Submission and Unity

Date: September 5, 2010 Scripture: Ephesians 5:21
Series: The Gospel for Relationships
Proposition: Spirit-filled submission is essential to Christian unity.

Title: Submission and Unity

Intro: When you have an idea or observation, isn’t it amazing how often you re right? And if only people would listen to you, you could get a lot of people straightened out. And a lot of organizations. And dozens, perhaps hundreds of times, you have had the answer to our nation’s problems. Why don’t more people listen to you? I don’t understand it either. And for a person of such accomplished ideas, and so often correct, is it proper to submit to others? That may be asking just too much. I mean, wouldn’t it be a great loss to the world?

Last week we looked at the four marks of being filled with the Holy Spirit.
Perhaps they could be summarized as a joyful fellowship – with God and with His people.

• Speaking to one another
• Singing and making melody in your heart
• Giving thanks always

You can see how positive all these things are. What a positive attitude is expressed in each one.
And then the fourth mark – submitting to one another.

That one may take the air out of your feel-good balloon.
“Wait – I like to do what I like to do, when I like to do it. I like to be at my planned place, at my planned pace. Don’t anyone tell me what to do. It infringes on my personhood, and my identity. So when I have to, I will submit at work, or when I see a police cruiser, but I won’t like it. That isn’t living. Doing what I want to do when I want to do it is where real life is.”

Submission can easily be looked a in a negative light, especially in a culture that is a democracy. We might a have an underlying sense of “We are all equal, so no one should have to submit.

Transition: But Ephesians 4:21 has a different take on it.
Main Points:
I)A reverent submission to our fellow believers is the 4th mark of being filled with the Spirit. (v 18)
21 b
The Dictionary definition of submission -
1. To yield or surrender (oneself) to the will or authority of another.
2. To subject to a condition or process.
3. To commit (something) to the consideration or judgment of another.
II)This is in the context of unity – Submission is indispensable to getting along, because if we all insist on getting our way, we will be in conflict.
How can people get along? Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. (or out of fear of God, fear meaning reverence for his power)
a) Here is a key lesson – we submit to God by submitting to proper human authority. Anyone of us can be convinced that we are submitting to God, while all the time we are doing what we want, when we want, and having other people do things our way, too. In such a case, how would we ever know if we are truly submitting to God, or that we are simply putting a veneer of godliness over our own self-serving choices?
Romans 13:1-2 tells us.
Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

b)This is a path for being healthy as well.
A study was done a number of years ago to find out which hospitals for life-disrupting mental and emotional problems were the most effective, so the best approach could be determined. The researchers discovered that most hospitals had about the same rate of improvement for in-patients. And when the patients left, they had about the same rate of relapse.
Their conclusion – the key wasn’t what psychological theory was used – the key was that the hospitals had a structured setting. Meals were served at set times, lights went out at set times, meetings were scheduled during the day. And the patients, by conforming to a schedule and the rules of the floor, and with it relating to people differently, got better in their emotional and mental health. And leaving the structure, and falling back into old patterns, led to a relapse.
c)Would a child who got his way all the time be a healthy child? That child would not mature, and will likely be in dangerous places. So it is with us. It is good for us to have places where we aren’t getting our way all the time, but rather we have to bend our wills. It makes us healthier, more mature people
d)Are you doing things you would not in yourself choose to do because you have chosen to submit to someone, or some larger group? If we can bend our will to others, we have a hope for unity.

III)It is important at this point to say that submission is not absolute. We do not submit to all authority, but to “proper” human authority. Not all human authority in all situations is legitimate. Submission is not absolute.
A)Here’s an example in the Scripture – Acts 4:18-19 and 5:28-29
When human authority compels us to disobey God’s authority, then we do not submit to man.

B)We are not called to submit to abusive situations. Abuse means to misuse authority to harm another person in an unjust way.
The apostle Paul was beaten as a prisoner without any trial, and the next morning when the magistrate released him, Paul remained in the jail and sent word to the magistrate: I’m a Roman citizen. Come yourself and get us out. Because Roman citizens had certain rights the magistrate knew he could be in deep trouble with his superiors, and he came to Paul and pleaded with him to leave the city. So when Paul’s rights as a citizen were abused, Paul took a stand.

Years ago at a missionary kids’ school abuse took place over several years that was unbelievable for any organization, let alone Christian organization. The director of the school was an authoritarian who imposed his will on all, and punished severely for the most minor and childish infractions, real or imagined.
The director had a powerful strategy – he told the children that if they worried their parents about their schooling, they would disrupt their parents’ missionary work, and because of that, they would cause Africans to go to hell. They were forced to send letters to their parents telling how happy they were. So the children were psychologically manipulated
We know there are sick personalities who rise through organizations, but the deeper puzzlement is that the school staff took on a culture of abuse, either actively or by allowing it to happen without objecting. Part of it was that someone had to say: This isn’t right. I must obey God rather than man.
Given the isolated location, the original good intentions behind the staff calling, and the psychological pressure of the director along with peer pressure and group-think, it would have taken a great, courageous act to have blown the whistle and entered into a great battle. How it was needed.

