Week 9 – The Pathway: Surrender

Text: Matthew 26:39

 

The Scriptures make it clear that our flesh is at war with the Spirit. We must switch sides! We have seen how this process begins with humility and then leads to meekness. Surrender is the next step in the death to self. We must voluntarily give up control of our lives to the Spirit.

 

In all of life we are accustomed to living by our own will power. This is how we play sports, work, study, etc. We “dig deep” to give it all we have! The problem with this is that Christian life is not dependent on human will or exertion (Romans 9:16.) Christianity operates on a completely different principle than will power.

 

As you read through the life and teachings of Jesus, you will find that Jesus is a man on a mission. However, Jesus makes it very clear that it is not His mission! Jesus has completely surrendered His will to the Father. He only seeks to do what pleases the Father. He is our perfect example of surrender. This surrender culminates in the Garden when He surrenders His will in order to willingly die for our sins.

 

This attitude of surrender is taught to us in how we are to pray. Like Jesus we are to daily surrender our wills. We are to seek to know God’s will and only pray for His will to be done. Simply put, I cannot seek God’s will until I stop seeking my own.

Everything that we have been studying is laid out plainly in Philippians 2. We are called to live lives of humility, meekness, and surrender. Why? Because Jesus lived a life of humility, meekness, and surrender. What was the end result? The exaltation of Jesus in power. I must joyfully surrender my will to God if I desire to be filled with the power of the Spirit.

How do I surrender my will?

–        Do I believe that God will bring about my greatest good?

–        Do I believe that God’s will is better than my own?

–        Do I find joy in God?

         Or in getting my own way?

–        Am I living for God’s glory or my own?

–        Will you lay down your will and surrender to the will of God?