The "S" Word
The “S” Word
I am not cursing today or ever in this forum or any other. We are talking about the dreaded word in the society and unfortunately in the Church. The “S” word is submit and submitting.
There are ongoing demonstrations all across the major cites of USA for justice. "I can't breathe" because I am too proud to submit in the first place. Was excessive force used on Eric Garner? Based on the video, yes. This is why many are crying for justice. However, we must never forget the root of it all - pride and lack of humility and submission. We must all speak to that as well.
Submit is all over the Bible. In fact there is no relationship with God or any human without submission. Submit to God and resist the devil we are commanded.
In our current study, Paul by the Holy Spirit commands the Ephesians as follows:
“But be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.[c]
The word comes from a military mindset “being under in rank” - meaning to yield, obey, comply etc. In USA if you are driving and come to a circle (round about for the British) every sign says yield. Everyone yields to the car that first enters the circle. Today you may yield and next day other car or cars may yield to you. If you don't yield you will hit the other car and we have accident and naming calling etc.
God designed life for all to yield. He resists the proud (the greatest hindrance) but gives grace to the humble. Lucifer aka Satan missed heaven because of pride and refused to submit to God’s authority.
Submission flows from God himself. It says be filled with the Spirit. If I love and fear God then I submit to you because you bear God’s image too. The other in the Church is also filled with the Holy Spirit, so God in me must yield to God in you. The trinity is always in unity. Ephesians 4:1-3. There is no competition rather a sense of we are in this together to accomplish a greater mission.
Submission is basis of all relationships in the home, work, school and on the street that we are commanded. “13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good ” 1 Peter 2:13. If I am having problem submitting, I am having problem with God himself.
Jesus has modeled submission for us - he yield to the father to save us. He thought it not robbery to be equal with God the father. “8 Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. 9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him”. Hebrews 5:8.
Submission is simple and enjoyable when understood and it flows from the Holy Spirit. The result of submission is respect and harmony. You cannot respect anyone you refuse to submit to. If you try, it is fake respect and it shows.
Submission has nothing to do with the other being better or more superior. It is based on positional placement – “God appointed order”. You have to submit to your boss at work if you want to keep the job. We do not however submit to sin and that is where the line is drawn. We submit in the “fear of God” and not fear of man. It is for God’s sake and respect that we submit. Fear God and you will never fear man or woman but you can respect them.
Submitting to one another removes every self-centeredness and selfishness that says, “You must comply with my wishes and desires”. James tells us this where our quarrels come from. “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet[a] you do not have because you do not ask. 3 you ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures” James 4:1
I struggle with submission when I am going at 80 mph in a 55 mph road. We all struggle. That is why Paul says "be filled and continually being filled with the Spirit” then you can submit. Let’s start submitting today. Stop trying to win every argument and digging into “my way or the highway”.
Next time (in the New Year) in this Ephesian series, we will look closely at the “S” word for wives. For next week we will prepare our hearts for Christmas to receive the Savior, Emmanuel- God with us.
I am not cursing today or ever in this forum or any other. We are talking about the dreaded word in the society and unfortunately in the Church. The “S” word is submit and submitting.
There are ongoing demonstrations all across the major cites of USA for justice. "I can't breathe" because I am too proud to submit in the first place. Was excessive force used on Eric Garner? Based on the video, yes. This is why many are crying for justice. However, we must never forget the root of it all - pride and lack of humility and submission. We must all speak to that as well.
Submit is all over the Bible. In fact there is no relationship with God or any human without submission. Submit to God and resist the devil we are commanded.
In our current study, Paul by the Holy Spirit commands the Ephesians as follows:
“But be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.[c]
The word comes from a military mindset “being under in rank” - meaning to yield, obey, comply etc. In USA if you are driving and come to a circle (round about for the British) every sign says yield. Everyone yields to the car that first enters the circle. Today you may yield and next day other car or cars may yield to you. If you don't yield you will hit the other car and we have accident and naming calling etc.
God designed life for all to yield. He resists the proud (the greatest hindrance) but gives grace to the humble. Lucifer aka Satan missed heaven because of pride and refused to submit to God’s authority.
Submission flows from God himself. It says be filled with the Spirit. If I love and fear God then I submit to you because you bear God’s image too. The other in the Church is also filled with the Holy Spirit, so God in me must yield to God in you. The trinity is always in unity. Ephesians 4:1-3. There is no competition rather a sense of we are in this together to accomplish a greater mission.
Submission is basis of all relationships in the home, work, school and on the street that we are commanded. “13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good ” 1 Peter 2:13. If I am having problem submitting, I am having problem with God himself.
Jesus has modeled submission for us - he yield to the father to save us. He thought it not robbery to be equal with God the father. “8 Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. 9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him”. Hebrews 5:8.
Submission is simple and enjoyable when understood and it flows from the Holy Spirit. The result of submission is respect and harmony. You cannot respect anyone you refuse to submit to. If you try, it is fake respect and it shows.
Submission has nothing to do with the other being better or more superior. It is based on positional placement – “God appointed order”. You have to submit to your boss at work if you want to keep the job. We do not however submit to sin and that is where the line is drawn. We submit in the “fear of God” and not fear of man. It is for God’s sake and respect that we submit. Fear God and you will never fear man or woman but you can respect them.
Submitting to one another removes every self-centeredness and selfishness that says, “You must comply with my wishes and desires”. James tells us this where our quarrels come from. “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet[a] you do not have because you do not ask. 3 you ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures” James 4:1
I struggle with submission when I am going at 80 mph in a 55 mph road. We all struggle. That is why Paul says "be filled and continually being filled with the Spirit” then you can submit. Let’s start submitting today. Stop trying to win every argument and digging into “my way or the highway”.
Next time (in the New Year) in this Ephesian series, we will look closely at the “S” word for wives. For next week we will prepare our hearts for Christmas to receive the Savior, Emmanuel- God with us.
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