Embracing Submission: Freedom Through the Spirit and Community
Summary
In today's reflection, we explored the profound themes of submission and influence as outlined in Ephesians 5:1-21. The passage challenges us to consider what or whom we are submitting to in our daily lives. Are we under the influence of worldly stuckness, or are we allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us? The Apostle Paul contrasts the old self with the new, urging us to live as children of light, free from the chains of our past. This freedom is not just a personal liberation but a call to serve and uplift one another within the body of Christ, the Soma.
We delved into three distinct ways of submission: to stuckness, to the Spirit, and to the Soma. Submission to stuckness refers to being trapped in unhealthy patterns, whether through substances, relationships, or internal struggles. Paul specifically mentions not getting drunk on wine, symbolizing the broader concept of being controlled by anything other than the Spirit. In contrast, submitting to the Spirit involves a daily invitation for the Holy Spirit to take control, guiding us towards a life of godly intentions and actions. This submission is not about seeking charismatic experiences but about yielding to God's influence in our everyday lives.
Finally, submitting to the Soma, the body of Christ, means living in mutual submission with fellow believers. This radical idea of mutual submission extends beyond traditional hierarchies, encouraging us to stand under one another out of reverence for Christ. It challenges societal norms and calls us to a life of service, where we use our God-given gifts to bless others.
As we reflect on these themes, we are invited to examine where we might be stuck, to seek the Spirit's filling daily, and to find ways to serve within our community. This journey of submission leads us to a life of freedom and purpose, aligning our lives with God's mission and transforming our communities in the process.
Key Takeaways:
- Submission to Stuckness: We often find ourselves trapped in unhealthy patterns, whether through substances, relationships, or internal struggles. Paul warns against being under the influence of anything other than the Spirit, urging us to break free from these chains and live as children of light. [30:25]
- Submission to the Spirit: Being filled with the Spirit is a daily invitation for God to take control of our lives. It's not about seeking charismatic experiences but about yielding to God's influence, allowing Him to guide our thoughts and actions towards His will. [37:39]
- Submission to the Soma: Mutual submission within the body of Christ challenges societal norms and calls us to serve one another out of reverence for Christ. This radical idea extends beyond traditional hierarchies, encouraging us to use our gifts to bless others. [41:40]
- Finding Freedom in Submission: True freedom comes from submitting to the Spirit and serving one another. As we align our lives with God's mission, we experience a life of purpose and fulfillment, transforming our communities in the process. [53:00]
- Living as Children of Light: The call to live as children of light involves examining where we might be stuck, seeking the Spirit's filling daily, and finding ways to serve within our community. This journey leads us to a life of freedom and purpose, aligning our lives with God's mission. [59:51]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [25:02] - Opening Prayer
- [30:25] - Submission to Stuckness
- [33:50] - Influence of the Spirit
- [37:39] - Being Filled with the Spirit
- [41:40] - Submission to the Soma
- [46:40] - Mutual Submission
- [49:30] - Spiritual Battles
- [53:00] - Finding Freedom
- [59:51] - Serving with Gifts
- [01:03:49] - Church as a Troop Transport
- [01:16:56] - Closing Blessing
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 5:1-21
Observation Questions:
1. What are the three types of submission mentioned in Ephesians 5:1-21, and how are they described in the sermon? [30:25]
2. How does Paul contrast the old self with the new self in Ephesians 5, and what does this mean for believers? [25:02]
3. What specific example does Paul use to illustrate being under the influence of something other than the Spirit? [30:25]
4. How does the sermon describe the concept of mutual submission within the body of Christ? [41:40]
Interpretation Questions:
1. What does it mean to submit to "stuckness," and how can this affect a believer's spiritual life? [30:25]
2. How does the sermon explain the process of being filled with the Spirit, and why is it important for daily living? [37:39]
3. In what ways does mutual submission challenge societal norms, according to the sermon? [41:40]
4. How does the idea of living as "children of light" relate to the themes of submission and influence discussed in the sermon? [59:51]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you feel "stuck" in unhealthy patterns? What steps can you take to break free from these patterns? [30:25]
2. How can you make a daily practice of inviting the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts and actions? What might this look like in your routine? [37:39]
3. Consider your relationships within the church community. How can you practice mutual submission and use your gifts to serve others? [41:40]
4. Identify one area in your life where you are under the influence of something other than the Spirit. What changes can you make to submit more fully to God's guidance? [30:25]
5. Think about a specific way you can serve within your community or church. What steps will you take to get involved and use your gifts for the benefit of others? [59:51]
6. How can you create space in your life for the Holy Spirit to work by saying a strategic "no" to certain activities or commitments? [49:30]
7. Reflect on the idea of living as "children of light." What practical steps can you take to align your life more closely with God's mission and purpose? [59:51]
Devotional
Day 1: Breaking Free from Unhealthy Patterns
In our lives, we often find ourselves trapped in cycles of behavior that do not serve us well. These patterns, whether they involve substances, relationships, or internal struggles, can hold us back from living as children of light. The Apostle Paul warns against being under the influence of anything other than the Spirit, urging us to break free from these chains. This freedom is not just about personal liberation but about stepping into a life that reflects God's light and love. By identifying and addressing these areas of stuckness, we can begin to live more fully in the freedom that God offers us. [30:25]
Ephesians 4:22-24 (ESV): "To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."
