Greetings Holy, Healthy and Happy People of God,

As I write this eNote to our faithful and devoted community of radical followers of Jesus Christ, I am reflecting on the word surrender and what does it mean to surrender to God.  Honestly, this is a difficult and perplexing concept to grasp in America.  Primarily because we don’t understand the need to surrender, to give one’s self over to God.  We spend too much time in FEAR!

Jesus makes a thought-invoking and paradoxical statement in Matthew 10:39 to offer an option to fear, “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”  Several questions arise from Jesus’ words.  What does it look like to lose your life?  How is it possible to lose life and then find life?

One of the constant words Jesus uses in the conversation is FEAR!  He often says “Do not fear.”  And another word Jesus uses is the CROSS!  Jesus invites us “to take up the cross and follow him.”  It is within these two bookend words (FEAR and CROSS) that Jesus brings abundant life through constant surrender.  Taking up the cross implies an identification with the marginal people (slaves and rebels) who were subject to Roman crucifixion, because they did not align themselves with or submit themselves to Rome’s authority.  But Jesus promises that those who “lose their life” for him will in fact “find it,” while those who “find their life” in the world will “lose it” (Matthew 10:39).

The answers to fear and the cross, then, include the recognition of the facades and failures of human power, even those rooted in the threat of death, awareness of the conflict and division the gospel inevitably produces, and especially the deep awareness and conviction that God is present in the world, in the acts of mercy and compassion.

Let’s show the world that we surrender ALL to Christ every day so that our lives become simplified.  Then we become FREE to associate with others who are surrendered and the movement of holiness spreads throughout the land and revival happens for the sake of the gospel.  When scriptural holiness is spread, revival breaks out.

Hear the W.O.W., the Words of Wisdom,

“A Surrendered Life leads to a Simple Life!”

As always, remember, God’s will for us is good, we must do the rest!

Pastor Stephen