WHY TOTAL SURRENDER?

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   The Christian life could be summarized with these statements:

1.    Leave all (Luke 14:33).

 

So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

 

2.    Surrender all (Rom. 12:1)

 

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.

 

3.    Give all  (Mark 12:30).

 

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength:  this is the first commandment.

 

B.   Christianity is about total commitment and total surrender to the Jesus Christ as our Lord and Master.

 

C.   For some, this seems to be a bit too much. 

 

D.   Perhaps, we need to dig a little deeper.  We really need to answer a “why” question.  “Why Total Surrender?”

 

I.             IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO SERVE TWO MASTERS   

 

A.   It was Jesus who made this affirmation during His earthly ministry (Matt. 6:24).

 

No man can serve two masters;  for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.  Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

 

B.   This truth is especially applicable to spiritual things.

1.    There are two masters:  Satan and Jesus.

2.    Their teachings and their practices are diametrically opposed to each other.

a.    Lies versus truth

b.    Wickedness versus holiness

c.    Flesh versus Spirit

d.    Death versus life

 

C.   When we yield to Satan, we quit serving Jesus Christ.  Why?  Because we are yielding ourselves to the will of the evil one instead of the will of Jesus Christ.

 

 

II.           TO FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS

 

A.   As the name “Christian” implies, each one of us is seeking to follow Jesus Christ in the manner in which we live our lives.

1.    John 13:15

 

I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

 

2.    1 Peter 2:21

 

For even hereunto were ye called:  because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow in his steps.

 

3.    1 John 2:6

 

He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

 

B.   Christ was a man who was completely surrendered to the will of His Father.  The gospel of John stresses this many times over.

1.    John 4:34

 

Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

 

2.    John 5:30

 

…because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

 

3.    John 6:38

 

For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

 

4.    John 8:29

 

…for I do always those things that please him.

 

5.    John 14:31

 

…and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do…

 

C.   It is interesting that Jesus’ baptism that began His ministry involved His obedience to God (Matt. 3:15), and His death at the conclusion of His ministry also involved obedience (Matt. 26:39).  Everything between these two events was complete obedience as well.

1.    “I will do it my way” was not the approach of Jesus.

2.    “It is more about what I believe than what I do” was not the way of Jesus.

3.    “Obedience is just a bunch of legalism” was not the thinking of Jesus.

 

D.   Total surrender was the mind of Christ.  To follow Him, it must be our mind (Phil. 2:5).

 

III.         TO OBTAIN TOTAL TRANSFORMATION

 

A.   Transformation:  change in form, appearance, nature, character

 

B.   When individuals come to Jesus, they are stained by sin, corrupt in heart, and carnal in their thinking (Eph. 2:2-3).

 

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:  among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lust of the flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

 

C.   Jesus cleanses us, heals us, and give us a new life.

1.    Ephesians 2:4-6

 

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

 

2.    2 Corinthians 5:17

 

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:  old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

 

D.   From this point onward, we are to transform ourselves into the image of Jesus Christ.

1.    Two verses:

a. “For to me to live is Christ…” (Phil. 1:21)

b. “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to

     the image of his Son…” (Rom. 8:29)

2.    Transformation involves the renewing of the mind (Rom. 12:2).

3.    And, it also involves the complete revolution of one’s life.  This can only occur by total surrender.

4.    Illustration:  A painter putting our image on canvas, but he leaves off an ear, or forgets to put hair on our head, or puts only four fingers on our right hand.  The image is not complete until there is absolute accuracy. 

 

IV.         TO HAVE SUCCESS IN OUR CHRISTIAN SERVICE

 

A.   1 Corinthians 3:9

 

For we are labourers together with God;  ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.

 

1.    As Christians, we have planted a vineyard and are attempting to bring forth much fruit.

2.    As Christians, we are seeking to build the house of God.

 

B.   If we are not totally surrendered, we will not be successful in our efforts.

1.    We will start and stop.

2.    We will put some things on the back burner.

3.    We will put in a lot of effort, then slack off.  When we come back things have deteriorated or have been destroyed.

4.    We might stop altogether since we are not fully committed to the tasks.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   The totally surrendered are:

1.    Eager

2.    Committed

3.    Present

4.    Diligent

5.    Enthusiastic

6.    Overcomers

7.    Joyful

 

B.   Those not totally committed are just the opposite.

1.    Apathetic

2.    Vacillating

3.    Often absent

4.    Slothful

5.    Unexcited

6.    Defeatists

7.    Despondent

 

C.   I asked ChatGPT:  “What is the strongest Bible verse for total surrender?”  It answered:  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.

 

1.    Complete surrender:  I am crucified with Christ

2.    Union with Christ:  Christ liveth in me

3.    Life as a whole:  the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God

4.    Strong motive:  who loved me, and gave himself for me.