The Power of a Surrendered Life

by J. Wilbur Chapman

Preface

Our Father in Heaven never intended that we, who are his
children by regeneration, should live anything else than a
life of perfect obedience and trust; for we are heirs of God
and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ. This means more to us
than we may at first realize. In his explanation of the
miracle of Pentecost, Peter said (Acts 2:33): "Therefore
being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the
Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth this, which
ye now see and hear."

Since therefore upon our head, Jesus Christ, God hath poured forth the
Holy Ghost, whatsoever the head has received is in trust for the body;
and we are the body of Christ and members in particular.
All that the head has obtained, I may claim. A life of unrest dishonors
Him, for He said in Matthew 11:28,29: "Come onto Me, all ye that
labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke
upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye
shall find rest unto your souls." He surely must be grieved If we have
disregarded His promise.

A life devoid of peace discredits His word, for He said (John 14:27):
"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world
giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be
afraid." Peace is just the opposite of unrest, and no child of God ought
to be without it, for it is his birthright in Christ.

A life of failure brings reproach on His cause, for what the Apostle
found to be true may also be realized in your experience and mine
(Philippians 4:13): "I can do all things through Christ which
strengtheneth me"; and may also be the testimony of every child of
God. A life without power is contrary to His plan for you and me, for
one of the last words of Jesus Christ is recorded in Acts 1:8: "Ye shall
receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you."
And since He is no respecter of persons, this power must be yours for
the claiming. This blessing of a "Life of Privilege," or a "Victorious
Life," or a "Surrendered Life," is not only the privilege of every
Christian, but it is the birthright of every believer in the Lord Jesus
Christ; and if we have not claimed it, the responsibility can be placed
on none other than ourselves. "God would and ye would not." These
words tell the sad story of the defeat, the discontent, the soul-hunger of
many a life to-day.

I believe there is no better illustration of this subject than the history of
the Children of Israel, and I am not alone in this view, for Paul tells us
in his letter to the Corinthians in speaking of the Israelites (I
Corinthians 10:11): "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are
come."

The marginal reading for the word "ensamples" is "types"; so God
must have intended that we should study their failures and take
warning, that we should behold their victories and not lose hope. These
words were spoken by Jeremiah concerning Israel:
"For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to
cleave unto me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of
Judah, saith the LORD; that they might be unto me for a people, and
for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear."
Alas! the same might be spoken concerning God's children to-day.
God would, and ye would not!

I ask a careful reading of this little book, the thoughts of which are
expressed in the simplest language. Dear reader, if you are able to
subscribe to the few conditions herein stated, I believe you may enter
at once upon the enjoyment of your birthright privilege as a child of
God, and lead a fully surrendered life.

J. Wilbur Chapman