Surrendered Will vs. Resurrected Will

 

Surrendered Will vs. Resurrected Will

Song 4:1 Behold, my love, you are beautiful! You are beautiful! Your eyes are like doves behind your veil, and your hair is like a flock of goats, resting on the hills of Gilead.

Song 4:4 Your neck is like a tower of David built for an armory, on which hang a thousand bucklers, all of them shields for warriors.

2 Corinthians 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to overthrow strongholds,

2 Corinthians 10:5 We overthrow arguments and every high defense raised against the knowledge of God, and we bring captive every thought to the obedience of Christ.

 

Analysis Item	Surrendered Will	Resurrected Will
Core Meaning	The natural will dealt with through the cross, completely surrendered to God, like flocks lying down beside the mountains, learning not to act according to self-will	After surrender, strengthened in resurrection life, becoming an armory for spiritual warfare, able to resist all enemy attacks
Biblical Symbol	Flocks lying down beside the mountains (Song 4:1) - signifying rest, submission, and softness	David's tower built for an armory (Song 4:4) - signifying a solid armory that stores spiritual weapons
Spiritual Characteristics	• Passive submission and rest • No more self-assertion or stubbornness • Soft and moldable, accepting God's shaping • Free from natural, fleshly impulses	• Active strength and solidity • Equipped for spiritual warfare • Defensive spiritual power • Authority in resurrection life
Sequential Order	First Stage - Necessary foundation for spiritual maturity, must be experienced first	Second Stage - Building upon the foundation of surrender, both are indispensable
Primary Function	• Accept and submit to God's will • Learn the lesson of co-working with God • Let the old man be crucified with Christ • Prepare the heart to receive God's shaping	• Resist various attacks of the enemy • Stand firm in spiritual warfare • Store and use spiritual weapons • Become help for other saints
Biblical Examples	Lord Jesus: Gethsemane "Not as I will, but as You will" (Matt. 26:39) Paul: On Damascus road "Who are You, Lord? What shall I do?" (Acts 9:5-6) Peter: Wept bitterly after denying the Lord three times (Luke 22:62) Jacob: Wrestling and surrendering at Jabbok (Gen. 32:26)	Lord Jesus: After resurrection "All authority...has been given to Me" (Matt. 28:18) Paul: "I have fought the good fight" (2 Tim. 4:7) Peter: Pentecost preaching, three thousand repented (Acts 2:41) Jacob: Became Israel, blessing the twelve tribes (Gen. 49)
Daily Application	• Submit to God's arrangement in circumstances • Accept the Spirit's enlightening and dealing • Not acting by natural zeal or flesh • Learning patience and submission in trials • Acknowledging one's weakness and limitations	• Still able to stand firm in difficulties • Actively caring for and helping weak members • Taking spiritual responsibility in the church • Boldly witnessing for the Lord • Having heavenly joy even in afflictions
Spiritual Warfare	• Learning not to fight the enemy by flesh • Recognizing only God can give victory • Laying aside one's own schemes and methods • Waiting for God's timing and leading • Depending on God's power, not self-strength	• Putting on the whole armor of God • Taking up the shield of faith against fiery darts • Girded with truth, wearing righteousness • Standing against all wiles of the devil • Overcoming through the Lord, not self-effort
Related Scriptures	Warnings against stiff neck: • Exod. 32:9 "stiff-necked people" • Acts 7:51 "stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart" Examples of surrender: • Phil. 2:8 "obedient to the point of death" • Gal. 2:20 "crucified with Christ" • Luke 9:23 "take up his cross daily and follow Me" Results of submission: • James 4:7 "Therefore submit to God" • 1 Pet. 5:6 "God gives grace to the humble"	Symbol of armory: • Song 4:4 "tower built for an armory, whereon hang shields" Spiritual warfare: • Eph. 6:10-11 "be strong in the Lord, put on armor" • Eph. 6:13 "take up armor, stand in the evil day" • 2 Tim. 2:3 "like a good soldier of Christ Jesus" Promises of victory: • 1 Cor. 15:57 "victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" • 1 John 5:4 "our faith overcomes the world"
Spiritual Dangers	Consequences of non-surrender: • Contradictory state of being both stubborn and weak • Unconditional surrender when enemy attacks • Unable to stand in spiritual warfare • Becoming a breach for Satan's attacks • Unable to truly co-work with God	Dangers without foundation: • Without surrender, strength is merely fleshly • Easy to become proud and lose testimony • May engage in spiritual work by self-will • Lacking true spiritual authority • Unable to persistently overcome in warfare
Marks of Maturity	• Rest and gentleness like flocks • No more arguing with God's will • Able to submit in all circumstances • Learning to wait for God's timing • Having peace from God in the heart	• Solid and mighty like David's tower • Able to equip and use spiritual weapons • Experiencing victory in spiritual warfare • Becoming spiritual help to others • Manifesting Christ's resurrection power
Ultimate Goal	Union with God's will: No more conflict between self-will and God's will, completely harmonized with God's heart, becoming a useful vessel in God's hand	Building of Christ's Body: Becoming a strong member of Christ's Body, able to bear spiritual responsibility and protect and build the church in warfare
Key Point	Foundational - Without surrender there is no true spirituality; all spiritual experiences must be built on the foundation of surrender	Constructive - Building strength upon the foundation of surrender, becoming a soldier able to fight spiritual battles and guard God's house

 

Key points of the table: 

 Sequentiality: Surrender is the first stage, and resurrection strength is the second stage

 Complementarity: Both are indispensable and together constitute complete spiritual maturity

 Practicality: Detailed explanations are provided from theory to practical application

 Biblical basis: Each level is supported by rich biblical scriptures

 

This table particularly emphasizes the core message of Song of Songs 4: True spiritual maturity requires a complete process from "the sheep lying down on the mountain" (surrender) to "David building a tower to store weapons" (resurrection strength).

 It is particularly noteworthy that the unsurrendered will is both stubborn and weak, and it is easy to surrender when the enemy attacks. But the will that has been surrendered and strengthened in the resurrection life can be equipped with various spiritual weapons like an arsenal to resist the enemy's attacks.

 This reflects the two important aspects of the Christian spiritual life: the death of the cross (surrender) and the life of resurrection (strength), both of which are indispensable experiences for spiritual maturity.

 

*Please refer to the 2025 Memorial Day Blending Conference. General Topic: Preparation of the Bride. Chapter 3: Maturity of the Bride.