Surrender!

My Boast

Can I boast to you guys a little, can I share my testimony?

I manage my time poorly, I lack self discipline and tend to procrastinate. This sermon was written yesterday. These are weaknesses I face at times, but I saw the goodness of God, I sought forgiveness and repented, those things are not my identity in Him. His great mercy on display with all the materials I needed being placed before me, some of which God had prepared months before. Most notably one of the most important verses in writing this sermon Philippians 4:13, is a core verse in our music class with brother Kelly, who had been trying to get in touch with me for two days prior but failed because I wrote a wrong digit down in my phone number, He finally got in touch with me, after getting the right number, exactly as I was writing this and the verse, that is the core of our class, was brought back to my memory by God and became the glue for this sermon, the goodness of God. All this to say I am an imperfect Child of God as anyone else, whatever good you get from this sermon all praises be to God, I am surrendered to a God who loves me, guides me and uses me for His purposes.

He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.”

Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.

2 Corinthians 12:9 (CSB)

That my friends is my boast. I have a Father that loves me.

Let dive into the sermon.

Ali vs Frazier 111

In boxing the goal is to keep fighting until victory, using all the endurance, knowledge and skill you have to beat the opponent, never give up, never give in and never surrender, that towel better stay outside the ring. Throwing it in would label you officially, mentally and socially a loser. Being open to mocking and a bad reputation. In 1975 Mohammed Ali heavyweight champion of the world boxed Joe Frazier the third a former champion, in a showdown called ‘Thrilla in Manila’ Some of you in here might have witnessed this momentous occasion. Round 1, Fight. the two boxers went at it, this was to be a slug fest and that it was. This vicious battle lasted for fourteen rounds and both boxers suffered brutal blows. But this match ended with Mohammad Ali victorious after Joe Frazier’s trainer saw that his injuries, especially ones to his eyes made losing inevitable, and despite Joe’s resistance He threw in the towel. Joe surrendered, Joe lost. In our Christian walk its quite the opposite that is true, we are called to willingly surrender, surrender our lives and every fight we may face to God. Romans 6:13

Romans 6:12–13 CSB

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey its desires. And do not offer any parts of it to sin as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness.

We become victors in surrender in that regard, and instead of being a fool for surrendering we become the wise through fear. Proverbs 9:10

Proverbs 9:10 NIV

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Joe Frazier’s surrender meant He lost the fight, the praise and all the spoils to Mohammed Ali. Our surrender to Jesus means we now live in His victory over death, gaining eternal life with Him. A victory we could never achieve on our own.

The what and why of surrender

This brings to question what is surrender?

Surrender simply means to cease resistance to an opponent, submit to their authority.

This word is one disliked, detested and loathed by all of us. It implies a losers Identity and bears the purpose of defeat in our culture and our world. It is a verb unthinkable to the carnal but in the Christian walk it is a verb admirable. William booth, the founder of Salvation army said, ‘the greatness of a man’s power is in the measure of his surrender’. We are called to surrender

Job 22:21 NIV

“Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you.

Why should I surrender to God? I’m doing just fine on my own, I have this going on, that going on, everything is going great.

We find our Identities and we find our purpose in God.

Lets deal with the case of Identities, turn with me to Genesis 32:24-32

Genesis 32:24–29 NKJV

Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.” And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.” And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there.

Jacob, grandson of Abraham and son of Issac ,whose name means deceiver, is heading into the land of a very powerful man, one whom he himself deceived, his brother, Esau. He was worried and fearful of His life, and the lives of all who were with Him, he was deep in distress. In the Midst of this trouble, He wrestled throughout night into daybreak, with a stranger. This Man crippled Jacob with a blow to his hip that disabled him with a limp for the rest of his life. It was then that Jacob realized what had happened: “I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared” (Genesis 32:30). In the process, his eventual surrender. Jacob was wrestling God ! And in verse 27 God asked Jacob His name, and He surrendered by saying God, my name is deceiver, therefore Jacob the deceiver received a new name, Israel, which likely means: “He struggles with God.” However, what is most important occurred at the conclusion of that struggle. We read that God “blessed him there.” Israel had to admit to God who He was so God could give him the new name, a new identity.

Next we go on to how God calls us to surrender to receive our purpose

Acts 9:1–6 NKJV

Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

With persecution in his walk, seeking the fall of those who followed Jesus. Saul Himself had to fall down on the road to Damascus and surrender to the Lord, His plans his being shattered, and His future now directed by divine authority. The Lord says this of Paul to Ananias another of His servants.

Acts 9:15–16 NKJV

But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

Our issue with Surrender

Now there are a few problems that come with surrender, a few issues that arise . In the book A purpose driven life, the author, Rick warren, mentions three barriers to full surrender fear, pride and confusion.

We get afraid because we don’t realize how much God loves us, how much we can trust Him.

