Unconditional Surrender
Unconditional Surrender
“I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. Jer. 29:11
Good news – GOD has a plan for us.
Bad news, we don’t know what, when, how, or what that looks like.
“Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” Prov. 27:1
Ill. Word from GOD to me to tell AJ. “Take one day at a time.”
Life graphs:
Jaeger life institute graph:
“HE made us, and we are HIS. We are HIS people, the sheep of HIS pasture.” Psalm 100:3
HE did not make us without purpose in mind, without destination.
We belong to HIM. We are HIS people and are living in HIS appointed pasture – this is not random. GOD has plans for your life. Would you like to know what HIS plans are for your life? You don’t need to know! In fact it is not for you to know the details, just know it is true – HE has plans for you.
Ill. During intercession Monday a week ago in a time of quietness GOD took me here.
I said to GOD, “LORD, I am ready to listen to anything YOU have to say to me. I surrender to YOU LORD.” Instantly I wrote in red ink,
“I want unconditional surrender like the Americans demanded of Japan after dropping the bomb.”
Unconditional surrender means there are no terms just total surrender without knowing what the outcome of what that surrender may look like. I surrender to YOUR plans even without knowing what they are!
Ill. Immediately in the SPIRIT HE took me back to review some parts of my life. Back to elementary school HE showed me that HE had me selected by a teacher to stand on stage during some kind of production, play and I was to hold a microphone and be the Master of ceremonies. I was so shy but still this was HIM working out HIS plans for me.
Years later in High School on stage again with microphone winning a talent show. Why? Part of HIS training and plans.
A year later in Marine Corps bootcamp specifically positioned me to be appointed the GUIDE of my platoon, and then highest score on rifle range, then made honor man of my platoon and a meritorious promotion. After this assigned to administration which I never wanted but the placement was divine to connect me with a young man who led me to the LORD.
Later by being in administration I became an influence to my commanding officers and those in leadership. Now in hindsight I can see it was all part of HIS plan.
Got out of Marines intending on college and come back in as an officer. GOD had other plans – to become an officer in HIS army.
Detour to Bible College – become pastor then onward to Leesburg to become youth minister in large church. Preached on TV and started to believe all that compliments people told me about me. Thinking my next stop would be to pastor a large church even though I was young.
Instead GOD’S next stop was a little church in the forest in Astor. I did not want this – neither did Pam. Here I received my first prophecy from a prophet. “There will be an exodus and you will start a church that I have told you about.” It was a wilderness assignment that GOD knew we needed for over 6 years.
Then to FBC FP for ten years in a troubled church. ten years later the prophecy in Astor came true – an Exodus.
Then GT started 20 years ago. IF GOD would have showed me the details of HIS plan 40 years ago it would have scared me to death. I would have run the other way. Because at that time it was nothing I had any desire for whatsoever.
All along the way I have never known what GOD’S plans for me were! All I know is HE has plans; my part is to surrender and trust.
GOD reveals things incrementally. HE is changing us from the inside out by changing how we think.
“Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the HOLY SPIRIT through a total transformation 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.” Romans 12:2 TPT
Job had surrendered his need to understand GOD to be able to see GOD.
Abraham had to surrender his need to understand GOD to follow GOD
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding (opinions), in all your ways acknowledge HIM and HE will direct your path.” Prov. 3:5-7
“Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to GOD marvelous mercies? I encourage you to surrender your lives 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 12:1 TPT
Authentic Worship is surrendering to GOD’S call to follow HIM into the unknown.
Ill. In Luke 9 JESUS gave authority over demons and disease and to proclaim GOD’S kingdom had arrived at HIS disciples. With this HE gave them strict instructions not to bring 6 things along:
No staff – no identity for yourself
No bag = no extras just in case
No food = opportunity to trust
No money = in case things go wrong
No extra tunic = no vanities of how we will look
No offenses = shake off the dust – If we don’t kick off the dust of rejection and offenses then they will become the story we tell, the message we preach, and the highlight of our ministry!
HE calls us to do the same!
Ill. Abraham at age 75 was called by GOD to separate from everything that was familiar to him, uproot from his comfortable surroundings and let go of possessions and material security – to follow the LORD’S led to an unknown place. The LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country, from your people, and your father’s household to the land I will show you.” Gen. 12:1
Ill. In Bible College I remember a young student wisely told me. “You are not here to get a degree. It is the experience itself that GOD wants you to have.” Surprisingly in 40 plus years of ministry no one has ever asked to see my degree. GOD did not send me to Bible college to get a degree but to get experiences I needed.
To HIS disciples JESUS says, “follow Me” – without disclosing where that will take us.
“I am the Way, the Truth (reality), and the LIFE. No one comes to the FATHER except through union with ME.” Jn 14:6 TPT
- JESUS does more than take us to heaven at death. HE brings us to the FATHER. The FATHER IS the destination!
What will it take to get us to THE FATHER?
- Different things, people, and experiences for each person.
Surrendering the unknown is not passivity. It is to yield to HOLY SPIRIT and trust HIS leading even when you do not understand why.
Ill. To give away money when you need money.
To pray for healing when you need healing. To give forgiveness when you have been treated wrong. To bless when you have been cursed.
Story about E.V. Hill and Benny Hinn on TBN. “GOD why do YOU use BH and produce valid miracles?” “Because he does not hesitate when I tell him to do something he does not understand.”
“As you yield (tap on the brakes, slow, stop and wait, or speed up) freely and fully to the dynamic life and power of the HOLY SPIRIT, you will abandon the cravings of your self-life.” Gal. 5:16 TPT
To yield doesn’t mean you don’t use your will power. You have to use your will power to think differently; to stop struggling and to yield.
It's not struggling – but yielding.
It's not effort – it is union.
JESUS said, “As you live in union with ME as your source, fruitfulness will stream from within you – but when you live separated from ME you are powerless. . . but if you live in life-union with ME and if MY words live (take hold) powerfully within you – then you shall ask whatever you desire and it will be done.” John 15:5,7 TPT
Unconditional Surrender