Title
Consciously Commit 有意识地交托
Date
09/14/2025
Description
Matthew 11:28-30: Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.
马太福音 11:28-30: 所有劳苦困乏、背负重担的人啊，到我这里来吧！我要赐给你们安息。 我心柔和谦卑，你们要负我的轭，向我学习，这样你们的心灵必得享安息。 因为我的轭容易负，我的担子很轻省。 (page 1577)
Romans 6:17,18: And thanks be to God, for in the past you were servants of sin, but now your obedience is heart deep, and your life is being molded by truth through the teaching you are devoted to. And now you celebrate your freedom from your former master—sin. You’ve left its bondage, and now God’s perfect righteousness holds power over you as his loving servants.
羅 馬 書 6:17,18: 过去，你们是罪的奴仆，罪恶控制你们，但是感谢上帝，你们一心一意地听从了传给你们的教导。 你们已从罪恶中被解放出来，现在你们是正义的奴仆。 (page 1829)
Romans 6:14: You are not governed by law but governed by the reign of the grace of God.
羅 馬 書 6:14: 因为你们生活在上帝的恩典里，而不是生活在律法之下，所以，罪将不会成为你们的主宰。 (page 1829)
Ephesians 1:13-14: And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.
以弗所书 1:13,14: 你们既听见真理的道，就是那叫你们得救的福音，也信了基督，既然信他，就受了所应许的圣灵为印记。 这圣灵是我们得基业的凭据[b]，直等到神之民[c]被赎，使他的荣耀得着称赞。 (page 1894)
马太福音 11:28-30: 所有劳苦困乏、背负重担的人啊，到我这里来吧！我要赐给你们安息。 我心柔和谦卑，你们要负我的轭，向我学习，这样你们的心灵必得享安息。 因为我的轭容易负，我的担子很轻省。 (page 1577)
Romans 6:17,18: And thanks be to God, for in the past you were servants of sin, but now your obedience is heart deep, and your life is being molded by truth through the teaching you are devoted to. And now you celebrate your freedom from your former master—sin. You’ve left its bondage, and now God’s perfect righteousness holds power over you as his loving servants.
羅 馬 書 6:17,18: 过去，你们是罪的奴仆，罪恶控制你们，但是感谢上帝，你们一心一意地听从了传给你们的教导。 你们已从罪恶中被解放出来，现在你们是正义的奴仆。 (page 1829)
Romans 6:14: You are not governed by law but governed by the reign of the grace of God.
羅 馬 書 6:14: 因为你们生活在上帝的恩典里，而不是生活在律法之下，所以，罪将不会成为你们的主宰。 (page 1829)
Ephesians 1:13-14: And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.
以弗所书 1:13,14: 你们既听见真理的道，就是那叫你们得救的福音，也信了基督，既然信他，就受了所应许的圣灵为印记。 这圣灵是我们得基业的凭据[b]，直等到神之民[c]被赎，使他的荣耀得着称赞。 (page 1894)
Creator
Pastor: Mike Koger
Contributor
Hillside United Methodist Church
3737 US 80
Phenix City AL 36870
United States
3737 US 80
Phenix City AL 36870
United States
Transcription
Choice Three: Consciously Commit
Matthew 11:28-30
Psalm 55:6: “Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest!”
Can you relate? Everyone feels the need to escape sometimes. That’s why we take vacations and retreats. It’s not a denial – it’s a way to refresh and restore.
…but what if we consistently ignore our problems and difficulties?
Do they go away on their own?
That’s how some of us try to live our lives.
We try so hard to keep up a good front – pretending that everything is okay – when in reality we’re struggling with real pain and real issues that we desperately try to ignore.
Then we get stuck. We get stuck trying to keep it all together while our world is falling apart. We get stuck, and we cannot get un-stuck in our own power – so despair sets in.
First week: “I am powerless to control my own tendency to do the wrong thing – and my life is unmanageable.”
Last week: “Earnestly believe that God exists and that I matter to Him, and that He has the power to help me recover.”
Jesus taught: “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.”
We had to first recognize our emptiness without God – and how without leaning on God, our lives can become unmanageable.
“When He (Jesus) saw the crowds, He had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
God loves us and wants to lead us out of our pain and into His healing. ( )
Choice 2 is made up of three magnificent truths about GOD:
1. He exists 2. I matter to Him 3. He has the power to help me
Jesus said: “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”
…from the Beatitudes of Matthew 5:5 means that people who exhibit controlled strength, patience, and a humble submission to God's will will ultimately be blessed and possess the kingdom of God on earth.
