Digging Deeper Day 15
Quit Surrendering to God and Submit!
Quit Surrendering to God and Submit!
“All to Jesus I Surrender” sounds like a great idea. But there is a problem. It is not a biblical concept. Before you panic and think I’ve lost my mind hear me out. The word “surrender” is a military term which means “to shut, to close, to be shut up, to be shut or closed, to imprison, to deliver up to custody… “ Not one passage of scripture calls for God’s people to surrender to Him? That’s wild isn’t it? I mean considering all the songs and books and sermons, etc… Why?
Let’s just use some common sense to answer that question.
This past Friday I talked about this concept in chapel at JCS. An unsuspecting middle-schooler (High school students knew better) volunteered to be my example to illustrate the idea of surrender. I told him to assume the “surrender” position. He did exactly what I thought he would do. He stood with his hands in the air like he was caught. Like he was “shut up, delivered into custody,” like he was caught and there was nothing left to do. That is surrender.
A person can surrender, in fact most do, without any allegiance to the one to whom he surrenders. In fact, the first opportunity to escape will be taken. You see that is what we do as Christians. We sin, we get caught, we surrender, we get tempted, we sin, we get caught, we surrender, we get tempted---you see the pattern… Surrender is not the answer.
Some who have heard me talk about this say, well it is just semantics. I don’t think so. There is a word for what God calls us to do and it is “submit.” Like surrender “submit” is a military term. It is similar to surrender but it is actually the opposite. It means “to yield, to subject, to place oneself under a leader , to give, to place under.” When a person submits she “yields,” she isn’t “forced to do anything.” He “places himself under the leader” he isn’t taken by force. She gives herself willingly, she doesn’t give “up.” He places himself under, he is not imprisoned or shut up by another force.
Just a short glance at today’s scripture reading will clear this up a bit… James 4:4-7
“4 You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God?
We know that Jesus was a “friend of sinners” so what does this mean? Friendship with the world is speaking of someone who loves the things of the world or flesh. The ways of the world which are basically the ‘barriers’ which we have been praying through every day during these 40 days. Just look at the barriers listed on the calendars. If you love these things you are a “friend of the world.” He says that love for these things is “hatred toward God.” Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely?
God is jealous for you. He will not share you with anyone. You belong to Him. As the Scripture says “it is he who made us and not we ourselves.” (Acts 17) Not only does God want us but we are actually his. He has full rights to us. As Creator, Almighty God will not get in a shouting match with the world. We often choose the ways of the world over Him. Therefore, we choose to be an enemy. Good news. God loves His enemies and sent His son to die for us. “But God demonstrates His love for us in this: While we were still sinners Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God.”
There it is. Submit to God. Place yourself under God. Don’t surrender. Cause here’s the deal. People give up or surrender to God all the time. You can surrender to God and still be a “Friend of the World” but you can’t submit to Him and remain a friend. People surrender to God in order to get what they want out of him. Many people surrender in order to get prosperity while still being a friend of the world through gossip, judgment, etc... SUBMIT. Place yourself under his authority completely.
Resist (Stand Against) the devil, and he will flee from you.(You are not to be a friend of the “world” but an enemy.) 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”
At chapel I taught the middle-schooler the position for submission too. He got on his face with his hands outstretched, prostrate on the floor... Bringing nothing, no way for escape, willingly, not reluctantly. Not because he was caught, not until he could find another escape, but willingly placed himself under God. Then do you know what happened? God lifted Him up, God stayed next to Him, and when the Devil came (The Principal was the Devil) he was able to stand. He was able to stand because he submitted humbly to God. In his humble submission he drew near to God, God drew near to Him and lifted him up. The devil ran because “greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
Aren’t you tired of surrendering? Oh, I better surrender or I am going to get caught. All the while you still love your sin. Oh, no you have done it again. You have been caught. The same old routine: Hands Up, feet shoulder width apart. It works for a few days then the evil one comes and throws his temptation in your face. Back you go. Why? Because you never changed your loyalty. Sometimes you surrender and you are immediately plotting your rebellion. Sometimes you get mad at God, but God didn’t have anything to do with it. He doesn’t accept surrender. All you did when you surrendered was will yourself to quit until the next opportunity arose. God never was involved in the process. Surrender is only as good as your personal ability to fight. You may think your tough but your nothing compared to Satan.
