Submitting to the Lord’s Service

2000062

Subject: Obedience/Submission

Introduction:

A. Tonight is a topical sermon. Heard a sub point on submission in a sermon on tape this week – and decided that this would be a good topic to develop a full-length sermon out of.

1. What do you think of when you think of submission?

2. What is submission? How does one submit to someone or something?

B. What if I told you that submission was:

1. have get together w/brethren & a couple of prospects…want me to come. They really like a plateful of Evelyn’s ribs; my wife’s baked beans; R. Kenastons brats; and Kay Chapman’s cherry crunch dessert? Would you submit to that?

2. or if food served at get together was plateful of liver & onions; spinach casserole; brussel sprouts; and boiled okra? Would you submit to that?

C. Submission is defined as: to yield oneself to the will or authority of another. To make oneself compliant. (American Heritage Dictionary)

1. I think this is probably somewhat hard for Americans to understand fully

a) free society – where the individual is allowed to develop his own wants/interests/goals/paths for success.

b) Part of what has made this country so successful!

c) Have an influence in culture that says – “all you have to do is what you want to do – who cares about anybody else?”

2. This has carried over into religion. Could be why so many refuse to listen to the gospel preached in its purist sense.

3. Could be why so many Christians never reach their full potential for the Lord – because they haven’t learned about what submission is.

D. In short – submission is doing something – you don’t necessarily want to do – in order to please someone in authority over you.

1. Submission is doing something – you don’t necessarily see the need in doing – but you do it anyway.

E. In order to make it home to heaven – we are going to have to submit to the will of the Lord.

1. we are going to have to make our will secondary to the Father’s.

2. Involves sacrifice, faith, and trust.

3. Let’s look at some Biblical examples of some who had to submit to God in order to be pleasing to Him.

I. Abraham humbly submitted to God.

A. Acts 7:3-5 – told Abraham to get up and go to a land that He would show him. He went. See also Heb. 11:8-10 Dwelt in foreign land; in tents; uncertainty.

1. Was willing to work on God’s timetable. Had to wait 25 years for birth of son Isaac. Didn’t get to see this big inheritance in his lifetime.

2. submitted to covenant of circumcision (Gen. 17:23; Acts 7:8)

B. submitted to the will of God concerning Isaac – 11:17-19

C. Js. 2:21 – his works (submission) (a by product of his faith) justified him.

II. Jonah got around to submitting to God.

A. Jonah 1:1-2 – God commands Jonah to go preach to Ninevah.

1. Doesn’t want to – b/c Ninevah (at this time) the great enemy of Israel. He probably wanted to see the Ninevites perish.

2. Flees – boards ship for Tarshish. (Believed to be located in southern Spain – near Gibraltar.

3. Winds up in belly of great fish that God prepared.

B. Jonah prays to the Lord for deliverance – 2:10 – delivered.

C. Jonah submits to the will of the Lord – 3:1-3a. Ninevah repents – mission of the Lord accomplished.

D. Submission: involves doing things we don’t understand the purpose for.

1. All Jonah could see – Ninevites = enemy of God’s people – here God wanting them to repent.

2. God had a higher purpose – some speculate this explained in 4:9-10

3. Point: He had to get his will around to conforming w/God’s will.

III. Paul learned to submit to God.

A. Acts 26:4-5 – a Pharisee; Jew; prestige; honor; glory; fame; monetary reward – probably all his – if he remained a Jew fighting Christians.

1. Notice how he describes himself in the following passages:

a) Acts 22:3 – educated under Gamaliel – kept law strictly like the fathers.

b) Gal. 1:14 – advanced beyond his countryman – extremely zealous

c) A Hebrew of Hebrews – found blameless in the law.

2. But….willing to give it up. Had to submit to GOD’S way – not JUDIASM!

B. Starts in Acts 22:16 – baptized to wash away his sins.

C. Undergoes much sacrifice for the Lord – 2 Cor. 11:23-27

D. Made his body his slave – 1 Cor. 9:27 – had to do some things he didn’t want to do. Had to make some sacrifices.

IV. Jesus Submitted to the Will of the Father.

A. Here’s the perfect example of submission. Friends – it just doesn’t get any plainer than this:

1. Mt. 26:39, 42 – nevertheless – not as I will – but as you will.

2. See also Mk. 14:36; Lk. 22:42

3. Plead w/Father twice for another way to take away the sins of the world. There was no other way!

B. Didn’t want to be spat on; cursed; stripped naked before others; have nails driven in hand/feet; humiliated; pain; agony; death…..but did so anyway.

C. We often gripe about submitting to the will of God:

1. changing our habits

2. going to services 3 times/wk

3. giving of our means

4. talking to others about the gospel

5. growing up/studying the Bible

D. Friends, brethren – the things we have to submit to are pale in comparison to what Jesus had to submit to!

E. Are we willing to go the distance? Submit to God?

V. We can go one of two directions.

A. We can learn to submit to the Father in obedience – Heb. 5:8-9

B. We can go the way of the rich young ruler – Mt. 19:16-22

1. don’t know if this man ever responded to the Lord.

