Surrender and Consecration: Discovering What It Really Means to Give God Everything
- Elevated Life Church
- Jul 13
- 4 min read
When Brandon Lake sings, "All that I have is a hallelujah," it raises an important question:
What does it really mean to give God everything?
For many Christians, surrender sounds beautiful in worship but becomes difficult in everyday life. We hold tightly to old habits, familiar comforts, and the illusion that we can control our lives. Yet Scripture reveals that the deepest experiences with God come only through complete surrender.
Pastor Vernon Outlaw's message challenged us with this truth:
You cannot truly know what "all" is until you've given all.
What Is Consecration?
The Bible often uses the word consecration, which means to be wholly devoted or set apart for God.
Consecration is more than attending church or adding Jesus to an already busy life. It is placing every area of our lives in God's hands and holding nothing back.
This kind of surrender is the heart of the Gospel. It is where transformation begins.
The Rich Young Ruler and the Problem of Self-Effort
In Mark 10, a rich young ruler approaches Jesus and asks:
"What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?"
The question reveals his mindset. He believed eternal life was another accomplishment to add to his list of successes.
Many people still approach God this way.
If I work hard enough...
If I serve enough...
If I perform well enough...
If I'm a good person...
Then maybe God will accept me.
But Jesus exposes the flaw in this thinking.
Salvation Cannot Be Earned
Romans 8 reminds us that what we could never accomplish through our own efforts, God accomplished through Jesus Christ.
Christianity is not about achieving God's approval.
It is about receiving His love.
Performance may impress people, but it cannot save a soul.
Surrender Begins With Understanding God's Love
One of the most beautiful moments in Mark 10 is this simple statement:
"Jesus looked at him and loved him."
Jesus saw the young ruler's pride, self-sufficiency, and misplaced priorities, and He loved him anyway.
The same is true for us.
We don't perform to gain God's love.
We obey because we have already received His love.
When we truly understand the love of God, surrender stops feeling like loss and starts looking like freedom.
Why Is Surrender So Difficult?
1. A Performance Mindset
Many believers spend their lives trying to prove themselves to God.
But God never asked us to perform for Him.
He asked us to follow Him.
Performance often keeps us from experiencing intimacy with Him because we're too busy trying to earn what He's already freely given.
2. Distraction and Busyness
In Luke 10, Martha was busy serving while Mary sat at Jesus' feet.
Jesus said Mary had chosen the better thing.
Our culture rewards busyness, but spiritual growth requires slowing down.
You cannot hear God's voice if your life is filled with noise.
You cannot follow His direction if you never stop long enough to listen.
3. Wanting Instant Spiritual Growth
We often expect spiritual maturity to happen overnight.
But God works through process.
Before meeting with God at Mount Sinai, Israel spent several days preparing and consecrating themselves.
Growth takes time.
Transformation takes time.
Healing takes time.
Spiritual formation is a journey, not an event.
Why Does God Ask for Everything?
Because surrender reveals where our hearts truly belong.
Jeremiah 29:13 says:
"You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart."
Not part of your heart.
Not your spare time.
Not your leftovers.
All your heart.
God's desire has always been complete relationship, not partial devotion.
The Purpose of Surrender
When we fully surrender ourselves to God, several things happen.
We Are Marked By His Name
Our lives begin to reflect His presence.
People see something different in us because we no longer live only for ourselves.
We Live Under His Direction
His eyes are upon us.
He guides our steps.
He opens doors and protects us from paths that lead to destruction.
Our Hearts Become a Home for His Love
God's heart begins shaping our heart.
We start seeing people the way He sees them.
We become more compassionate, more patient, and more willing to serve.
We Experience More of His Presence
Joshua was told that Israel would go places they had never gone before.
The same is true in our walk with God.
There is always more of Him to discover.
More grace.
More wisdom.
More freedom.
More miracles.
The Beauty of Full Surrender
In 1 Chronicles 29, David asks:
"Who then is willing to consecrate himself this day to the Lord?"
The idea of consecration means to fill the hand of God.
What a powerful picture.
God invites us to place our entire lives back into the hands that created us.
Our gifts.
Our dreams.
Our fears.
Our plans.
Our future.
Everything.
And when we do, we discover that surrender is not losing something.
It's gaining everything God intended for us to have.
The Invitation
The rich young ruler walked away sorrowful because he could not release what he valued most.
The invitation of Jesus remains the same today:
Will you trust Him enough to give Him everything?
Because the truth is this:
We only begin to understand all that God has for us when we surrender all that we are to Him.
Watch the Full Sermon
Want to go deeper into this message on surrender, consecration, and experiencing the fullness of God?
Watch Pastor Vernon Outlaw's full sermon on YouTube and be encouraged to pursue a deeper relationship with Jesus.
▶ Watch the message here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpf1tOClG9s
Visit Elevated Life Church in Whippany
Whether you're new to faith, returning to church, or looking for a place to grow spiritually, we'd love to welcome you.
Elevated Life Church
Whippany, New Jersey
Sunday Services: 8:30 AM & 10:00 AM
Live Stream: Sundays at 10:00 AM
Join us as we pursue God's presence, build authentic community, and discover all that He has for our lives.
Plan your visit today at: https://www.elevatedlifechurch.org
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