Question to Ponder...Being Fully Surrendered

[Diplomat]

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. (Luke 9:23)

If you ask most committed or well intentioned Christians, they often talk about wanting to be surrendered to God. In your opinion, what does this mean?

[musa]

Re: Question to Ponder...Being Fully Surrendered

peace,
if the word islam could be translated into english the closest thing would probably be: "attainment of peace trough total submission to the Creator".
when the will of God becomes our will we don't put our ego in the way and just flow, free like birds in the air.
not an easy task but thefinetly the one worth working on
one :love:

[Dailybread]

Re: Question to Ponder...Being Fully Surrendered

Originally posted by CEW:
[qb] "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." (Luke 9:23)

If you ask most committed or well intentioned Christians, they often talk about wanting to be surrendered to God. In your opinion, what does this mean? [/qb]

Wanting to be surrendered to God in my opinion is to want God to have total control of one's life.

However although one may want God in control of their lives, they would much rather become a mechanical robot for God instead of having to willfully make the decision(s) in denying oneself and taking up their cross daily to follow Christ.

It is easy to want anything but for most very difficult to do what it takes to acquire these things. Wanting to be surrendered to God is no different.

[Guest]

Re: Question to Ponder...Being Fully Surrendered

I believe being *fully surrendered* to God is trusting Him completely in every all aspects of our lives and allowing Him to do His work through us.

Getting to that point is not easy. We try to hold on to things that we think we need or things that we think are best for us. Once we get to the point of total surrender, we can give up anything knowing that if it is the will of God, it will be ours.

Be back later...busy

[Diplomat]

Re: Question to Ponder...Being Fully Surrendered

Originally posted by Dailybread:

Wanting to be surrendered to God in my opinion is to want God to have total control of one's life.

However although one may want God in control of their lives, they would much rather become a mechanical robot for God instead of having to willfully make the decision(s) in denying oneself and taking up their cross daily to follow Christ.

It is easy to want anything but for most very difficult to do what it takes to acquire these things. Wanting to be surrendered to God is no different.

Interesting. Care to expand on the "mechanical robot" part? In addition, if one wilfully chooses self over submission, could that be considered a form of rebellion?

[Dailybread]

Re: Question to Ponder...Being Fully Surrendered

Originally posted by CEW:
[qb]

Originally posted by Dailybread:

Wanting to be surrendered to God in my opinion is to want God to have total control of one's life.

However although one may want God in control of their lives, they would much rather become a mechanical robot for God instead of having to willfully make the decision(s) in denying oneself and taking up their cross daily to follow Christ.

It is easy to want anything but for most very difficult to do what it takes to acquire these things. Wanting to be surrendered to God is no different.

Interesting. Care to expand on the "mechanical robot" part? In addition, if one wilfully chooses self over submission, could that be considered a form of rebellion? [/qb]

A mechanial robot does what it's programmed to do and only that. It does not have the ability to choose not to do something therefore doing exactly what it's creator wants it to do. However, God gave us the opportunity to choose and wants us to choose to allow Him control by choice not because we're forced to.

I believe that if one wants God to control their life and choose self over submission, that's saying that they indeed do not want God in total control but instead in areas that they choose to allow Him. In saying that I'm not sure if that's rebellion or just flat out refusal of having God in total control.

[Diplomat]

Re: Question to Ponder...Being Fully Surrendered

Dailybread: Now I am understanding you much clearer...thanks.

I believe that if one wants God to control their life and choose self over submission, that's saying that they indeed do not want God in total control but instead in areas that they choose to allow Him. In saying that I'm not sure if that's rebellion or just flat out refusal of having God in total control.

Actually, the more I study the matter of absolute surrender, I do think choosing self over submission is rebellion. Jesus gave specific instructions: "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." It was not a suggestion nor was it a request. It was more of a direct command, and clearly indicates that full surrender is required if we are to consider ourselves to be serious disciples of Christ.

I do find the expression "deny himself" to be rather intriguing. The more I look closer at it, the more obvious it becomes that there is absolutely no room in our relationship with God to hold onto the things we consider dear. In other words, in order to be filled with the spirit, we first have to be empty of ourselves. I do not think that we can be like half-and-half cream. We are instructed to be filled with the Spirit, and I think that is only possible when we have emptied ourselves of our individual selves. In other words, when we are fully surrendered.

[Queen]

Re: Question to Ponder...Being Fully Surrendered

[qb] The more I look closer at it, the more obvious it becomes that there is absolutely no room in our relationship with God to hold onto the things we consider dear.[/qb]

This brings me back to a passage I highlighted in a book I'm almost done reading/studying by Andrew Murray entitled Absolute Surrender I so happen to have it at work as it's my daily read and re-read.

