have the same place at this very moment in my heart and my will that you have in the universe.
And God, I pray that you'll be gentle. I pray that you'll give me grace. And Lord, I choose Today, to say I'm All. In. If you do that, would you email me here right here at Living on the Edge and then tell the greatest Christian you know what you've done?
because your life is about to experience a radical change. And it's probably going to get really good and really hard, maybe all at the same time.
Some of you have some really big decisions you need to make, some hard conversations, some steps to take. And what I want you to know is you are going to experience God's power. He loves you, He's for you. but brace yourself. because you have now entered a world where power and life occur and where the enemy doesn't want you to go.
You're all in. You're a child of God. What does it mean to get God's best for your life? I'm Dave Druy, inviting you to find out next time on Living on the Edge. Yeah.
Today's program is produced and sponsored by Living on the Edge. Uh
