HERE I AM, SEND ME
To experience God is to respond to His call. Isaiah 6:8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord asking: Who will I send? Who will go for us? I said: Here I am. Send me. God does not call us because we are qualified; He calls us and qualifies us. The journey of experiencing God begins with surrender, it is pleasing to God by faith, and grows closer to Him through rest.
Surrender
Mark 8:34-35 “Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.’”
Surrender is where the journey starts. It requires an answer without conditions.
Being the Church vs. Going to Church: God did not call us simply to attend a building on Sunday, volunteer once a month, or check a box. He called us to be His body. • Membership vs. Movement: Having a gym membership doesn't mean you are working out. Likewise, church membership without Kingdom movement leads to being spiritually inactive.
The Danger of the Middle Road: Trying to live in the middle, one foot in the world and one foot in faith, leaves you vulnerable to getting knocked down by traffic in both directions. Following Jesus requires complete surrender, taking hold of His outstretched hand and holding on.
Faith
Hebrews 11:6a “And it is impossible to please God without faith.”
Living by faith means stepping into assignments that require total dependence on Him. Whether it is going back to school later in life, pastoring, praying for people on the streets, planting a church among addicts and the unhoused, or moving overseas to serve in unfamiliar cultures and mission fields; faith requires stepping out.
Refinement: In every major decision point, God refines us as we live out our faith.
Faith isn't about striving more or trying to earn God's favor and love. It is simply trusting Him.
Rest
Psalm 91:1-4 “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly
disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.”
To experience God is to have fellowship with Him.
The Secret Place: We can listen to sermons, memorize scripture, study theology, and attend every church function, but still neglect spending time alone with God in the secret place.
Intimacy Over Activity: Jesus isn't looking for admirers who visit on Sundays; He wants imitators who rest in Him, hear His voice, and follow His direction.
Application: Spectators vs. Disciples
James 1:22 “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.”
John 14:12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.”
Hebrews 5:12 “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.”
Growth requires participation. You do not build physical muscle by owning gym shoes, and you do not build spiritual muscle without discipline and consistency.
Diagnosing Inactivity: Many believers are active in the wrong areas; gossip, criticism, or chasing hype instead of holiness. True discipleship focuses on intimacy with God, studying the Word, serving, and discipling others.
Conditioning for Calling: Many want calling without conditioning, authority without accountability, or experience without intimacy. Calling is proven by consistent living, not stage presence. Fruit is produced through daily obedience.
Workmanship for the Kingdom: Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. You are not just called to sit in a building; you are built to be a vessel that advances the Kingdom.
Inactive faith becomes comfortable religion, and comfortable religion produces powerless believers. Stop confusing attendance with assignment.
Discussion
What is the difference between having "church membership" and actively having "Kingdom movement" in your daily life?
Looking at Mark 8:34-35, what is one area of your life where you feel challenged to give up "your own way" and surrender fully to God?
How does striving to earn God's love differ from resting in His arms while living by faith?
In what ways can we be intentional with our time in the "secret place" with God amid our busy weekly routines?
Read Hebrews 5:12. How do discipline, resistance, and practice help us move from spiritual "milk" to "solid food"?
What step can you take this week to transition from being a spectator to an activated disciple in your home, workplace, or community?
What additional notes did you make during the sermon?
How can we pray together for you today?
The most important decision you will ever make!
If you’re ready to trust in Jesus for salvation and eternal life, we encourage you to process this decision with a strong believer and, when you’re ready, say a simple prayer like this from your heart:
Dear God, I acknowledge and admit I have sinned. I see my need for Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe I am forgiven and cleansed of my sin by His death. I also believe I have eternal life because of His resurrection from the dead. I repent, I turn away from my old ways, and I choose to live my life to worship you and follow Jesus, Amen!
We would love to know if you decided to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Let us know here.
Pray Together
We hope you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!