Pastors Clarke/Lazarus - Toronto West Seventh Day Adventist Church

I MUST SURRENDER
BY PASTOR MARVIN G. CLARKE
In many cases, the word surrender is connected with the idea of losing
something. When you have to surrender your driver’s license, you lose the
opportunity to drive. For some people, in marriage when they surrender they
are losing their ability to be independent. And for even more people, to surrender
to God is to sacrifice your freedom to live, have fun, or even pursue
your future aspirations.
However, Toronto West I would like to believe that this is on the contrary, to
surrender to Christ is the most positive opportunity that all of us as human
beings have. Surrendering to Christ means willingly giving up your priorities
and desires and agenda so that God’s becomes the priority. His agenda,
will, desire, and focus becomes the most significant thing. Clearly, surrendering
to the will of God is directly connected to our survival, ability to thrive,
and overall satisfaction with life; yes our lives as a church and as individuals.
The Old Testament Prophet Jonah’s decision to not submit and surrender to
God’s will serves as a great example of the kind of frustration, discontent,
and disillusionment that arises when we refuse to surrender to God’s direction.
1.One day long ago, God's Word came to Jonah, the Amittai's son: 2. "Up
on your feet and on your way to the big city of Nineveh! Preach to them.
They're in a bad way and I can't ignore it any longer." 3. But Jonah got up
and went the other direction to Tarshish, running away from God. He went
down to the port of Joppa and found a ship headed for Tarshish. He paid
the fare and went on board, joining those going to Tarshish - as far away
from God as he could get (The Message Bible).
I find it fascinating that many have the thought of seemingly getting away
from God. His Word clearly identifies the benefits of being surrendered to
God. He (God) “rewards those who sincerely seek him.” (Heb. 11: 6, NLT).
He grants unmeasured joy for living (Ps. 40:8). He provides amazing answers
to our prayers (Ps. 34:4). He gives sweet rest and lighter life loads
(Matthew 11: 28). These, along with many other promises, have become
the clear picture of what God provides to those who are surrendered to His
plan.
Lets choose today while the offer still stands… God bless Toronto West.
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PASTORAL CARE_____________________
Office Hours: Mon-Thurs: 8:00 a.m.-4pm • Fri: 8:00 a.m.-12noon
Pastor Allan Chichester
Pastor Wayne Williams
9
Pastor M. Clarke
Thurs. 9:30 a.m.—3:00 p.m. To be determined Tues. 1:00—3:00 p.m.
Off on Mondays To be determined Off on Thursdays
If you are aware of someone who is ill, please notify a member of the
pastoral staff. Kindly remember our sick and shut-in members with
your prayers, calls, cards, visits, and other acts of kindness. “For I was
sick… I was alone and you visited me… when you did these things…
you were doing them to me.” (Matthew 25:36, 40)
PASTORAL BLOG_______________________
How is Your Faith? By Pastor Wayne Williams
When the question is asked, who is Jesus– the answer is herald
from the lips of history, "Christ is, as Christ does." Function and faith are
twins joined at the hip, the evidence of one is the proof of the other.
It has been said, "faith without works is dead, and works without
faith is useless." God is by definition, what God does by intervention, in
other words by their fruits you shall know them- it is by what God does,
His faithfulness, His commitment, His love, His sacrifice, His death, and
His resurrection that validates the credibility of His identity. He is God
and God alone.
Perhaps more of us need to understand that the faith that defines
Jesus Christ is the faith that refines us as believers. "Everyone who believes
that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves
the Father loves His child as well. This is how we know that we love the
children of God: by loving God and carry out his commands.
This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are
not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is
the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes
the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the son of God"-
1John 5:1-5.
Be blessed, be kind, be willing, be faithful, and don't forget to be
yourself.
Praying for you and your family- Pastor Williams