Spiritual Disciplines
Living a Life of Submission
The captain of a ship looked into the dark night and saw faint lights in the distance. Immediately he told his signalman to send a message” “Alter your course 10 degrees south.” Promptly a return message was received: “Alter your course 10 degrees north.”
The captain was angered; his command had been ignored. So he sent a second message: “Alter your course 10 degrees south–I am the captain!” Soon another message was received: “Alter your course 10 degrees north–I am seaman third class Jones.” Immediately the captain sent a third message, knowing the fear it would evoke: “Alter your course 10 degrees south–I am a battleship.” Then the reply came “Alter your course 10 degrees north–I am a lighthouse.”
- Paul Aiello, Jr.
I want us to take a moment and reflect on the way that the Spiritual Disciplines are completely counter-cultural to our society. Think about it,
- Tuning yourself out and tuning into a higher power
- Committing to study something that brings no-gain in the eyes of the world
- Placing other’s needs before your own
- Yielding to a higher power
All these things go directly against the grain of what we are told on a daily basis don’t they? This is especially true when we bring out the topic of “Submission”. We live in the Survivor Mentality - outplay, outwit, outlast, not “submit”!
However, this Spiritual Discipline is just as important as any other discipline that we train ourselves to cultivate. Remember, this just like all other Disciplines, is not natural and needs to be committed to 100% to implement.
1. Meaning of Submission
submission
1 the action or fact of accepting or yielding to a superior force or to the will or authority of another person
If you were with us last week, we used a synonym to submit in the word “Yield”. We dissected the definition of this word in terms of our relationship to the Holy Spirit.
And while yielding to the Spirit is an inward action, Submission is an outward action. It is how I live my life in response to yielding to the Lord.
Matthew 8:5-10 (NLT)
When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, 6 “Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.” 7 Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.” 8 But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. 9 I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!”
Jesus is responding to the Centurion’s recognition of Jesus’ authority over sickness, because of the Centurion’s own understanding of the principal of being set under authority.
The Greek word used here is in regards to military rank and position. This is an easy concept to understand, isn’t it? We are called to lineup under the authority of the Lord as is if we are in his army.
But think about what this means in the bigger scheme of things. When we submit, we acknowledge that there is a higher power, and we are acknowledging our trust and security is placed in God’s hands. Look back at the Centurion. By the very act of submission he acknowledges his faith in Jesus knowing that He will heal the servant.
However, we can begin to see why the concept of submission is hard to swallow don’t we? It’s not natural!
A. Sin is the result of rejecting submission to God’s Order of things
Psalm 10:4 (NIV)
In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.
One of the biggest blocks to allowing submissiveness in our life are our own thoughts of pride. It comes from the mindset of having it my way; no one is above me and I can do this on my own! (Or don’t you know who I am?) But as this psalm delicately points out, there is no room for God when we live like this. And when we force God out the results of sin follow.
B. Our Redemption is the result of the submission of the Son of God to the Father’s will
Philippians 2:5-8 (NIV)
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. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!
We have been redeemed and set free because of what Jesus did for us. Not only is this a tremendous blessing of Grace, but it is now our example of what it means to live a life of submission!
2. Specifics of Submission
Canadian & American worms joke
Two guys are out fishing, one of them has to keep the lid on his can of worms shut tight, each time he gets a worm, he has to be fast or the others will escape. The other fellow doesn’t even have a lid on his can of worms and seems to have no worries of escape. Finally the one with the lid asks the other man, “Why don’t you worry about your worms escaping?” The fellow responds, “Oh, that’s easy, I have American worms, you’ve got Canadian worms, if one of mine gets a little bit higher than the rest, they pull him back down.”
We live in a society that likes to tear down the underdog as much as celebrate it! I want to highlight some basic areas of life that require submissiveness. Obviously each of these can merit a lot more focus than we will give this morning. I would encourage you to jot these down and continue to study them deeper.
