March 14, 2013 - General Surrender

Philippians 2:4-11

⁴ Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: ⁶ Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something  to be grasped, ⁷ but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!

⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus made a general surrender to the Will of God, a once and for all, global surrender to His Father. “He made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness” (vs. 7). Any utter and complete surrender to another is like signing a blank check and giving it to the other party. It is like saying, “I completely and unconditionally surrender. You tell me what I must do.”

As Jesus, or you and I for that matter, make a surrender to God’s, His Will, and His Kingdom, the day will come when the amount will be written in and a specific action step of obedience will be required. Notice the action step Jesus was required to take, “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (v. 8)

As I consider the many, many ways and times Jesus, the Son of God, must have had to surrender to His earthly situation, I wonder which was the most challenging.

·         First breath?

·         Surrender to parents’ authority?

·         Spending 30 years at home?

·         Leading slow and unbelieving disciples?

·         Attacks by religious elite?

·         Gethsemane?

Let’s not forget Gethsemane. Luke 22:39-45 records, “Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. ⁴⁰ On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” ⁴¹ He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, ⁴² “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” ⁴³ An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. ⁴⁴ And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. ⁴⁵ When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow.”

Why the anguish? Death? Yes, but it must have been more than physical death. Suffering? Yes, but more than bodily punishment. Jesus would experience for the first time, moral and spiritual separation from His Heavenly Father. On the Cross Jesus cries out, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”

Isaiah 53 describes the anguish of Jesus, the suffering servant. “But the Lord was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief… As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My servant will justify the many, as He will bear their iniquities” (53:10-11)

God had a purpose in the suffering and death of His Son that we might be justified, forgiven, reconciled to God. Jesus willing gave Himself up for you and me. How do we repay such love and sacrifice? By loving God in return. We show our love for God by receiving His love and serving the Lord, one another, and the World.

During this season of Lent and especially throughout the Daniel Fast, let us remember Jesus, Jesus’ humility, and Jesus’ obedience. Let us make our own surrender to God. As we hear God’s voice and as God’s gives us opportunity, let us walk in obedience.

…. Pastor Randy Bain