Surrendering to God demands a profound shift, turning from human drives to childlike humility and prioritizing Him above all. It involves denying self, taking up our cross daily, and obeying His Word despite opposition. This active choice means rejecting worldly standards, dedicating conduct to glorify Him, and submitting to His sovereignty. Exemplified by Jesus' complete surrender—"Not My will, but Yours, be done"—it opens restoration with God. Historical figures like Abraham, Moses, and Esther show surrender through obedience and sacrifice. It requires dying to self, living as a sacrifice, and submitting to His will with heartfelt delight, trusting Him as the Potter shaping us with humility and endurance for His Kingdom.

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Knowing God: Formality and Customs (Part Six)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Surrendering to God requires a profound shift in our approach to life, a turning away from the drives of human nature toward a childlike humility. This transformation is not merely a passive state but an active choice to love God intimately with all our heart, mind, and soul. We must prioritize Him above all else, allowing this love to drive us to become childlike in our openness, sincerity, and vulnerability—qualities that reflect the nature of the Kingdom of God. This surrender involves denying the self, sacrificing our ego and desires for self-glorification. It means taking up our cross daily, choosing to please Jesus Christ regardless of others' opinions or mockery, and continuing in obedience to His Word. Such a choice often demands a cost, as it places us in conflict with our indwelling nature, yet it frees us to submit to God's way of life. Furthermore, surrendering to God means refusing to conform to the standards of this world, which often oppose His principles. Instead, we are to dedicate our conduct to glorifying Him, passing every decision through the judgment of whether it honors God. This is not driven by terror but by a positive desire to bring praise to Him, representing what He approves of in all that we do. The path to true freedom in God lies in continuing in His truth, loving Him above all, denying ourselves, rejecting worldly conformity, and living for His glory. These steps guide us to remain in His Word, ensuring that the truth is confirmed in us through a life surrendered to Him.

Surrender

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

Surrendering to God requires us to relinquish our natural inclination to lead and instead allow Him to direct our lives without constant interference or complaint. It is only when we cede sovereignty to the Almighty, who holds it inherently, that matters begin to move positively and work out far better than anything achievable with our limited vision. The carnal mind, as described, is not subject to the rule of God, encompassing more than mere obedience to written laws but a deeper yielding to His governance over the universe and our lives. The story of Jonah illustrates a man who complies with God's commands but never truly surrenders to His will, showing reluctance and despair when outcomes differ from his expectations. In stark contrast, Jesus Christ exemplifies complete surrender, always seeking the Father's will over His own, even in the face of immense personal sacrifice, declaring, "Not My will, but Yours, be done." This supreme surrender opened the way for the restoration of the relationship between God and humanity. Ultimately, surrendering to God is the crucial first step, often the hardest, on a journey where yielding control signals our readiness for Him to act. The church, as the Body of Christ, consists of those who are subject to His rule in all its implications, continually declaring, "Father, I surrender. Not my will, but Yours, be done."

Fully Accepting God's Sovereignty, Part Three: The Fruits

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Fully accepting God's sovereignty is essential to living a life of faith, as it provides the proper perspective to make right choices. We must know that He is close, that He is love, that He is wisdom, and that He has power over every situation in our lives. This understanding leads us to praise Him for the glory of what He is, recognizing that He is our salvation. Knowing God in His sovereignty works to remove every ground for man to rely on himself and boast, guiding us to desire salvation for the purpose of humbling ourselves before Him that we might glorify Him. Consequently, we must choose to submit to His will, a choice that involves humbling ourselves each time we follow His instruction. Without contact with Him and without submission to His purpose and plan, there is no salvation. As we live by faith, we must remember that we are the clay and He is the Potter, shaping us according to His purpose, producing in us the fear of God, humility, submissiveness, and uncomplaining endurance.

