WHITE FLAG CHRISTIANITY

I am seeing the Word through new eyes. I will start off with some thoughts about the perspective I am talking about and how Paul demonstrates it.
In 1Corinthians 2:1 he says he is not trying to use carefully crafted words to express God to people. We are talking about someone who would be considered of the highest education in his time, and he decides not to rely on that to communicate God's truth. In verse 2 he says he's only determined to know Christ crucified. In other words, he surrenders everything he knows except that. Philippians 3 details things he surrenders: a)he was circumcised on the 8th day (which was a distinguishing mark of dedication), b)of the stock of Israel (his pedigree is noble), c)the tribe of Benjamin (another specific of loyalty), d)a TOP Hebrew (so within his people he is regarded highly), e)concerning the Law- a Pharisee (unparalled in insuring all his actions were in accordance with God's statutes), f)zeal (to the point where he destroyed enemies that he thought would damage the cause of God), g)righteous in the eyes of the Law (he was morally blame free). Then Philippians 3:7 says that even though he could have gained a lot from these credentials, he SURRENDERS his claim to them, for the excelling factor of knowing Christ. Verse 8 says he counts everything else as trash, so that he can know Him in power and sufferings (v.10). In verse 15 he tells everyone to have this attitude who is mature.

"Even if my world falls I will say, above all, I live for your glory!"
-Evermore (Hillsong United)
In 2004, my world fell. I lost 2 jobs, moved twice in 2 different states, and had no idea where to turn. The idea of God's guidance that I always relied on was a mystery. Every effort I made to get my life back on track failed. No expectations were met, even after fasting & praying. The faith I had led me into the unknown. Every time it looked like something was going to work out, it vaporized! I had no idea why & no explanations were given by the prospects I was dealing with. Well, I knew God was getting my attention. I wondered if He was telling me to let it all go and take up a work in ministry. (I had suspected this because in 1984 I was licensed for ministry and although remained involved on a volunteer basis, I did not follow through with it as a full time occupation.) Even as I contemplated this, I received no clear specifics from God on what to do next. But I did know the Lord was re-focusing me on it. I got some counsel from more than one person. I decided the best course of action was to stay open to it all, but not to push anything. Then one opportunity opened out of the blue, but it was hundreds of miles away and was not expected to be up and running for over a year. I held out hope for that but still needed a plan for now. Then something hit me. I. like many, had been developing plans while at the same time making room for God whenever possible. What I realized is that is not seeking first the Kingdom and then "all these things would be added to me"(Matthew 6:33). I was hoping these things would be added to me so I could seek the kingdom! Then I prayed that God would just take everything from me. I didn't care where I worked or where I lived. I resolved myself that wherever I ended up, I would seek to promote His kingdom and not care about anything else. Some extraordinary events led me back to my hometown of Collinsville, IL. This is the zone where I am looking for the spiritual prosperity of the city(I have a verse for that but can't remember where it is right now).

