Following God is not a one-time event; it is a lifelong process of deepening surrender. When we accept Christ, we do not instantly achieve complete perfection. Instead, spiritual maturity unfolds as we give more of ourselves over to Him, allowing God to take advantage of every open door and perform trans-formative work in our lives.
Continuing our exploration of what it means to fully surrender to God, we dive into three foundational pillars of the believer’s journey: submitting to the Blood of Jesus, yielding to the Holy Spirit, and committing to the local Church body.
Submitting to the Blood of Jesus
Many believers understand that Jesus’ sacrifice saves them from sin, but the full scope of what His blood accomplished often gets overlooked. In Greek, the word for saved is Sozo (σῴζω)—a term appearing over a hundred times in the New Testament. Sozo does not merely mean spiritual rescue for the afterlife; it signifies total, holistic restoration—mind, body, and spirit.
Healing for Body and Mind
The sacrifice of Christ provides physical and emotional healing alongside spiritual redemption [04:31]. Consider how different English Bible translations capture the prophecy in Isaiah 53:4–5:
- NLT: “Yet it was our weakness that he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down…” [07:10]
- NIV: “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering…” [07:42]
- ESV: “Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases…” [08:10]
- NASB: “However, it was our sicknesses that he himself bore, and our pains that he carried…” [08:40]
As we look closer at the original language, the scripture clearly reveals that Jesus’ physical wounds paid for our physical suffering [09:10]. While medical science is valuable and should be used wisely [10:00], believers can stand on the promise that God remains our ultimate healer.
A Relationship with Benefits
Psalm 103:2–5 reminds us of the immediate blessings available through Christ:
“May I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.” [11:46]
When we step into relationship with God, our benefits begin immediately. His redemptive work covers both the forgiveness of our sins and the restoration of our health [12:12].
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ THE NEW COVENANT IN CHRIST │
├──────────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────┤
│ Salvation & Justification │ Freedom from guilt & sin │
├──────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ Physical & Mental Healing │ Restoration through His pain │
├──────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│ Eternal Life & Inheritance │ Reigning with Him on Earth │
└──────────────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────┘
The Power of the New Covenant
In Luke 22, Jesus established the New Covenant through His blood [13:43]. Unlike the Old Covenant based on human effort under the Law, the New Covenant is anchored in grace, mercy, and Christ’s finished work [14:24]. Furthermore, because the life of a creature is in its blood (Leviticus 17:11), Jesus’ shed blood makes complete atonement for our lives, reuniting us with God for eternity [16:21].
Yielding to the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is not an abstract force; He is a divine Person within the Trinity [18:32]. To experience the full power and direction of God, we must actively yield to the Spirit’s presence and ministry daily.
Comforter, Teacher, and Advocate
According to John 14, the Holy Spirit acts as our Advocate, Teacher, and Comforter [18:15]. He provides spiritual guidance, prays for us with groanings deeper than words (Romans 8:26), and shapes our character [20:46].
To walk closely with Him, we should make it a daily habit to pause and ask simple, intentional questions throughout our day [19:10]:
- “Lord, what do You want to speak to me right now?”
- “How can I honor You in this current situation?”
┌──────────────────────────────────┐
│ THE HOLY SPIRIT'S WORK │
└────────────────┬─────────────────┘
│
┌────────────────────────┴────────────────────────┐
▼ ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────────────────────┐
│ FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT │ │ GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT │
│ (Galatians 5:22–23) │ │ (1 Corinthians 12) │
│ • Love, Joy, Peace │ │ • Wisdom & Knowledge │
│ • Patience, Kindness │ ───► │ • Faith & Healing │
│ • Goodness, Gentleness │ │ • Prophecy & Discernment │
│ • Self-Control │ │ • Tongues & Interpretation │
└─────────────────────────────────┘ └─────────────────────────────────┘
Prioritizing Character Over Power
While 1 Corinthians 12 urges believers to earnestly desire spiritual gifts (such as words of wisdom, prophecy, and healing) [21:46], we must allow the Holy Spirit to cultivate His fruit in us first [23:02].
Character must precede power. Experiencing spiritual gifts without the foundational stability of love, patience, and gentleness risks causing harm [23:25]. By grounding ourselves in character, spiritual gifts build up and encourage the church safely and effectively [21:53].
Submitting to the Local Church
In modern culture, submitting to a local church can feel like a significant challenge. Bad experiences or leadership failures cause many to pull back into isolated faith [23:46]. Yet, Scripture consistently shows that spiritual growth requires community.
Built on a Sure Foundation
In Ephesians 2:20–21, Paul describes believers as a spiritual building:
“Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord.” [25:00]
/ \
/ \
/ \
/ YOU \ <-- Living Stones
/_________\
/ \
/ FIVE-FOLD \ <-- Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists,
/ MINISTRY \ Pastors, and Teachers
/_________________\
/ \
/ CHRIST JESUS \ <-- The Ultimate Cornerstone
/______________________\
The Role of the Five-Fold Ministry
God gifts specific leadership callings to equip the church for ministry (Ephesians 4:11–13) [29:30]:
- Apostles: Plant, organize, and provide oversight [26:05].
- Prophets: Offer timely encouragement, warning, and vision [27:33].
- Evangelists: Reach those outside the fold [31:23].
- Pastors: Shepherd, protect, and care for the flock [31:05].
- Teachers: Ground the body in sound doctrine [31:48].
These roles do not exist to perform all the ministry work themselves; their purpose is to train and empower every believer to serve [30:46].
Moving from Attender to Partner
There is a profound difference between attending a service and becoming a covenant partner in a church community [32:33]:
| Level of Involvement | Characteristics |
| Regular Attender | Enjoys worship and teaching; remains largely independent [32:33]. |
| Church Partner | Embraces local accountability, serves actively, and yields to spiritual authority (Hebrews 13:17) [32:48]. |
| Ministry Leader | Serves with integrity, builds peace within the body, and acts as an example (1 Thessalonians 5:12–13) [34:31]. |
Accountability within a healthy church creates a safe, protected environment for your spiritual growth [32:48].
Stepping Into Full Surrender
God has made every provision necessary to set us free from bondage (Exodus 6:7) [37:42]. Through the Blood of Jesus, we receive complete salvation and healing. Through the Holy Spirit, we gain daily wisdom and spiritual strength. Through the Church, we find community, protection, and purpose.
Jesus stands at the door of your heart and knocks (Revelation 3:20) [39:29]. Surrender does not require striving or complex tasks; it simply requires opening the door and letting Him lead [39:45].
Take time today to evaluate your spiritual journey:
- Have you surrendered your health and future to the Blood of Jesus?
- Are you listening to the daily promptings of the Holy Spirit?
- Have you planted yourself in a local church body where you can grow and serve?
When we yield every area of life to His authority, we create room to see God move in power.
Full sermon here.