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What is submission to God?
We need to answer, “What is submission to God?” Perhaps it is the most crucial question that the church needs to answer today. However, it is not a new question in church history.
Many early Christians were drawn away into sin the same way today’s church moves toward worldliness. People have not changed since creation. Each of us wants to do our own thing.
Submitting to anything or anyone is not our first choice. Even though we accept the Holy Scripture as a guide, we still reserve the right to do it our way. We pick and choose what we want to take.
God does not allow a pick-and-choose mentality when it comes to Him. Instead, he has made clear right from wrong. You always pay the price for doing what is wrong or not doing right.
There are no exceptions.
Jesus puts it this way in John 14:15 NKJV, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
Following God is total submission to God. Anything less is not acceptable to God. There are hundreds of examples in the Old Testament about God’s view on following part of His instructions.
Israel had a lot of lessons to learn, and it cost them a lot of lives. God demanded that the Israelites do everything exactly as He instructed. Failure to follow His instructions resulted in defeat and plague.
Remember friendship with the world?
Lesson 8 covered friendship with the world. Remember that if you are a friend of the world, you are an enemy of God.
Our strength comes from our relationship with Jesus. When we submit to God’s will, it causes a change in our lives. It empowers us to walk by faith and do what God has called us to do.
Going to church on Sunday does not make us a follower of Jesus. Likewise, teaching a Bible class is good, but it does not save us or make us right with God.
God will only accept the first place in our lives. Therefore, if you put anything before Him, you are not in an acceptable relationship with Him.
Remember from Lesson 8 the scripture in Exodus 34:14 NKJV, 14 (for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God).
God, whose name is Jealous, wants first place in your lives. Making God first in our lives should be our first concern. Don’t rest on the doctrine, “once saved, always saved.” You will miss most of what God has for you if you don’t answer the question, “What is submission to God?”
Submit yourselves first and always.
Our victory over sin starts with doing what James says in James 4:7-8 NKJV, 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Notice that this command carries a blessing and a promise. First, James says that if you submit yourself to God and resist the devil, he will flee from you.
Temptation is always around us, and Peter tells us in 1 Peter 5:8 NKJV, “8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour”.
James tells us from his personal experience that he will turn and run if we resist the devil. This fact is one of the fundamental truths of the Bible. Satan has very little power to do evil on earth. The only power he has is what you give him.
The devil wants to devour you. He wants to keep you from the salvation God offers through Jesus. Therefore, there is no question that he would deceive you and lie to you.
The sad thing is that he usually does not need to. So we do it to ourselves.
The only answer to our problem with sin is to come near to God
Come near to God
Turn on Satan when tempted and watch him go. Satan is a liar and tries to deceive you with your inward desires. If you resist him, there is nothing he can do.
James says James 4:7-8 NKJV that when you resist the devil, you are to “ 8 Come near to God, and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
It is not good enough to resist your inward desires to sin. You must take the next step and draw near to your Creator. Confess your sins and repent of the actions that take you away from God. What you do defines your definition of, “What is submission to God.”
You can not be double-minded! Jesus says in Revelations 3:15-16 NKJV to the church of the Laodiceans, “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”
Our Lord wants a total commitment to Him. Nothing else will bring you into the right relationship with Him. Only if you give yourself to Him will you enjoy the full blessings and joy.
The Lord will lift you up
The question is, are you in complete submission to God now? Are you willing to give up your love and acceptance of the world to be right with God?
I entitled this lesson, “What is submission to God?” James tries to show us that God only wants complete submission. Anything less is not acceptable.
Verse 9 may be a little hard to understand. Why would you want to turn your laughter into mourning or your joy into gloom?
9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. James 4:9 NKJV
James says to see where you are in your relationship with God and feel remorse. Grieve over your lack of commitment to God. God created you and provided a way to be saved from the penalty of your sins.
If you turn to Him and humble yourself, He will lift you.
10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:10 NKJV
Conclusion
Everyone tends to follow their own idea of, “what is submission to God?” However, the world influences you and pushes you toward a self-centered lifestyle.
God requires us to accept His truths about what is right or wrong. He will not tolerate any person’s idea over His, demanding complete submission.
Lesson 10 will cover judging and boasting. See you there!
You can join us anytime. Following are links to the Previous Lessons from James: Faith Grows Through Trials – Lesson 1, Tempted by God – Lesson 2, Doers of the Word – Lesson 3, Impartial – Lesson 4, Faith – Works What Saves – Lesson 5, The Untamable Tongue – Lesson 6, Fighting and Quarreling – Lesson 7, Friendship with the World – Lesson 8, What is submission to God? – James Lesson 9, Judging and Boasting – James Lesson 10, Rich in What? – James Lesson 11, Be Patient and Persevering – James Lesson 12 and the last Critical Points of James – James Lesson 13