I have a pen in my pocket, and that pen is absolutely surrendered to the one work of writing. That pen must be absolutely surrendered to my hand if I am to write properly with it. If another holds it partly, I cannot wirte properly.... and now, do you expect that in your immortal being, in the divine nature that you have received by regeneration, God can work His work, every day and every hour, unless you are entirely given up to HIm? God cannot. The temple of Solomon was absolutely surrendered to God when it ws dedicated to Him. and every one of us is a temple of God, in which God will dwell and work mightily on one condition - absolute surrender to HIm. God claims it, God is worhty of it, and without it God cannot work His blessed work in us.
God not only claims it, but God will work it HImself.

[Dailybread]

Re: Question to Ponder...Being Fully Surrendered

Originally posted by CEW:
I do find the expression "deny himself" to be rather intriguing. The more I look closer at it, the more obvious it becomes that there is absolutely no room in our relationship with God to hold onto the things we consider dear. In other words, in order to be filled with the spirit, we first have to be empty of ourselves. I do not think that we can be like half-and-half cream . We are instructed to be filled with the Spirit, and I think that is only possible when we have emptied ourselves of our individual selves. In other words, when we are fully surrendered.

I totally agree with you! It is so funny that you brought this topic up today. I've been listening to a local pastor on the radio this week and he's been preaching about the rich young ruler. He broke it down so well that I was almost in tears. We go to God with a sincere desire to serve Him and then when He tells us what to do we walk away sorrowful because we refuse to do it. God is truly amazing CEW! That's all that I can say!

[Diplomat]

Re: Question to Ponder...Being Fully Surrendered

Queen: Andrew Murray's "Absolute Surrender" is a recommended must read for all committed/well intentioned Christian. The entire book should be read but if that is not possible, then the linked chapter is a must.

I particularly liked his reference to ""My Lord, O King, according to thy saying, I am thine, and all that I have." (1 King 20:4) as the words of absolute surrender with which every child of God ought to yield himself to his father. If our hearts are willing for that, there is no end to what God will do for us, and to the blessing God will bestow." There are immense benefits to being fully surrendered!

Its been very busy but I will share some more from Andrew Murray later.

[Diplomat]

Re: Question to Ponder...Being Fully Surrendered

Some 'gems' from "Absolute Surrender" (italics are used to separate thoughts):

GOD EXPECTS YOUR SUBMISSION
"The condition for obtaining God's full blessing is absolute surrender to Him."

"...every one of us is a temple of God, in which God will dwell and work mightily on one condition-absolute surrender to Him. God claims it, God is worthy of it, and without it God cannot work His blessed work in us."

GOD ACCOMPLISHES OUR SURRENDER
"God does not ask you to give the perfect surrender in your strength, or by the power of your will; God is willing to work it in you. Do we not read: "it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13)? And that is what we should seek-to go on our faces before God, until our hearts learn to believe that the everlasting God Himself will come in to turn out what is wrong. He will conquer what is evil, and work what is well pleasing in His blessed sight. God Himself will work it in you."

"Oh, I want to encourage you, and I want you to cast away every fear. Come with that feeble desire. If there is the fear which says-"Oh, my desire is not strong enough. I am not willing for everything that maycome , and I do not feel bold enough to say I can conquer everything"-l implore you, learn to know and trust your God now. Say: "My God, I am willing that You should make me willing." If there is anything holding you back, or any sacrifice you are afraid of making, come to God now and prove how gracious your God is. Do not be afraid that He will command from you what He will not bestow."

GOD ACCEPTS OUR SURRENDER
"...if you come and say: "Lord, I yield myself in absolute surrender to my God," even though you do so with a trembling heart and with the consciousness: "I do not feel the power. I do not feel the determination. I do not feel the assurance," it will succeed. Do not be afraid, but come-just as you are. Even in the midst of your trembling the power of the Holy Spirit will work."

GOD MAINTAINS OUR SURRENDER
"That is the great difficulty with many. People say: "I have often been stirred at a meeting or at a convention, and I have consecrated myself to God.

But it has passed away. I know it may last for a week or for a month, but it fades away. After a time it is all gone."

But listen! It is because you do not believe what I am now going to tell you and remind you of. When God has begun the work of absolute surrender in you, and when God has accepted your surrender, then God holds Himself bound to care for it and to keep it."

"A life of absolute surrender has its difficulties. I do not deny that. Yes, it has something far more than difficulties: it is a life that with men is absolutely impossible. But by the grace of God, by the power of God, by the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, it is a life to which we are destined, and a life that is possible for us, praise God! Let us believe that God will maintain it."

