Surrender? How?

[clownfool]

I don't know at the moment if I am saved. I want to surrender to Christ as LORD. I have read quite a few books about surrender, but all the books I have read talk about what it means to surrender and why you should surrender, but none give any advice how to surrender in my own life. They all seem like Nike "Just do it." I want to surrender, but if I'm not saved do I have power to surrender or does it take the Holy Spirit to do it? If your not saved, you don't have the Holy Spirit. I have read that faith and repentance is only given by God, so could it be at this time that God is not giving it to me now, but might later. I do feel great remorse for my sins, but can't force myself to cry over them like the Bible teaches.

Does anyone know of any books that might give instruction and tips and advice on how to surrender and the steps to bring that about? Thank you in advance for your help.

 

[bling]

I don't know at the moment if I am saved. I want to surrender to Christ as LORD. I have read quite a few books about surrender, but all the books I have read talk about what it means to surrender and why you should surrender, but none give any advice how to surrender in my own life. They all seem like Nike "Just do it." I want to surrender, but if I'm not saved do I have power to surrender or does it take the Holy Spirit to do it? If your not saved, you don't have the Holy Spirit. I have read that faith and repentance is only given by God, so could it be at this time that God is not giving it to me now, but might later. I do feel great remorse for my sins, but can't force myself to cry over them like the Bible teaches.

Does anyone know of any books that might give instruction and tips and advice on how to surrender and the steps to bring that about? Thank you in advance for your help.

All mature adults do have some degree of “faith” in the form of trust. We trust ourselves and others to some degree and in some ways. We can also trust our car in some ways.

Faith can also be referring to a saving faith, that is just directing the natural human God given faith toward a benevolent Creator.

Also look at the prodigal son (Luke 15: 11-32) to see what you do to surrender (give up doing).
His statement worries me: “I do feel great remorse for my sins, but can't force myself to cry over them like the Bible teaches.”

Sin can and should and does create a huge burden on man, you can feel the same death blow feeling as those on Pentecost (acts 2:37) but that takes a little maturity.


Surrendering is the only action an enemy can do that allows God to help him, up until than he is at war fighting God. Surrendering is not some “noble” task (we do not build monuments to those that have surrendered) and surrendering does not mean you join your former enemy or that you are no longer an enemy deserving of severe punishment for your war crimes of the past. God instantly forgives you, runs to you, comforts you and makes you a child of His.

Some people really need more than just intellectually thinking about this to feel what really is happening (this could be your case). God/Jesus have established a physical memorial to help us realize what is happening. We need to feel we are having our sins washed away, we are burring our old self in a grave, we are being lifted up (not by our own means) to a new life, we place ourselves in the hands of someone we trust, we rise from the grave of our former self to a new life with a new family surrounding us. Water immersion baptism is a humbling act that we allow ourselves to submit to having done to us (it is not a “work” in the Biblical sense). It shows we are humbling accepting God’s help (forgiveness/mercy/grace/Love/Charity) and it takes true humility to accept charity. If you been baptized it might not hurt to do it again for this experience?

 

[AndOne]

I don't know at the moment if I am saved. I want to surrender to Christ as LORD. I have read quite a few books about surrender, but all the books I have read talk about what it means to surrender and why you should surrender, but none give any advice how to surrender in my own life. They all seem like Nike "Just do it." I want to surrender, but if I'm not saved do I have power to surrender or does it take the Holy Spirit to do it? If your not saved, you don't have the Holy Spirit. I have read that faith and repentance is only given by God, so could it be at this time that God is not giving it to me now, but might later. I do feel great remorse for my sins, but can't force myself to cry over them like the Bible teaches.

Does anyone know of any books that might give instruction and tips and advice on how to surrender and the steps to bring that about? Thank you in advance for your help.

