Experiencing A Healthy Home Or Relationship Through Submission

Introduction:

Ephesians 5: 21 say: “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” and the entire passage where this is taken from talk principally of our relation with one another – what we are expected to do to one another in the home/marital relationship.

In our homes today and in our relationship with one another, we abuse, accuse, condemn, lord, nag, quarrel, etc. with one another rather than submitting to one another.

What is submission?

Submission means surrender one’s right or will for another

Lay down one’s selfish desires for the good of the other, put the other person before self, think less of self but think of others, consider others first before self.

How then do we submit to one another in order to have a healthy home or relationship?

1. Seek to serve and not to be served

Galatians 5:13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

Mathew 20:25 Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.26Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,27and whoever wants to be first must be your slave--28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Romans 15: 1 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

Philippians 2: 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

2. Stop trying to change each other, through - accuse, abuse, condemn, nag, lord, etc.

Matthew 7: 1"Do not judge, or you too will be judged.2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.3"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?4How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

Recognize that in any relation we are bound to offend one another, however you must not be quick to judge, condemn,

a. It never worked because It is not your responsibility to judge

Galatians 5: 14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."15 If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

Romans 14:13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way.

James 4: 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you--who are you to judge your neighbor?

b. It is God through His Holy Ghost that can change or transform a person

Galatians 5: 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

3. Examine/Correct yourself

a. Search for and remove the plank in your eye

2 Corinthian 13: 5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test?

Matthew 7: 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

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b. Be humble and seek forgiveness from one another

Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Ephesians 4: 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

4. Seek for fresh empowerment in the Holy Ghost