I SURRENDER ALL? PART 2
God desires absolute surrender from every believer.
Genesis 22:9-19
Introduction
What do you trust in?
1. Money? What if you became the victim of identity theft and you found your bank accounts emptied and your credit destroyed?
2. Career? What if your company suddenly went bankrupt or downsized?
3. Health? What if your health failed and you were no longer able to work?
4. Intelligence? What if Alzheimer’s disease were to cease your mental capabilities, rendering you incapable of even remembering your own name?
5. Family and friends? What if your family and friends forsook you?
I believe that at least once in the life of every genuine believer God will bring us to the place where our very survival may rely upon our ability to let go, trusting in nothing and no one other than God to see us through.
Genesis 22:9-19
9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.
10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
11 And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.
12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.
13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.
14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.
15 And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,
16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
19 So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beer-sheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beer-sheba.
I. ABSOLUTE SURRENDER RESTS IN GREAT FAITH.
Genesis 22:9-10
9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
Note: It had been three days since God had instructed Abraham to make the supreme sacrifice, to offer his own son as a sacrifice to God. Abraham had three long days to agonize over the matter. For three days – days that had passed far too quickly – Abraham had taken weary step after weary step, with a heart so heavy that he must have felt as though it would burst. Now, father and son had reached the fatal place.
SOURCE: The Preacher’s Outline And Sermon Bible: Genesis II. Leadership Ministries Worldwide. Chattanooga, TN. p. 136.
James 2:18
18 But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
Illustration: Who’s There?
A tourist came too close to the edge of the Grand Canyon, lost his footing and plunged over the side, clawing and scratching to save himself. After he went out of sight and just before he fell into space, he encountered a scrubby bush which he desperately grabbed with both hands. Filled with terror, he called out toward heaven, "Is there anyone up there?"
A calm, powerful voice came out of the sky, "Yes, there is."
The tourist pleaded, "Can you help me? Can you help me?"
The calm voice replied, "Yes, I probably can. What is your problem?"
"I fell over the cliff and am dangling in space holding to a bush that is about to let go. Please help me."
The voice from above said, "I’ll try. Do you believe?"
"Yes, yes, I believe."’
"Do you have faith?"
"Yes, yes. I have strong faith."
The calm voice said, "Well, in that case, simply let loose of the bush and everything will turn out fine."
There was a tense pause, and then the tourist yelled, "Is there anyone else up there?"
SOURCE: James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988), p. 480.
A. Great Faith Involves Self-Denial.
(Abstaining from personal desires and worldly pleasures for the sake of the kingdom)
Luke 9:23
23 Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
1 Corinthians 8:4-13
4 Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.
7 However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.
9 But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? 11 And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
B. Great Faith Involves Personal Sacrifice.
(Giving up control of everything I have, even my own life)
Matthew 19:16-22
16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?"
17 So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."
18 He said to Him, "Which ones?"
Jesus said, "’You shall not murder,’ ’You shall not commit adultery,’ ’You shall not steal,’ ’You shall not bear false witness,’ 19 ’Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ’You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’"
20 The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?"
21 Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
1. Do I love God more than anything?
2. Am I willing to sacrifice myself totally for God and His cause?
3. Am I willing to sacrifice my life and my possessions?
4. Am I willing to sacrifice everything in order to take the gospel of God’s Son to the uttermost part of the earth?
5. Am I willing to obey God totally, no matter the cost?
6. I am not totally surrendered unless I am all the above.
II. ABSOLUTE SURRENDER R ELIES ON GOD’S FAITHFULNESS.
Genesis 22:11-14
11 But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." 12 And He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me." 13 Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, "In the Mount of The LORD it shall be provided."
Note: God accepted the sacrifice and surrender of Abraham’s heart.
· He called out to stop Abraham from sacrificing Isaac.
· When Abraham reached out and took the knife to slay his son, God knew that Abraham was totally surrendered to Him.
· God knew that Abraham’s heart belonged to Him – totally and absolutely.
· Nothing, absolutely nothing, stood between Abraham and God. Abraham would sacrifice anything and do anything for God.