One good question: is the person at the top of the chain himself or herself submitted? Is there someone, or some group who can say “no” to that person? If not the situation is ripe for abuse.

IV)Having given that boundary, let’s return to the original statement –
Submitting to one another. The godly resistance against abusive authority is the exception. Our normal pattern will be to submit.
This call to submit sets the topic for the next section in Ephesians, which is about relationships in three areas: marriage, parents and children, the work place. We will look at those starting next Sunday.

V)Submission is a Christ-like thing
Submission may seem to make us inferior, and we can far it makes us weak.
So we need to ask the question: did Jesus submit?
A)Jesus, should we pay taxes?
“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

B)Jesus submitted to the Father
I Cor 15:28
Jesus is never an inferior being to the Father. As Fanny Crosby described the three persons of the godhead in her hymn – they are “co-equal in glory”.
And look at the end result of his subjection –
That God may be all in all.
That is unity.

C)This is not a drudgery for Jesus – John 4:34
“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” In other words – this is what I live on.

D)Jesus in submission went to the cross. In submission we embrace the cross, and always after the cross there is a resurrection – the new life Jesus gives. The new life following submission is the joy of unity and fellowship.

Submission is a Christ-like choice. That is why submitting to one another is a mark of being filled with the Spirit.

Application: How do we get along in church? Submitting to one another.
We need to conduct our church business meetings, and our church board meetings, and our church prayer meetings in accord with this command.
We need to avoid in our relationships a sense of personal competition and concern about order of status, and of “affirm me by affirming my ideas”.
In place we need to listen to one another, consider one another, and

Are you fighting authority someplace?
Are you struggling with it because you are defending your ego, and protecting your independence? You may be filled with anger, and anxiety, and you would find submission freeing.

You may be in some major conflict today. It is probably filled with complexities.
Start with this – are you submitted to God? Get your ego out of it, and desire that God to be glorified above all.
That God may be all in all. Including in those frustrating relationships – there too you have your God-given purpose.

Conclusion: Submission to one another out of reverence for Christ is a key to unity.

http://ccbacsmallgroups.wordpress.com/2010/09/08/submission-and-unity/

A Spirit-Filled Unity

Date: August 29, 2010 Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-21
Series: The Gospel for Relationships
Proposition: Being filled with the Holy Spirit nurtures a joyful fellowship.

Title: A Spirit-Filled Unity

(Click to Listen to the Sermon Audio or Right Click for “Save As” Download)

Intro: In a memorable, actor Karl Malden would hold up a card toward the camera, and say in a very authoritative voice:
American Express – Don’t leave home without it.

We might say in similar bold tones: “The Holy Spirit – Don’t try to live the Christian life without Him.” Of course in one sense you can’t – the Holy Spirit has been conferred upon all believers.
To be a Christian in essence is not simply to accept certain propositions as true but also to be indwelt by the Holy Spirit. He is a wonderful gift from God to you. You aren’t meant to live the Holy Spirit based on grasping concepts only, but by the indwelling life and power of Jesus Christ by His Spirit.
Transition: The Holy Spirit – don’t try to live the Christian life without dependence upon Him.
The Apostle Paul calls his readers to be wise, and a main point of wisdom, it turns out, is to live in full dependence upon the Holy Spirit.
Main Points:
I) Choose wisely because the days are evil
A) Walk Carefully v 15
NKJV says walk “circumspectly”
Don’t walk as a fool, but as wise.
To walk carefully means two things – be alert – we can drift into foolish choices if we are not thinking.
And take care with each step.
That means we need to slow down – not to automatically go with our first instinct on how we will react, or speak, but to think first.
On the target range the order is “ready, aim, fire!”
Too often our bent is “ready, fire! aim”.
Take time to understand what God’s will is.
Remember this principle – God guides, and the devil rushes.
Walk carefully.

B) Redeem the time because the days are evil.
The days are evil Paul says. They always have been, they have always had the stain of Satan’s work and human depravity.
The Greek word for time here carries a sense of opportunity. In other words, all day long you have opportunities. Each day is an opportunity and moments in those days are opportunities – to live and reflect love and holiness, or just let them go by. You can buy up those times, redeem them for good.

C) Understand what the will of the Lord is. That is synonymous with wisdom. Wisdom is making correct moral choices, and to make them, we need to understand what the will of the Lord is.

II) And then he specifies one aspect of God’s will – it is to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is the 3rd Person of the Trinity, the presence of Jesus Christ with us and within us.

