Two of the most misunderstood words in the Western Church
Two of the most misunderstood words in the western church are surrender and all, among others, of course.
Surrender in the natural, means to yield all rights and control to another. If you surrender your car to the bank you hand over the keys, title and the vehicle. From that point, you no longer have any right to enter, drive or even touch that vehicle without the bank’s permission. To surrender in time of war means, handing over your weapons, your equipment, and your body to the opposition. From that moment on you are at their mercy and disposal.
However, in the spiritual realm, to the western church, surrender means absolutely nothing. The word has no significance whatsoever. The meaningless word is often used in songs of worship and from time to time in prayer and preaching to sound totally dedicated.
It is rarely used outside a church building, and when it’s coming from the lips of a western believer, it is almost never taken seriously here in My kingdom. I hear people say, I surrender my life to you Lord, and the moment I touch even a hobby, or much more an addiction or a relationship, they throw a tantrum.
Don’t you know, I will never ask for the things you don’t care about, because they are not a rival of Mine? I will always start with things that test your surrender.
Let Me speak in kingdom language: I will never be your Lord without your total unconditional surrender. I may possibly be your savior in this state, but definitely you remain your own lord of your life as long as your surrender is incomplete.
The other word is ALL, meaning total! When you say, I love you with all my heart, you cannot rightfully say it again to anyone or about thing else, unless you have more than one heart. Loving Me with all your heart, is not an option or even a request, but a kingdom order. Just like, thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might, Deuteronomy 6:5.
To love Me with all your heart, means everything and everyone in your entire life is placed at My feet, to be used as I see fit. The two words SURRENDER and ALL are inseparable. When you cannot surrender something it’s a love issue. Some of you have never loved Me with all your heart and others of you did at one time, but you have left your first love, Revelation 2:4-5.
Until this love issue is settled the assurance of your salvation will always be in question. “Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works? [23] And then will I profess unto them, you never loved Me and never surrendered, so I never had an intimate relationship with you: depart from Me, you worker of iniquity,” Matthew 7:22-23.
It’s easy to surrender all, when you love with all, so go way back and start with My very first commandment. I have already shown you My love for you, now it’s your turn!
~ Jim Hammerle
 Jim Hammerle (1941-2017) began ministry working with David Wilkerson and Nicky Cruz, founding Teen Challenge Philadelphia. 6 times in the mission field pastoring a mission ship, 15 years with tv and radio, teaching, and preaching. As a retired businessman, Jim helped to feed widows and orphans in Uganda, helping Muslims find the Jesus who fed them. He became His banker and was privileged to give His money away, wherever He decided, so he also helping to build an orphanage in Haiti and investing in lives in the USA. Totally in love with his Lord, at age 73 he served in ministry at Victory Christian Church and lived every hour listening for his Heavenly Father’s voice. Jim passed away on May 23, 2017 to be with the LORD. |
Amen Brother!
Total surrender to the Lord is to be hot and not lukewarm and the only spiritual status that will give divine protection and save us from being vomited out of His mouth.
Brother, I differ with you when it comes to the use of the word “surrender”. To begin with, this word is not even used by the Holy Spirit. It is true in in Ro. 6:13 we are told to “yield ourselves”, “present ourselves” or offer ourselves. In Ro. 12:1 we are commanded “to offer or present our bodies.” In James.4:7 we are commanded to “submit ourselves” unto God and resist the devil. In Pr.23:26 we are commanded to “give our hearts” to the Lord. All the above expressions connote our willingness. On the other hand the word “surrender” in addition not being used in the Bible by the Holy Spirit it connotes completion. The Lord says to Adam “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:”gen.2:16.
The Lord wants only a willing heart with a “willing offering”. This phrase “willing offering” occurred In 6 places.
Exodus 35:29 every man and woman (whom their heart hath made willing to bring in for all the work which Jehovah commanded to be done by the hand of Moses) ‘of’ the sons of Israel brought in a willing-offering to Jehovah. (YLT)
Exodus 36:3 And they take from before Moses all the heave-offering which the sons of Israel have brought in for the work of the service of the sanctuary to do it; and still they have brought in unto him a willing-offering morning by morning. (YLT)
Leviticus 22:23 As to an ox or a sheep enlarged or dwarfed — a willing-offering ye do make it, but for a vow it is not pleasing. (YLT)
2 Chronicles 35:8 And his heads, for a willing-offering to the people, to the priests, and to the Levites, have lifted up; Hilkiah, and Zechariah, and Jehiel, leaders in the house of God, to the priests have given for passover-offerings two thousand and six hundred, and oxen three hundred; (YLT)
Ezra 3:5 and after this a continual burnt-offering, and for new moons, and for all appointed seasons of Jehovah that are sanctified; and for every one who is willingly offering a willing-offering to Jehovah. (YLT)
Ezra 8:28 And I say unto them, ‘Ye ‘are’ holy to Jehovah, and the vessels ‘are’ holy, and the silver and the gold ‘are’ a willing-offering to Jehovah, God of your fathers; (YLT)
It is clear the Lord wants our willingness and not to do any thing out of sense of obligation.
Personally, It is more honoring to the Lord if we follow to the Word of the Holy Spirit than to invent new word which is not his.