These words mean the breaking and collapse of my independence brought about by my own hands, and the surrendering of my life to the supremacy of the Lord Jesus. No one can do this for me, I must do it myself. God may bring me up to this point three hundred and sixty-five times a year, but He cannot push me through it. It means breaking the hard outer layer of my individual independence from God, and the liberating of myself and my nature into oneness with Him; not following my own ideas, but choosing absolute loyalty to Jesus. Once I am at that point, there is no possibility of misunderstanding. Very few of us know anything about loyalty to Christ or understand what He meant when He said, “…for My sake” (Matthew 5:11). That is what makes a strong saint.Has that breaking of my independence come? All the rest is religious fraud. The one point to decide is— will I give up? Will I surrender to Jesus Christ, placing no conditions whatsoever as to how the brokenness will come? I must be broken from my own understanding of myself. When I reach that point, immediately the reality of the supernatural identification with Jesus Christ takes place. And the witness of the Spirit of God is unmistakable— “I have been crucified with Christ….”The passion of Christianity comes from deliberately signing away my own rights and becoming a bondservant of Jesus Christ. Until I do that, I will not begin to be a saint.One student a year who hears God’s call would be sufficient for God to have called the Bible Training College into existence. This college has no value as an organization, not even academically. Its sole value for existence is for God to help Himself to lives. Will we allow Him to help Himself to us, or are we more concerned with our own ideas of what we are going to be?

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November 3, 2014

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, this devotional makes me wonder if I am totally surrendered to you, or am I only surrendered in those areas that are easy or convenient. Perhaps I am only surrendered in those areas where I do not have another choice? Am I surrendered in those secret areas where I still want it my own way?

And God says…”You will never be totally surrendered on this side of heaven. However, in every area where you hold on to your own ideas, even ideas considered religious or spiritual, like building a church or a Sunday School class, you will often hold on to your own ideas and training of how it all should work. You use your ability to plan, organize and motivate people to achieve a goal because you know you can. However, even if you bring a large group to your new church, (you will notice I did not say My new church) or if your friends tell you your new Sunday School class is a great success; that does not mean you are totally surrendered. It means you have done things in a logical, efficient and productive human way.  Being totally surrendered is a way of life, a daily process that evolves into a lifetime of surrender, whereby you do not step out until you know you have consciously surrendered this idea, that activity or those objects to Me. Make it a practice of seeing yourself surrender your ideas, activities and yes your life to Me each morning, and then stay curious as you are connected, and obedient. Seek first the Kingdom of God, which is Jesus, and everything thing s else you require, including your surrender, will be provided.”