Submitting to the Lord’s Service

Introduction:

In Matthew 19:16, we learn about a young man who approached Jesus inquiring as to what he needed to do to obtain eternal life. There must have been something inside him that he felt he lacked…he fell short somewhere. Jesus deals with people on reality – not appearance. By requiring this, Jesus reveals that the young man lacked a wholehearted love for God. Loving God means we must rid ourselves of that which stands between us and full devotion and dedication to God. Devotion and dedication involve a willingness to submit to the Lord’s service.

I.  Abraham humbly submitted to God.

A.     Acts 7:3 – told Abraham to get up and go to a land that He would show him.  He went. 

B.     Hebrews 11:8-10 - Dwelt in foreign land; in tents; uncertainty.

1.     Acts 7:5 - Was willing to work on God’s timetable. 

2.     Submitted to covenant of circumcision (Genesis 17:23; Acts 7:8)

C.      Hebrews 11:17-19 - submitted to the will of God concerning Isaac

D.     James 2:21 – 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 Nineveh.

B.     Jonah 2: Darkest time of Jonah’s life. He prays to the Lord for deliverance – 2:10 – delivered.

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

D.     Jonah 4 – a lesson on submission: involves doing things we don’t understand the purpose for. 

1.     Jonah 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.     Acts 22:3 – educated under Gamaliel – kept law strictly like the fathers.

2.     Galatians 1:14 – advanced beyond his countryman –  zealous

3.     Philippians 3:5-6 - A Hebrew of Hebrews – found blameless in the law.

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

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

D.     Made his body his slave – 1 Corinthians 9:27

IV.  Jesus Submitted to the Will of the Father.

A.     Here’s the perfect example of submission.

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

2.     See also Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42

B.     Sometimes we complain about submitting to the will of God…

V.  We can go one of two directions.

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

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

C.     Which direction are you headed?  Will you submit to God?