Being Sold Out to Jesus

The Nature of Temptation and Escape

Every temptation of the devil is an attempt to draw men from what's worthy to what's worthless. To every temptation, there is a way of escape in God.

There is nothing and no one more greater or more valuable than Jesus—not even yourself.

The Supreme Pre-eminence of Jesus

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist." (Colossians 1:15-17 NKJV)

Jesus is supreme over everything in terms of everything. Everyone exists because He gave the permission for them to exist. All the creation of men were from the raw resources He provided.

"All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made." (John 1:3 NKJV)

We cannot give God His rightful place because He occupies it and there is nothing we can do about it. We must however acknowledge His rightful place.

"Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high." (Hebrews 1:3 NKJV)

He upholds all things by the word of His power.

Jesus as Head of the Church

"And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence." (Colossians 1:18 NKJV)

He is the ruler, controller, designer, determinant, and the driver of His body—who we are as His church. You cannot live as though you do not have a leader.

The basis of true faith is the pre-eminence of Jesus. The more you understand His pre-eminence, the more your faith will stand and the more you will see that nothing is indeed impossible.

"Jesus said to him, 'If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.'" (Mark 9:23 NKJV)

It is a law in the Spirit that in all things Jesus must be pre-eminent.

Our Completeness in His Sufficiency

Jesus is the sovereign Lord in whose sufficiency the believer finds his strength.

"For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power." (Colossians 2:9-10 NKJV)

Because He is supreme, He is sufficient. Because He is sufficient, you are complete and okay.

Paul's Example of Sold-Out Living

"And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God." (Acts 20:22-24 NKJV)

It is more important to be fulfilled than to be filled. And to be fulfilled requires being sold out to Jesus. It is more required for you to be fulfilled than for you to solve your problem.

You cannot be focused on living a fulfilled life and God will not attend to your needs because He is first of all sold out to you before He requests you to do so. God does not fail at His commitment. His faithfulness is not just His attribute but also His identity.

"If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself." (2 Timothy 2:13 NKJV)

Paul lived a life sold out to the purpose to which He had been called to live.

Paul's Commitment Despite Opposition

"And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. When he had come to us, he took Paul's belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, 'Thus says the Holy Spirit, "So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles."' Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, 'What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.'" (Acts 21:10-13 NKJV)

Understanding What "Sold Out" Means

Sold out means total custody, ownership, control, use of an item has been transferred to an individual based on a legitimate concluded transaction.

You are not your own. You have been purchased at a price.

"Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood." (Acts 20:28 NKJV)

Your body is not your own. You cannot afford to do anything with it.

"Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." (1 Corinthians 6:13, 19-20 NKJV)

The Value of Your Life

Your life is costly. Do not look down on the value of the life that you have. You may not like your shape, height, etc. You must honor everything as regards your life because the cost of your life is as expensive as the blood of Jesus.

"You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men." (1 Corinthians 7:23 NKJV)

Redemption is purchase. You are bought at a price.

"Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." (1 Peter 1:18-19 NKJV)

Living for Him Who Died

"And He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again." (2 Corinthians 5:15 NKJV)

Live not for myself but for Him because He died to save me. After He bought you, you are sealed and stamped. There is a seal upon your life.

Why Must I Live a Sold-Out Life?

1. That is the divine expectation upon our lives. You cannot accept His salvation and not accept His control.
2. It is synonymous to fulfilling God's plan for your life.
3. It is the way God can get to do what He wants to do on earth.

Conclusion

Being sold out to Jesus means recognizing His supreme pre-eminence over all creation and accepting that we have been purchased at the price of His precious blood. We are no longer our own but belong completely to Him who died for us and rose again. This sold-out life is not just God's expectation but the pathway to true fulfillment and the means by which God accomplishes His purposes on earth through willing vessels who understand their complete transfer of ownership to Christ.