True Surrender to God equals Death to Yourself
I hope this message shocks you into action. If like me you have been thinking that you are in right standing with God, I have news for you. Check how well you stand before a holy God who requires all of you in totality, and to whom anything less is unacceptable. Are you willing to die for Jesus Christ?
This is what the bible says:
Matt. 16:24-25 - Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
2 Cor 5:15 - and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
Rom. 6:3-5 - Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should also walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection...
The news I have for you is that having accepted the free gift of salvation because you could not save yourself, Jesus Christ in turn expects us to die 100% to our own lives (our own desires, ambitions etc.) and follow Him (see Rom. 6:5). It is a fair exchange. Look at those bible passages again. 99% surrender to Him is not good enough. The 1% you are holding back from Jesus Christ disqualifies all that you have done or given up so far for Him, because that is willful disobedience and sin.
You and I must give all up for Him. That is how we die to become new living creatures in Jesus Christ. All that we had, ambition, reputation, our will to decide for ourselves, need for self preservation etc. must all be given up, ALL be given up in order for us to be able to follow Jesus. That is how you deny yourself of yourself and take up your cross to follow Jesus. Remember how Jesus said that whoever wants to save his life will loose it? Well this means you must lay all your life desires etc. at His feet. It is for Jesus to decide for you what you are to do, if you should take up a regular job or become a missionary, who you should marry, what you are to wear etc.
My dear brother or sister, this is how you die and become a new creature, a new man. This is how the life you are now to live as a born again child of God is lived as Christ's.
In the natural and in the spiritual, something cannot die partially. It is either alive or dead. Are you dead but alive in Christ? Or is there anything of the old you that remains? (and I do not mean old sinful habits only, I am talking about yourself, your desires for yourself, to be this or that, to be able to choose whatever by yourself etc.). As you may have noted, Jesus wants to lead you in all your decisions and in all things; as His child who lives completely for Him. That is why the bible says in Rom. 8:14 “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Are you in obedience that all the Holy Spirit is leading you in or are you in rebellion?
So do you have any no-go areas in your life? For example, God had better not ask me to give this hobby up or to stop doing this or that. You may ask yourself is there anything wrong in being a soccer fan or in dressing nicely? Technically speaking; nothing at all. However, would you be ready to stop watching soccer if Jesus were to ask you to do so? If in your heart you know you would not be able to accept that kind of instruction from Jesus then that means you have an idol in your life. Something that comes before your Lord- something you treasure above God's instruction to you. I am sure you would find many reasons why that would not be a reasonable request - it is not in the bible, etc. But remember God knows each of His children perfectly well and therefore knows what could be a snare for your soul. One persons idol may be different from the next.
What has the Holy Spirit been leading you away from that you have resisted to obey? If you refuse to be led by Him then you must ask yourself if you are truly His child?
Jesus says if you are not willing to love Him and give up all for Him, then you are not worthy of Him. Matt. 10:37-38 says He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.
Child of God, this is a question you must be willing to answer sincerely. What is it that stands between you and a full and complete surrender to God? Is He not worthy of all of you?
Jesus requires you to die 100% to yourself. He will not accept anything less. To surrender to Him is to die to yourself in every area of your life. But remember the life Jesus gives is abundant life, not according to the worlds standards. IT IS ALL OR NOTHING!!! ALL OR NOTHING!!!! ALL OR NOTHING!!!!!
Our Lord Jesus Christ returns soon for a bride that has given up all for Him. One who lives for Him alone and lives no longer for himself or herself. At His return, will you hear the trumpet sound or will you be left behind to face the ultimate worst time in the history of the earth? The Great Tribulation? Reconsider your stand and get ready as a matter of urgency, because He returns anytime. Do not delay.
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