It takes humility to sincerely reach out for help.
Today’s Choice: “Consciously choose to commit your life and will to Christ’s care and control.”
We can get stuck trying to keep it all together while our world is falling apart.
We get stuck, and we cannot get un-stuck in our own power – so despair sets in.
de·spair : the complete loss or absence of hope.
Our unwanted behavior leads us to guilt.
We wish we could get out of our mess (on our own,) but we can’t.
We may eventually get angry – “I should be able to change. I ought to be able to get out of this.. I know the harm it’s causing.”
Our anger turns into a fear that things are never going to change.
We slowly begin to realize our hurts, hang-ups and habits are controlling us, and our fear eventually turns into depression. We start feeling sorry for ourselves and we become filled with even more guilt.
Finally we give up and we say, “I can’t change. I quit!” – and the cycle of despair starts all over again.
Guilt – Anger – Fear – Depression
So – how do we break this cycle of despair?
We’ve already worked through admitting our need for help – and our unmanageable life. We called that The Reality Choice.
We’ve also taken The Hope Choice believing that we matter to God and that He has the power (and the desire) to help us.
NOW we’re ready for The Commitment Choice when we make the decision to walk across the line. We take a step across the line of decision – a step toward GOD that says we’re willing to give it all to Him and to take a step away from the old way of doing it all ourselves.
It’s a time for letting go –
- a time to consciously commit all your life and will to Christ’s care and control.
“It’s easy to blame others for our struggles, but real growth begins when we acknowledge our own responsibility. Many of the battles we face are not caused by enemies outside but by choices within. When we confess honestly before God, He doesn’t condemn us—He cleanses us.
Taking ownership opens the door to freedom, peace, and transformation”
Understand this…
Through the Old Testament Law you could never break free… history shows us that.
WE live in a New Testament “dispensation of GRACE” (Eph 3:2)
Romans 6:14: You are not governed by law but governed by the reign of the grace of God.
Acts 20: 32,33: And so now, I entrust you into God’s hands and the message of his grace, which is all that you need to become strong. All of God’s blessings are imparted through the message of his grace, which he provides as the spiritual inheritance given to all of his holy ones.
Maybe for you that means itn will be your first time to actually give your heart to Jesus Christ – to turn from your old way of doing things and choose to live for Him.
To truly accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.”
Jesus says, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
For some of us, maybe this choice will mean a renewed commitment to let go of your life and give it over to Christ’s care and control.
So, what’s holding you back from making this choice?
What is delaying your decision to surrender your problems and life to the care and control of Christ?
“Choices determine circumstances and our decisions determine our destiny.”
Today’s Choice: “Consciously choose to commit your life and will to Christ’s care and control.”
12 Steps: “Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God”
There are five things that keep us from making this third choice:
Pride – Guilt – Fear – Worry – Doubt
Pride: “Pride first, then the crash, but humility is precursor to honor.”
“The wise are glad to be instructed, but babbling fools fall flat on their faces.”
? How low do you go before your pride is consumed in disaster?
Jesus said: “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”
Guilt: Maybe you’ve tried to escape your problems before, and you promised God that if He’d help you this one time you’d never do it again – and then you “backslid?” ( )
God knows everything about you – including your short-comings.
He wants to forgive all your of your guilt. That’s why Jesus went to the cross!
Fear: Sometimes we’re afraid to simply “trust God.”
Sometimes we’re afraid of losing control.
Your habits may be such a part of your life – your identity – that letting it all go and letting God take over seems like a scary thing indeed.
Isaiah 44:22: I have removed the guilt of your sins, like the wind blows away a cloud. When you turned against me, I have quickly forgiven you. Return to me now, because I have rescued you.
So, what are you afraid of?
What are now holding on to that makes you think, “I can’t let go?”
Is it a relationship, an ambition, a habit, a lifestyle or a possession?
Jesus: ”And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?
Is anything worth more than your soul?”
Maybe you could just start by praying, “God, I don’t even know what I don’t want to give up. I just know I don’t want to live this way anymore, and I know I want my life to be under Your control. God – here’s a blank check – here’s my life.”
All you have to do is trust Him. He will take care of the rest.
“Only Trust Him”
Worry: Worry causes us to confuse the decision-making phase with the problem-solving phase.
Just make the decision – let God worry about the problem solving.
Doubt: Have you ever thought, “I want to believe, but my faith is too small?”