A. Submission to God the Father
James 4:6-7 (NIV)
But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
This is where it must start. We must be willing to submit, to yield, to God’s control. But as I mentioned before, it has to be 100% because there is no room for God if we aren’t allowing him complete control.
B. Submission to the Truth
Romans 10:3 (NASB)
For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.
We must be willing to judge our hearts with truth, because it is the only way we will be truly changed. I have to align myself with God’s Truth whole-heartily, no matter how painful, so that I can live a life that is pleasing to God. It’s about surrendering my will of sinful nature to God’s Truth.
C. Submission to the Body of Christ
Jack Hayford in Living the Spirit-Formed Life:
“We can be ever so nice, keeping the laws of society and even obeying the boss at work. But get us in church? The unspoken sentiment all too often is “Hey, we’re all in charge here!”
a. Church Leadership
Hebrews 13:17 (NIV)
Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.
There are two things I’d like to point out in this passage:
1) All Leadership is established by God, and because of this they will someday have to give account (Good or Bad) for how they led, therefore, we should follow their lead, trusting that God knows what he’s doing!
2) This passage tells us to follow their leadership so their work will be a joy, not a burden!
Why is it so hard to go along with Church Leadership? It all comes back to unwillingness to submit 100% to God. We’ve got to be in control of something!
Genuine Concern vs. Legalism:
If you truly have concern for a moral failure or false teaching that is valid grounds for discussion. But if you’re best argument is based on personal preference (The way we’ve always done it) You’re making the work a burden.
We may not always agree on style, but if the substance is the same, we must submit to the authority God has placed there.
b. Other Members of the Body
Ephesians 5:21 (NIV)
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Stephen P. Beck:
Driving down a country road, I came to a very narrow bridge. In front of the bridge, a sign was posted: “YIELD.” Seeing no oncoming cars, I continued across the bridge and to my destination. On my way back, I came to the same one-lane bridge, now from the other direction. To my surprise, I saw another YIELD sign posted. Curious, I thought, “I’m sure there was one posted on the other side.” When I reached the other side of the bridge I looked back. Sure enough, yield signs had been placed at both ends of the bridge. Drivers from both directions were requested to give right of way. It was a reasonable and gracious way of preventing a head-on collision. When the Bible commands Christians to “be subject to one another” (Ephesians 5:21) it is simply a reasonable and gracious command to let the other have the right of way and avoid interpersonal head-on collisions.
Be lovers of peace, bearers of love.
D. Submission to Civil Authority
Romans 13:1-2 (NIV)
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
Remember who put them in charge! You will not always agree, but God is larger than they are.
E. Submission to Employers
Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Work as if you are working for the Lord. Do not give less than your best for him, no matter who is calling the shots at your place of work.
F. Submission to Our Families
Colossians 3:18-21 (NIV)
Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.
Remember everything in love, grace & peace!
Do not Lord anything over anybody. Submission involves proper stewardship with our families!
3. The Spirit of Submission
Matthew 20:26-28 (NLT)
26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
A. The spirit of submission is not timid
1 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
Being willing to submit does not mean becoming a doormat! God does not expect us to passive, insensitive saints who flop in submission to anything.
When we have submitted to God, we are not to submit to Satan or our thoughts of Flesh!
B. The spirit of submission is not confused
This deals with the question “How do I submit to conflicting authorities?” God has granted us the wisdom to know what is directly conflicting to His laws (as we have submitted to His Truth) and we will know the difference.
D. The spirit of submission is not contentious or competitive
2 Corinthians 1:12 (NLT)
We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you.
We are all on the same side.
Practice Submission as a Discipline Daily:
Ask God, “Who do you want me to submit to today?”
“Who do you want me to voluntarily ‘give in’ to today?”
“Who do you want me to come under today?”
“Who do you want me to put ahead of myself today?”
“Lord, what can I do for you today?”
Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen, such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of God upon earth.
- John Wesley
-Prayer
