Submission

[00:00:00] This audio sermon is provided by AnabaptistSermons.com and may be freely copied and distributed. You may not sell or edit this sermon. Our prayer is that you would be blessed by this ministry. Welcome to each one of you to this service. Trust the Lord has been ministering to your heart. I thank the greatness of God, what he has done for us, how he cares, provides, and does what is best. [00:00:30] This morning I'd like to speak about something that initially often makes us cringe when we hear about it. The flesh doesn't really like the idea or the concept, but realistically as we look at this, we would probably all agree that it's a key element or a key factor in the success of any business or any organization or any home or any relationship. When there's a lack of this, it always creates conflict and it hinders progress. It tears apart and that is submission. [00:01:13] I'd like to speak on that this morning. I want to be the first to admit that I struggle and fail with it as well. And there's times when I, even as I was studying, I had to ask myself, you know, it was just revealing to me. And I recognize it's not a very popular subject to speak about in this day and age. It's so easy for me to see how others need it. [00:01:47] A little hard to see myself. And the root issue is that it militates, or I should say the root issue that militates against submission is also the same thing that hinders a serious look at myself. And it's often to our own destruction. We can see the value of it as we observe maybe our children fight against it. [00:02:22] And we see how much easier it would be if they would just submit. And yet sometimes we see this thing of submission as a sign of weakness instead of a sign of strength, a sign of maturity in Christ. I'd like to look at three different in three different ways. First of all, submission to God, submission to our earthly authorities, and number three, submission to each other. I think we need to define what submission means. The root word is submit. The Webster's says to yield to action, control, power of another or others. [00:03:11] Submission is the act of submitting, yielding or surrendering the quality or condition of being submissive. Obedience, meekness, submissive is another form that we use, that is having or showing a tendency to submit without resistance, docile, yielding. I like that definition, having or showing a tendency to submit without resistance. [00:03:50] It gives to me the indication that it's the way we generally respond. We're bent in that direction and far too often I find myself bent in the other direction. The Greek simply means subordinate. To be under obedience. It most often uses it be subject to each other. Or to be put under obedient. [00:04:22] Well, I had to wonder why, how come is submission such an important ingredient? Well, I think all of us recognize the need that it is, the essential that it is in order to have order. However, we see it in our business. If there's not a leader and one to follow to carry out those things, it's not successful. [00:04:56] We see it in games. If there's not this element of submission or any type of organization, any project, there needs to be a submission in order to get work done. You need leaders and you need those who carry it out. We all know how it works when there's a lot of chiefs and no Indians. It doesn't flow smoothly. It doesn't get done. Nothing happens much. [00:05:26] When there's a willing, submissive attitude, there's a benefit to the whole. It encourages and it's a blessing to each one who is a part of it. I enjoy being around those people who are have a gentle submissive attitude much rather than of an arrogant or one who just likes to do it his way. It's much more enjoyable to to work with someone who is submissive and we can easily see the benefits from an earthly viewpoint. [00:06:03] But as I see the submission from God or to God, you know, it aids in establishing order and who created order, who was the one who authored order. He set all things in order by His spoken word. The universe was placed and is in such an order that we can predict that in 2062 you will be able to see Halley's Comet. [00:06:35] The stars, the way our earth orbits is all on a set order. The way our human bodies are created, it is in order. If your heart begins to beat erratically, you have got some traumatic problems. Things are created in order. And submission is a heart condition that brings us into God's order and is necessary. [00:07:07] It needs to be part of our conversion experience. of where we allowed, and as we think back, of where we allowed ourselves and we say, Lord, it's not me anymore. I turn everything over to You. But it doesn't stop at that point. It's a continuation throughout life. Well, why is it so hard to be submissive? It's easy to justify by a lot of different reasons. You know, I just can't take the risk of being taken advantage of. [00:07:44] You know, someone needs to lead. Someone does. But I believe the root problem we all know, and that is of pride. It's a carnal, fleshly nature that wants to have its own way. We can always see it. As I said before, it's easy to see in others. and we also live in a world that is cultivating and glorifies or lifts up that individualistic spirit and our flesh we have to deal with and often times I find myself wanting to appear to people [00:08:23] that things are going well, things are going fine, we have a plan here that's working When we ask each other what's our