2. Chances are: he didn’t.

3. He wasn’t willing to submit his life/wants/desires to God’s!

4. Many choose to go that path today! The way of Christ is too hard for them!

C. We must submit to the Lord’s will – if we intend to make it home to heaven! Mt. 16:24-26

D. Which direction are you headed? Are you willing to submit to God?

E. I N V I T A T I O N



Submitting to the Lord’s Service 2000062 Subject: Obedience/Submission Introduction: A. Tonight is a topical sermon. Heard a sub point on submission in a sermon on tape this week – and decided that this would be a good topic to develop a full-length sermon out of. 1. What do you think of when you think of submission? 2. What is submission? How does one submit to someone or something? B. What if I told you that submission was: 1. have get together w/brethren & a couple of prospects…want me to come. They really like a plateful of Evelyn’s ribs; my wife’s baked beans; R. Kenastons brats; and Kay Chapman’s cherry crunch dessert? Would you submit to that? 2. or if food served at get together was plateful of liver & onions; spinach casserole; brussel sprouts; and boiled okra? Would you submit to that? C. Submission is defined as: to yield oneself to the will or authority of another. To make oneself compliant. (American Heritage Dictionary) 1. I think this is probably somewhat hard for Americans to understand fully a) free society – where the individual is allowed to develop his own wants/interests/goals/paths for success. b) Part of what has made this country so successful! c) Have an influence in culture that says – “all you have to do is what you want to do – who cares about anybody else?” 2. This has carried over into religion. Could be why so many refuse to listen to the gospel preached in its purist sense. 3. Could be why so many Christians never reach their full potential for the Lord – because they haven’t learned about what submission is. D. In short – submission is doing something – you don’t necessarily want to do – in order to please someone in authority over you. 1. Submission is doing something – you don’t necessarily see the need in doing – but you do it anyway. E. In order to make it home to heaven – we are going to have to submit to the will of the Lord. 1. we are going to have to make our will secondary to the Father’s. 2. Involves sacrifice, faith, and trust. 3. Let’s look at some Biblical examples of some who had to submit to God in order to be pleasing to Him. I. Abraham humbly submitted to God. A. Acts 7:3-5 – told Abraham to get up and go to a land that He would show him. He went. See also Heb. 11:8-10 Dwelt in foreign land; in tents; uncertainty. 1. Was willing to work on God’s timetable. Had to wait 25 years for birth of son Isaac. Didn’t get to see this big inheritance in his lifetime. 2. submitted to covenant of circumcision (Gen. 17:23; Acts 7:8) B. submitted to the will of God concerning Isaac – 11:17-19 C. Js. 2:21 – his works (submission) (a by product of his faith) justified him. II. Jonah got around to submitting to God. A. Jonah 1:1-2 – God commands Jonah to go preach to Ninevah. 1. Doesn’t want to – b/c Ninevah (at this time) the great enemy of Israel. He probably wanted to see the Ninevites perish. 2. Flees – boards ship for Tarshish. (Believed to be located in southern Spain – near Gibraltar. 3. Winds up in belly of great fish that God prepared. B. Jonah prays to the Lord for deliverance – 2:10 – delivered. C. Jonah submits to the will of the Lord – 3:1-3a. Ninevah repents – mission of the Lord accomplished. D. Submission: involves doing things we don’t understand the purpose for. 1. All Jonah could see – Ninevites = enemy of God’s people – here God wanting them to repent. 2. God had a higher purpose – some speculate this explained in 4:9-10 3. Point: He had to get his will around to conforming w/God’s will. III. Paul learned to submit to God. A. Acts 26:4-5 – a Pharisee; Jew; prestige; honor; glory; fame; monetary reward – probably all his – if he remained a Jew fighting Christians. 1. Notice how he describes himself in the following passages: a) Acts 22:3 – educated under Gamaliel – kept law strictly like the fathers. b) Gal. 1:14 – advanced beyond his countryman – extremely zealous c) A Hebrew of Hebrews – found blameless in the law. 2. But….willing to give it up. Had to submit to GOD’S way – not JUDIASM! B. Starts in Acts 22:16 – baptized to wash away his sins. C. Undergoes much sacrifice for the Lord – 2 Cor. 11:23-27 D. Made his body his slave – 1 Cor. 9:27 – had to do some things he didn’t want to do. Had to make some sacrifices. IV. Jesus Submitted to the Will of the Father. A. Here’s the perfect example of submission. Friends – it just doesn’t get any plainer than this: 1. Mt. 26:39, 42 – nevertheless – not as I will – but as you will. 2. See also Mk. 14:36; Lk. 22:42 3. Plead w/Father twice for another way to take away the sins of the world. There was no other way! B. Didn’t want to be spat on; cursed; stripped naked before others; have nails driven in hand/feet; humiliated; pain; agony; death…..but did so anyway. C. We often gripe about submitting to the will of God: 1. changing our habits 2. going to services 3 times/wk 3. giving of our means 4. talking to others about the gospel 5. growing up/studying the Bible D. Friends, brethren – the things we have to submit to are pale in comparison to what Jesus had to submit to! E. Are we willing to go the distance? Submit to God? V. We can go one of two directions. A. We can learn to submit to the Father in obedience – Heb. 5:8-9 B. We can go the way of the rich young ruler – Mt. 19:16-22 1. don’t know if this man ever responded to the Lord. 2. Chances are: he didn’t. 3. He wasn’t willing to submit his life/wants/desires to God’s! 4. Many choose to go that path today! The way of Christ is too hard for them! C. We must submit to the Lord’s will – if we intend to make it home to heaven! Mt. 16:24-26 D. Which direction are you headed? Are you willing to submit to God? E. I N V I T A T I O N