· Abraham would obey God, no matter the sacrifice or cost.
· God was the most precious person and the most treasured thing in Abraham’s life.
SOURCE: The Preacher’s Outline And Sermon Bible: Genesis II. Leadership Ministries Worldwide. Chattanooga, TN. p. 137.
1 Corinthians 1:9
9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
A. God Graciously Accepts Me In Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 1:3-6
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
1. He gives me every blessing in Christ (v. 3).
Romans 8:28
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Colossians 2:10
10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
James 1:17
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
2 Peter 1:3
3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,
2. He chose me in Christ for His glory before the foundation of the world (v. 4).
Ephesians 1:6
6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
Ephesians 1:12
12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
Ephesians 1:14
14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
3. He declares me to be holy and righteous in Christ (v. 4).
Philippians 3:9
9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
4. He adopts me as His child in the image of Christ (v. 5).
Romans 8:14-17
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
5. He accepts me in Christ (v. 6).
Romans 8:1
8 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
B. God Mercifully Provides For Me Through Jesus Christ.
1. By placing my sins upon His Son Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 53:4-6
4 Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
2. By sacrificing His Son Jesus Christ in my place.
John 1:29
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
3. By making me righteous because of the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:21
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
III. ABSOLUTE SURRENDER ROUSES GOD’S FAVOR.
Genesis 22:15-19
15 Then the Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, 16 and said: "By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son-- 17 blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. 18 In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice." 19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.
A. God Favors Me When I Am Obedient.
Matthew 25:14-30
14 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20 "So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ’Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ’Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ’Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23 His lord said to him, ’Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
24 "Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ’Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
26 "But his lord answered and said to him, ’You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
29 ’For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Illustration: God Is No Fool
Once, a man said, “If I had some extra money, I’d give it to God, but I have just enough to support myself and my family.”
And the same man said, “If I had some extra time, I’d give it to God, but every minute is taken up with my job, my family, my clubs, and what have you—every single minute.”
And the same man said, “If I had a talent I’d give it to God, but I have no lovely voice; I have no special skill; I’ve never been able to lead a group; I can’t think cleverly or quickly, the way I would like to.”
And God was touched, and although it was unlike Him, God gave that man money, time, and a glorious talent. And then He waited, and waited, and waited.....And then after a while, He shrugged His shoulders, and He took all those things right back from the man, the money, the time and the glorious talent.
After a while, the man sighed and said, “If I only had some of that money back, I’d give it to God. If I only had some of that time, I’d give it to God. If I could only rediscover that glorious talent, I’d give it to God.”
And God said, “Oh, shut up.”
And the man told some of his friends, “You know, I’m not so sure that I believe in God anymore.”
SOURCE: From God is No Fool, by Lois Cheney, 1969, Abingdon Press. Cited online at http://www.bible.org.
B. God Favors Me With His Promises.
Hebrews 6:13-14
13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, 14 saying, "Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you."
Romans 4:21
21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.
1. God has sworn that He stands behind every single promise.
2. Every promise will be fulfilled.
3. The omnipotent power of God guarantees their fulfillment.
4. The person who follows and obeys God receives the promises of God.
5. The person who sacrifices all will have the promises of God take effect in his life.
Conclusion
Question: What can I do if I want to be able to surrender all, but I just can’t?
How Jesus handled a lack of total commitment on the part of Simon Peter.
John 21:15-19
15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?"
He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You."
He said to him, "Feed My lambs."
16 He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?"
He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You."
He said to him, "Tend My sheep."
17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?"
And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You."
Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep. 18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish." 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me."
Answer: Start by surrendering everything you can.
When I stand at the judgment seat of Christ
And He shows me His plan for me;
The plan of my life as it might have been
Had He had His way, and I see
How I blocked Him here and I checked Him there
And I would not yield my will,
Shall I see grief in my Savior’s eyes;
Grief though He loves me still?
Oh, He’d have me rich, and I stand there poor,
Stripped of all but His grace,
While my memory runs like a hunted thing
Down the paths I can’t retrace.
