I Surrender

Surrender 1. To yield (something) to the possession or power of another. 2. To give up, abandon, or relinquish.

"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20

Sacrifice

Rebel 1. One who refuses allegiance to, resists, or rises against control or tradition. 2. One who participates in organized resistance. 3. One who lives a lifestyle unashamed of Jesus Christ, no longer conforming to the patters of this world.

As Christians we need to quit conforming to the patterns of this world. Many so-called Christians these days look so much like the world--they talk the same, listen to the same types of music, act the same, look the same. If you look like the world, can you really say that you are not a part of the world. If you love the world and the things of the world, then it is proof that the love of Christ is not in you, for if His love filled you then you would love righteousness and holiness, purity before and after marriage, you would not be ashamed of the gospel or the Christ you are supposed to serve, instead you would rebel against the culture. You would be changed. You would be noticed, and hated. Christ said if they hated Him they too would hate you because of Him, yet why then do American Christians experience so little hatred. In Fort Smith, at UAFS, there are six churches surrounding the campus not including a student outreach ministry on campus, yet there are still people who never even heard of Christ and know nothing about him. Why is this? Have Christians not been called to go and preach the gospel? Tell others about our Saviour? Share the good news with those who don't know, even if it means being made fun of? Come on! So what if a person calls you names or laughs at you. "Consider your leaders, those who went before you. Consider the outcome of their ways of life and imitate their faith." These leaders died. They were sawn in half. They were stoned, boiled in oil, beheaded, beaten, fed to lions, drowned, and so much more yet you are afraid that one of your friends makes fun of you. Stop hiding behind your textbooks, work, and comfort level and go make a change. "If Christ is for you, who can be against you. What can man do to you."

I'm in rebellion

I'm in rebellion. I'm going against the culture. I'm being transformed. I'm not conforming to the ways of this world, but being changed. Welcome to the revolution.

I know that in our day rebel means sinner, but if everybody is sinning then it's no longer rebellious to sin. Consider that.

The soul who sins will die. "He eats at the mountain shrines. He defiles his neighbors wife. He oppresses the poor and needy. He commits robbery. He does not return what he took in pledge. He looks to the idols. He does detestable things. He lends at usury and takes excessive interest. Will such a man live? He will not! Because he has done all these detestable things, he will surely be put to death and his blood will be on his own head." Ezekiel 18:11-13

This man will be judged. He will found guilty and his eternal punishment is damnation to hell. In this day and age everybody is doing these things. Men lust after what is not theirs--the woman who is not theirs. She is someones wife and through lusting after her they are committing adultery with her in their hearts. "But I say unto you, who ever looks upon a woman with lust commits adultery with her in his heart." Every day somebody steals something from someone. "Thou shalt not steal." Yet even if a person hasn't stolen money or treasure from a man, he steals his wife when he looks at her with lustful thoughts. Debt is a major social issue which most every man has fallen into. They buy with money that they do not have, and then they can not pay it back. Idols are in every household, whether it be Budah, Shama, or other foreign gods. Yet idols go much deeper than all that--Television, money, power, fame, possessions. And it gets even more intense. Idols come in the form of drugs, alcohol, pornography, sex, homosexuality, wicca, the occult. Every man does detestable things from lying to cheating, gossip, lust, porn, drugs, cheating on their wifes, or simply wasting their time with football, and letting the super bowl take the place of the LORD. Whoever lends at usury and takes excessive interest God says is in the wrong. Do you feel right about spending more money than need be on a certain item? Then don't do it to others. Be fair about what you charge and God will bless you.