Scripture Reading:  Philippians 3:1-11

"ALL TO JESUS I SURRENDER"

1.   Surrender:  “to yield to the power, control, or possession of another upon compulsion or demand; to give up completely or agree to forgo especially in favor of another; to give (oneself) over to something (as an influence)” – Merriam-Webster Dictionary (Online).

2.   Discipleship to Jesus demands surrender/sacrifice – Lk. 9:23

Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

Luke 14:33  So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. 

Gal.    2:20.   I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

“All to Jesus I Surrender”

3.   Abraham stands as “the friend of God” & father of the faithful due to a faith marked by the complete surrender of himself to God’s will.

Gal 3:29  And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Christians are Abraham’s seed – if we “do the works of Abraham” Rom 4:11

And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe

4.      What did Abraham surrender?  Will we do the works of Abraham?

I. ABRAHAM SURRENDERED HIS COUNTRY –Acts 7:3

 Get out of your country and from your relatives, and come to a land that I will show you.'

   -(Its familiarity, security & comfort)

   A.      America is Great, But Our Heavenly Home is Greater! – Phil. 3:20

      1.      Our first allegiance is to God – Acts 5:29.  We ought to obey God rather than men.

      2.      At conversion we pledged allegiance to heaven (God)!

   B.      Christians, Like Abraham, are Pilgrims.

      1.      Do not “drive down stakes” here on earth! – cf. 1 Peter 2:11     Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,

      Here We Are But Straying Pilgrims    This World is Not My Home    

II.   ABRAHAM SURRENDERED HIS KINSHIP – Acts 7:3.  see above

   A.      Sometimes Your Greatest Enemy is in Your Own House –Matt. 10:36. Matt 10:36

and a man's enemies will be those of his own household.'

      1.      Abraham’s family served other gods – Josh. 24:2.

Thus says the LORD God of Israel:'Your fathers, including Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor, dwelt on the other side of the River in old times; and they served other gods.

      2.      Marry someone who shares your faith in Christ!  (Will affect your faithfulness to Christ & your eternal destiny!)  (cf. Christian father) – 1 Cor. 7:33

But he who is married cares about the things of the world — how he may please his wife.

      3.      All to Jesus, I Surrender?!  (1 Cor. 7:23)

You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.

III. ABRAHAM SURRENDERED HIS JUDGMENT – Heb. 11:8.

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going

   A.      A Matter of Trust in God’s Way & Word.  (Anywhere With Jesus,)

      -Abraham went because God said to “go”!

   B.      We Must Act When God Says to Instead of Depending on Our Judgment.

        -[“Whatever God says to do in the Bible, I must do. 

 If He says to jump through a stone wall, I’m going to jump at it.

 Going through it belongs to God, jumping at it belongs to me!”] 

      1.   God says:  Be baptized; love your enemy; return good for evil; etc.

         -Assemble to worship – Heb. 10:25.  (We let recreation, personal comfort set our habit of not assembling, then use our own judgment to justify it!)

      2.   Surrender our wisdom/judgment to the will of God – 1 Cor. 1:21.

For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe

         -Our salvation depends upon it!

IV.             ABRAHAM SURRENDERED HIS PERSONAL PRIVILEGES FOR THE IN THE INTEREST OF PEACE –

Gen. 13:7-9. And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and the herdsmen of Lot's livestock  So Abram said to Lot,"Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren. 9 Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left."

A.      Our Unity in Christ Compels Us to Surrender Personal Liberties for the Sake of Peace –

a.      Eph 4:3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

1 Cor 8:9-12

But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? 11 And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

      1.      Rom. 14:19 – Pursue peace instead of demanding “my rights”!

      2.      For the sake of peace:  Do not surrender truth, but willingly surrender liberties.

V.   ABRAHAM SURRENDERED WHAT WAS MOST PRECIOUS TO HIM IN ORDER TO OBEY GOD – Heb. 11:17   By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

   A.      By Faith He Obeyed (Surrendered) – Gen. 22:2;

Then He said, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."

Jas. 2:21-22.  Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?

B.      He Surrendered Immediately – Gen. 22:3.

      1.      Rose early (urgency & priority); Did not argue with God (content that God knew what He was doing). 

      2.      What about you? - Acts 24:25;

5 Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, "Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you."

22:16

And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'

    C.      He Was Able To Surrender Even His Son Because He Always Remembered God’s Promises.

      1.      Rom. 4:18-22 – In hope he believed God’s promise of Isaac’s birth.

      2.      Heb. 11:17-19 – He believed God would keep His promises to him.

      3.      When we are called to surrender for the sake of Christ, we must set our eyes on

God’s promises of eternal life! – Heb. 6:11-15, 19

 1.   Are you surrendering all to Jesus – Or only until it hurts?!  (Rom. 6:12-13)

2.   Surrender all to Jesus – Only then will He be Lord in our hearts & lives!  (1 Pet. 3:15)