“It is for freedom that

Christ has set us free”.

GALATIANS 5:1
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 3

In this issue:

“The Surrendered Life”

An In-depth Bible Study on Sanctification, Consecration and Surrenderto God's Will and
Purpose for our Lives.

"We need to sanctify our lives. Sanctification is to separate from the world and consecrate
ourselves unto God. To sanctify anything is to declare that it belongs to God. It is the
progressive reformation of the believer into the image of Christ or the process by which the
life is made morally holy. Sanctification is accomplished through the redemptive work of
Christ and the work of the indwelling Holy Spirit. It begins at regeneration and is completed
when we see Christ."

What is the surrendered life?

** Surrender is giving up possession of one’s self; abandoning or relinquishing ourselves to
the Lord and His will for our lives.

TEXT: Romans 12:1 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your
bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God -- which is your spiritual worship.”

Paul beseeches us in view of the fact that God has been so merciful to us (He gave all He had in the form
of His Son, Jesus Christ, why shouldn’t we give all we have) to offer ourselves body, soul and mind in a
continual living sacrifice to God, crucifying our own desires and wants and living holy and pleasing lives to
God which really is our spiritual worship. Worship is more than praise and outward adoration unto God.
Praise is more than verbal. It is an attitude of life that is constantly aware of God’s presence and true
worship is a continual holy walk before God in Christ. It is living a pure, righteous, holy life before God,
glorifying the One we represent. True worship is doing God’s will.

** It is walking in the steps of Jesus Christ.**

TEXT: I Peter 2:21 “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an
example, that you should follow in His steps.”

We are called to be like Christ, to follow His example and the teachings He set forth in His Holy Word. It
means to suffer if need be, remembering no suffering could compare with the agony He endured on the
way to Calvary. It means being a servant, humble and obedient, meek and mild, zealous for His cause,
understanding, compassionate, giving and holy.

**tIt is living a holy life.**

TEXT: I Peter 1:13-16 “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your
hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children,
do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as He who
called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

The Apostle Peter knowing how important it is to be holy before God tells us that we have to prepare our
minds for action. This means that because His coming is soon, we need to make an active effort to
promote holiness in our lives andin the lives of others. Let’s be self-controlled, not let ourselves be
governed by fleshly or worldly desires, but be obedient to God and His Word. We have been transformed
and cleansed by the Blood of Jesus, we are no longer ignorant, because we know the Lord. Since Christ
who called us is holy, so we too must strive to be imitators of the Holy One who knew no sin, in order to
fulfill His Word in us.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SURRENDERED LIFE

A) Death to Sin

1) Jesus took our sins upon Himself through His death. I Peter 2:24 “He Himself bore our sins
in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have
been healed.”

2) Therefore we belong to Christ. Galatians 5:24 “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the
sinful nature with its passions and desires.”

3) We die to sin. Romans 6:2 “By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?”

4) We are alive in Christ. Romans 6:11 “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God
in Christ Jesus.”

5) Our lives are hidden in Christ. Colossians 3:3 “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ
in God.”

B) Fellowship with Christ’s death

1) Our old selves are crucified with Him that sin might not rule over us any longer. Romans 6:6
“For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered
powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin --.”

2) For we no longer live, but Christ lives in us. Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ
and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who
loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Other texts - Romans 8:36; II Corinthians 4:11; Colossians 2:20; 2
Timothy 2:11)

C) The Rendering of Unquestioning Service

1) We must desire to do His will and follow His commands. Psalm 40:8 “I desire to do Your will, O
my God; your law is within my heart.”

2) No matter what, in whatever service He calls us to. John 9:4 “As longas it is day, we must do
the work of Him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.”

EXAMPLES:

Noah (Genesis 6:22) God told him to build an ark and he obeyed even in midst of scoffers.

Elisha(I Kings 19:20) He obeyed the call God made to him through His servant, Elijah. He left all - family,
job, friends to obey the Lord.