John 3:16–17 CSB

For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

We become prideful and refuse to surrender because we want control over our own lives. We refuse to admit our limitations and we are tempted by the devil to aspire to be like God, be in control.

Genesis 3:5 CSB

“In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

We are confused in regards to surrender because we don’t understand that surrender isn’t an excuse for laziness but it is sacrificing your life or suffering in order to change what needs to be changed. This is best described in obedience. We can’t call Jesus our Lord and refuse to obey Him.

John 3:30 CSB

He must increase, but I must decrease.”

The promise of surrender

The good news is that those issues can be overcome, Here is the spoil of surrender, or the promise that it holds.

Philippians 4:13 CSB

I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me.

A life Surrendered to Christ, trusting in all He teaches and promises. Is life that is able to face every situation in life. Knowing that He is under the sovereign rule of the Immutable King.

Matthew 7:24–27 CSB

“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. It collapsed with a great crash.”

John 12:26 NIV

Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

Our options of surrender

Every one submits to something, the question what are we submitting too? The two main categories of human submission are to the light or to darkness.

John 12:35 CSB

Jesus answered, “The light will be with you only a little longer. Walk while you have the light so that darkness doesn’t overtake you. The one who walks in darkness doesn’t know where he’s going.

We are called to the light, we are called to be children of the light.

James 4:7 CSB

Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Are we living lives of surrender to God or to the Devil?

This is not a decision we should put off, one we must carefully consider due the consequences it holds.

James 4:14–15 (NKJV)

whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”

The application of surrender

There are a few requirements that come with a life surrendered.

Surrendering to God will require you being the best slave.

Genesis 39:2–4 CSB

The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, serving in the household of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made everything he did successful, Joseph found favor with his master and became his personal attendant. Potiphar also put him in charge of his household and placed all that he owned under his authority.

Despite going from being treated as a prince would be in his fathers household, Joseph, sold into slavery, had the presence of the Lord with Him. He surrendered to God and trusted in His promises instead of surrendering to how he felt about the situation he was in. He didn’t surrender to anger, depression or confusion, he rolled his sleeves up and got to work. Eventually becoming head of everything in his masters household.

Surrender to God may require us to be a christian martyr

Acts 7:59–60 CSB

While they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” He knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” And after saying this, he fell asleep.

After the Sanhedrin confronted Stephen and falsely accused Him, Stephen took a stand in defense, in such a way that it drove all the members of the council to commit murder, stoning Stephen to death. But Stephen living a life surrendered did not seek their demise, He didn’t ask God to punish them but asked for their forgiveness. A life surrendered even to valley of the shadow of death.

These things are truly difficult, tough stuff, but lets be reminded of this promise.

Philippians 4:13 CSB

I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me.

It’s tough stuff to surrender

Luke 12:49–50 CSB

“I came to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already set ablaze! But I have a baptism to undergo, and how it consumes me until it is finished!

The words of Jesus, Jesus surrendered to the will of the father even though it brought Him great distress

Mark 14:32–36 CSB

Then they came to a place named Gethsemane, and he told his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. He said to them, “I am deeply grieved to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake.” He went a little farther, fell to the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, “Abba, Father! All things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will.”

He said I am deeply grieved to the point of death.

Repent; surrender to God and be baptised

Foreknowledge of the future for a lot of us would prevent action, if we could see our demise we would seek to avoid it, but Jesus a chose to surrender to the will of the father and begin His work despite knowing the suffering and pain He would endure on Calvary for us all. All praises to the Lamb who was slain.

Matthew 3:13–17 CSB

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. But John tried to stop him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?” Jesus answered him, “Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John allowed him to be baptized. When Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water. The heavens suddenly opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased.”

Jesus took the second step in A life surrendered baptism, the first is repentance. He was perfect and without sin so He did not need to repent but He still wanted to be baptised because in this He would be accomplishing God’s mission. He accepted baptism in obedient service to the father. We are called to repent and be baptised. An exterior image of an inward change.

Acts 2:37–39 CSB

When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

This is not just for yourself but for your family and future family generations

Acts 16:13–15 CSB

On the Sabbath day we went outside the city gate by the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and spoke to the women gathered there. A God-fearing woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, was listening. The Lord opened her heart to respond to what Paul was saying. After she and her household were baptized, she urged us, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

Take a note of the fact her entire family surrendered.

Who in here is willing to take that step for their generation, for their saviour?

Who in here is ready to receive their true identity and the purpose of their life

The connotation of surrender implies losing but surrender my friends guarantees victory, a overcomer life, you become as Pastor Wayne preached a few weeks ago More than a conqueror not by any thing you have done but by everything Christ did.

Romans 5:8 CSB

But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 10:9 CSB

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Surrender starts with me, it starts with you, what is your boast ?