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GIVE GOD YOUR ALL

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   Most of us understand the meaning of the word “all.”

1.    Definition:  the whole quantity or amount

2.    Illustrations:

a.    Milk:  Who drank all of the milk?

b.    Paycheck:  I did not get paid for all of my hours worked.

c.    Kids:  Did you get all of your homework?

 

B.   The word “all” is not understood as well when it comes to the spiritual lives of some Christians.

1.    Are we supposed to give “all” to the Lord?  Most would answer:  “Yes.”

2.    As we watch some of these individuals give all, we find that they have a warped definition of the word “all.”

 

C.   My friends, God wants our all.

1.    Three verses:

a.    I Corinthians 6:20

 

For ye are brought with a price:  therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

 

b.    II Corinthians 5:15

 

And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

 

c.    Galatians 2:20

 

I am crucified with Christ:  nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ liveth in me:  and the life which I now life in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

 

2.    Question:  “What does it mean to give God your all?”

I.             GOD WANTS ALL OF OUR BEING

 

A.   God wants our mind.

1.    If God has our mind, He has the rest of us.  The mind is the control center of the body and all behavior.

2.    Several verses:

a.    Matthew 22:37

 

Jesus saith unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

 

b.    Philippians 2:5

 

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.

 

 

c.    Hebrews 8:10

 

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws in their mind, and write them in their hearts:  and I will be to them a God, and they shall be my people.

 

3.    This is a massive task because our minds are being stimulated by millions of things every day.

a.    A common estimate is that the average person thinks 70,000 thoughts per day.

b.    These thoughts come from hundreds of stimuli; most of them are not spiritual in nature.

c.    Our thoughts can be directed away from God, and they can be molded by worldly things (Rom. 12:2).

 

And be not conformed to this world:  but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.

 

B.   God wants our bodies.

1.    It was Paul who said:  …therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

2.    Romans 6:13

 

Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin:  but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

 

3.    Our bodies are involved in many activities each day.

a.    At home, at work, at school, at play, and in the community

b.    God wants our bodies behaving the proper way at all times.

c.    Philippians 1:27a

 

Only let your communication be as it becometh the gospel of Christ…

 

C.   God wants our tongues, lips, and mouth.

1.    James 1:26

 

If any man among you seemeth to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, This man’s religion in vain.

 

2.    Colossians 3:17

 

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

 

II.           GOD WANTS ALL THAT SURROUNDS AND SUPPLIES US

 

A.   Each one of us functions within an environment.

1.    There are things that God wants that “belong” to us.

2.    The reality is that these things are really blessings God has given to us.

3.    Examples:

a.    Our time

1)    This is a valuable commodity.

2)    Once our time is spent, it can never be recovered.

3)    Psalm 90:12

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

 

4)    Questions

a)    How much of my time is used for God?

b)    How time to I waste or spend in sinful activities?

c)    Do I try to find more ways to spend more time in God’s service?

b.    Our money

1)    Our money is a blessing from God.

2)    We need to use our funds in the Lord’s service.

3)    It starts by giving liberally and cheerfully on the Lord’s Day (I Cor. 16:2; II Cor. 9:7).

 

Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

 

c.    Our children

1)    The psalmist said:  …the fruit of the womb is his reward (Ps. 127:3)

2)    We need to do all we can to teach our children the ways of God and to seek to save their souls (Eph. 6:4).

 

And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath:  but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

 

III.         GOD WANTS YOU BEST EFFORTS

 

A.   Giving our all often means giving our best effort (i.e., on a ball field the coach will say:  “Get out there and give it your all”).

 

B.   In Scripture, slothfulness, or laziness, is discouraged and condemned.

1.    Proverbs 21:25

 

The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refused to labour.

 

2.    Part of the one talent man’s condemnation involved slothfulness (Matt. 25:26a).

 

His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant…

 

3.    Romans 12:11

 

Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.

 

4.    Hebrews 6:12

 

That ye be not slothful, bur followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

 

C.   We must get out of the mentality of “Let me see how little I can do to please God.”

1.    Jesus (John 9:4)

 

I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day:  the night cometh, when no man can work.

 

 

2.    Paul (II Tim. 4:7)

 

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   Giving God your all involves many things.

1.    All of our being

2.    All of our blessings

3.    All of my best

 

B.   Question:  When God gave Jesus, didn’t He give His best?

 

C.   What do you need to do to give God your all?