"Give yourselves up absolutely to the will of God. You know something of that will; not enough, far from all. But say absolutely to the Lord God: "By Your grace I desire to do Your will in everything, every moment of every day." Say: "Lord God, not a word upon my tongue but for Your glory. Not a movement of my temper but for Your glory. Not an affection of love or hate in my heart but for Your glory, and according to Your blessed will."

Someone says: "Do you think that possible?"

I ask, What has God promised you, and what can God do to fill a vessel absolutely surrendered to Him? Oh, God wants to bless you in a way beyond what you expect. From the beginning, ear has not heard, neither has the eye seen, what God has prepared for them that wait for Him (I Corinthians 2:9). God has prepared unheard-of-things, blessings much more wonderful than you can imagine, more mighty than you can conceive. They are divine blessings. Oh, say now: "I give myself absolutely to God, to His will, to do only what God wants." It is God who will enable you to carry out the surrender."

"God is willing to maintain our life. Only let our absolute surrender be one of simple, childlike., and unbounded trust."

GOD BLESSES WHEN YOU SURRENDER
"This absolute surrender to God brings wonderful blessings."

"Let us believe God has wonderful blessings for us if we will but stand up for God and say, be it with a trembling will, yet with a believing heart:

"O God, I accept Your demands. I am Yours and all that I have. Absolute surrender is what my soul yields to You by divine grace."

You may not have such strong, clear feelings of surrender as you would like to have, but humble yourselves in His sight, and acknowledge that you have grieved the Holy Spirit by your self-will, selfconfidence, and self-effort. Bow humbly before Him in the confession of that, and ask Him to break the heart and to bring you into the dust before Him. Then, as you bow before Him, just accept God's teaching that in your flesh "there dwelleth no good thing" (Romans 7:18), and that nothing will help you except another life which must come in. You must deny self once and for all. Denying self must every moment be the power of your life, and then Christ will come in and take possession of you."

The Entire Book Online

[Guest]

Re: Question to Ponder...Being Fully Surrendered

In a conversation with a friend, we came to the conclusion that we have to start looking at God as exactly what He is; our heavenly father and who we are; His children.

There are a few characteristics that children hold that we can certainly learn from. Kids have a sense of wonder. We can adopt that quality to dig deeper into His Word to discover all the wonderful things that God has in store for us. For every situation that we have faced or will face, there is a solution in the bible.

We should also be straight-forward. Ever had a child tells you exactly what he/she thinks? We need to be honest about our sinful nature. We need to go to God and tell Him exactly where we have messed up and ask His forgiveness. Our sense of wonder will tell us about David and the thief that was on the cross next to Jesus.

Last but extremely important, we need to trust God. We need to trust Him in and with all our circumstances. We will never be able to understand the "bigness" of God but we need to have that child-like faith in Him and know that He's going to catch us if we fall. Just last week, I held my daughter around her waist as she bent backwards. I told her I was going to let go and she said, "no you're not going to mommy". My daughter trusted me not to let her go. That is the type of trust that God is looking for from us.

I truly believe that if we remember and develop these child-like qualities, we will get to that point of denying ourselves and being able to attain absolute/total surrender.

[Diplomat]

Re: Question to Ponder...Being Fully Surrendered

Compry: Excellent points. One of the unfortunate things we experience as adults is the loss of our child-like trust; the kind you saw manifested in the conversation with your daughter. Quite often I use my boys and their trust and confidence in me as a constant reminder of what my relationship with God should be like and once I started seeing God as Father, and not as Someone keeping track of the things I do right/wrong, the relationship become a lot more intimate.

I do not believe we can have that intimacy without surrendering ourselves. Our children do not worry about how the bills get paid, where their next meals are coming from, how the rent/mortgage gets paid and stuff like that. As far as they are concerned, Mom, or Dad, or both, will take care of those things. You are correct in that we need to have that kind of relationship with our Heavenly Father. Once we have that level of intimacy and trust, we can take to Him all our fears, our brokenness, or heartaches, knowing fully well that He will perfect those things which concerns or pertains to us.

I had a look at the word "deny" and in the Greek the word, aparneomai, translated deny, is even more stronger as it actually means to utterly deny, to disown, to abstain. I think it really provokes our thinking as to whether or not we really understand what it means to deny oursevles in order to be a follower of Christ. It is becoming more and more evident that without that utter denial of self, we are well short of what is required.

[Guest]

Re: Question to Ponder...Being Fully Surrendered

Thought I mention this. I went to the Joyce Meyer conference last night at the ACC and one of the things that she touched on being totally surrendered to God.

[Diplomat]

Re: Question to Ponder...Being Fully Surrendered

Compry: So, what did she say?