AIMS: To teach that to be a successful Christian; you must be totally yielded to Christ; not the half-baked type you find all over the place: This is the bane or problem of the Christianity of today. Many Christians are not totally surrendered to Christ. They would not obey the leading of the Holy Spirit if it appears to them against their own personal interest — not understanding that the all-encompassing Holy Spirit knows all and better than they do. Only one totally yielded to God can say like Apostle Paul: “we are fools for Christ sake” 1Cor 4: 10.
TEXT
“FOOLS FOR CHRIST SAKE” 1Cor 4: 10
4. DISCUSSION POINTS
Coming to Christ is for sure the beginning of total victory for your life
Jesus has come presently for the salvation of souls (Jn 3:16) and secondly for life of victory and power (Jn 10 :10). The former is for sure the pedestal on which the second hinges upon. I mean the primary begets the secondary because you go to primary school before you go to secondary school. But some Christians claim they have given their lives to Jesus yet live a life of total defeat and failure not a life of victory and power, thus denying the secondary mission of Christ on earth. The simple reason is that they have not totally surrendered.
TOTAL SURRENDERING DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE BORN AGAIN? Yes a
Christian must be born again according to the scriptures if he will see the kingdom of God (Jn3:3). The born again concept is the obvious transformation of the individual by a regeneration process through the Holy Spirit; which turns the .Christian into a new creation ( 1Cor 5: 17) . Yet this writer is saying — that being born again is not total surrender although it is a good beginning process because the non- born again does not even understand let alone believe or practise total surrender.
WHAT IS TOTAL SURRENDER
That the child of God yields himself completely — soul, body and Spirit to the leading of the Holy Spirit. He does not resist the Holy Spirit. As a believer you are to resist Satan not the Holy Spirit (Jas 4:7) To resist the Holy Spirit is tantamount to grieving the Holy Spirit. The Bible warns clearly — “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God” Eph 4:30.
(iv) How many times have you as a believer even a Born — Again grieved the Holy spirit by not yielding totally to him When the Bible says don’t do this yet you do it? Or when the Holy Spirit says give this to God; you say, “Oh, no its too much to give to God” or when God says to you — “go and evangelise you say, ‘Oh, there’s no time for that now”. You see such a person has not surrendered himself to God.
ONE OBVIOUS DEFECT OF NOT YIELDING OR TOTAL SURRENDER: A life of defeat follows you. Christ secondary purpose of abundant life will elude you. You cannot lead a victorious Christian life. The psalmist wrote . Ps 23
“The lord is my shepherd I shall not want”Ps23:1 (meaning if! obey God totally he shall not make me experience lack. If I surrender totally to him I shall not want)
“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures” Ps 23:2 (meaning total obedience will lead to open doors and prosperity)
“He leadeth me beside the still waters” (Ps23:2) (meaning if you yield to him wholly he will lead you to overcome every stillness in your life. In other words you live a life of victory).
Yet I have seen some born again dictate to God than God dictate to them. They want their own way not the way of God.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts; neither are your ways my ways, saith the lord” Isaiah 55:8
Yes God ways are higher than man’s and his thoughts higher also (1sa55:9) yet who can know the thoughts and ways of God; but the Holy Spirit?
“For the spirit searcheth all things yea, the deep things of God” 1Cor 2:10 Yet some Christians refuse to obey the Holy Spirit! This is the reason most times for the failure of most Christians even the born again Christians. They have not totally, surrendered themselves to God.
ABRAHAM TOTALLY SURRENDERED TO GOD Yes, Abraham totally surrendered to God doing what would please God. At the age of 75yrs he was told to leave his people to somewhere else. He obeyed. Imagine, at the age of seventy —five years! (Gen 12:1-4) Abraham was one hundred years old and Sarah the wife and mother of Isaac ninety years when Isaac was born. (Gen2 1:1-5) At that age Abraham was requested to sacrifice his only son to God; he was ready to do that (Gen22: 1-2) This is an example of total surrender.
DISCUSSION OUESTIONS
(1.) What is the idea of total surrender? That I realize that my spirit; soul and body belong to God. I therefore submit myself to him.
(2.) Does total surrender mean obedience; yes much more because total surrender is the “Mother” of Obedience. Anyone who totally surrender himself’ to God would be obliged to obey even the least instruction from God,
(3.) How can I attain total surrender? By praying, reading the scriptures; submitting yourself to divine and biblical instructions; developing what the Bible calls “Godly fear” (Heb 12:28) The Bible says: work out your own salvation with fear and trembling Phil 2:12
(4.) Dose it pay to totally surrender to God? Yes it pays greatly because God will begin to direct your footsteps. For as you yield yourself more and more to him- which is total surrender; you provide an opportunity for the Holy Spirit to expand his work in your life
“The steps of a Goodman are ordered by the lord”
CONCLUSION
If God is your creator; and if you know that you are going back to him someday, And that each one shall give an account of himself to God (Roms 14:12); Then the idea of total surrender of yourself to God who owns your life becomes just inevitable
MEMORY VERSE
“FOOLS FO CHRIST SAKE 1COR 4:10.