A) We learn here what the filling of the Holy Spirit means
1) It means the Holy Spirit is the dominating influence on your life. And just as being filled with alcohol means that alcohol would dominate your personality and your judgment and your emotions and desires, so being filled with the Spirit means that the Spirit of Jesus Christ dominates your personality and your judgment and your emotions and desires.
2) The filling of the Spirit is to be continuous. The verb tense in the Greek is translated literally as be ye being filled with the Spirit. To redeem the time when the days are evil we need to be filled, refilled, renewed, refreshed.
3) This verb is in the imperative voice. It means it is a command. Christians can choose whether they want to eat meat or not, and whether or not they choose to celebrate Christmas, Easter and Pentecost. But being filled with the Spirit isn’t an option. It is for every believer.
In this world with all its bumps and bruises and temptations and when the days are obviously evil – Don’t turn to alcohol, turn to the Spirit
Don’t surrender your powers of judgment to alcohol.
Surrender your powers to the Holy Spirit.

B) Paul goes on to give the characteristics of being filled with the Holy Spirit. What does that look like?
V 18-21 are all one sentence in the Greek manuscript – so these all continue in one unified thought. The command to be filled with the Spirit is followed by four descriptive clauses, which all have verbs ending in ing– speaking, singing and making melody, giving thanks, and submitting.

1) These characteristics are given in the context of Ephesians subject of unity in relationships.
Other portions of Scripture emphasize the fruits of the Spirit – virtues like love, joy, peace…
And other text emphasize the gifts of the Spirit – special abilities given to minister, like teaching, mercy, leading, serving, and tongues.
But here, in the special focus on being filled with the Spirit – the emphasis in on our relationship – and how our relationship to God directs our relationship to others.
In other words, being filled with the Holy Spirit shows in relationships. This is the Gospel for relationships.
Being filled with the Holy Spirit nurtures a joyful fellowship.

2) Let’s look at the four characteristics
a) The first is a shared spiritual encouragement
19 a
This is speaking encouragement to one another. Paul has in mind corporate worship. Part of us being filled with the Spirit is that we want to share a joyful encouragement. A song in which we sing encouragement to one another is a good song – “Come, now is the time to worship.” Or “Trust and obey,f or ther’s no other way,To be happy in Jesus, then to trust and obey.”

b) A second characteristic is being filled with joy toward God.
19 b
And let your heart fill up with melody where nobody else can hear but God.
being filled with the Spirit means, basically, having great joy in God.
Acts 13:52, “The disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”

c) A third characteristic is thanking
We might be able to do that in or own power, but then Paul ratchets up the standard: always –
And he ratchets it up yet again: for all things.
This is God’s will for you… give thanks always in all circumstances.

Come home for work exhausted, and what can you be thankful for? That you have work and you can work.
Come out of the grocery store with a huge grocery bill, and for what can you be thankful? That you have family and friends to have at your table.
Have adversity, where the pain is deep and long, and the pathway is confusing. For what can you be thankful;? That God has a purpose in that to make you more like Jesus Christ.

d) The fourth characteristic is submitting reverently
20 b
This is indispensable to getting along. Would a child who got his way all the time be a healthy child? That child would not mature, and will likely be in dangerous places. So it is with us. It is good for us to have places where we aren’t getting our way all the time, but rather we have to bend our wills.

This phrase sets the topic for the next section in Ephesians, which I shall pick up next Sunday. It is about submission in husband and wife relationships, in parent child relationships, and in the workplace.

Application: So how are we filled with the Holy Spirit?
There is not a step by step formula. But consider these three factors using the acronym “DAY”:
Desire - we need to want the Holy Spirit to be the dominating influence eon our lives. That means we are ready to give our self-directed ways.
I remember saying o the filling of the Holy Spirit before going off to college – I was afraid of what he Holy Spirit would do with me. It was fear that caused me to say no. The opposite of trust. I didn’t realize that the Holy Spirit’s goal was to make me more and more like Jesus Christ.

Ask -Jesus said: “How much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” Luke 11:13 It is a good thing to ask for the fullness of the Spirit.

Yield – You have all the Holy Spirit. Does the Holy Spirit have all of you?
There is a choice to be made in being filled with the Spirit. These four characteristics are ways we can choose to cultivate the Holy Spirit’s influence on us.
We can direct our thoughts and with that our attitudes. When we first wake up in the morning – we can be startled by the alarms buzzer, and fumble foggily for the off button. Step on the floor, and man, rigor mortis sunk into my ankles last night. Hey, who glued my eye shut. Honey, get the Goo-Gone. But please, don’t talk to me. Don’t ask me how my day has gone so far.
As the wife’s T-shirt sys: Someday I wake up grumpy, and some days he wakes up all by himself.
But we can’t let that dictate our day. We can speak encouragement, we can rejoice in the Lord, and give thanks, and get off our throne to take up a towel and basin.

Conclusion: Be Filled with the Spirit. It God’s will, and it is God’s blessing.

http://ccbacsmallgroups.wordpress.com/2010/09/03/a-spirit-filled-unity/