Teaching summary
In this message, Pastor Leonard Rola shared how true surrender is not about giving up our ambitions or works to earn God’s favor but about yielding ourselves to the extravagant love of Christ. Under the old covenant, blessings were tied to human effort, but in the new covenant of grace, God has already provided all through Jesus. As believers grow in the knowledge of Christ’s love, they discover that His love is the power source for faith, miracles, and supernatural living. Surrendering to His love produces truth, freedom, and fruit without guilt or condemnation.
Bible verses referenced
Philippians 2:10-11- "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
John 3:16- "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
John 17:23- "I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me."
Romans 5:5- "And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."
1 John 4:10- "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."
Ephesians 5:2- "And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour."
Hebrews 10:7-9- "Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second."
Ephesians 3:17-19- "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God."
Ephesians 3:20- "Now unto him that can do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us."
Galatians 5:6- "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love."
Matthew 17:20- "And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you."
Luke 17:6- "And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you."
3 John 1:4- "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth."
1 Corinthians 13:4-7- "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things."
Matthew 26:26-28- "And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."
Teaching notes
Table of Contents
- Introduction: A Message from the Holy Spirit
- The Misunderstood Idea of Surrender
- The Old Covenant vs. the New Covenant of Grace
- Surrendering to the Extravagant Love of Christ
- Four Reasons Paul Urges Us to Yield to Christ’s Love
* Growing in the Knowledge of God’s Love
* Love as the Power Source of Life
* Love as the Fuel for Mountain-Moving Faith
* Love Producing Truth and Fruit in Our Walk
- Walking in Faith through Love
- Living in the Fruit of Surrendered Love
- Communion: Remembering His Body and Blood
- Closing and Blessing
Introduction: A Message from the Holy Spirit
The message began with worship, declaring the greatness of the name of Jesus: "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:10-11).
Pastor Leonard explained that God does not require us to provide sacrifices because He Himself offered the perfect sacrifice: Jesus Christ. The Son willingly said “yes” to the Father out of love for Him and for us. The greatest response we can make is not to bring sacrifices of our own but to say “yes” to Jesus and His finished work. Though he had prepared another sermon, the Holy Spirit impressed a different word all night: “Surrender yourself to the extravagant love of Christ.
The Misunderstood Idea of Surrender
Pastor Leonard reflected on how many Christians have been taught that surrender means giving up their lives, desires, finances, or ambitions. These sermons often stirred emotions but left people feeling that God’s blessing depended on their effort. When answers did not come, what followed was guilt, shame, and condemnation.
The Old Covenant vs. the New Covenant of Grace
This thinking belongs to the old covenant. Under grace, our relationship with God is not based on what we do for Him but on what He has already done for us. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) Jesus prayed: "I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me." (John 17:23)
Paul wrote: "And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." (Romans 5:5) And John declared: " Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 John 4:10) The gospel is not about how much we love God but about how much He loves us. When we grasp His love, our love becomes a natural response.
Surrendering to the Extravagant Love of Christ
Paul wrote: "And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour." (Ephesians 5:2) The Greek word “given” (paradidomi) means surrender, yield, or hand over. To live surrendered means to yield ourselves fully to Christ’s extravagant love. “Extravagant” means more than necessary, beyond reason. Christ’s love is always more than enough, exceeding every limit.
Four Reasons Paul Urges Us to Yield to Christ’s Love
a. Growing in the Knowledge of God’s Love
Paul prayed: "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." (Ephesians 3:17-19) Understanding Christ’s love fills us with God’s fullness. It becomes the foundation of healing, power, and joy.
b. Love as the Power Source of Life
Paul continued: "Now unto him that can do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us." (Ephesians 3:20) That power within us is love — the extravagant love of Christ.
c. Love as the Fuel for Mountain-Moving Faith
Paul declared: "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love." (Galatians 5:6) Faith does not grow by human effort or by exercising it like a muscle. Faith flows from love. Jesus said: "And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." (Matthew 17:20) "And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you." (Luke 17:6) Even the smallest measure of God’s faith, energized by His love, is enough to move mountains.
d. Love Producing Truth and Fruit in Our Walk
John wrote: "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." (3 John 1:4) Paul described the fruit of love: "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things." (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) These qualities are not achieved by striving but flow naturally when we surrender to Christ’s love.
Walking in Faith through Love
Faith comes as fruit from knowing God’s love. When we surrender to His love, faith rises naturally and miracles flow. Nothing we do can make God love us more or less — His love is constant.
Living in the Fruit of Surrendered Love
Religion says we must do more to earn God’s love, but surrender reveals the opposite: His love is already extravagant, complete, and unchanging. Living surrendered to this love means walking free from guilt and condemnation.
Communion: Remembering His Body and Blood
The message ended with communion, remembering Christ’s finished work:
"And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." (Matthew 26:26-28) Communion is not a ritual but a supernatural channel for healing, health, and remembrance of His sacrifice.
Closing and Blessing
Pastor Leonard closed by praying that the Holy Spirit would help every believer grow in the knowledge of God’s love. He declared that miracles flow from this place of surrender. The service ended with blessings spoken over the congregation, reminding them they are the head and not the tail, blessed coming in and going out.
We hope this article blessed you. Share this teaching so others can also experience the freedom, faith, and fruit that come from surrendering to the extravagant love of Christ.