Mark 9:24: "Lord, I do believe, but help me overcome my un-belief!" (he was sincerely trying)
Mark 5:36: Jesus told Jairus, "Don't be afraid. Just have faith…”
It’s not the size of your faith that matters;
it’s the Who or what you put your faith in that matters.
Your decision must be, “I open my life to the care and control of Christ.
I don’t know how it’s all going to be worked out, but I know it’s the right thing to do.
So I’m just going to do it.”
Are you worried that in this battle of life you won’t be able to hold on?
Don’t worry – it’s not your job to hold on.
GOD will do the holding – and He won’t ever let go.
Eph 1:13, 14: And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory.
So make the decision today – The Commitment Choice -
and dare to step over the line
1. Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior
2. Accept God’s Word as your standard
3. Accept God’s Will for your life as your new purpose for living
4. Accept God’s Power as your strength
Jesus stands at the door of your heart today and knocks. Will you let Him in?
You’ve fought hard – you never gave up
NOW it’s time to give up – to surrender
Jesus says, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
Lord, I humble myself before You and admit that many of my struggles are the result of my own choices. Forgive me where I’ve fallen short and cleanse me from unrighteousness. Teach me to walk in humility, accountability, and wisdom so that I can grow in Your grace. Help me to take responsibility and live in Your truth, in Jesus’ name, amen.
Romans 6:17,18: And thanks be to God, for in the past you were servants of sin,
but now your obedience is heart deep, and your life is being molded by truth through the teaching you are devoted to. And now you celebrate your freedom from your former master—sin. You’ve left its bondage, and now God’s perfect righteousness holds power over you as his loving servants.
Matthew 11:28-30
Psalm 55:6: “Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest!”
Can you relate? Everyone feels the need to escape sometimes. That’s why we take vacations and retreats. It’s not a denial – it’s a way to refresh and restore.
…but what if we consistently ignore our problems and difficulties?
Do they go away on their own?
That’s how some of us try to live our lives.
We try so hard to keep up a good front – pretending that everything is okay – when in reality we’re struggling with real pain and real issues that we desperately try to ignore.
Then we get stuck. We get stuck trying to keep it all together while our world is falling apart. We get stuck, and we cannot get un-stuck in our own power – so despair sets in.
First week: “I am powerless to control my own tendency to do the wrong thing – and my life is unmanageable.”
Last week: “Earnestly believe that God exists and that I matter to Him, and that He has the power to help me recover.”
Jesus taught: “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.”
We had to first recognize our emptiness without God – and how without leaning on God, our lives can become unmanageable.
“When He (Jesus) saw the crowds, He had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
God loves us and wants to lead us out of our pain and into His healing. ( )
Choice 2 is made up of three magnificent truths about GOD:
1. He exists 2. I matter to Him 3. He has the power to help me
Jesus said: “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”
…from the Beatitudes of Matthew 5:5 means that people who exhibit controlled strength, patience, and a humble submission to God's will will ultimately be blessed and possess the kingdom of God on earth.
It takes humility to sincerely reach out for help.
Today’s Choice: “Consciously choose to commit your life and will to Christ’s care and control.”
We can get stuck trying to keep it all together while our world is falling apart.
We get stuck, and we cannot get un-stuck in our own power – so despair sets in.
de·spair : the complete loss or absence of hope.
Our unwanted behavior leads us to guilt.
We wish we could get out of our mess (on our own,) but we can’t.
We may eventually get angry – “I should be able to change. I ought to be able to get out of this.. I know the harm it’s causing.”
Our anger turns into a fear that things are never going to change.
We slowly begin to realize our hurts, hang-ups and habits are controlling us, and our fear eventually turns into depression. We start feeling sorry for ourselves and we become filled with even more guilt.
Finally we give up and we say, “I can’t change. I quit!” – and the cycle of despair starts all over again.
Guilt – Anger – Fear – Depression
So – how do we break this cycle of despair?
We’ve already worked through admitting our need for help – and our unmanageable life. We called that The Reality Choice.
We’ve also taken The Hope Choice believing that we matter to God and that He has the power (and the desire) to help us.
NOW we’re ready for The Commitment Choice when we make the decision to walk across the line. We take a step across the line of decision – a step toward GOD that says we’re willing to give it all to Him and to take a step away from the old way of doing it all ourselves.
It’s a time for letting go –
- a time to consciously commit all your life and will to Christ’s care and control.
“It’s easy to blame others for our struggles, but real growth begins when we acknowledge our own responsibility. Many of the battles we face are not caused by enemies outside but by choices within. When we confess honestly before God, He doesn’t condemn us—He cleanses us.
