Submission Power
“For not knowing about God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God” (Romans 10:3).
What made Jesus so successful in life is the same quality that can make leaders in our times successful. It is the power of knowing how to be submissive to God: “The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works” (John 14:10). A good leader is always a good follower. Jesus remained in His Father’s love by staying focused on the goal of His Father’s will (John 15:10). The church can only be successful by avoiding stumbling blocks and being good followers of the devotion of Jesus to God’s successful plan.
When Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus, he wrote through the inspiration of God’s Spirit. This relates to us an idea of submission. There was a purpose for the words that were written. God wants us to utilize the power of knowing His truth in all situations of our lives. In the fifth chapter of Ephesians, Paul’s inspired words give us direction on how to be led according to the Spirit so as to be led to the success of a faithful life. We can learn a great lesson for life from his devotion to accomplishing the desire of His Lord through his willingness to be utilized for the glory that can only be revealed in truth. Being submissive is making ourselves available to God.
God can only work His good in the hearts of the submissive. His will is to change our hearts about the ideas we once held as valuable in the flesh by subjecting ourselves to the power of His Spirit: “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Romans 8:14). He desires obedience to His will so that His success can be made known through us. But there are some in this world who will remain limited by the power of their own flesh and will not subject their lives to His power which will cause them to remain in Satan’s hands. When we open our hearts, minds and hands to the Lord’s power then we allow the world to see the beauty of His handiwork and the church will remain a shining light in a world darkened by doubt and fear.
Paul’s words in Ephesians chapter 5 also show us that being subject to God leads us to the purity of sanctification, “so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word” (v.26). God has called us through His gospel for the purpose of receiving His glory (2 Thessalonians 2:14). When we become submissive to His authority of salvation, the blood that dripped down from the cross where Jesus’ sacrifice was offered cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7). Subjecting our lives to the power of His blood sets us apart from a world that does not know the purity of God’s sanctification. Responding to God’s love in love is living for His purpose (Romans 12:2), no longer allowing our decisions and actions to be made according to the impurity of flesh, but now living sacrificially to prove God’s will as the only pure life.
Later in the same chapter in Ephesians, Paul reveals that submission to the Lord is not something we can do without the help of the Holy Spirit, “for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church” (v.29). When Jesus was led into the wilderness, He was led by God’s Spirit and His success came from the strength provided by the word of God. God calls us to a holiness that can only be attained through submission to His Spirit and His promise is to not only to call and lead us to holiness, but also to sustain us in our walk in His holiness. Submit to God and walk in the power of His resurrection.
In Him,
Cub
“For not knowing about God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God” (Romans 10:3).
What made Jesus so successful in life is the same quality that can make leaders in our times successful. It is the power of knowing how to be submissive to God: “The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works” (John 14:10). A good leader is always a good follower. Jesus remained in His Father’s love by staying focused on the goal of His Father’s will (John 15:10). The church can only be successful by avoiding stumbling blocks and being good followers of the devotion of Jesus to God’s successful plan.
When Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus, he wrote through the inspiration of God’s Spirit. This relates to us an idea of submission. There was a purpose for the words that were written. God wants us to utilize the power of knowing His truth in all situations of our lives. In the fifth chapter of Ephesians, Paul’s inspired words give us direction on how to be led according to the Spirit so as to be led to the success of a faithful life. We can learn a great lesson for life from his devotion to accomplishing the desire of His Lord through his willingness to be utilized for the glory that can only be revealed in truth. Being submissive is making ourselves available to God.
God can only work His good in the hearts of the submissive. His will is to change our hearts about the ideas we once held as valuable in the flesh by subjecting ourselves to the power of His Spirit: “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Romans 8:14). He desires obedience to His will so that His success can be made known through us. But there are some in this world who will remain limited by the power of their own flesh and will not subject their lives to His power which will cause them to remain in Satan’s hands. When we open our hearts, minds and hands to the Lord’s power then we allow the world to see the beauty of His handiwork and the church will remain a shining light in a world darkened by doubt and fear.
Paul’s words in Ephesians chapter 5 also show us that being subject to God leads us to the purity of sanctification, “so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word” (v.26). God has called us through His gospel for the purpose of receiving His glory (2 Thessalonians 2:14). When we become submissive to His authority of salvation, the blood that dripped down from the cross where Jesus’ sacrifice was offered cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7). Subjecting our lives to the power of His blood sets us apart from a world that does not know the purity of God’s sanctification. Responding to God’s love in love is living for His purpose (Romans 12:2), no longer allowing our decisions and actions to be made according to the impurity of flesh, but now living sacrificially to prove God’s will as the only pure life.
Later in the same chapter in Ephesians, Paul reveals that submission to the Lord is not something we can do without the help of the Holy Spirit, “for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church” (v.29). When Jesus was led into the wilderness, He was led by God’s Spirit and His success came from the strength provided by the word of God. God calls us to a holiness that can only be attained through submission to His Spirit and His promise is to not only to call and lead us to holiness, but also to sustain us in our walk in His holiness. Submit to God and walk in the power of His resurrection.
In Him,
Cub
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