Monday – July 25, 2016
It is Monday and time once again for us to receive and incorporate the Word of God into our thinking, our speech, and our ways. We are not to continue emulating (imitate, follow, copy, mimic) our old father, Satan, but we are to emulate our new father, The Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus the Christ. Today I am going to pick-up with our study of ‘submission’. First let us review our text for the last several days.
Colossians 3:18-19 (KJV)
18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
We have focused more or less on the relationship between the husband and wife. We have also looked at the relationship between Christ Jesus and the Church. Natural marriage is a picture of this spiritual marriage between each of us and our Savior. Now let us move on and look at this command, this idea as the Holy Spirit revealed it to the Apostle Peter. Let us start in the second chapter of First Peter.
1 Peter 2:25 (KJV)
25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
As you look at this verse in context in your Bible you will find that you and I that are born again have submitted to the lordship of Jesus, the head of the Church. We were as sheep gone astray from the shepherd but we heard the good news and returned or submitted to “the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” Jesus woos us with love (selflessness, adherence to The Blood Covenant, and strict obedience to the Word of God) and so are we as husbands and as wives to woo one another, this is submission of the highest order, no hidden agenda.
1 Peter 3:1 (KJV)
1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;
This is a Biblical loving relationship not a relationship of domination. And Peter gives wives some advice here that would apply to husbands as well. If the husband (or wife) is not obeying the Word of God, Peter says that; Godly behavior and not tormenting them with Scripture, will win them to the Lord, the Word. This applies to saved and unsaved spouses.
1 Peter 5:1-4 (KJV)
1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
Peter continues with the will and Word of God concerning us all. In the preceding passage admonishment and instruction is given to Church leaders (those in the five fold ministry). The Apostle Peter points out that the leader should not be in that position by force or primarily for a paycheck but as a willing leader under Christ Jesus. Notice the phrase “Neither as being lords over God’s heritage,” This word ‘lord’ means to: control, subjugate or to exercise dominion over (Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary). The practice or idea of being lord or lording over others is absolutely forbidden and is not practiced even by God with regards to people. If anyone could make us do something it would certainly be Him but He gave us freewill and we and we alone chose our destiny. Our current situation is what we have chosen it to be whether on purpose or through a lack of diligence.
1 Peter 5:5-7 (KJV)
5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
The Apostle Peter continues by giving God’s commandment to those who are younger both physically and spiritually. They are to submit (voluntarily to place oneself under) to the elders. He goes on to indicate that each of us are to be subject to one another, being quick to give the other preference. Otherwise we are walking in pride and God Himself will stand against us, there is no place for pride in the Kingdom of God. Pride is what got Lucifer’s little butt kicked out of the Kingdom. On the other hand the humble are helped by ‘grace’ which is the Holy Spirit, which by extension is God Himself (the whole Godhead). We are to voluntarily submit or place ourselves subject to the leadership of God, the Holy Spirit. He will then take care of our future, He will lift us up at the appropriate time, He sees the big picture, pass Him the reins. Then we are to cast every earthly care we have onto Him. He is perfectly designed and eager to take care of us, to take care of the things that so easily distract us. If the enemy can get us distracted by the cares of life he can defeat us and we are his lunch meat.
1 Peter 5:8 (KJV)
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
I for one do not want to be the devils lunch meat, I want to be a submissive son of the Kingdom, building the Kingdom and the family name for the glory of God.
By Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