Characteristics of the Surrendered Life

CGG Weekly by Mike Fuhrer

Surrendering to God transforms our lives, enabling us to live abundantly by aligning ourselves with His revealed truth. By yielding to Him, we become dead to sin, hidden in Christ, and protected from the world's influence to sin, as long as we remain under His shelter. Our focus must be entirely on our Savior, turning our backs on a life of sin and crucifying the flesh to truly live in harmony with Him. We must exhibit resignation amid trials, accepting God's judgments and tests with patience, as exemplified by Jesus Christ, who submitted to the Father's will even unto death, praying, "Your will be done." Submission to God's will is essential, delighting in fulfilling it with His law written on our hearts, as David declared, "I delight to do Your will, O my God." This submission must be sincere, performed with fear and trembling, not as mere external compliance but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. God desires our wholehearted commitment in every aspect of life, following His instructions as revealed in His Word, to build the godly character needed to live with the Father and the Son in the Kingdom.

Fully Accepting God's Sovereignty (Part Four)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Surrendering to God requires a complete and wholehearted submission to His sovereign will, recognizing His supreme authority over all aspects of life. As Jesus Christ declared, no one can be His disciple unless they prioritize Him above all else, forsaking personal attachments and desires to follow His leadership. This act of surrender is not merely obedience but a profound commitment to live as living sacrifices, fully yielding to His guidance. This submission is not without reward, as it produces valuable spiritual fruits that enrich the believer's life. The fear of God, rooted in deep reverence and appreciation for His magnificent qualities, draws one closer to Him, fostering a relationship that must be nurtured continuously. Alongside this fear, humility emerges as pride diminishes, allowing a clearer recognition of God's greatness and one's own smallness, which paves the way for childlike dependence and implicit obedience to His will. Understanding God's sovereignty also cultivates resignation, an uncomplaining endurance of life's difficulties, acknowledging that He owns us body and soul and is always watching over us for our good. This resignation counters the natural tendency to murmur or complain, as seen in the Israelites' wilderness journey, and instead encourages trust in His ability to provide, even in the most challenging circumstances. By surrendering to His will, we learn to accept His creative processes, trusting that whatever trials we face are for our ultimate benefit and His glory. Ultimately, surrendering to God means choosing life over death, blessing over cursing, by humbly submitting to His mighty hand. It involves a conscious decision to be clothed with humility, to make choices that align with His instructions, and to rely on His grace, knowing that He cares for us and will exalt us in due time. This surrender transforms our perspective, enabling us to see that our lives are in His hands, and to rest in the assurance that His plans for us are always for our good.

What Does it Mean to Take Up the Cross?

Sermonette by David C. Grabbe

Bearing our cross means our time on this earth is virtually finished, that we are willing to give up our lives, emulating the life of our Savior.

Fully Accepting God's Sovereignty (Part One)

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Every Christian must meet a major responsibility after belief in Jesus Christ as Savior. God works out His purpose, and it is essential to growth and possibly to salvation to believe this and keep moving forward in relationship with Him despite the strong pull of this world's attractions. Because of contact with Him, one knows God's will and must trust what He says in His Word. The evidence gathered from observations of God's creation and the experience gained from living prove that one should trust God's wisdom and sovereignty over all things. It is far better for all concerned to submit to what God commands than to cave in to the pulls of the flesh. God declares the end from the beginning. Since God does not lie, His statement establishes that from before He began the physical creation, He has been working toward a definite goal for each person He has called into His Family. God does not operate randomly. Each has the overall responsibility to live by faith. It is not easy, but God has gifted each member of the Body. To live by faith requires focused and disciplined living. One must fully accept God's sovereignty as a reality working in one's life of faith. Jesus commands that one must place Him before all else in one's life. The carnal mind is not subject to Him. Positions as called children of God place one in a position to determine who is regulating affairs on this earth. To whom will one submit one's life, God or Satan? The contest has already been decided. God won. Yet He permits Satan limited leeway to test and try. Which of these two will one choose to be sovereign over one's life? By God's mercy, minds have been opened for the purpose of freely choosing God as sovereign and submitting to Him. One must know about His attributes, character, and judgments as shown in His Word. The One who receives continuous praise and submission from awesome angelic beings is Savior and Creator. Will one be loyal and faithful to Creator God as He works out and governs His purpose, or will one resist and rebel? He created all things, and all is created for His purpose to be fulfilled. One needs to examine this against the issues of one's own life. Can one live by faith that He is, that He knows what He is doing with one's life, and that by His merciful act He has included one as part of His good pleasure? Can one accept that He knows exactly where His creative efforts are headed and what it will take to form and shape one into what He pleases? One must fully accept whatever He brings to bear for His purposes. One must accept God's will over one's life. One must come to know this God and submit to Him. God was directly responsible for reaction to sins. God was directly involved. God brought on the fear and pain. God cannot deny what He truly is. God loves, and because He does, He also judges. He who loves disciplines. Savior will not overlook this need. His discipline can be very stressful, but that is the cost of following Him where He leads. He will act as He truly is. One must meet the responsibilities that God clearly reveals. One must faithfully walk to the Promised Land. To keep one's part of the New Covenant, one must live His way of life to be prepared to live in the Promised Land. What God has called one to is indescribably glorious, and He has promised to supply every need. He is above all lovingly faithful. With His enabling grace, His purpose can be accomplished.

