The world system does seek subjects surrender to the law, constitution, and loyalty of its subjects. Anything outside this results in being fired, replaced, or punished, execution in some other parts of the world.
Surrender means to forsake every other and commit.
In the same way, the kingdom of God demands yielding to commitment. Jesus, in illustrating the need for commitment to the Kingdom of God gave this parable and said, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it” (Matthew 13:45). Jesus emphasized the treasure worthiness of the Kingdom, and those who appreciate the value will forsake all others.
Many today are devoted to the performances of their stock market. They spend a good part of their day to follow the trend, and are consistent about it
Men surrender to idols who were crafted by hands, and they practice devotion. Jesus expressed the children of the world are wiser than the children of light (Like 18:8) because those in the world use their manipulative skills to get results for their devotion. Can the children of Light make something happen from their service to God?
Why Surrender?
- We heard the gospel of truth with witness and manifestation, then we believed.
- God demands our surrender,” (Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:8).
- We love and trust Him,” ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,’ says the Lord,’ who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8)
- He died for us, placed His life on the line for our salvation.” But God demonstrates His love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
- We understand the virtues of God. He made the world.” In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1).
- Because you know Him,” I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children Because you have known the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one” (1 John 2:13-14).
What are the Practices of Surrender?
- Acknowledge His Lordship by asking Him into our lives. (1Revelation, 3:20).
- We worship, praise, adore, acknowledge Him.
- We live in devotion and loyalty to Him and His Word.
- We learn His ways through reading the Bible and praying every day.
- We remain vigilant in prayers, the Word, and sharing the gospel.
When is Surrender in place?
- When we accept, we are sinners and need the Lord,” for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23).
- The day we resolve to ask Jesus into our lives,” Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelations 3:20). The character of God reveals he does not force His way. However, He pleads for our fellowship, the reason he says I stand at the door. His style and policy are whoever will want. He has offered the invitation; refusal to accept means the individual suffers the consequences.
- When we begin to walk in obedience to the Word of God.
Factors that Steal Our Surrender
- Unbelief,” But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let, not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways” (James 1:6-8).
- Peer pressure,” Do not be deceived: Bad company ruins good morals” (1 Corinthians 15:33).
- Weak foundation,” But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the windows s blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash” (Matthew 7:26-27).
- Holding back,” Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, my soul has no pleasure in him” (Hebrews 10:38).
What Are the Facts of Surrender?
- We should be ready for change,” that you put off, concerning your former conduct. This old man grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24).
- Devote to growth,” As you, therefore, have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6-7).
- Consider our desires and living,” Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (1John 2:15-17).
- Study the Word.” Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16).
- Relationships,” Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14).
- Fellowship with other children of God,” not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25).
- Pray without ceasing, (I Thessalonians 5:17).
The Benefits of Surrender
- Our names are written in the book of life,” He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:12).
- You find rest for your soul,” Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 12:28-29).
- The Holy Spirit is active in our lives,” If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you” John 14:15-17).
- We enjoy the fruits of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23).
- Bad habits are curbed, and we die to self,” And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires (Galatians 19:24).
- We enjoy a stronger fellowship with God,” And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).
- We become God’s favorite,” You are My friends if you do whatever I command you” (John 15:14).
- We dwell in His Secret place, (Psalm 91, 23).
- He is readily available, to hear us,” “It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will (hear,” (Isaiah 65:24).
- And many more blessings,” Eyes have seen, nor ears heard the things God has in store for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).
Let’s take a moment of reflection, and ask the questions:
Why am I holding back my surrender?
What is struggling with my surrender to the Spirit of God?
Delay in surrender is to short change ourselves from the benefit of heaven. The Holy Spirit – the sweet dove, the energizer, the compass, the light, does not force His way. We miss out as we delay Him from taking over our lives. Moses appreciated the relevance of the presence of the Spirit of God. The Lord told Him He would not accompany him and the Israelites through the Canaan Land journey because the Lord was pained and fed up with the rebellion of His people, Israel. Moses responded,” Then Moses said to Him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here” (Genesis 33:15). He knew it would be a disaster and Chaos without the presence of God.
The man Sampson lived empowered and did exploits because he was born with the Spirit of God. He became careless about his gift and disobeyed God’s mandate for retaining the anointing in His life, and Sampson fell victim to His enemies. (Judges, 16).
The Holy Spirit of God is the third person in the Triune God (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit). Jesus told His disciples he needed to go away so that He could send the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit was present at creation; the Spirit moved in the lives of many renowned men of God in the Old Testament. This is the same Spirit that indwells us when we invite the Lord Jesus Christ into our lives.
The Spirit of God flows or moves in our lives and fulfills the purpose of God when we surrender and walk with Him every day.
Paul pleads to the church on the topic of surrender in this manner,” I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1-2).
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what that good is, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:1-2).
” And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:17)
Also,” I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).
Intimacy with God is buffered through a life of surrender.
A song in prayer” I Surrender” through YouTube link below