But when you submit, you decide I will not be a friend of the world anymore. I humbly place myself under the authority of God. I will obey Him and only Him as my leader. I will draw near to Him through prayer and seeking His face in His word. I wash my hands of my friendship with the world. I grieve my friendship with the world. I mourn my friendship with the world. I wail over my friendship with the world. I will seek Him with all my heart. I hunger and thirst for righteousness. God draws near. God comforts. God fills. God empowers. The devil comes. You stand.
Sometimes you will fall but as James says---if you submit, if you humble yourself, if you draw near to God, He gives more grace.
6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God.” LOVE WINS!!!!
INTERESTING STUFF BELOW IF YOU WANT TO DIG EVEN DEEPER
Barrier: Rebellion
Old Testament Meaning
Definition
to rebel, transgress, revolt
to rebel, revolt
to transgress
to be rebelled against
Word Usage - Total: 41
been in rebellion 1, committed 1, offended 1, rebel 1, rebelled 6, rebellion 1, revolted 7, transgress 3, transgressed 10, transgressing 1, transgression 1, transgressors 8
Psalm 37:38
But transgressors will be altogether destroyed; The posterity of the wicked will be cut off.
Psalm 51:13
Then I will teach transgressors Thy ways, And sinners will be converted to Thee.
Isaiah 1:28
But transgressors and sinners will be crushed together, And those who forsake the Lord shall come to an end.
Isaiah 53:12
Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors.
Isaiah 59:13
Transgressing and denying the Lord, And turning away from our God, Speaking oppression and revolt, Conceiving in and uttering from the heart lying words.
Jeremiah 33:8
'And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned against Me, and by which they have transgressed against Me.
Lamentations 3:42
We have transgressed and rebelled, Thou hast not pardoned.
Hosea 7:13
Woe to them, for they have strayed from Me! Destruction is theirs, for they have rebelled against Me! I would redeem them, but they speak lies against Me.
Hosea 8:1
Put the trumpet to your lips! Like an eagle the enemy comes against the house of the Lord, Because they have transgressed My covenant, And rebelled against My law.
Hosea 14:9
Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; Whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the Lord are right, And the righteous will walk in them, But transgressors will stumble in them.
Psalm 5:10
Hold them guilty, O God; By their own devices let them fall! In the multitude of their transgressions thrust them out, For they are rebellious against Thee.
Psalm 19:13
Also keep back Thy servant from presumptuous sins; Let them not rule over me; Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.
Psalm 25:7
Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; According to Thy lovingkindness remember Thou me, For Thy goodness' sake, O Lord.
Psalm 32:1
A Psalm of David. A Maskil. How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered!
Psalm 32:5
I acknowledged my sin to Thee, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord"; And Thou didst forgive the guilt of my sin. Selah.
Psalm 36:1
For the choir director. A Psalm of David the servant of the Lord. Transgression speaks to the ungodly within his heart; There is no fear of God before his eyes.
Psalm 39:8
"Deliver me from all my transgressions; Make me not the reproach of the foolish.
Psalm 51:1
For the choir director. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Be gracious to me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Thy compassion blot out my transgressions.
Psalm 51:3
For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me.
Psalm 59:3
For behold, they have set an ambush for my life; Fierce men launch an attack against me, Not for my transgression nor for my sin, O Lord,
Psalm 65:3
Iniquities prevail against me; As for our transgressions, Thou dost forgive them.
Psalm 89:32
Then I will visit their transgression with the rod, And their iniquity with stripes.
Psalm 103:12
As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Psalm 107:17
Fools, because of their rebellious way, And because of their iniquities, were afflicted.
Definition
to rebel, transgress, revolt
to rebel, revolt
to transgress
to be rebelled against
Word Usage - Total: 41
been in rebellion 1, committed 1, offended 1, rebel 1, rebelled 6, rebellion 1, revolted 7, transgress 3, transgressed 10, transgressing 1, transgression 1, transgressors 8
Psalm 37:38
But transgressors will be altogether destroyed; The posterity of the wicked will be cut off.
Psalm 51:13
Then I will teach transgressors Thy ways, And sinners will be converted to Thee.
Isaiah 1:28
But transgressors and sinners will be crushed together, And those who forsake the Lord shall come to an end.
Isaiah 53:12
Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors.
Isaiah 59:13
Transgressing and denying the Lord, And turning away from our God, Speaking oppression and revolt, Conceiving in and uttering from the heart lying words.