Isaiah(Isaiah 6:8) When God asked, Isaiah responded, “Here am I, send me.”

Christ(John 4:34) Jesus’ mission was to fulfill the work the Father had given Him, even to death on the
Cross.

Paul (Acts 9:6) When Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus, Paul was given clear directions,
go into the city and you’ll be told. What a job he was to do for the Lord!

D) Resignation (unresisting submission) in Trial

Even when things look grim and your way seems dim, Remember:“No temptation has seized you except
what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can
bear. But when you are tempted, He will provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”
I Corinthians 10:13

LEAVE IT TO THE LORD, and place your full confidence in Him. “Cast your cares on the Lord and He will
sustain you, He will never let the righteous fall.” Psalm 55:22

EXAMPLES

Eli (I Samuel 3:18) When God was speaking to Samuel, Eli counseled him to let God do what was good in
His eyes.
David(II Samuel 12:23) When he lost his child conceived in sin, he realized there was nothing he could
do to bring him back, therefore he left it in God’s hands

TESTING GOD: Why is it that we humans always want God to do things our way? We want Him to solve
our problems but only with our solutions knowing full well that our solutions never work. Is God a
bellhop? Do we only call Him when we need Him? Is He only God when we're in trouble, to do as we
please? We must remember that it is not our place to demand of God. It is our place to obey Him and
trust His Word and His Will for our lives. When the enemy told Jesus to throw himself off the temple, he
thought Jesus was like us, always looking to prove ourselves. We are egotistical. We think we know it all.
We think we have it all. But we have nothing, if we don't have Christ. Don't do what the devil says. Do
what God says. It's a much better solution to any problem or circumstance.

"Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test'." vs 7

ATTRACTIONS OF SIN: The devil paints a pretty picture of the world and its attractions. Everything
looks good at the moment and it feels even better. "If you follow me", he says, "Look at what you'll have.
Fun, pleasure, wealth, everything your little heart desires." What a liar! The devil cannot be trusted. He
is underhanded, deceitful, and the father of lies. He never fulfills his promises. The enemy's offers are
always conditional and at some point, he will demand repayment because his goal is to lead us to eternal
destruction. The enemy is so unlike the God that we serve. Jesus knew the answer to the devil's offer of
splendor. We should know too. God is the only keeper of promises. (Psalm 37:4) Even if we have nothing
on this earth, if we have Christ, we have it all. Hallelujah! Paul declared, "I have learned the secret of
being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:12b,13

"..For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.'" vs 10b

Satan is a defeated foe. His time is short and he knows it!

"Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and sea,
because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his
time is short." Revelation 12:12

He has only as much power and control over you as you permit him to have. "and do not give the
devil a foothold." Ephesians 4:27
There is a limit to his temptations. "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.
And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you
are tempted, He will provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." 1 Corinthians
10:13

God has promised victory over the enemy by providing our weapons of warfare.

AUTHORITY in CHRISTis a powerful weapon: "I have given you authority to trample on snakes
and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you." Luke
10:19

HIDE God's Word in your heart: "I have hidden your Word in my heart, that I might not sin
against you." Psalm 119:11

PRAY unceasingly: "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is
willing but the body is weak." Matthew 26:41

Becoming a master over sin means giving Jesus Christ full reign of your heart, mind, soul and body. Being
under His Lordship, we will have the victory over sin (2 Corinthians 2:14) and if we do fall, we know we
have forgiveness through Christ (1 John 1:9) and a second chance. As long as we do not do this, sin will
always master us and we will do as it desires. Choose this day whom you will serve.

WILL SIN BE YOUR MASTER or WILL CHRIST BE YOUR MASTER? It's your decision.

“Sin is no longer your master, for you are no longer subject to the law, which enslaves you to sin. Instead, you
are free by God's grace.” Romans 6:14 (New Living Translation)
WRITTEN BY MARGIE JIMENEZ

QUESTIONS, COMMENTS: MJ7862@AOL.COM