DEEPER SURRENDER

Genesis 17:11 (NLT) – “You must cut off the flesh of your foreskin as a sign of the covenant between Me and you.”

Genesis 17:23-24 (NLT) – “On that very day Abraham took his son, Ishmael, and every male in his household, including those born there and those he had bought. Then he circumcised them, cutting off their foreskins, just as God had told him. Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised.”

Genesis 21:1-2 (NLT) – “The Lord kept His word and did for Sarah exactly what He had promised. She became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. This happened at just the time God had said it would.”

Genesis 21:3-5 (NLT) – “And Abraham named their son Isaac. Eight days after Isaac was born, Abraham circumcised him as God had commanded. Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born.”

1. Surrender isn’t for Sissies

Romans 12:1 (TPT) – “Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies? To surrender yourselves to God to be His sacred, living sacrifices. And live in holiness, experiencing all that delights His heart. For this becomes your genuine expression of worship.”

Romans 12:2 (TPT) – “Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in His eyes.”

Matthew 6:10 – “Your Kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Matthew 16:24 (NLT) – “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If any of you wants to be My follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow Me.’”

2. Trust in Your Good Father

Mark 10:17-18 (NLT) – “As Jesus was starting out on His way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to Him, knelt down, and asked, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ ‘Why do you call Me good?’ Jesus asked. ‘Only God is truly good.’”

Mark 10:19-20 (NLT) – “‘But to answer your question, you know the commandments: “You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.”’ ‘Teacher,’ the man replied, ‘I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.’”

Mark 10:21-22 (NLT) – “Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. ‘There is still one thing you haven’t done,’ He told him. ‘Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.’ [NKJV adds “take up the cross,”] At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.”

Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT) – “Then Jesus said, ‘Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.’”

Hebrew 13:5b – “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Psalm 107:1 (NASB) – “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, For His mercy is everlasting.”

3. Surrender to Peace!

Colossians 3:15 (NLT) – “And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one Body, you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.”

4. Focus on Jesus

Galatians 5:16-17 (TPT) – “Let me emphasize this: As you yield to the dynamic life and power of the Holy Spirit, you will abandon the cravings of your self-life. When your self-life craves the things that offend the Holy Spirit, you hinder Him from living free within you! And the Holy Spirit’s intense cravings hinder your self-life from dominating you! So then, the two incompatible and conflicting forces within you are your self-life of the flesh and the new creation life of the Spirit.”

Galatians 5:18 (TPT) – “But when you yield to the life of the Spirit, you will no longer be living under the law, but soaring above it!”

Galatians 5:24-25 (TPT) – “Keep in mind that we who belong to Jesus Christ have already experienced crucifixion. For everything connected with our self-life was put to death on the cross and crucified with Messiah. If the Spirit is the source of our life, we must also allow the Spirit to direct every aspect of our lives.”

Galatians 5:26 (TPT) – “So may we never be arrogant, or look down on another, for each of us is an original. We must forsake all jealousy that diminishes the value of others.”

Discussion Questions:

1. Share of a time when surrender was difficult for you.

2. Why is it often difficult to surrender to Jesus?

3. Have you ever experienced the sweet peace on the other side of surrender? If so, share how and why.

4. What are some areas in your life that you struggle to surrender to Jesus (relationships, finances, job, where you live)?

5. Do you feel like you have the whole journey mapped out, or do you just try to figure out the “one step at a time” of God’s will for you?

6. What does a life completely surrendered to Jesus look like?