Jeremiah 33:8
'And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned against Me, and by which they have transgressed against Me.
Lamentations 3:42
We have transgressed and rebelled, Thou hast not pardoned.
Hosea 7:13
Woe to them, for they have strayed from Me! Destruction is theirs, for they have rebelled against Me! I would redeem them, but they speak lies against Me.
Hosea 8:1
Put the trumpet to your lips! Like an eagle the enemy comes against the house of the Lord, Because they have transgressed My covenant, And rebelled against My law.
Hosea 14:9
Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; Whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the Lord are right, And the righteous will walk in them, But transgressors will stumble in them.
Psalm 5:10
Hold them guilty, O God; By their own devices let them fall! In the multitude of their transgressions thrust them out, For they are rebellious against Thee.
Psalm 19:13
Also keep back Thy servant from presumptuous sins; Let them not rule over me; Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.
Psalm 25:7
Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; According to Thy lovingkindness remember Thou me, For Thy goodness' sake, O Lord.
Psalm 32:1
A Psalm of David. A Maskil. How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered!
Psalm 32:5
I acknowledged my sin to Thee, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord"; And Thou didst forgive the guilt of my sin. Selah.
Psalm 36:1
For the choir director. A Psalm of David the servant of the Lord. Transgression speaks to the ungodly within his heart; There is no fear of God before his eyes.
Psalm 39:8
"Deliver me from all my transgressions; Make me not the reproach of the foolish.
Psalm 51:1
For the choir director. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Be gracious to me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Thy compassion blot out my transgressions.
Psalm 51:3
For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me.
Psalm 59:3
For behold, they have set an ambush for my life; Fierce men launch an attack against me, Not for my transgression nor for my sin, O Lord,
Psalm 65:3
Iniquities prevail against me; As for our transgressions, Thou dost forgive them.
Psalm 89:32
Then I will visit their transgression with the rod, And their iniquity with stripes.
Psalm 103:12
As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Psalm 107:17
Fools, because of their rebellious way, And because of their iniquities, were afflicted.
New Testament Meaning
Definition
not made subject, unsubjected
that cannot be subjected to control, disobedient, unruly, refractory
Word Usage: 4 rebellion 1, rebellious 1, rebellious men 1, subject 1
1Timothy 1:9
realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous man, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers
Titus 1:6
namely, if any man be above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion.
Titus 1:10
For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,
Definition
not made subject, unsubjected
that cannot be subjected to control, disobedient, unruly, refractory
Word Usage: 4 rebellion 1, rebellious 1, rebellious men 1, subject 1
1Timothy 1:9
realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous man, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers
Titus 1:6
namely, if any man be above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion.
Titus 1:10
For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,
Breakthrough: Submission
Old Testament Meaning
Definition
to give, put, set
to give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, stretch out, extend
to put, set, put on, put upon, set, appoint, assign, designate
to make, constitute
to be given, be bestowed, be provided, be entrusted to, be granted to, be permitted, be issued, be published, be uttered, be assigned
to be set, be put, be made, be inflicted
to be given, be bestowed, be given up, be delivered up
to be put upon
Word Usage - Total: 1996 (Below are just some of the uses...)
abandon 1, add 1, added 1, allow 14, allowed 3, ascribe 2, ascribed 2, assigned 5, bear 1, bestow 1, bestowed 2, bring 10, bring down 2, bringing 2, brings 2, brought 3, cast 3, comes 1, commit 1, committed 1, consign 1, contribute 1, dedicated 1, deliver 26, delivered 26, delivers 3, designate 1, designated 1, direct 1, entrust* 1, entrusted 2, entrusted* 1, establish 1, established 1, fasten 2, fastened 1, furnishing 1, gave 293, generously give 1, gift 1, give 491, given 259, gives 67, giving 37, grant 18, granted 11, hand over 2, indeed deliver 1, indeed give 1, issued 5, laid 5, lay 12, laying 1, lays 1, lend 1, lends 1, let 7, lift 5, lifts 1, makes 3, making 3, offer 2, offered 4, Oh* 13, open* 1, over 1, paid 7, pay 6, performed 1, permit 2, place 13, placed 19, planted 1, pledged 2, pledged* 1, present 2, presented 1, provide 1, provided 2, provides 1, put 192, puts 4, putting 2, reduces 1, render 2, repay 1, Requite 2, requited 1, 1, send 4, sends 1, sent 4, set 74, setting 5, show 2, showed 1, spend 1, spread 1, submitted* 1, supplies 1, surely be given 1, surely give 2, to pay 1, used 1, utter 1, uttered 2, uttered forth 1, utters 5, wept* 1, wholly given 2, work 1, yield 13, yield* 1, yielded 2, yields 2, yours 1
Definition
to give, put, set
to give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, stretch out, extend
to put, set, put on, put upon, set, appoint, assign, designate
to make, constitute
to be given, be bestowed, be provided, be entrusted to, be granted to, be permitted, be issued, be published, be uttered, be assigned
to be set, be put, be made, be inflicted
to be given, be bestowed, be given up, be delivered up
to be put upon
Word Usage - Total: 1996 (Below are just some of the uses...)
