Learn To Submit
Perfect Submission
Scripture Reference: James 4:6-7
James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Some of us have resisted the devil with all that we know how yet we still find that he has not even began to flee from us
We have noticed that this hard-headed enemy that we war against thinks that our salvation is some kind of game or toy that he can play with for his amusement
We try and try to resist yet sometimes we still fall far way too short of the mark
Well I have come by today to let you know that it may not be what you are trying to take away that is causing you to fail. It may be what you are failing to add.
For instance; instead of repeatedly trying to convince ourselves that we can stop smoking and putting all that we have into resisting cigarettes, we may need to change our tactics
It may be far more profitable for us to add more prayer and more fasting into our lives than attempt to battle the nasty habits by trying to walk away
When we believe that we have begun to drink alcohol more than we should and we can’t come up with a good way to stop, we may find greater success by simply changing the music that we listen to and people that we associate ourselves with than walking away from the alcohol once and for all.
Some of us have been dieting for years with no real results while others of us are overdoing it and taking our diets too far. It is truly amazing how fervent prayer can curve an enormous appetite for physical food. You can get into such deep prayer that you become full physically through spiritual food (try this at home)
We claim that we want to resist the devil and that is all well and good. It is truly scripture based to do so and we should expect a change when we do this.
However there is one important step that we need to make along with resisting the devil
We need to submit ourselves to God
Submit - Refer to another person for decision or judgment
So many times I have talked to people that believe that they have utterly lost control of their lives
They think that the habits that they have are unshakable
They think that they are doomed to live the rest of their lives under the vice of an ugly habit that they have spent fortunes of money and months of time trying to loose
I am convinced that what these people need to do is stop trying so hard and take the easy way out
For example; When I have the opportunity to talk with people that are severely overweight or have a serious drug/alcohol problem that they want to quit. They usually tell me how much they want to lose weight or stop being an addict and how many different approaches and methods that they have tried and failed.
They are desperate to hear if I even have a suggestion that could possibly make a difference in their lives and help them in their situation
They are usually quite surprised when I suggest that they continue to eat as much as they want
They are perplexed and believe that I hate them
Contrary to their belief however, I am simply trying to get them to add something to their situation instead of continuing in failing to take something away
The thing that I want them to add is the help of God
I challenge them to read the bible (King James Version preferred) starting from Genesis and finishing at Revelation (Psalms 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.)
The next thing that I challenge them to do simultaneously is pray
I challenge them to pray as often as possible throughout the day but a minimum of three times (Psalms 55:16 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.)
I am not saying to just offer up something where they are subconsciously mentioning the name of God in their head as they continue their busy schedule either
I actually challenge them to stop what they are doing and find a private spot where they can go to their knees and give the Father his appropriate appreciation for what he has done in their lives also truly acknowledging the fact that they are going to submit to his perfect will in their lives. (Matthew 26:39 And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.)
I challenge them to continually call on the Father through fervent prayer petitioning him to minister to their needs (James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.)
The bible declares that Jesus can heal every sickness and every disease (Matthew 9:35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.)
Usually the person with whom I am talking has never come to realize that their situation is classified as a sickness (mental/spiritual) so I don’t even mention that to them because they would never understand anyway
I simply give them this easy-to-follow and easy-to-afford prescription and tell them to come back in thirty days so that I can reevaluate the situation
Of course I insist that they continue to receive “Broadcast Bible Study” from yours truly under a weekly basis because many times the very situation that they are struggling with is mentioned during one of the bible study classes
I also insist that they don’t try to do this alone. (Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.)
Satan truly loves when the saints of God try to defeat him alone without the help of fellowship
Satan knows that he has what it takes to cast the smallest amount of doubt in their mind when they are alone
Causing them to go on a self-destructive downward spiral that usually ends up with them headed back harder and stronger into whatever addiction that they had been bound with in the first place
CONCLUSION
There are so many people getting rich from the people of God’s desperate need to be healed that it is becoming an easy racquet for the simplest salesman
We truly need to submit to God
We would find that the many of these get rich quick and lose wait with no effort plans are all subject to the ultimate plan and magnificent mind of God
Let’s Pray
Thank You. May God continue to bless you and keep you. Amen
Your Friend
Minister Juan D. Lane
