God's Way or the Highway

A Prayer of Submission

Context: (A Prayer of Submission) Christ and His rule should always take lead in our lives. In most cases our prayers are always one sided in nature, its always about what we want, when we want it, and how we want it. We have no problem telling God the things we want, we have no issue telling God the things we need. When was the last time we told God not my will but your will oh God be done. God’s will for our lives is always what’s best for us. It might not seem it at first but God’s will, His ways are always best.

Main Scripture Mark 14:36

““Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.””

Introduction: Who doesn’t love being pampered and taking care of? List the different aspects of being spoiled and getting what you want. The difference between my time growing up and now.

We take these same practices and habits and take this into our prayer lie, as if God isn’t sovereign. If we are going to be fully submissive to God’s ways and His plans, then there are 3 attitudes that we must have in our Prayer life with God.

Point 1: Humble

Jesus being the son of God, humbled himself when he prayed to God. Firstly, recognising God to be “Abba, Father” Abba is simply the Aramaic term used for “Father”. Just like how we humbled ourselves before we go to our parents with a request, or if we have a feeling, on what they are going to say, we send our friends. We say mommy or daddy, we don’t go demanding, but we humble ourselves. Jesus said to God, “everything is possible for you”. If we are to have a successful prayer life, we must then always remained humble, not just before God, but before everyone else as well.

Psalm 18:27 “You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.” or bring low to those who are proud.

Psalm 25:9 “He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.”

Psalm 147:6 “The Lord sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground.”

Scripture clearly tells us that the Lord shines favor on those who are humbled, and he humbles those who are proud.

Have you ever noticed the difference between being humble and being humbled? Many persons are humbled who are not humble at all. Self-Humbling, Volume 13, Sermon #748 - 2 Chronicles 34:27

Charles Spurgeon

Has anyone in here been humbled before? Being humbled by someone is never a good feeling. .... Talk about that time you fell on the first day of school in St. Anne’s. I was super shamed and I was super embarrassed. So as we go to God with our prayers, whether it be a prayer of request or a prayer of praised, let us go with humble hearts.

Point 2: Submission:

Submission: to accept or yield to a superior force or to the authority or will of another person.

Jesus said, “Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

Jesus was not only humbled in this prayer, but He was also submissive to the plans and the will of God.When we pray are we truly submissive to the plans and the will that God has for our lives? Most time when we pray, we talk to God with our minds made up and we want God to bless whatever we have in our minds.

The Bible reminds us in Proverbs 14:12 (NIV)

There is a way that appears to be right,

but in the end it leads to death.

Our ways always seem to be right in our heads, we take on the approach that we know everything, and no one can tell us anything, but that is the wrong attitude to have if we are going to be successful in life and if we are going to have a successful prayer life.

It is important for us not to just be submissive, to God or when we come to Church and Youth ministry. But it is important for us to be submissive to our parents as well, and to those God has put over us. How can we say that we are a Christian, when we are being rude and no manners to our parents, to our families and adults in general. We barely want to open our mouth to say good morning.

The Bible reminds us in Ephesians 6:1–4

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—“so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”

Notice how the Bible never made mention, that we should honor our parents only if they treat us well, only only if they respect us first, only if they talk to us nicely or give us nice things. But we should honor them and obey them. Parents aren’t perfect people, they make mistakes just like me and you, but they have seen things that we haven’t seen and God has given them the grace and authority to guide us in the right the path. Being submissive has nothing to do with be week, with being a punk or being a conch, but God has called us to be a submissive to help protect us just not from outward dangers but from ourselves.

Conclusion:

As we start this year off, let us be intentional about our our prayer life. Prayer is the lifeline of a believer. Prayer is your weapon against the plans of the enemy.

True prayer is measured by weight, not by length. A single groan before God may have more fullness of prayer in it than a fine oration of great length. The Secret Of Power In Prayer, Volume 34, Sermon #2002 - John 15:7

Charles Spurgeon

Remember that if we are to grow our relationship with God this year, we must grow in our prayer life. You are not too young to have a prayer life with God, He wants to hear from you and He wants to speak with you. Take time out this week and the months ahead and actually spend time talking with God. Remember to stay humble, we should never approach God as if we are too familiar. Approach god with humbleness in heart and watch him exalt you.

Remember to be submissive in our prayer to God, are we going to God seeking His direction or are do we already have our minds made up about the situation? Can we set submit to God’s plan, His timing and the way in which He decides to answer us?

Let’s pray for each other.....