abandon 1, add 1, added 1, allow 14, allowed 3, ascribe 2, ascribed 2, assigned 5, bear 1, bestow 1, bestowed 2, bring 10, bring down 2, bringing 2, brings 2, brought 3, cast 3, comes 1, commit 1, committed 1, consign 1, contribute 1, dedicated 1, deliver 26, delivered 26, delivers 3, designate 1, designated 1, direct 1, entrust* 1, entrusted 2, entrusted* 1, establish 1, established 1, fasten 2, fastened 1, furnishing 1, gave 293, generously give 1, gift 1, give 491, given 259, gives 67, giving 37, grant 18, granted 11, hand over 2, indeed deliver 1, indeed give 1, issued 5, laid 5, lay 12, laying 1, lays 1, lend 1, lends 1, let 7, lift 5, lifts 1, makes 3, making 3, offer 2, offered 4, Oh* 13, open* 1, over 1, paid 7, pay 6, performed 1, permit 2, place 13, placed 19, planted 1, pledged 2, pledged* 1, present 2, presented 1, provide 1, provided 2, provides 1, put 192, puts 4, putting 2, reduces 1, render 2, repay 1, Requite 2, requited 1, 1, send 4, sends 1, sent 4, set 74, setting 5, show 2, showed 1, spend 1, spread 1, submitted* 1, supplies 1, surely be given 1, surely give 2, to pay 1, used 1, utter 1, uttered 2, uttered forth 1, utters 5, wept* 1, wholly given 2, work 1, yield 13, yield* 1, yielded 2, yields 2, yours 1
New Testament Meaning
Definition
to arrange under, to subordinate
to subject, put in subjection
to subject one's self, obey
to submit to one's control
to yield to one's admonition or advice
to obey, be subject
A Greek military term meaning "to arrange [troop divisions] in amilitary fashion under the command of a leader". In non-military use,it was "a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden".
NAS Word Usage - Total: 38
subject 21, subjected 7, subjecting 1, subjection 4, submissive 3, submit 2
Romans 8:7
because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so;
Romans 8:20
For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope
Romans 10:3
For not knowing about God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.
Romans 13:1
Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.
Romans 13:5
Wherefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience' sake.
Ephesians 5:21 - Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Ephesians 5:24- Show Context
Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
Col 2:20 - Show Context
Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules:
Col 3:18 - Show Context
Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
Heb 12:9 - Show Context
Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!
Heb 13:17 - Show Context
Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Jas 4:7 - Show Context
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
1Pe 2:13 - Show Context
Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority,
Definition
to arrange under, to subordinate
to subject, put in subjection
to subject one's self, obey
to submit to one's control
to yield to one's admonition or advice
to obey, be subject
A Greek military term meaning "to arrange [troop divisions] in amilitary fashion under the command of a leader". In non-military use,it was "a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden".
NAS Word Usage - Total: 38
subject 21, subjected 7, subjecting 1, subjection 4, submissive 3, submit 2
Romans 8:7
because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so;
Romans 8:20
For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope
Romans 10:3
For not knowing about God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.
Romans 13:1
Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.
Romans 13:5
Wherefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience' sake.
Ephesians 5:21 - Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Ephesians 5:24- Show Context
Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
Col 2:20 - Show Context
Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules:
Col 3:18 - Show Context
Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
Heb 12:9 - Show Context
Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!
Heb 13:17 - Show Context
Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Jas 4:7 - Show Context
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
1Pe 2:13 - Show Context
Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority,
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