Rare Breed: Submissive

Rare Breed: Submissive

INTRODUCTION

ILL-- easiest to train animals. Poodles? Not poodles raised by grade-schoolers.

Schnauzer - before kids- dog didn’t need a fence- it was smart and submissive.

Maltese- I just had to have one- best lap dog in the world- dumb as a stick.

Poodles- Got out the other day and ended up in neighbor’s horse pen.

It’s not about the breeding- it’s about whether they are trained to submit.

READ James 4:1-12

James 4:1–12 ESV

1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. 11 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

Pray

We all submit to something: 2 Choices

Self (1-4)

4 Results of Submitting to Own Desires.

Murder

Desire= cravings= that which comes from an addiction.

Matthew 5:21-24

Matthew 5:21–24 ESV

21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 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. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Envy (2)

ILL- car advertisements play on our envy. (Lexus)

Envy is what led Cain to kill Abel.

Murder begins with envy.

Unanswered Prayer (2b-3)

“Do not ask”- why? Because you are looking to yourself, not God.

“in Jesus’ name”

John 14:13-14

John 14:13–14 ESV

13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

“wrong motive”=

This is not a magic spell that if we do right with enough feeling of faith we get our greatest wish.

We ask “in Jesus name” because it means it is what Jesus would put his name on. it is what Jesus wants.

“wrong motive”

Enmity with God (4)

Matthew 6:24

Matthew 6:24 ESV

24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

God (5-10)

4 Results of Submitting to God

Grace (5-6)

Grace to Humble (6)

1 Peter 5:6

1 Peter 5:6 ESV

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,

Freedom (7)

He will flee.

Psalm 61:3

Psalm 61:3 ESV

3 for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.

Satan will flee from you if you resist him.

“resist the devil”= literally- stop letting him attack.

We have the power through Christ- if Satan keeps attacking it’s on us.

ILL- Pirates in motor boats attacking a U.S. warship.

It only happens if they let it.

1 Peter 5:8

1 Peter 5:8 ESV

8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Ephesians 6:11

Ephesians 6:11 ESV

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

When you allow the devil to hang out in your life you will never find peace.

Peace

Presence of God (8a)

The more we are like God the nearer we are to God.

Sin keeps him at a distance

Exaltation (8b-10)

Repentance (8b) = surrender

Opposite of works- it’s a surrender of your will.

Double-minded= choose which side you are on.

ILL- David playing soccer- you never know which team he is playing for.

Joy comes from God- not from within ourselves.

Take your sin seriously- let it break your heart the way that it breaks God’s heart. Then… you will be exalted.

Exaltation starts with submission.

2 Chronicles 7:14

2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV

14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

CONCLUSION

Verses 11-12 - Whose side are you on?

Who are you spending your time fighting against?

Who are you judging?

Make sure you are on God’s side and fighting against self.

Whose rules are you following?

Who are you to set the rules.

Will you submit to God today?