SUBMISSION

For six weeks we have been studying Spiritual Disciplines. There are three categories of Disciplines– Inward Disciplines, Outward Disciplines, and Corporate Disciplines. Three weeks ago, we finished up the first category of Inward Disciplines.

The inward disciplines we discussed were meditation and experiencing biblical stories, focused concentration on Scripture or creation. The discipline of prayer – and that prayer is the only discipline that can be done in isolation; while it is a counterpart of most of the other disciplines.

The discipline of fasting. We looked at 8 biblical examples of fasting as well as going over 9 potential ways to fast. The last inward discipline was study – and is specifically directed and focused attention to Scripture and God’s character and presence (in creation).

For two weeks we have talked of the Outward disciplines, the first being of Simplicity. We covered 9 ways to simplify but the one to remember was whatever distracts you from first seeking the Kingdom of God – and last week we look at the outward discipline of Solitude about the importance of silence, holding our tongue and only verbalizing what is necessary to be said and looking for moments to just be with the Lord, alone with the Lord.

This week we discuss the most misunderstood and abused discipled of all of the them – the discipline of submission.

As we being let us try to put away any preconceived ideas, have an open mind and open heart as we pray for God to tell us what His Discipline of Submission really is.

Let us Pray!

Foster starts his chapter on Submission with this opening –

“Of all the Spiritual Disciplines none has been more abused than the Discipline of submission. Somehow the human species has an extraordinary knack for taking the best teaching and turning it to the worst ends. Nothing can put people into bondage like religion, and nothing in religion has done more to manipulate and destroy people than a deficient teaching on submission. Therefore, we must work our way through this Discipline with great care and discernment in order to ensure that we are the ministers of life, not death.”

I. Why Submission?

Spiritual disciplines that draw us closer to God – and like the song Freedom says – “Where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom, bring all your burdens, bring all your scars, come back to communion, where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom” – submission gives us the ability to drop the burdens, drop the chains that weigh us down

To demand “OUR WAY” is one of the biggest forms of bondage today – church fights splits and divisions are caused by the inability to “LET IT GO” and to allow someone else’s opinion

Realizing that there is a greater good – is a burden destroyer – we don’t have to have all the answers because the One in Charge, in Control already does!

Submission allows us to drop the matter and forget it – most of the things that cause division or frustration will not end our lives and the world will go on and in reality are not as important as we think things are.

We fight against submission because that means we will not get “MY WAY” – we become focused on self and not Holy Spirit – my way not God’s Way – we elevate ourselves over others forgetting

Matthew 19:19 – Love your neighbor as yourself and

Matthew 22:39 “And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Submission gives us the ability to see genuine issues and self-centeredness for what they are

The old adage, “If you can't say anything nice – don’t say anything at all” submission says the best way to handle adverse situations is to not say anything at all

Biblical Submission focuses on the spirit and how we view people

1 Peter 2:18-19 - Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.

We can perform actions and duties but be rebelling inside

Matthew 5:21-22 – “You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not

murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that everyone

who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will

be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire.

Matthew 5:27-28 -"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.'

But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already

committed adultery with her in his heart.

Luke 15:29 – But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.

I’ve been “slaving” for you – I never disobeyed your orders

It's the condition of our heart not our actions – submission does not allow anger, resentment or bitterness to creep in

Biblical Submission allows us to value other people, their plans and their dreams and make them important to us

Not demand they value us or love us back No right to be treated a certain way

Rejoice in Others Success Mourn their failures or losses

Philippians 2:4 – Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

II. What is Biblical Submission?

What it is not –

It is not self- hatred

Loss of Identity

Not Self-Contempt

Not allowing yourself to be taken advantage of nor it is denying you have an opinion

Matthew 22:39 – And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Matthew 10:39 – Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Are there limits?

YES – NOT to the point of destruction – not to the point of violating God’s Word

ACTS 4:19-20 – But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

Jesus is the ultimate example of Submission

Did not demand His own way – followed the Will of the Father

Sacrificed His comfort and Life for those that hated Him

Prayed for God to Forgive those who were killing Him

Philippians 2:8 – And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Biblical Submission –

Mark 8:34 – And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Luke 9:23-24 – And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.

These are not calls to self-hatred but to submit to the Will of the Father

1 Corinthians 2:2 – For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

1 Corinthians 10:24 – Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.

III. How do I Submit Biblically?

Simple – not easy

Titus 2:12 – Training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

Romans 13:14 – But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Philippians 2:3-7 – Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

7 Forms of Submission

a. Submit to God the Father, Jesus the Son, the Holy Spirit

1 Peter 4:2 – So as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.

1 Peter 2:21-23 – For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

b. Submit to Scripture

John 13:15-16 – For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

c. Submit to Family

Ephesians 5:21 – submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Colossians 3:18-22 – Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.

d. Submit to Neighbors (RAK – time etc.)

e. Submit to Family of Believers (celebrate with them, mourn with them, check on them, encourage them)

Philemon 16 – no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

f. Submit to the broken and forgotten – veterans, orphans, widows, (Offerings, volunteering, activism etc.)

g. Submit to the world – we cannot live in isolation – the world needs active believers living out their faith! (Missions, Compassion, Living Your Faith out in the community etc.)

Remember the thin line for Biblical Submission –

Don’t submit to anyone asking you to violate or contradict Scripture

Don’t be a doormat – biblical submission does not give others to misuse, abuse or take advantage of you.

Don’t be a pleaser – don’t just give up your dreams plans and what God is calling you to do

Don’t be a dependent – don’t refuse to make a decision because your afraid it might be the wrong one – remember where FEAR comes form

Don’t be a manipulator – don’t use acts of kindness to make others feel they owe you – words of encouragement to build your team or to control situations