Taking ownership opens the door to freedom, peace, and transformation”
Understand this…
Through the Old Testament Law you could never break free… history shows us that.
WE live in a New Testament “dispensation of GRACE” (Eph 3:2)
Romans 6:14: You are not governed by law but governed by the reign of the grace of God.
Acts 20: 32,33: And so now, I entrust you into God’s hands and the message of his grace, which is all that you need to become strong. All of God’s blessings are imparted through the message of his grace, which he provides as the spiritual inheritance given to all of his holy ones.
Maybe for you that means itn will be your first time to actually give your heart to Jesus Christ – to turn from your old way of doing things and choose to live for Him.
To truly accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.”
Jesus says, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
For some of us, maybe this choice will mean a renewed commitment to let go of your life and give it over to Christ’s care and control.
So, what’s holding you back from making this choice?
What is delaying your decision to surrender your problems and life to the care and control of Christ?
“Choices determine circumstances and our decisions determine our destiny.”
Today’s Choice: “Consciously choose to commit your life and will to Christ’s care and control.”
12 Steps: “Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God”
There are five things that keep us from making this third choice:
Pride – Guilt – Fear – Worry – Doubt
Pride: “Pride first, then the crash, but humility is precursor to honor.”
“The wise are glad to be instructed, but babbling fools fall flat on their faces.”
? How low do you go before your pride is consumed in disaster?
Jesus said: “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”
Guilt: Maybe you’ve tried to escape your problems before, and you promised God that if He’d help you this one time you’d never do it again – and then you “backslid?” ( )
God knows everything about you – including your short-comings.
He wants to forgive all your of your guilt. That’s why Jesus went to the cross!
Fear: Sometimes we’re afraid to simply “trust God.”
Sometimes we’re afraid of losing control.
Your habits may be such a part of your life – your identity – that letting it all go and letting God take over seems like a scary thing indeed.
Isaiah 44:22: I have removed the guilt of your sins, like the wind blows away a cloud. When you turned against me, I have quickly forgiven you. Return to me now, because I have rescued you.
So, what are you afraid of?
What are now holding on to that makes you think, “I can’t let go?”
Is it a relationship, an ambition, a habit, a lifestyle or a possession?
Jesus: ”And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?
Is anything worth more than your soul?”
Maybe you could just start by praying, “God, I don’t even know what I don’t want to give up. I just know I don’t want to live this way anymore, and I know I want my life to be under Your control. God – here’s a blank check – here’s my life.”
All you have to do is trust Him. He will take care of the rest.
“Only Trust Him”
Worry: Worry causes us to confuse the decision-making phase with the problem-solving phase.
Just make the decision – let God worry about the problem solving.
Doubt: Have you ever thought, “I want to believe, but my faith is too small?”
Mark 9:24: "Lord, I do believe, but help me overcome my un-belief!" (he was sincerely trying)
Mark 5:36: Jesus told Jairus, "Don't be afraid. Just have faith…”
It’s not the size of your faith that matters;
it’s the Who or what you put your faith in that matters.
Your decision must be, “I open my life to the care and control of Christ.
I don’t know how it’s all going to be worked out, but I know it’s the right thing to do.
So I’m just going to do it.”
Are you worried that in this battle of life you won’t be able to hold on?
Don’t worry – it’s not your job to hold on.
GOD will do the holding – and He won’t ever let go.
Eph 1:13, 14: And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory.
So make the decision today – The Commitment Choice -
and dare to step over the line
1. Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior
2. Accept God’s Word as your standard
3. Accept God’s Will for your life as your new purpose for living
4. Accept God’s Power as your strength
Jesus stands at the door of your heart today and knocks. Will you let Him in?
You’ve fought hard – you never gave up
NOW it’s time to give up – to surrender
Jesus says, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
Lord, I humble myself before You and admit that many of my struggles are the result of my own choices. Forgive me where I’ve fallen short and cleanse me from unrighteousness. Teach me to walk in humility, accountability, and wisdom so that I can grow in Your grace. Help me to take responsibility and live in Your truth, in Jesus’ name, amen.
Romans 6:17,18: And thanks be to God, for in the past you were servants of sin,
but now your obedience is heart deep, and your life is being molded by truth through the teaching you are devoted to. And now you celebrate your freedom from your former master—sin. You’ve left its bondage, and now God’s perfect righteousness holds power over you as his loving servants.