response, we're always fine. We're always fine. Do we need each other's help? How often are we skeptical of how it would turn out if we follow someone else's advice? If I'm not at the helm, you know, the underlying pride is contrary, is opposite to what God wants to see in His children. [00:08:58] As we recall, or as we see in scripture, Jesus' words, and it begins in the Sermon on the Mount, it says, Blessed are the poor in spirit. Later on he says, Blessed are the meek. Blessed are the peacemakers. And quite a few of the Beatitudes relate to this subject. Peter challenges everyone to be clothed with humility. And we'd like to look at that later on. [00:09:31] Paul says that we should walk with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Well, let's look at submission to God. I think of an example in the Old Testament, Abraham, one who, to me, was submitted to God. God asked him to leave Haran. Did he understand where he was going? [00:10:02] God says, I will show you the place where you will go. But he, as we know, he left. He left Haran. In the land situation with his nephew Lot, you see how even submission to God works itself out in the things of this life. When Lot and him were, or when he and Lot were looking at the land and they decided to divide, there he was. [00:10:32] The uncle says to the young man, to the nephew, he says, you choose, you choose. And it appeared at first like he would, like Lot would have had the best end of the deal. But God has a way of seeing, or God knows a future, and in the end it didn't turn out that way. You know, the same was true when God told him to sacrifice his son. [00:11:05] Do you think Abraham understood? I think he was just as human as you and I. But the Bible says he rose up early the next morning And went to the place where God told him I think also of Mary God chose one who had a submissive heart To give birth to his son As the angel Gabriel came and informed Mary Of what she was or how she had been chosen [00:11:36] I don't think Mary understood Gabriel explained some things but Mary's answer was behold the handmaid of the Lord be it unto me according to thy word I sense a submissive attitude there even though I don't understand be it unto me James 4 7 I'll just briefly read a few verses [00:12:06] Submit yourselves therefore to God The scriptures make it very clear Romans 6.13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin But yield yourselves to God 1 Peter 5.6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God That he may exalt you in due time Jesus, as he taught us to pray Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. [00:12:40] Thy kingdom come, then it's thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Thy will. He didn't just say those words, he lived them. And as he was in Gethsemane, he cried, Oh my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me. But it's not, he didn't stop there Nevertheless, not as I will, but as I will [00:13:13] What an example of complete surrender, complete submission to the will of God I had to ask myself the question, is God asking something of me? Is he asking something of you that looks like a cup? Well, I guess we often change it and we say, we've got our plate full. And we may be able to sit here on a Sunday morning and sing, Yes, my heart says amen to thy will, Lord, and I know that thou lovest me still, while I bow low in humble submission. [00:13:50] And my heart says amen to thy will. And yet, maybe as we leave, we might wish to crawl into a better vehicle. We might wish we were married or their husband would be a little different. We might wish we were gifted in different areas, better off financially. There's difficulties in our families that, why does it have to be us? We may shake our heads and say, why Lord? [00:14:21] Am I submitted to the place where God has called me? I think we would all agree and know that God knows what's best. He sees the future. He sees the present. And we would all agree we know He's able. And yet sometimes it's so hard to just let go and let God have His way. There was once a church organist who was practicing and practicing a certain piece at the church. [00:14:56] And he was becoming increasingly frustrated at not being able to play the piece correctly. And finally he gave up and decided to leave. And then he met a man in the back in the foyer. And this man said, wait. He says, come with me. He went up front. And to this man's amazement, he played it flawlessly. After he was done, he looked up at the church organist and he says, I composed this music, that's why. [00:15:37] You know, how often have I struggled and struggled because I wanted things done what I thought was best. So reluctant to take my hands off the keys. You know, I think there's a beauty in which can't be matched if we allow God to play a song of our lives freely in the way that He chooses instead of in the way that I like to see things. [00:16:12] Yes, I think we need to be obedient to the promptings of His Spirit. God speaks to us through our consciences. And I think we need to be sensitive. He has given us of his word that we can be obedient to and submit to. And we are sure and we can be assured that there is blessing in that. Submission to authorities. We can think of authorities in many different ways. Simply, it just means anyone who is responsible for you, anyone who is above you. [00:16:45] And I think, first of all, of the civil authorities, and we could think of law enforcement, or building inspectors, or DOTs, or