Surrender: Giving Back to Jesus
David Wilkerson's sermon emphasizes the importance of surrendering one's life to Jesus, using Christ and Paul as prime examples of this transformative act.
David Wilkerson emphasizes the profound meaning of surrendering one's life to Jesus, illustrating that true surrender involves relinquishing control over our possessions, ambitions, and even our very lives back to Him. He highlights Jesus as the ultimate example of a surrendered life, living solely to fulfill the will of the Father, and encourages believers to follow this model. Wilkerson also reflects on the transformation of the Apostle Paul, who transitioned from a self-reliant persecutor of Christians to a powerful example of a life fully surrendered to God. The message underscores that surrender is a personal choice, allowing individuals to experience as much of Christ as they desire.
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Surrender. In literal terms, surrender means to give up something to another person. It also means to relinquish something granted to you -- your possessions, power, goals, even your life.
Christians hear much about the surrendered life, but what does it really mean? The surrendered life is the act of giving back to Jesus the life he granted you. It's totally resigning your life over to his hands to do with you as he pleases.
Jesus himself lived a surrendered life: "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me" (John 6:38). Christ never did anything on his own; he made no move and spoke no word without being instructed by the Father. "I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him" (John 8:28-29).
Jesus' full surrender to the Father is an example of how we all should live. You may say, "Jesus was God in flesh; his life was surrendered before he even came to earth." But the surrendered life is not imposed on anyone, including Jesus.
No one is forced to yield his life to God. The truth is, we can have as much of Christ as we want. The apostle Paul knew this and he chose to follow Jesus' example of a fully surrendered life. Formerly a self-righteous Jesus-hater and persecutor of Christians, he said he literally hated Christ's followers. He was well educated, a man of great self-will and ambition, headed for success. Yet the Lord took this self-made, self-determined, self-directed man and made him a glowing example of the surrendered life. Paul became one of the most God-dependent, God-filled, God-led people in all of history.
Paul declared his life a pattern for all who desire to live fully surrendered to Christ: "For this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life" (1 Timothy 1:16).
Sermon Outline
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I
- Definition of Surrender
- Importance of Surrender in Christian Life
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II
- Example of Jesus' Surrender
- Scriptural References to Jesus' Surrender
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III
- The Voluntary Nature of Surrender
- Personal Choice in Yielding to God
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IV
- Apostle Paul's Transformation
- Paul as a Model of Surrender
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V
- Living a Surrendered Life Today
- Encouragement to Follow Christ's Example
Key Quotes
“For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” — David Wilkerson
“I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.” — David Wilkerson
“For this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering.” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- Reflect on areas in your life where you need to surrender control to God.
- Consider how Jesus' example of surrender can inspire your daily decisions.
- Look to the Apostle Paul's transformation as a model for your own journey of faith.