A SURRENDERED LIFE: PART 1

Introduction

The word surrender brings to mind many images

Hands up — don’t shoot — take what you want

Come out with your hands up — turn yourself in

I give up — I can’t do this anymore — I quit

Dictionary definitions include:

“Cease resistance to an enemy or opponent and submit to their authority”

“Give up or hand over (a person, right, or possession), typically by compulsion”

“Abandon oneself entirely to (a powerful emotion or influence)”

In terms of spiritual or matters of faith, surrender means:

“The believer completely gives up his own will and yields his/her thoughts, ideas, and deeds to God and His ways”

“It means to yield or submit willingly to God…in faith, out of love, in pursuit of a closer relationship with Him”

Faith is a key element — if you don’t trust or believe in what God and His word says, your faith won’t allow you to completely surrender to Him

When God call Abraham to leave Haran, his people, and his father’s household, to just leave and go somewhere that God had not even revealed yet…he went, as the Lord had told him…when he was 75 years old.

Genesis 12:2–3 ESV

And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Several times throughout Abraham’s life, God gave him instructions that really didn’t make sense in the natural, but Abraham surrendered his will and followed God — not without a few hiccups along the way

The ultimate surrender Abraham made happened in Genesis 22 — when God instructed him to offer his son Isaac as a burnt offering

Hebrews 11:8–12 ESV

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

Surrender to God is inextricably connected to faith in God’s love and His perfect plan — no matter what things may look like on the outside

Many people in scripture knew what it meant to surrender their lives to God

Jesus is the most amazing example of surrender — He came, took on flesh, and dwelt among fallen humans…ultimately surrendering His life’s blood for our salvation.

Matthew 26:39 ESV

And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

The first major act of surrender in Christianity happened in Acts 1 and 2. Jesus had instructed his followers to go to Jerusalem and wait for the baptism of the Holy Spirit

They waited in an upper room, surrendered to the will of God, waiting and praying, just as Jesus instructed —

Acts 2:1–2 ESV

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.

Throughout history, followers have Christ have willingly given up everything — surrendered their will, their comfort, wealth, even their very lives because of their desire to stay close to God — to hear his voice, experience his presence, and accomplish his will as humble servants

Here’s the catch — it has been our problem forever — people of God can fall prey to spiritual dryness, pride, compromise, self-denial (having a form of “godliness” without His power or presence).

Historically — beginning in Genesis, when people face their sin or drifting from God, they have the choice to surrender once again…to regroup and refresh and surrender to God

Here’s an example from history:

- in 313 A.D., Christianity was legalized in the Roman Empire, ending centuries of persecution

Now Christians had greater freedom — but some believers (priests, nuns, and others) saw the increasing cooperation between the clergy and the Roman Empire — and how it was corrupting Christianity in general among the people.

They became known as the Desert Fathers and Mothers — they felt like the only way to live as true disciples of Jesus was to leave the distractions of the world and seek the silence and solitude of the desert. They lost their dependence on worldly things that had become a substitute for God.

One of their role-models was the Apostle Paul, who after his conversion to Christ, spent 3 years in solitude in the desert in Arabia studying and meditating on God’s word before beginning to spread the Gospel.

Their way of life involved much silence…and learning to pray without ceasing

“Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.” The Jesus prayer

If the soul is vigilant and withdraws from all distractions and abandons its own will, then the spirit of God invades it and it can conceive because it is free to do so — Abba Cronius

James 4:7 ESV

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

Romans 12:1–2 ESV

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

PRAYER

Big Idea: The path to a closer, more joy-filled and free life in Christ is a life of surrender Him

How can we truly surrender our will, desires, emotions, stuff…our whole selves to Jesus?

SURRENDER HAPPENS WHEN YOU ACTUALLY SURRENDER

Be willing to sacrifice your comfort-zone in favor of God’s presence

Make Time

This is one of the most difficult aspects of surrender

How do you make time for anything in your life?

Illustration: Walter’s crisis of faith that led him to create a holy Sabbath in his life that is sacred and non-negotiable. From Sunday night to Monday night — wow.

We make time when we are serious about something — even if it means dropping things we thought were essential — we find out…when we make time, God makes time work for us

Shut things down

Phone, TV, anything else that constantly pulls at you for attention

Illustration: Dr. Gill’s dog, Zophia — former service dog for a hearing impaired person. “I hear you! Thank you! Good girl!”

Embrace the quiet

Again…extremely difficult for most people because of the constant sources of noise, distraction, irritation, — things that erase time and energy from us…time and energy that we can never get back.

Slow down and Breathe

In popular language…they might call this mindfulness.

But it means, literally, slow down — relax your mind and your body — breathe in, breathe out

As you do…prepare your heart to listen to the Holy Spirit — He will speak

Listen

The Holy Spirit may drop a word of encouragement — an image — a person — something that speaks to you — a word from God to you.

Illustration: My experience in my soul care skills class —

“It’s okay to be you — be yourself — when you live in my strength, by my side, yourself is enough. Without me…yourself is never enough.”

“I am inviting you…come up higher. Higher up and deeper in. Relax and breathe. Enjoy the fresh wind of my Spirit.”

I am running…running after you!

Receive

Acknowledge

Rinse and repeat all the time

Transitional: You will never regret living a life of surrender to God

SURRENDER TO GOD BRINGS JOY AND FREEDOM

Opens your spiritual eyes and ears

Transforms your perspective

Ignites fresh and new passion

Connects you with God

His love

His grace

His gifts

His heart

Motivates you to put a new way of life into motion

SURRENDER TO GOD DOES NOT MAKE LIFE’S STRUGGLES VANISH

SURRENDER TO GOD ALLOWS YOU TO NAVIGATE LIFE’S STRUGGLES FROM A NEW VANTAGE POINT

Challenge

Are you ready for a more fulfilling walk with God?

The path to a closer, more joy-filled and free life in Christ is a life of surrender Him

Song?