Close To Thee - Surrender

Text: James 4:7-8; John 3:30

Place Preached - (Mississauga International Baptist Church)

Date Preached - (01/05/02)

Introduction:   

ILLUS: We surrender things for earthly relationships, freedom, independence, financial gain, etc.

ILLUS: Marriage

Everything of value requires some form of sacrifice or surrender.

ILLUS: The Miner’s Reward

Why should we be surprised that a close walk with God is no different?

We must choose between surrender and our own stubborn way.

ILLUS: Technique for engraving granite.  Rubber mask with letters cut out and then sand-blasted.  The Granite stubbornly resists and is worn away.  The rubber is resilient and takes the blow of the sand blast, but endures.

Galatians 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

John 3:30  He must increase, but I must decrease.

THEME SUBMISSION – “Less Of Me, More Of Thee”

DEFINITION – to give up possession of or power over; yield to another on demand or compulsion. / to give up or abandon

The English word “SURRENDER” does not occur in the KJV Bible.

However, there are two other terms that convey the idea of surrender.

SUBJECT - hupotasso - a military term, "to rank under" "to put under," to subject oneself, to obey, be subject to

SUBMIT - "to retire, withdraw" "to yield, submit,"

Hebrews 12:9  Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

James 4:7  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

EXPLAIN verse 8 and its relationship to submission.

What does it Look like?  Where does it begin?  How does it unfold?  What are the evidences of a surrendered life?

Here are some Characteristics of a Surrendered Life....

I. Inward Consecration

That is “UNFEIGNED” Consecration.  It is genuine...REAL!!

It is not something contrived, worked up, manufactured by flesh.

It is a work, wrought of God, in the heart of a believer.

Surrender begins in the heart.

Psalms 40:8  I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

Romans 7:22  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

1 Peter 3:15  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

We are talking about Adoration, Worship, the heart’s one desire for Christ.

For the New Testament Christian it is unconditional surrender and absolute yieldedness to God’s Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 5:18  And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

ILLUS: D.L. Moody “Monopoly on the Holy Spirit?”

Christ As Live-In

      When Queen Victoria reigned in England, she occasionally would visit some of the humble cottages of her subjects. One time she entered the home of a widow and stayed to enjoy a brief period of Christian fellowship.

      Later on, the poor woman was taunted by her worldly neighbors. “Granny,” they said, “who’s the most honored guest you’ve ever entertained in your home?” They expected her to say it was Jesus, for despite their constant ridicule of her Christian witness, they recognized her deep spirituality. But to their surprise she answered, “The most honored guest I’ve entertained is Her Majesty the Queen.”

      “Did you say the Queen? Ah, we caught you this time! How about this Jesus you’re always talking about? Isn’t He your most honored guest?” Her answer was definite and scriptural, “NO, indeed! He’s not a guest. HE LIVES HERE!” Her hecklers were put to silence.

—Our Daily Bread

In surrender we are dead to sin...

LOOK UP & READ Colossians 3:1-3

ILLUS: Saul’s Sacrifice was meaningless because of his lack of obedience, no inward consecration of the heart.

1 Samuel 15:22  And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

You can tithe and serve and do all the right things outwardly.

They mean nothing to God if you are not flying the white flag of surrender from the citadel of your heart!!

II. Humble Anticipation of tomorrow

The Future is in God’s hands.

Humility in respect of our future reveals true surrender.

No conceit or pride here!!

James 4:15  For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. (LOOK UP & READ CONTEXT)

Proverbs 27:1  Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

EXAMPLES – Abraham (left Ur of Chaldees not knowing where he would go)  Elisha (followed Elijah not knowing he would be taken from him in a whirlwind)

Psalms 90:12  So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

III. Uncomplaining Flexibility in Life’s Circumstances

Willingness to accept, even embrace, God’s will for one’s life, even if it is not always pleasant.

Job 1:21  And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

Job 13:15  Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

Luke 22:42  Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

A spirit of resignation, even in our trials.  Not a demand for deliverance, but a readiness to reside in the suffering if it be God’s will.

IV. Unselfish Expectations – James 2:13

Surrendered people are a giving people. Why?

A. They Understand that they belong to God

1 Corinthians 6:19-20  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

20  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

B. They Understand all that they have belongs to God.

C. They understand that all they possess is to be used to glorify God.

Conclusion:     (Review)

READ PORTION of Genesis 32

Jacob’s Thigh

      We said to a physician friend one day, “Doctor, what is the exact significance of God’s touching Jacob upon the sinew of his thigh?”

      He replied, “The sinew of the thigh is the strongest in the human body. A horse could scarcely tear it apart.” God had to break us down at the strongest part of our self-life before He can have His own way of blessing with us.

—J.H. McConkey