THE REDEMPTION SERIES: 2026
LET HIM HAVE IT ALL
MESSAGE BY: PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: JUDGES 4–5
FIRE SCRIPTURE: JOHN 6:5–13 (KJV)
MEMORISE: “O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” — (JEREMIAH 10:23)
I. THE PARADOX OF SURRENDER: LESS IS MORE
As we step into this second Saturday of March 2026, the Holy Spirit is bringing us to a place of deep reflection on the concept of “Total Surrender.” In our modern world, we are taught to hoard, to secure our own futures, and to maintain absolute control over our resources. We believe that the more we keep, the safer we are. However, the Kingdom of God operates on a contrary principle: What you keep, you may lose; but what you surrender to God, you multiply.
Our Bible reading in John 6 presents us with a young boy who held a very small resource—five barley loaves and two small fish. In the face of five thousand hungry men (not counting women and children), his lunch was statistically insignificant. Philip, looking through the eyes of logic, saw only the deficit: “Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient.” Andrew saw the resource but doubted its impact: “What are they among so many?”
But the boy did something radical. He didn’t see a “small lunch”; he saw an “opportunity for God.” He surrendered his all. He didn’t keep two loaves for himself and give three to Jesus. He let Him have it all.
II. THE LAW OF THE SOURCE: THE RETURN OF THE BASKETS
A very important detail in this story is the twelve baskets of fragments gathered afterward. I have often pondered this. Many wonder what happened to those baskets. While some might suggest the disciples divided them, there is a spiritual law we must recognize: The Law of the Source. In Ecclesiastes 1:7, the Bible says, “All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.” Everything returns to its source. The one who sows is the one who reaps. I firmly believe those twelve baskets were carried back to that boy’s home. Imagine the scene: he left home with a small lunch and returned with twelve baskets of surplus!
When you trust God with your “little,” He reveals Himself as Jehovah El-Shaddai—the God who is More-Than-Sufficient.
The Widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17): She had only one meal left. She surrendered it to the man of God first, and the result was a jar of flour and a jug of oil that never ran dry throughout the famine.
The Apostle Paul (Acts 19): Paul surrendered his intellect, his Roman citizenship, and his very life to Christ. In return, God performed “special miracles” through him, making him one of the most influential vessels in human history.
III. THE LIMITATION OF MAN VS. THE LIBERTY OF GOD
Our memory verse in Jeremiah 10:23 is a humbling reminder: “It is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” Man is inherently limited. We cannot see around the corner of tomorrow. We cannot predict the shifts in the global economy of 2026. We cannot even guarantee our next breath. Why then do we struggle with God over the steering wheel of our lives? Surrendering to God is not an act of “giving up”; it is an act of “trading up.” You are trading your limited strength for His unlimited power, and your flawed direction for His perfect path.
The “Lord of All” Principle:
God is either Lord of all, or He is not Lord at all. He does not accept “joint-tenancy” in your heart. He doesn’t want to be a consultant in your life; He wants to be the Commander. Those who allow Him to take full charge enjoy:
Wholesome Protection: Because they are “God’s property,” the enemy cannot touch them without permission.
Unprecedented Victory: When God fights your battles, the outcome is never in doubt.
Divine Sustenance: Like the boy with the loaves, your fragments will always be more than your original feast.
IV. COMPREHENSIVE Q&A: NAVIGATING TOTAL SURRENDER
Q1: Does “surrendering all” mean I have to give away all my money or quit my job?
Answer: Surrender is first a matter of the heart, not just your bank account. It means acknowledging that your money and your job belong to Him. When God is the owner, you become the manager (steward). If He asks you to use a portion of “His” money for a kingdom cause, a surrendered heart does not hesitate.
Q2: Why does God wait until I am at my “last meal” (like the widow) before He asks me to surrender?
Answer: God often allows us to reach the end of our own strength so that when the miracle happens, there is no doubt who performed it. Surrendering when you have plenty is an act of love; surrendering when you have nothing is an act of absolute trust.
Q3: I surrendered my life to Christ years ago, but I still feel like I’m struggling. Why?
Answer: Surrender is a daily walk, not a one-time event. Every morning, you must “hand over the keys” again. Check if there is an area—perhaps your relationships, your secret thoughts, or your career plans—where you have taken back control.
Q4: What if I surrender to God and He takes me somewhere I don’t want to go?
Answer: This is a common fear. But remember Jeremiah 29:11: His thoughts toward you are of peace and not of evil. God’s “best” for you is far better than your “best” for yourself. The boy didn’t know he’d get 12 baskets; he just knew Jesus needed his lunch. Trust the Heart of the Father.
V. REFLECTION & ACTION STEPS
ACTION POINT: Today, identify that “lunch”—that small thing you’ve been holding onto, afraid that if you give it up, you’ll have nothing left. Whether it is your time, a specific amount of money, or a cherished ambition, place it in the hands of Jesus today.
HYMN MEDITATION: “All to Jesus I surrender, make me, Savior, wholly Thine.” As you sing or meditate on this hymn today, let it be a sincere contract between you and Heaven. Let the Holy Spirit fill you with love and power as you yield.
PRAYER POINTS:
Total Yielding: Father, I give You full liberty to take charge of my life, my family, and my affairs in this year 2026.
Removal of Resistance: Lord, break every spirit of “struggle” in me. Help me to stop fighting Your will and start flowing with Your Spirit.
The Source Principle: Father, as I surrender my “loaves and fish,” let my life become a source of blessing to thousands. Let my fragments return as a surplus of testimony.
Divine Direction: O Lord, since it is not in me to direct my steps, I hand over the map of my life to You. Lead me in the way that is everlasting.
Stewardship Grace: Father, give me the heart of the young boy—willing to give, ready to trust, and prepared to receive Your more-than-sufficient grace.