I highly recommend William Gurnell's "The Christian in Complete Armour." The modernized abridgement of that book is just incredible! Here is a link to it on Amazon - Amazon.com: The Christian in Complete Armour, Volumes 1-3 (A Modernized Abridgement of the Puritan Classics): William Gurnall, Ruthanne Garlock, Kay King, Karen Sloan, Candy Coan: Books

 

[Lee52]

I don't know at the moment if I am saved. I want to surrender to Christ as LORD. I have read quite a few books about surrender, but all the books I have read talk about what it means to surrender and why you should surrender, but none give any advice how to surrender in my own life. They all seem like Nike "Just do it." I want to surrender, but if I'm not saved do I have power to surrender or does it take the Holy Spirit to do it? If your not saved, you don't have the Holy Spirit. I have read that faith and repentance is only given by God, so could it be at this time that God is not giving it to me now, but might later. I do feel great remorse for my sins, but can't force myself to cry over them like the Bible teaches.

Does anyone know of any books that might give instruction and tips and advice on how to surrender and the steps to bring that about? Thank you in advance for your help.

The Gospel of John and Paul's letter to the Romans, chapter 7 and Paul's letter to the Christians throughout Galatia, and finally John's 1st letter to Christians of the time, especially 1 John 1:9.

You do not need books by any other authors to teach you the Truth of the Good News of Jesus' substitutional sacrifice on your behalf to reconcile you to GOD.

Surrender is a difficult concept to American males, especially those of us who have ever served at length in any of the military services. We must first accept Jesus' sacrifice on the cross as applying to us, personally. We must confess that we have sinned and fallen short of GOD's purpose for our lives. That we have no power within ourselves with which to change that fact. And ask Jesus to come into us and forgive us for our sinful nature and sinful choices in life. Then we ask for the power of the Holy Spirit to come and empower us to always turn to Him to help us in our struggles against our flesh and blood-sinful bodies, and against our desires to NOT surrender to Him. As we commit to Him, He is faithful to help us in our struggles to surrender to Him.

Surrender is a foreign concept to humans. It is difficult. But, it is not impossible for GOD to bring it about in us.

Be blessed,
Lee52

PS

If you want a small, 125 page book to help you in devoting yourself to becoming a force in the world for Christ; "Love, Acceptance, and Forgiveness" by Jerry Cook

 

[michaelwriting]

I am a military veteran and a male, which I believe ties nicely with the concept of surrender. Do you remember the story of the Roman commander who asked Jesus to heal his servant, but would not have Jesus come to his house because he didn't want to degrade Jesus as just another one of the people that the bosses around? Jesus said that no one in all of Israel had greater faith.

As we remain open and aware of God's working in our lives, we can choose to go along with what he is doing, or we can fight and resist his work.

Mary had a choice to either go along with God's program of being the earthly mother of our Savior, or she could have resisted and rejected God. But she said 'behold a handmaiden of the Lord, let it be done to me according to your will'.

Children can either surrender and obey what their parents are telling them, or they can buck and fight and be difficult against their parents.

The earlier military example indicates how we surrender ourselves to our superiors. If they tell us to do something, we cooperate.

This is what surrender is. We remain open. We pray. We observe when God may be at work in our lives or in the lives of others around us. We go along with his plans and intentions. We surrender to his will. Sometimes we don't agree with what he wants, but we can even pray for the willingness to be willing to surrender to his will for our lives.

Sometimes we do not see God's hand at work. Sometimes we even fight against God when he is trying to answer our prayers, because he may not be answering our prayers in the 'way' that we wanted.

Hopefully you are seeing the point here. God is real, and he is doing real things. We can tell him that we surrender, we can say thy will be done. We can allow him to be God. If we give him enough space to work in our lives, he will come in. God, I surrender my family to you. I surrender my future to you. Whatever it is that you want to do, Lord, I want to go along with it. I love you and I give you all my days here. Thank you. We can thank him when he does work in our lives and as we remain aware of his presence. It is a process and a relationship. Not just a one-time act. Y'know what I mean?

