Absolute surrender

Are you willing to be made willing?

Revival spread like wildfire through Wales between 1904 and 1905. In the span of two years, the entire country found itself awakened, with an estimated 100,000 people converted.

One year later, 1906, revealed a country in deep need of discipleship. The new converts, while high on zeal, lacked maturity, and so out poured a cry for teachers and ministry workers. While some stepped forward, many of these quickly grew discouraged and found themselves to be lacking in the power needed for service.

As one recounted, “Many blamed the young converts for backsliding, but we blamed ourselves, because we were not in a position to pray them through to victory. Oh, the tragedy, to be helpless in front of the enemy when he was sifting young converts like wheat…Many of us felt the need of being ‘endued with power from on High.”

It was this growing sense of spiritual need among the workers that led to a special coming together during the holiday week of 1906, in a small town called Llandrindod Wells, located within the boundaries of Wales.

One man, in particular, a man whose name you might recognize, was especially changed during this week. Rees Howells felt no lack of joy or satisfaction in Christ, for several years earlier he had been born again after seeing a vision of Calvary. In his words, he knew the “Crucified Christ and the Risen Christ,” but not the Glorified Christ, nor the Holy Spirit.

He did not know what it meant to, “be raised up to sit with Him in heavenly places.” (Ephesians 2:6) Nor did he yet know the Holy Ghost as, “a Person, exactly like the Savior.”

The story of his week at Llandrindod is retold in the book, “Rees Howells, Intercessor,” and it’s this story that I’d like for us to focus on this week. We’ll pick up the story on the morning after Rees has learned about the Glorified Christ, and he’s now back to hear the Reverend Evan Hopkins speaking.

“The next morning Mr. Hopkins spoke about the Holy Spirit. He made it plain that He is a Person, with all the faculties of a Person, exactly like the Savior. He has intelligence, love and a will of His own; and as a Person, before He comes to live in a man, He must be given full possession of his body.”

“‘As he spoke,’ Rees said, ‘the Holy Ghost appeared to me…and He said to me, ‘As the Savior had a body, so I dwell in the cleansed temple of the believer. I am a Person. I am God, and I am come to ask you to give your body to Me that I may work through it. I need a body for My temple (1 Cor. 6:19), but it must belong to Me without reserve, for two persons with different wills can never live in the same body. Will you give me yours? (Romans 12:1). But if I come in, I come as God, and you must go out (Colossians 3:2,3). I shall not mix Myself with your self.’”

“He made it very plain that He would never share my life…it was unconditional surrender.”

This unconditional surrender did not hit Rees lightly. In fact, it kicked off a period of 5 intense days, wrestling with the cost of such a decision, “I intended to do it, but oh, the cost! I wept for days. I lost seven pounds in weight.”

“I didn’t give my answer in a moment, and He didn’t want me to,” but eventually a decision was required.

“Once more the question came, ‘Are you willing?’ I wanted to do it but I could not. ‘How can self be willing to give up self?’ Then the Spirit spoke again, ‘If you can’t be willing, would you like Me to help you? Are you willing to be made willing?’”

“I bowed my head and said, ‘Lord, I am willing.’” (Rees Howells, Intercessor, pp. 34-35, 39)

—

We may read this story and consider it to be times past. For others of us, it may sound too extreme and we write it off as a special exception that only applies to a select handful of chosen ones. Another group of us may be offended or skeptical of this or that doctrinal point within the exchange, or perhaps even the fact that a man could presume to dialogue with God.

I encourage us today, look beyond all of that.

What do you see but an individual presented with the choice of absolute surrender and wrestling for days with this choice for he knew the cost of such a lifestyle. A man who saw the shortcomings of his ministry, the lack of power for service, and the selfishness present in his own flesh. That even his best intentions were full of thoughts of ambition, reputation, preservation, and self.

What do you see but a man who wanted to say yes, but was unable to be willing, and so, in last resort, prays, “Lord, make me willing to be willing, so that I may say yes!”

And now, if we were to turn our gaze in a different direction, towards ourselves, what would we see? When we look at our own lives, really examining ourselves in the mirror, is it absolute surrender we see, or is it still the sins of self, a flesh that refuses to die, and an old nature that somehow always finds ways and reasons and excuses to stay alive?

Let us not live this way any longer. Hurry! Pray with me, “Lord, make me willing to be willing so that I may yes to You and die to my self and my will once and for all.”

This is not for times past, nor reserved only for special ones, neither is it a matter of theological differences.

Quickly, pray with me, “Lord, when you look in this house, this body of mine, I pray you find an empty, yielded vessel. Fill me Holy Spirit, completely. You take control. It’s Yours, all of it.”

While there is still time, pray! Give Him everything. Absolute surrender.

In love,

Derek