SUBMISSION, THE KEY TO EXALTATION
Luke 14:11
INTRODUCTION:
"Trust and obey for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey."
Last week I talked about living a "Thankful Life." This week I’d like to follow up the same idea with a sermon entitled "Submission - the Key to Exaltation." What I’m suggesting is that living a submissive life is the secret to being happy.
During the reign of Queen Victoria, the Punjab province of India came under the control of England. The young Maharajah from that region, who was just a boy, sent a gift to his new monarch. It was the beautiful Kohinoor diamond. The stone was placed with the other crown jewels in the Tower of London. Several years later when the prince had grown to manhood, he came to England and visited the Queen. After paying honor to her, he asked if he could see the Kohinoor. The Queen was surprised at his request but ordered that the diamond be brought by armed guard to Buckingham Palace.
The Maharajah took the priceless jewel, stepped over to the window, and examined it with great care. Then, as the court looked on, he walked back with it clasped in his hands and knelt at the feet of the Queen. His voice choked with emotion as he said, "Your Majesty, I gave you this jewel when I was young. Now I want to present it in the fullness of my strength with all my heart and affection and gratitude, now and forever, fully realizing all that I do."
SUBMISSION
Not submission that is forced upon us, but submission that is given freely of our own will.
Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."
It’s something that we must choose to do Ourselves.
Luke 14:11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
I. Submission is out of fashion
...To rulers
...Wives to husbands
"It happened in the city of Detroit, Michigan. After applying for a marriage license, a man failed to reappear at the county clerk’s office until 11 years later to claim the important document. When asked why he and his fiancee had waited so long to get married, he explained, "We had a few disagreements about details."
You never hear "honor and obey" in the marriage ceremony anymore.
To employers
Soldiers to officers
I heard a story on radio of a soldier who was refused to go to Saudi Arabia. He said that wasn’t why he joined the military and he wasn’t going to do it.
There are people threatening not to submit to the outcome of this last election.
...Even submission to God.
Very few people today truly fear the Lord. Therefore people are very casual about disobedience to God.
Romans 8:7 The sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.
"Self" is the biggest obstacle to peace and happiness that most people face.
II. Submission is taught in Scripture
Greatest is servant.
Mark 10:42-45 Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.
43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.
44 And whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.
45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Like Christ, service to others should be our highest purpose in life. Also the Bible teaches submission to authority, even non-Christian authority.
Romans 13:1-2 & 5 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.
5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.
I Peter 2:13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority,
Hebrews 13:17 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.
I Peter 2:18 Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.
Could we possibly change that from slaves to employees and from masters to employers? I’ve heard some employers called slave drivers before.
I Peter 5:5 Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
Ephesians 5:21-22 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.
Ouch. But listen to verses 24-25.
Ephesians 5:24-25 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.
Many men have used this verse as an excuse to get their wives to serve them. It’s no wander a lot of women are resentful. What this verse is saying is that we are to be submissive or servants of each other. Remember that Christ was the ultimate servant to the church.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Hebrews 12:9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!
There’s not much doubt that Scripture teaches submission as a way of life. God would never ask us to do something that wasn’t good for us, that wouldn’t ultimately make us happy.
III. Submission is the key to real happiness
J. Upton Dickson was a fun-loving fellow who wrote a book entitled Cower Power. He also founded a group for submissive people. It was called DOORMATS. That stands for "Dependent Organization Of Really Meek And Timid Souls-if there are no objections." Their motto was: "The meek shall inherit the earth-if that’s okay with everybody." Their symbol was the yellow traffic light.
Mr. Dickson sounds like he’d be a lot of fun. What is disturbing about all of this, though, is that many people assume that the ridiculous ideas behind DOORMATS and Cower Power represent the quality of submission that Christ expects of us.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Living in submission to God and other people takes a whole lot of backbone or courage. It’s not easy, but it is rewarding.
Job 22:21 "Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you.
Luke 14:11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
Proverbs 29:23 A man’s pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.
God created us in such a way that we find ourselves lifted up when we serve others and brought down when we serve ourselves. Remember "It’s more blessed to give than to receive. True happiness is found through submission. It may not seem logical and the world would try to tell you different, but it’s still true. Voluntary submission to others is the best way to live. It will please God and it won’t hurt your relationship with others.
CONCLUSION:
A woman who had trouble loving an unlovely person in her life gave the following testimony: "Did you ever have a person in your home who acted as a perpetual rasp on the feelings of your household? I did. One day when I had nearly lost my faith and was sinking in the black waters of despair, I called on Christ to help me, for I knew otherwise I would lose out on my spirituality. What do you think the Lord asked me to do? He put it in my heart that I must love this woman! This was the only ladder He offered me out of the black depths. Then I grew uglier than ever and almost hated my Savior. The struggle continued until I could stand it no longer. In agony I rushed to my closet and besought Jesus to help me. It seemed as though in a most tender, loving voice He asked, ’Can’t you love her for My sake?’ I could only reply, ’Yes, Lord, I will!’ At once peace filled my heart, and my feelings toward her changed entirely, for I had yielded my will to Christ."
God knows you better than you know yourself. He loves you better than you love yourself. If you want your life to be truly happy and completely fulfilled then submit your will completely to God.
A prominent London organist was hired to play at a wedding in a small village. When he arrived, he was dismayed to find an old wheezy organ. However, the fingers of the musician still managed to produce beautiful music from that feeble instrument. Referring to this incident, a famous evangelist said, "Let Jesus’ hands take control--those hands that painted the lily, the rosebud, and the rainbow--the same hands that were nailed to the cross for you. Let His fingers touch the keys of your life, and see what happens. He can take helpless souls and make them bring forth melodies of praise and witness that will convey God’s redeeming love to others."
Like the old organ, you may not feel that you have much worth to God or to others, but with God at the controls He can make your life into a beautiful thing. Submission to others is easy once you’ve submitted to God. It’s the key to real happiness. Like the song says, "Let self be slain, let Jesus reign within my heart alway."
