Thy Will Be Done | Charles Blake II | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

Thy Will Be Done

Charles Blake II

West Angeles Church of God in Christ • Jan 9, 2025 • 42 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

In this message, Pastor Charles Blake II contrasts the reluctant heart of Jonah with the surrendered life of Jesus Christ to reveal what it truly means to pray "Thy will be done." While personal human desires are formed by past environments, fears, and biases, following Christ requires crucifying self-will and laying down our plans, identity, and expectations at the foot of the cross. When we place our will inside of God's sovereign will, He redeems our circumstances, restores what was lost, and brings forth a resurrected purpose far greater than anything we could design for ourselves.

Themes

Surrender to God's WillGod's Forgiveness and MercyDying to SelfResurrection and RestorationTrusting God's Plan

Key Points

1.
Jonah ran away to Tarshish because he preferred seeing Nineveh destroyed rather than extending an opportunity for God's mercy.
2.
No matter how far someone has strayed, God extends full forgiveness to anyone who genuinely repents and turns to Him.
3.
Human perspectives and personal desires are shaped by past environments, experiences, culture, and fears, all of which must be brought under the scrutiny of the Holy Spirit.
4.
Unlike Jonah, Jesus possessed all power in heaven and earth yet submitted His self-will completely to fulfill the Father's purpose.
5.
True surrender requires laying down not only our sin, pain, and regret, but also our self-righteousness, plans, biases, and identity at the foot of the cross.
6.
Believers need to be saved not only from sin and Satan, but from self-will and reliance on personal perspective.
7.
When we lay down our personal dreams to be crucified with Christ, God returns them to us resurrected, glorified, and far greater than before.
8.
God sees beyond present adversity and holds plans for a future, hope, and ultimate victory that exceed human expectation.
9.
Placing our personal will inside of God's sovereign will guarantees that all circumstances will ultimately work together for our good.

Sermon Moments

“Jonah fleeing toward Tarshish because he knew God was gracious and did not want his enemies in Nineveh to be forgiven.”

“"If you want a prayer for your life, ask the Holy Spirit to show you who you really are... and pray for the strength and courage to surrender all of that to Him."”

“Measuring true character by power: Jesus possessed all authority in heaven and earth, yet submitted completely to the Father's plan at the cross.”

“Laying down identity at the cross: "The reason I have to lay down at the cross now is because I need to be saved from myself."”

“The resurrection principle of surrendered desires: Whatever we lay down to be crucified with Christ, He returns to us resurrected and glorified.”

“Simon Peter fishing all night without success until he surrendered his own plan to Jesus' command to launch into the deep.”

“West Angeles Church's history of attempting to purchase an apartment building on 5th & Adams, only for God to open the door to the larger property on Exposition & Crenshaw.”

This Week

Ask the Holy Spirit in prayer to reveal where your personal desires, perspectives, and biases originated, surrendering them into God's hands.

Consciously lay down your personal plans, ambitions, and right to be offended at the foot of the cross each morning.

Identify anyone in your life whom you have felt was undeserving of grace, and actively pray for God's mercy and forgiveness over them.

Engage in spiritual disciplines such as prayer, fasting, and consecration to realign your self-will with God's priorities.

Respond with immediate obedience when God prompts you to extend help or encouragement to someone, even if it feels inconvenient.

Release lingering disappointment over closed doors or past setbacks, trusting that God has a larger, elevated plan in store.

Pray "not my will, but Yours be done" over every major decision and uncertainty you face throughout the week.

Remember This

Surrendering our self-will to God allows Him to resurrect our lives with greater purpose, vision, and victory than we could ever achieve on our own.

A Challenge for You

"I need for somebody to know that when you put your will inside of God's will, then things begin to happen. All things work for the good of those that love the Lord... All we have to do is stay in a state of 'thy will be done.'"

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.