What Does It Mean to Take Up the Cross?

'Ready Answer' by David C. Grabbe

Surrendering to God requires taking up one's cross daily as a metaphor for reckoning oneself already dead to this world and yielding complete control of one's remaining life to Him. This act symbolizes total commitment, where personal desires and claims on one's own life are set aside in favor of following Christ without reservation. Jesus emphasizes that loving Him above family members is essential to being worthy, as decisions to obey God often create division with those who do not share the same calling. Such surrender means refusing to serve two masters by clinging to life on one's own terms, which leads only to loss, while entrusting one's existence to God produces eternal life of far greater value. Denying oneself involves rejecting aspects of human nature that conflict with divine direction, including the works of the flesh and the love of worldly things, so that Christ's life becomes the governing standard. This process repeats each day because the old nature must be crucified afresh, producing burdens that hinder walking according to carnal patterns yet foster alignment with God. Those unwilling to bear this cost attempt to balance partial commitment with worldly attachments, resulting in spiritual lukewarmness and forfeiture of the promised reward. In contrast, full surrender reflects Christ's own example of self-denial, releasing divine power that overcomes every obstacle and provides strength for the burdens that remain. This response to forgiveness through the cross produces a life oriented entirely toward God rather than self-preservation.

The Sovereignty of God (Part Ten)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Like Job, we must surrender to God's will and purpose for our lives, realizing that both pleasant and horrendous times work for our spiritual development.

God Works in Mysterious Ways (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Our carnal nature's desire to satisfy an addictive self-centeredness can eventually overrule the Christian's loyalty to God and His commandments.

The Sovereignty of God (Part Eleven)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Understanding God's sovereignty as a basic doctrine provides a link between knowledge and practice, as well as providing motivation to yield to God's purpose.

The Providence of God (Part Seven)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Jesus and Abraham rose above their emotional pulls by exercising living faith—a faith built on acts of obedience. Faith can never be separated from works.

God Never Disappoints

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Unlike people who, because of their natural carnal nature, feel disappointment with God, God's people should never experience any disappointment with Him.

Facing Times of Stress: When God Is Silent (Part Two)

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

What appeared to be a series of judicial set-backs for Paul was actually the outworking of God to place him before even higher levels of secular leadership.

How God Deals With Conscience (Part Three)

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

We have to learn to rely on God to get us out of strait and difficult situations, realizing that God may want to help us to develop a backbone and mature.

Without Me, You Can Do Nothing (Part Two)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

Producing fruit is not simply a matter of having Jesus Christ or being forgiven. He says we will not produce anything unless we go on growing in Him.

To Live, We Must Die

'Ready Answer' by Bill Onisick

How many of us go through life with our noses to the grindstone? Real life comes as a result of giving our own.

Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Nine): Wisdom as a Defense

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

The type of wisdom Ecclesiastes teaches is not of the purely philosophical variety, but is a spiritual sagacity combined with practical skill in living.

Sovereignty and Its Fruit: Part Ten

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Once we accept God's sovereignty, it begins to produce certain virtues in us. Here are four of these byproducts of total submission to God.

With Hands Raised

Sermonette by Ted E. Bowling

The Bible shows several positions used in prayer, but gives special attention to the posture of raised hands, symbolic of giving up or being vulnerable.

Breakfast by the Sea (Part One)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

John 21 contains a strong lesson about our part of our Father's business. It begins with a significant miracle, the eighth sign found in the book of John.

How Did They Overcome? (Part Three)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

Our deliverance does not come fully until the resurrection, but along the way, though our submission to God, He overcomes and delivers us from the evil within us.