we could talk about our president, or anyone who holds office. And it's easy sometimes to see the corruption, and to see the way they have lost values. The Bible gives specific directions concerning our authorities. And the thing that I always have to remind myself, and that is, when these things were written, they were facing a government that is a lot worse than ours. [00:17:25] We're in a relatively good time. Under Roman rule, they paid heavy taxes, and yet Jesus never gave any loophole to be disrespectful or disobedient. I like to read in Romans 13. Verse 7 verses I can't make it or I can't explain it any clearer than it is. Romans 13 verse 1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God. [00:17:57] The powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God. And they that resist shall receive to themselves damnations. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same. For he is a minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid, for he beareth not the sword in vain. For he is a minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. [00:18:35] Wherefore, ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake For this cause pay ye tribute also, for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing Render therefore to all their dues, tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor And in 1 Peter 2, again, addresses specifically this topic. [00:19:10] Chapter 2, beginning in verse 11. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul. Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles, that whereas they speak evil of you as evildoers, they may by your good works which they shall behold glorify God in the day of visitation submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake whether it be to the king as supreme or unto governors as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers [00:19:47] and for the praise of them that do well for so is the will of God that with well doing ye may put to silence The ignorance of foolish men as free, not using your liberty as a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honor all men, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king. Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. [00:20:20] For this is thankworthy if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully For what glory is it if when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye take it patiently But if ye do well and suffer for it, ye take it patiently This is acceptable to God Doesn't leave much room to respond in an unsubmissive way Even to those, here it says, who are froward [00:20:50] And the thing that caught my attention is that we leave a witness in our response And it's observed by others You know, and I believe that it must also be considered that both of these rioters at times were in prison So obviously, they went against local authority, but they did so under the law of God, a higher law. And I believe they did so respectfully as they could. [00:21:26] I don't think it contradicts, but I do believe that we must obey God rather than man. There's other authorities that we have in our lives. Church leaders, teachers, parents. I think of the verse in Hebrews 13, 17 where it says, Obey them that have the rule over you and submit yourselves, for they watch for your souls as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy and not with grief. [00:21:57] You know, especially to the children, I would say, the sooner we understand this principle of submission and understand and obey our parents and those in authority, the much easier it will be throughout our life. You know, we can rebel, and we can fight against authority, but you know, after mom and dad, there's other authority, and after that authority, there's other authority, we're never completely independent, not even the highest authority of our land. [00:22:36] You know, it's because when we obey, when we submit, we fit into God's order. And when we fit into God's order, God's plan, then things run smoothly and we have His blessing. There's other authorities. How do we respond to ushers? How do we respond to our employers? Ephesians 6.5 simply says servants be obedient to them that are your masters as unto Christ [00:23:08] You know there's times when we can submit on the outside reluctantly and grumble on the inside and we lose the blessing You know some have taken the attitude well as long as the boss is around or as long as the one who's in authority is around we'll do it his way But when he's gone, we do it the way I want to do it. And I wonder if symptoms like that don't point to being also unsubmissive toward God. [00:23:39] I'd like to go to submission to each other now. Ephesians 5.21, submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. In Philippians 2, I'd like to read a few verses. Philippians 2, beginning in verse 3. Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. [00:24:13] Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation, took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name, [00:24:44] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven, things in earth, and things under the earth and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. What an example. It uses the word here, let each esteem other better than themselves. To esteem simply means to value, to value highly. That's not a problem. When there's compliments coming, to esteem them highly. [00:25:20] But the trouble is when, or the difficulties come, when that individual steps on my toes, or challenges me, or even criticizes me in a wrong way, in a possibly unjustifiable way. He questions my motives, and my, how those things rise up within us to defend our turf, to explain our position. Is that submission? Can I hear an accusation without saying a word? [00:25:56] You know, I think of a man who once said how he was accused or somebody came and talked to him and chewed him down to the bone and then seemed to scrape the bones yet. But I was blessed by his response. He thanked the man for coming and said, you know, you've only touched, you've barely touched it yet. To me, that showed some submission. You know, too often when I listen, am I listening or am I refueling or reloading for the next round? [00:26:34] Can I really hear what if my suggestions or ideas don't seem to be heard or understood? Is that okay? Maybe the church looks at an application and there's varying opinions And they're all considered, but the church decides this is what we feel is best. But it's a little bit different from what I would like to see. What's my response? [00:27:05] Can I submit to that? Do I see value in that? Is it important? Does it build or does it tear down? How much value do we place on advice or insight from the brethren? You know, I believe it's a sad place when one becomes unteachable. And very soon often he has a feeling that he is the only one that's right. [00:27:36] And you know, I realize there are churches who apostatize, and there are individuals who stand for the right. But I believe the focus is an entirely different position. The focus is on following God versus what I feel is right. The key, I believe, is in verse 5. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. [00:28:08] We need the mind of Christ. You know, as one said, Christ is seen more clearly when we are in the background. 1 Peter 5 also speaks of this. I'd like to read that verse. 1 Peter 5, 5. I recognize this is given, at least the first part of the chapter here, It is given to the elders or pastors. And verse 5 begins and he says, Likewise ye younger, submit unto the elder. [00:28:44] Yea, all of you be subject one to another and be clothed with humility. For God resisteth the proud and give us grace unto the humble. You know, the first part we can understand, Likewise, younger, submitting to the elder, whether it's ministers, whether it's young people, or I'm talking about young ministers submitting to the elder, or even young people, I couldn't really tell that it was pointing one way or the other. [00:29:16] We can understand that. There's value in submitting to elderly. But then he says, yea, all, all as in any, every, every, I mean the whole, all of you be subject one to another. Submission to each other. But as I study this verse, this phrase, and be clothed with humility, blessed my heart. [00:29:47] He uses a word picture here that gives a dimension to humility or a picture of humility and it makes it real. The word be clothed in the Greek is only found in this verse. And it simply means, or it refers to, alludes to a white apron that the slaves or the servants would wear. [00:30:19] I'm sure you've seen these aprons. The root word, comos, means a knot, fastened, obviously with strings. Pennsylvania Dutch, I'd probably say, gignipped, knotted. Fastened. It goes with you. All day long it went with this servant. And as we think about an apron, you know, it absorbs it. [00:30:50] Whatever we're doing, whether it's grease, dirt, food, that's where it goes. As you look here today, this is the outward most garment. It's probably the first thing you see when you look up here. And this servant is under the master's authority. He serves. It's serving for others' benefits, not his own. And he must be willing to do anything the master calls at his bidding. [00:31:22] That's the word picture that he uses. That's what this be clothed with humility very specifically refers to this garment that slaves wore. You know, as I look at this, this is the one I use when we have the annual butchering. You know, I'm blessed as I see people come to the butchering and they get their apron on. and maybe roll up their sleeves, sharpen their knife, and they say, where can I help? [00:31:58] You know, that's the way you get work done. Well, it doesn't matter what, where, we get at it. Now may I ask these questions. Is there an apron of humility in my heart that shows externally in my attitude? Is there an apron? Is there a willingness to serve for your benefit? Whatever position? Be it lowly? Is it the first thing people see? The most visible thing that they see in our lives? And it can be through our words, actions, appearance. Do they see humility? [00:32:42] Is it fastened securely? Knotted? Does it go with you? Are you unclothed without it? Does it absorb those things that we don't like? The filth, the grease, the dirt? You know, can you think of me, or can you think with me, that if everyone comes, thinking of relationships, that if everyone comes with their apron, ready to serve, sleeves rolled up, does that look like weakness? [00:33:19] I think that's powerful. You know, this word picture is interesting, that it comes from Peter, the one who could not understand why Jesus would want to wash his feet, or the principle of feet washing. But obviously now he speaks with understanding. I think that's where we need to find ourselves as well. Can we say, as Paul does, not I. [00:33:51] May that be our desire as we continue to live for Him. Let's kneel for a word of prayer.