The blackaby 'Experiencing God' workbook touches on this. We also learn these concepts of surrender in recovery groups (like AA and stuff like that).

 

[Johnnz]

Read Luke 15. There we see pictures of God actively in search of people. Forget the religious terminology. Just accept that Father is more willing to meet with you than you are Him, thanks Him and proceed to live on the basis He has taken you at your word and you now have a relationship with Him.

John
NZ

 

[Captive]

Perhaps it would be best for you to go to the Author of Our Faith and ask Him, as did this man in Mark 9:24;

"...Lord I believe; help thou mine unbelief."

I think that is the very essence of surrender.

 

[gsheph]

I don't know at the moment if I am saved. I want to surrender to Christ as LORD. I have read quite a few books about surrender, but all the books I have read talk about what it means to surrender and why you should surrender, but none give any advice how to surrender in my own life. They all seem like Nike "Just do it." I want to surrender, but if I'm not saved do I have power to surrender or does it take the Holy Spirit to do it? If your not saved, you don't have the Holy Spirit. I have read that faith and repentance is only given by God, so could it be at this time that God is not giving it to me now, but might later. I do feel great remorse for my sins, but can't force myself to cry over them like the Bible teaches.

Does anyone know of any books that might give instruction and tips and advice on how to surrender and the steps to bring that about? Thank you in advance for your help.

If you're asking and are wanting Christ as much as you seem to, then I really think you are saved. Our Lord is alive right now. Just remember He's there for you, man.

 

[Butch5]

I don't know at the moment if I am saved. I want to surrender to Christ as LORD. I have read quite a few books about surrender, but all the books I have read talk about what it means to surrender and why you should surrender, but none give any advice how to surrender in my own life. They all seem like Nike "Just do it." I want to surrender, but if I'm not saved do I have power to surrender or does it take the Holy Spirit to do it? If your not saved, you don't have the Holy Spirit. I have read that faith and repentance is only given by God, so could it be at this time that God is not giving it to me now, but might later. I do feel great remorse for my sins, but can't force myself to cry over them like the Bible teaches.

Does anyone know of any books that might give instruction and tips and advice on how to surrender and the steps to bring that about? Thank you in advance for your help.

It's rather simple, Jesus said, "follow me".

 

[Lee52]

clownfool,
I will add just one more thought here. As Butch5 said, sometimes it is a matter of asking Jesus to empower you daily to follow Him. It is a simple prayer each of us should be praying first thing in the morning, every morning.

Salvation in Christ Jesus is a once for all sin occurance, when we surrender to GOD and ask forgiveness for our disobedience and turn away from that disobedience for as long as we continue to believe in Him. Different people have different rates of surrender and growth, which is true of spiritual growth also. As we believe more and more, our faith is increased more and more by the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives, leading and guiding us. We do not always follow, we do not always accept the guidance. It is a journey. We must rely upon His Word to lead and guide us. His Word says that GOD works all things for the good of those that love Him. His Word says that His yoke is easy and His burden is light compared to the weight and burden of sin in our lives. Rest in that.

Then, hold onto 1 John 1:9.

Sometimes the confirmation comes from bowing our knee in submission to Him several times a day.

And, in my life, the closer I get to Him, the more I let Him into my life, the more the Holy Spirit shows the wretchedness of mankind, of which I was, and continue to be, a part of while in this flesh and blood body. This is the war between newly made alive spiritual existence and the old flesh and blood nature of us.

If you have accepted Jesus' sacrifice on your behalf. If you believe in your heart and confess with you mouth that Jesus is Lord of your life. You have salvation in Christ Jesus. Accept that as the Truth.

Do not let your failures be continually used by the enemy of your soul to accuse you of not being a child of GOD, and born-again Christian. Step out in faith and continue to walk in faith and the Holy Spirit will continue to increase your faith.

Blessings,
Lee

 

[AndOne]

I guess as long as they are against Calvinists non-trinitarians are A-OK!

