Surrender Yourself for More | Priscilla Shirer

Who Do You Say Jesus Is?

Scripture References

Primary text

• Luke 9:18-20
• Luke 9:23

Other references

• Luke 1
• Luke 2
• Luke 3
• Luke 8

Overview

The message moves from a nostalgic classroom memory to Jesus’ piercing question in Luke 9: “Who do you say that I am?” We often confine Jesus—just as a child once reduced her teacher to a single skirt-wearing image—yet He refuses every box. Before inviting anyone to “deny himself, take up his cross, and follow,” Jesus insists we settle His identity. Only when we truly know He is Lord, not merely a good teacher, will we surrender every room of our lives to His rule.

Main Points

We shrink people—and God—into one-dimensional boxes

• Story: Eight-year-old Priscilla is stunned to meet her prim teacher, Miss Wright, in shorts at a grocery store. Until then she assumed Miss Wright existed only in the classroom.
• Limiting someone to a single role never limits their reality; it only limits our experience of them.
• The same happens with Jesus when we confine Him to our denominational tradition, family heritage, or Sunday routine.

Identity before invitation: Jesus’ question in Luke 9

• In Luke 9:18-20 Jesus first asks, “Who do the crowds say I am?” then narrows it to, “Who do you say that I am?”
• Our answer shapes everything, because verse 23’s radical invitation (deny, cross, lose, follow) makes sense only if He is truly Messiah and Lord.
• A cross-bearing life confronts the self-focused, comfort-driven version of faith popular in culture.

The cost and character of true discipleship

• Words Jesus uses—deny, cross, lose—demand a “solid divorce” from consumer Christianity that equates blessing with ease.
• Following Christ re-orients us toward humility, simplicity, discipline, obedience, holiness, and Spirit-formed restraint.
• Many believe in Jesus; far fewer actually follow Him.

Luke 1–8: Scripture’s case for Jesus’ uniqueness

• Luke’s first eight chapters build the resume that authenticates Jesus’ identity:
  • Boy in the temple (Luke 1-2) already about His Father’s business.
  • Baptism scene (Luke 3) where heaven declares, “This is my Son.”
  • Wilderness victory, authoritative teaching, command over nature, demons, sickness, and death (Luke 1-8).
• Each episode proves He is “without comparison and without counterpart.”

“Make Yourself at Home”: surrender without exceptions

• Illustration: Four speakers arrive at a 20,000-sq-ft mansion. The gracious hostess says, “Make yourself at home,” yet forbids shoes on rugs, bags touching elevator walls, or sitting on display comforters.
• We often offer Jesus similar conditional hospitality—inviting Him in but guarding certain “expensive” areas: habits, relationships, dreams, entertainment, finances, politics.
• True disciples open every door and drawer to Him.

Fans vs. followers

• Crowds loved proximity to the miracles but still compared Jesus to John the Baptist or Elijah—an “insulting compliment” that misses His divinity.
• It is possible to be enamored with Christian production and remain a fan, not a follower.
• Surrender speed—how quickly we release what He asks for—reveals whether we have answered His identity question rightly.

Key Truths

• Limiting Jesus limits only our encounter with Him, never His reality.
• Jesus settles identity before He issues invitation; lordship precedes discipleship.
• Real discipleship is marked by self-denial, cross-bearing, and a willingness to lose worldly life for eternal gain.
• The Gospels present Jesus as utterly unique—beyond comparison to any prophet, teacher, or leader.
• Full surrender means giving Christ unrestricted access to every part of life, not just Sunday segments.

Response

• Examine the “boxes” you have placed around Jesus and deliberately dismantle them.
• Invite Christ to inspect every room of your life—habits, relationships, entertainment, finances—and grant Him full control.
• Practice immediate obedience when the Spirit convicts; shorten the gap between conviction and surrender.
• Move from fan to follower by engaging in disciplines of simplicity, holiness, and service that mirror Jesus’ call.
• Regularly revisit Luke 9:18-23, answering Jesus’ question afresh and aligning your life accordingly.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, we surrender.
Forgive us for gripping so tightly and for being slow to release every aspect of our lives to You.
Today we say, “Come on in and make Yourself at home.”
You are worth it, and You are worthy.
In Jesus’ name, amen.

Closing

Jesus refuses to be merely a “good teacher.” He is the King who calls us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. The message ends with a frank invitation: admit any area still unsurrendered, trust His lordship, and declare, “I have decided to follow Jesus—no turning back.”