I know now the work God is doing in me and it is so freeing. I call it a "lifestyle of surrender". What I mean is that anything that comes your way is surrendered to God. There is nothing left for you to manage. Any thought that comes your way gets surrendered to God. And the big one for me- any expectation gets surrendered to God. That means you don't have to feel like you're ahead of the game to get security. Before all this happened I had a great career and was completely debt free. With the turn of events, I was determined to establish a game plan to recover from the effects.
A TIME of surrender is great. It frees you from the burdens you are dealing with. But God wants us not to accept it as a one time event, but a lifestyle of practice. Then whatever potential situation may occur is given over to God. The mind of the flesh does not try to manage it. {That alone is going to help someone out there} I don't make something work out when God has it.
So what do you do after you have surrendered everything?You do it again & again. But what do you do after that? The same thing Job first did. You worship. Read Job 1 and consider all he lost- and for no good reason! Verse 20 says he tore his robe & shaved his head [these are signs of repentence & mourning, but begin to think of repentence as SURRENDER. When you repent, you GIVE UP. The old way is surrendered to receive anew.] Then it says he fell to the ground and worshipped. And he said "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I shall return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord (v.21). In other words Job was rich and was set. He lost all his possessions and children. When this happened, he didn't devise a new game plan. He affirmed that he was stripped of everything (naked!) and it was in God's hands. Then he blessed God's name. After you practice a life of surrendering to God, you also accept a lifestyle of worship. Again, it is not a one time or Sunday event that can carry you. That is key, as many have had their expectations dashed although they are regular churchgoers. Romans 12:1 talks about Placing Your Life Before God- "So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life--your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life--and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him." Another version puts it this way: "Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship.
I had heard the term "lifestyle of worship" before, but did not know how to fit it in with all of the other events in life. That's not how it works. You see, worship is not just music, it is ascribing worth to God through our life.You need to continually affirm you are surrendering to God. It becomes everything. You don't do the same things you used to do like wasting time watching mindless TV. Your preoccupation is surrendering your will, your habits, your fears, your concerns, others you are praying for, and so on. There is no time to do trivial things anymore. But you don't miss any of them- believe me! You become consumed to get away & express your surrender and then your worship. Your worship is an expressive outpouring springing from your surrender. It magnifies the authority of God and acknowledges that HE IS TOTALLY YOUR REASON FOR LIVING. THAT'S RIGHT- IT'S WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING FOR ETERNITY IN AGES TO COME. But you can begin and maintain it now! I'm telling you the peace that passes all understanding will surround you and guard your mind to where nothing that comes up will phase you!(Philippians 4:7) You will surrender it to God and worship. They work hand in hand. And I am seeing this principle throughout scripture and feel like I could write a book on it. I have been waking up every morning for weeks with a new song in my heart. What a joy it is to be refreshed with a melody from God, rather than thoughts about how I am going to deal with the cares of this world. Many christians have received God's word, but after they hear, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity(Luke 8:14). If you endure the chastening/discipline of God as written in Hebrews 12, afterwards it yields peace & gets you on the right track (verse 11). And back in verse 1 it talks about how a great cloud of witnesses surrounds us, so lay aside every weight & sin that could beset us. SURRENDER!
Remember when you first came to the altar? You said "I surrender all". Well this is the admonishing to follow through with it as your life! Practice surrendering every concern through the day. Then get alone and have your own praise sessions. As you do this, reaffirm the words you are singing and maintain the attitude of surrender. Also know that the reason you are worshipping is not so you can get anything- not even a higher level of spiritual maturity. You are doing it to honor God as Lord of ALL. You don't need to limit yourself to do this on Sunday. Have you ever thought of that? Worship is not something you let others dictate to you!It is your personal responsibility.You apprehend it and accept it as your life's goal. God is your obsession. If you are in public, put on some headphones with songs directed to God.{I don't mean tune everybody out. I am just giving you ideas on how to get alone with God}.But notice I did not say to just play christian music. Sometimes you can just turn on your car radio and whatever will be will be. No, I'm talking about being engaged continually with the Lord.
I always disliked the scripture in 1Thessalonians 5:17 that says "pray without ceasing" because I thought it was impossible. But through a lifestyle of surrender and worship, it becomes normal! The other scriptures in that context also become true in you. You begin to "rejoice always"(v.16). When you are surrendering, you can "in everything give thanks"(v.18). And you obey verse 19 which says "Do not quench the Spirit'. If you take in a fear, concern, ambition, thoughts about the future, or any other issue without surrendering to God, you are disrupting the lifestyle God has predetermined for you in Christ and the Spirit of God is quenched. So "test all things and hold fast to what is good"(v.21). A life of surrender will help you "abstain from every form of evil"(v.22). In other words, anything that is going to take away from the preciousness you have in Christ is something you avoid. Surrendering will help you have the right attitude to receive a necessary word from the Lord at the right time, even if it's prophetic in nature and you are not usually accustomed to it(v.20). Your life is like that of Jesus, who, though He suffered and prayed for that cup to pass from Him, He said, "Nevertheless, not my will, but Yours be done". By this we know we can still pray for circumstances we believe beneficial, but we leave the outcome to God through surrender.
Now may the God of peace Himself set you apart completely, and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
HE WHO CALLS YOU IS FAITHFUL, AND ALSO WILL DO IT.(v23-24)

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