Yielded to Him: Embracing a Heart of Surrender

In a world obsessed with outward appearances, ritual, and performance, the true posture of the heart often goes unnoticed. Yet, as we discover in John 3 and beyond, genuine alignment with God begins not with our actions, but with a yielded heart—one surrendered entirely to Him.

“Your mindset is the posture of your heart… the manner in which you think expresses what’s in your heart” .

Too often, we assume that doing the right things—dressing the part, observing rituals, keeping a moral code—automatically equates to true devotion. The Pharisee Nicodemus knew Scripture inside and out, yet Jesus confronted him with a startling truth: knowledge alone cannot bridge the gap between man and God.

1. Born Again: First Seeing, Then Entering

When Nicodemus asked how one could be “born again,” Jesus clarified:

“Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” .

1. Seeing: Born of the Spirit begins with sight—recognizing our innate rebellion and desperate need for God’s intervention.

2. Entering: Only then can we truly step into the Kingdom, not through our own efforts, but by Spirit-led transformation.

2. The Lifted Serpent & The Lifted Savior

Jesus drew a vivid parallel between Moses' bronze serpent and His crucifixion:

“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up” .

• The Bronze Serpent was a portrait of human sin—our rebellion against God’s design.

• The Cross reveals the vile cost of that sin and God’s remedy: a Savior bruised in our place.

  
  

Yet, even this profound symbol can be misunderstood or reduced to mere ornamentation—much like the Israelites who later worshipped the bronze serpent as an idol (2 Kings 18:4).

3.Walking in Newness: The New Man

Paul urges us to:

• “Put on the new man, created according to God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:24)

• “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2:10)

  
  

Our good deeds flow not from Pharisaical performance, but from a life reborn and empowered by the Spirit.

6. Resurrection Power and Kingdom Living

Christ’s resurrection is more than history—it’s the gateway to living in the “marvelous light” of God’s Kingdom (1 Corinthians 15:17–18).

When we yield to Him:

• Sight of our sin gives way to entrance into new life.

• Conviction by the Spirit shatters complacency and fuels genuine worship (John 4:24).

• Every choice, from wardrobe to words, becomes an opportunity to align with His will.

7. Rising by Revelation

“The measure to which you receive truth in its fullness is the measure to which you rise in God” .

Each fresh revelation deepens our surrender, propelling us from glory to glory. As we yield:

1. Repentance humbles us before God.

2. Sight equips us to recognize His work.

3. Service flows naturally from gratitude, not obligation.

   
   

Take the Next Step:

• Reflect: Where in your life have you settled for religious routine rather than relational surrender?

• Repent: Ask the Spirit to reveal any hidden idols—even good things that have become ultimate things.

• Recommit: Choose daily to yield your mind, will, and emotions to Jesus.

Yielding to Him is not passive; it’s the most active, courageous posture of all. As we daily surrender, we discover the fullness of life He purchased at the cross—life that truly begins when we say, “Not my will, but Yours be done.”

Check out the full session here on YouTube.