God, what do you want?

Sermon Summary

Main Message

This message challenges us to shift our focus from self-centeredness to a deeper understanding of God's will for our lives. We often find ourselves consumed by our own desires, needs, and ambitions, but the truth is that God wants more than just what we want. He has a plan, a purpose, and a desire for each of us to fulfill, and it's only when we surrender our self-centeredness that we can truly experience His best.

Key Scripture References

• Psalm 37:4 - "Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." This verse seems to promise that if we simply take pleasure in God, He'll grant us our deepest longings. However, a closer look reveals that this is not about getting what we want; it's about wanting what God wants.
• Ecclesiastes 3:11 - "He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into their hearts, except that no one can find it." This passage reminds us that God is the One who has given each of us a unique purpose and plan for our lives. But we must look beyond our own desires to discover what He has designed for us.
• Matthew 16:24 - "Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.' Here, Jesus teaches that being His follower requires surrendering our own desires and ambitions. We must be willing to lay down our lives for Him, rather than seeking to fulfill our own agendas.
• Isaiah 55:8-9 - "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.' This passage reminds us that God's plans and purposes far exceed our own limited understanding. We must learn to trust in His sovereignty and submit to His will.
• 1 Corinthians 10:31 - "So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." In this verse, Paul encourages us to live our lives with a focus on bringing glory to God. This means that everything we think, say, and do should be directed towards honoring Him, rather than seeking our own desires.
• Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths." This passage reminds us that true wisdom comes from trusting in God's guidance and seeking His will above our own desires.

Key Takeaways

• We often struggle with self-centeredness, focusing on what we want rather than what God wants. To overcome this, we must learn to surrender our desires and ambitions to Him.
• God has a unique plan and purpose for each of us, but we must be willing to look beyond our own desires to discover it. This requires trust in His sovereignty and submission to His will.
• Living for God's glory means that everything we think, say, and do should be directed towards honoring Him. We must learn to see the world through His eyes and live with a focus on bringing Him praise.
• Surrendering our self-centeredness is not about becoming passive or complacent; it's about becoming more intentional and focused on God's will. We must be willing to take up our cross and follow Jesus, denying ourselves for His sake.

This Week's Challenge

This week, we challenge you to take a step back from your own desires and ambitions, and ask yourself: "What does God want?" Take time to reflect on the scripture references above, and seek to understand His will for your life. Then, make a conscious effort to live with a focus on bringing glory to Him. This might mean giving up something you've been wanting or pursuing a new opportunity that aligns with His plan.

Reflection Questions

• What are some areas in my life where I struggle with self-centeredness? How can I begin to surrender those desires and ambitions to God?
• How can I, as a family or small group, work together to prioritize living for God's glory? What specific steps can we take to make this a reality?
• Think about your daily circumstances: how can you apply the principles from this message to your current situation? What might look like surrendering your self-centeredness in this context?