Complete Surrender

Religion

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.” (Matthew 16:24-25)There comes a time in every movement when total commitment is the only path to true fulfillment. Half in and half out is never the road to ultimate value. Even though this is true in every secular endeavor, it’s a Biblical principle.

God requires complete surrender of every believer – it is the normal Christian life. Somewhere along the way, the church has taken on a “pick and choose your commitment level, just as long as you believe” mindset. But that is not what the Lord requires according to the above passage.

What is complete surrender?

1. It is allowing Jesus to take His rightful place of “Lord of all” in our life.
2. It is surrendering our rights and expectations to Him.
3. It’s giving our children and our spouse to Him.
4. It’s giving up the right to make any decision apart from His wisdom and counsel.
5. It’s surrendering the right to come to God on our terms. It is recognizing that coming to God on our own terms is false religion.
6. It’s all or nothing. Partial obedience and surrender is not obedience at all.
7. It’s coming to God on His terms with nothing in our hand to offer Him but our lives.
8. Its saying, “Here am I Lord, send me.”

What are the benefits of total surrender?
1. Inner peace, which surpasses all human understanding.
2. The felt presence of God.
3. Wisdom the world cannot offer or explain.
4. The leadership of the Holy Spirit in all things.
5. The opportunity to be light, salt and hope to your world.
6. The ability to trust God, no matter what life brings your way.
7. The power of God continually demonstrated in and through your life.
8. Sweet fellowship with the Father.
9. The ability to do what is right when the tide of the world is pulling the opposite direction.
10. An eternal legacy that is passed down to your children, that’s better than money.

Are you living in a state of full surrender? If not, make a choice to be “all in” by surrendering your life completely to Christ’s control.

“We’re too Christian to enjoy sin and too sinful to enjoy Christ. We’ve got just enough Jesus to be informed, but not enough to be transformed. We want everything God has to offer without giving anything up. We want to buy in without selling out. We’re afraid that if we don’t hold out on God, we’ll miss out on what this life has to offer. It’s a lie. It’s the same lie the serpent told Adam and Eve in the garden. God is not holding out on you.

If you don’t hold out on God, I can promise you this: God will not hold out on you. But it’s all or nothing.
It’s all of you for all of Him.” (Mark Batterson, ALL IN )

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