This narrative deals with the concept of letting go and giving your life over to Jesus. The definition of abandonment is based on the principles of Jesus and does not relate to religion.
The natural man (or unbeliever) works hard to achieve his goals but in the end He loses everything. The Christ follower experiences the promises of Jesus and is rewarded with the goodness of God.
Religion is easy! Just follow the rules. Jesus is very difficult to follow and is contrary to everything in the world.
Abandoning to Jesus leaves no room for conditions or keeping your independence.
The act of yielding to Jesus brings freedom from your natural personality and dispositions as you unite with the reality of the Living Christ.
This is making a statement “I will be absolutely loyal to God and He has the freedom to do with me as He desires.”
Surrender is not a requirement to walk toward religion. God doesn’t care about keeping rules or absorbing yourself in religious works. He wants to set you free to live in oneness with Him.
You have to give up your ideas of how God will work in your life and let Him show you His priorities.
Walking with Jesus is giving up your rights so Jesus can do with you as He pleases. You belong to Him and are obligated to seek His will above all else.
What does this look like in real life?
Pray vigilantly and listen for the voice of God.
Confess your sins and ask Jesus to cover you with His blood. Have an attitude of repentance and openness to the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
Read the Bible under the auspices of the Holy Spirit.
When God issues commands respond with obedience regardless of the lack of logic or cost to you. God wants compliance without compromise.
Find a church that honors God and maintains the integrity of scripture without change or interpretation of contemporary views.
The servant of Jesus is not above His Master. The challenge is to understand the importance of yielding to the Holy Spirit who is sealed within a believer. He is the life of Christ and will direct your pathway.
Give the Holy Spirit authority over your life and ask Him to fill you with the thoughts of Jesus. The goal is to be an open vessel to the Spirit in all the moments of life. The Holy Spirit will speak to you through the mind of Christ residing in you.
God severely tests believers. The adversities are engineered by God to transform you into the character of Jesus. At times, there will be pain and suffering.
The disciple lives in the footsteps of Christ and is baptized into the death and resurrection of Jesus. The goal is to become “Christ like” and a powerful witness for Jesus.
The upside is Jesus will fill you with His supernatural attributes and you will live with Him forever.
Hal Hollister Ministry 