LIFE FIX 9 – STEP 7 – SURRENDER THE SHORTCOMINGS, 8-17-25, Lead Pastor - Jeff Aenk, New Hope Christian Church
Key Verse – John 14:6 - Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father (God) except through me.
Step 7 – We HUMBLY ASKED GOD TO REMOVE OUR SHORTCOMINGS.
James 4:6b - “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” *Humility – There is a God & I’m Not Him! Rather than Fight Him, I Surrender to Him & Ask for His Help, & then Open my Hands to Receive His Favor & Gifts. Humility helps me come to the End of My Rope & Lie Down & Trust Jesus. Humility allows me to See the Truth about Myself (Good & Bad) & Find Hope for My Restoration with Jesus. We should Pray, “Lord Give Me, the Gift of Humility.” (Let’s Pray for it.)
Matthew 6:9-13 - 9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ (Let’s Pray It.)
Mark 10:46-52 - 46 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” 50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. 51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” 52 “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 - 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited (keep me humble), I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Romans 7:18-25 - 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. 21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
*Don’t be Surprised if you still see some of your Defects on your List 20 Years from now – Ones that God hasn’t Removed Yet. You’ll Die with some.
*The 12 Steps are Not a Competition with Ourselves. We will Repeatedly Work Steps 6 & 7 Throughout our Life-Time.
Bill Wilson – “No one among us has been able to maintain anything like perfect adherence to these principles. We are not saints. The point is that we are willing to grow along spiritual lines. The principles we have set down are guides to progress. We claim spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection.”
*We don’t Do the Steps, God Does! Our part is to Surrender & Pray for God to do the Work. We Supply the Willingness & God Supplies the Change!
Hebrews 10:14 - For by one sacrifice he (God) has made perfect forever (justified/justification) those who are being made holy. (sanctification)
Philippians 1:6 - being confident of this, that he (God) who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 2:12-13 - 12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
Galatians 5:16-17 - 16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. (2 Dogs Inside)
Create Accountability Friendships – Honestly Sharing Everything with Each Other, so our Sins get Exposed & don’t continue to Grow, but we find Healing Together.
James 5:16a - Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.
Proverbs 27:17 - As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
*Do You Want to Be Healed, to Get Well? Then Let Go, Ask, & Let God!
John 5:6 - When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”
Luke 22:42 - “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” - Jesus
Luke 1:38 - “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word (your will) to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Here’s What I Want us To Do This Week
1. HUMBLY ASK GOD TO REMOVE OUR SHORTCOMINGS. Pray 7th Step Prayer found in The Fix Workbook – Pg. 137 – “My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows. Grant me strength, as I go out from here to do Your bidding.”
*Read Chapter 7 – Step 7: Surrender the Shortcomings - Pages 63-74 in Black “The Fix Workbook” below to Left, & Answer the Questions in it in Writing. *Also, Attend your “Life Fix” Group this week. If you’re Not in one, Get the following Workbook, & Book or AudioBook, & go through them Yourself. *****Disclaimer – “The Fix” Books are NOT God’s Word, but Man’s. The Bible is God’s Word & we Filter Everything through it. However, the 12 Steps are Based on Teachings of Jesus.
Step 7 – We HUMBLY ASKED GOD TO REMOVE OUR SHORTCOMINGS.
James 4:6b - “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” *Humility – There is a God & I’m Not Him! Rather than Fight Him, I Surrender to Him & Ask for His Help, & then Open my Hands to Receive His Favor & Gifts. Humility helps me come to the End of My Rope & Lie Down & Trust Jesus. Humility allows me to See the Truth about Myself (Good & Bad) & Find Hope for My Restoration with Jesus. We should Pray, “Lord Give Me, the Gift of Humility.” (Let’s Pray for it.)
Matthew 6:9-13 - 9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ (Let’s Pray It.)
Mark 10:46-52 - 46 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” 50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. 51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” 52 “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 - 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited (keep me humble), I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Romans 7:18-25 - 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. 21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
*Don’t be Surprised if you still see some of your Defects on your List 20 Years from now – Ones that God hasn’t Removed Yet. You’ll Die with some.
*The 12 Steps are Not a Competition with Ourselves. We will Repeatedly Work Steps 6 & 7 Throughout our Life-Time.
Bill Wilson – “No one among us has been able to maintain anything like perfect adherence to these principles. We are not saints. The point is that we are willing to grow along spiritual lines. The principles we have set down are guides to progress. We claim spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection.”
*We don’t Do the Steps, God Does! Our part is to Surrender & Pray for God to do the Work. We Supply the Willingness & God Supplies the Change!
Hebrews 10:14 - For by one sacrifice he (God) has made perfect forever (justified/justification) those who are being made holy. (sanctification)
Philippians 1:6 - being confident of this, that he (God) who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 2:12-13 - 12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
Galatians 5:16-17 - 16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. (2 Dogs Inside)
Create Accountability Friendships – Honestly Sharing Everything with Each Other, so our Sins get Exposed & don’t continue to Grow, but we find Healing Together.
James 5:16a - Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.
Proverbs 27:17 - As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
*Do You Want to Be Healed, to Get Well? Then Let Go, Ask, & Let God!
John 5:6 - When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”
Luke 22:42 - “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” - Jesus
Luke 1:38 - “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word (your will) to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Here’s What I Want us To Do This Week
1. HUMBLY ASK GOD TO REMOVE OUR SHORTCOMINGS. Pray 7th Step Prayer found in The Fix Workbook – Pg. 137 – “My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows. Grant me strength, as I go out from here to do Your bidding.”
*Read Chapter 7 – Step 7: Surrender the Shortcomings - Pages 63-74 in Black “The Fix Workbook” below to Left, & Answer the Questions in it in Writing. *Also, Attend your “Life Fix” Group this week. If you’re Not in one, Get the following Workbook, & Book or AudioBook, & go through them Yourself. *****Disclaimer – “The Fix” Books are NOT God’s Word, but Man’s. The Bible is God’s Word & we Filter Everything through it. However, the 12 Steps are Based on Teachings of Jesus.