I have yet to see one of the regular synergist posters here call him out but instead only affirm him. Interesting. Very interesting.

 

[Butch5]

I guess as long as they are against Calvinists non-trinitarians are A-OK!

I have yet to see one of the regular synergist posters here call him out but instead only affirm him. Interesting. Very interesting.

I suppose this is in reference to me? Well, I've already confirmed my belief in the Trinity with the leadership of the forum.

 

[AndOne]

I suppose this is in reference to me? Well, I've already confirmed my belief in the Trinity with the leadership of the forum.

Does your belief coincide with the Nicene Creed?

 

[Butch5]

Does your belief coincide with the Nicene Creed?

I've already answered this. Who do you suppose taught the ideas that were adopted as the Nicene Creed? Thsoe men at Nicea didn't all of a sudden come up with an idea. It was what the Ante-Nicene writers taught. So, again, I believe in the Trinity and yes, the Nicene Creed. However, I wonder how many of those who continued to question me actually believe the Creed.

 

[AndOne]

I've already answered this. Who do you suppose taught the ideas that were adopted as the Nicene Creed? Thsoe men at Nicea didn't all of a sudden come up with an idea. It was what the Ante-Nicene writers taught. So, again, I believe in the Trinity and yes, the Nicene Creed. However, I wonder how many of those who continued to question me actually believe the Creed.

Glad to hear this. Please accept my apologies for stating otherwise. Apparently i have made a serious error.

 

[Lee52]

I guess as long as they are against Calvinists non-trinitarians are A-OK!

I have yet to see one of the regular synergist posters here call him out but instead only affirm him. Interesting. Very interesting.

Does your belief coincide with the Nicene Creed?

Glad to hear this. Please accept my apologies for stating otherwise. Apparently i have made a serious error.

Nice hijacking of a thread from someone with a serious question, with the hope of gaining some loving guidance from fellow Christians on submission to Christ..........and we had to have all of the inquisition, why?

 

[Lee52]

I don't know at the moment if I am saved. I want to surrender to Christ as LORD. I have read quite a few books about surrender, but all the books I have read talk about what it means to surrender and why you should surrender, but none give any advice how to surrender in my own life. They all seem like Nike "Just do it." I want to surrender, but if I'm not saved do I have power to surrender or does it take the Holy Spirit to do it? If your not saved, you don't have the Holy Spirit. I have read that faith and repentance is only given by God, so could it be at this time that God is not giving it to me now, but might later. I do feel great remorse for my sins, but can't force myself to cry over them like the Bible teaches.

Does anyone know of any books that might give instruction and tips and advice on how to surrender and the steps to bring that about? Thank you in advance for your help.

BUMP

 

[Butch5]

Glad to hear this. Please accept my apologies for stating otherwise. Apparently i have made a serious error.

No problem.

 

[Apologetic_Warrior]

I don't know at the moment if I am saved. I want to surrender to Christ as LORD. I have read quite a few books about surrender, but all the books I have read talk about what it means to surrender and why you should surrender, but none give any advice how to surrender in my own life. They all seem like Nike "Just do it." I want to surrender, but if I'm not saved do I have power to surrender or does it take the Holy Spirit to do it? If your not saved, you don't have the Holy Spirit. I have read that faith and repentance is only given by God, so could it be at this time that God is not giving it to me now, but might later. I do feel great remorse for my sins, but can't force myself to cry over them like the Bible teaches.

Does anyone know of any books that might give instruction and tips and advice on how to surrender and the steps to bring that about? Thank you in advance for your help.

My thought is: that you are saved, otherwise you would not have the desire to repent or surrender to Christ as LORD. I think part of it might also be a desire for an experience with God, perhaps an experience you've not had. Just keep in mind that experiences are not what saves us (though they can give assurance), Christ and Christ alone does the saving. Our responses are to what He has already done.

I recommend reading Dr. R.C. Sproul's book entitled "The Holiness of God".