Connecting The Dots - Week 6 Notes (Surrender)

Connecting The Dots Week 6

             “Surrender”

Key Verse: “Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.” (Mark 8:34-35 NASB)

 

 The word “Surrender” too often evokes an emotion of defeat. A tattered white flag in hand, the lost cause, beaten and giving up hope. That very sentiment is a lie and counterfeit of our enemy (Satan) and the reason Jesus couches the notion of Surrender in a way that only those who know Him will understand.  

“He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17 NIV)

“All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.” (John 1:3 NASB)

When viewed through the lens of the two scriptures above our key verse in Mark 8:35 takes on a completely different tone. If we believe that Jesus Christ is our life,(Colossians 3:3-4) then the life He refers to that any may “want to save” is no life at all. By agreeing with The Word we declare that anything apart from Him is actually the absence of life.

“Trust in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.” (Psalms 37:3-5)

 The truth about Surrender is that God intends it to bring freedom. He means it to be our afflictions lifted, rest for our souls. When we take His yoke of Love and His burden of obedience up and release those things we were never meant to hold we find the light and easy guidance that teaches us a more excellent way. He delights to see our peace, He longs to see us choose His perfect things and prosper. (John 15:5) (Philippians 4:13)

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Why surrender? God’s Grace places us in a unique position; a view to the precious intimacy we have with Him, and surrender is an essential vehicle by which we arrive there. The desires of our heart then become the desires of His heart for us and we are transformed. We exchange our will for His and we are much the better for it.

“All to Jesus I surrender, Lord, I give myself to Thee. Fill me with Thy love and power, Let Thy blessing fall on me. I surrender all, I surrender all, All to Thee my blessed Savior I surrender all” -Judson W. Van de Venter

Discussion:

What are some areas that you struggle with surrendering to God?

What are some practical ways that God might be calling you to surrender your will to Him?

More reference scriptures: (Jeremiah 29:11-14), (Philippians 3:7-9), (Psalms 73:25-28), (Romans 11:33-36), (Revelation 4:11)

HE is the faithful and true Witness, “The Amen!”

See link explanation:

https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/376-what-does-amen-mean