Reflection: What is one unhealthy pattern in your life that you feel God is calling you to break free from? How can you take a step towards freedom today?
Day 2: Inviting the Spirit's Guidance
Being filled with the Spirit is a daily invitation for God to take control of our lives. This is not about seeking dramatic or charismatic experiences but about yielding to God's influence in our everyday actions and decisions. By allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us, we align our thoughts and actions with God's will, leading to a life of godly intentions. This submission to the Spirit is a transformative process that requires intentionality and openness to God's leading. [37:39]
Galatians 5:16-17 (ESV): "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do."
Reflection: How can you create space in your daily routine to invite the Holy Spirit's guidance? What specific area of your life needs His influence today?
Day 3: Embracing Mutual Submission
Submitting to the Soma, the body of Christ, involves living in mutual submission with fellow believers. This radical idea challenges societal norms and traditional hierarchies, calling us to serve one another out of reverence for Christ. By standing under one another, we use our God-given gifts to bless others and build up the community. This mutual submission is a powerful expression of love and unity within the body of Christ, reflecting the heart of God's kingdom. [41:40]
1 Peter 5:5 (ESV): "Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'"
Reflection: In what ways can you practice mutual submission within your community this week? How can you use your gifts to serve and uplift others?
Day 4: Discovering Freedom through Service
True freedom comes from submitting to the Spirit and serving one another. As we align our lives with God's mission, we experience a life of purpose and fulfillment. This journey of submission leads to personal transformation and has the power to transform our communities as well. By serving others, we reflect God's love and contribute to the flourishing of those around us, finding freedom in the process. [53:00]
2 Corinthians 3:17 (ESV): "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."
Reflection: How can you serve someone in your community today in a way that reflects God's love? What does finding freedom through service look like for you?
Day 5: Living as Children of Light
The call to live as children of light involves examining where we might be stuck, seeking the Spirit's filling daily, and finding ways to serve within our community. This journey leads us to a life of freedom and purpose, aligning our lives with God's mission. By living as children of light, we become beacons of hope and transformation in a world that desperately needs it. [59:51]
Ephesians 5:8-10 (ESV): "For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord."
Reflection: What does it mean for you to live as a child of light in your current circumstances? How can you be a beacon of hope and transformation in your community today?
Quotes
"Paul could have picked on a number of sins that he's already mentioned. I mean, the whole book has a bunch of sins that he mentions. He could have brought up deceit or greed or sexual impurity or destructive language. You should see my notes, the inductive method. I have all these lists of sins, but for some reason, he chose to not get drunk on wine. There's many different reasons why he could have chosen that. I think he's actually going to make this beautiful kind of allegory and this image and the reason why partly of it. Destructive language, I mentioned, right? All these important sins, gossip." [00:31:34]
"Are you under submission to the spirit or under submission to a stuckness? And that's where we're going to get this theme. Are you under the influence of a substance or under the influence of the spirit? Are you under the influence of something that's holding you back? Are you under the influence of the one person in the universe who knows you better than you know yourself and loves you more than you love yourself? You have a choice. What influence do you want to be under, right?" [00:32:08]
"Do not get drunk with wine, but also don't get stuck in unhealthy patterns that undermine your walk in Christ. Okay? Remember I was saying, like, let's be open to the Spirit. Is there one thing? I'm not sure if anything is sticking yet, but one thing, Lord. What do you want us to remember? What do you want us to do? Secondly, remember there's three ways to submit. You can submit to a stuckness, or you can submit to the Spirit, right? Verse 18, be filled with the Spirit. Do not get drunk with wine, but be filled with the Spirit." [00:35:47]
"Paul is showing these Ephesian believers what it looks like for a community of believers to be filled with the Spirit, to be under the influence of godly thoughts, godly intentions, submitted to God's will instead of our worldly desires. So it's a wonderful passage, but it's one big, long, in the Greek, run-on sentence basically. Even Paul had bad grammar, right? So what Paul does, he lists four manifestations of what a Spirit-filled community looks like. And man, this is a sermon within itself. Verses 19 to 21. It's first speaking to each other with songs." [00:36:18]
"That was the first thing I saw, that pairing. It's like, oh, I think he purposely chose the wine because he could use that idea of filling. I think. A commentary didn't say that. It's just what I saw. Oh, if you say filled with wine, filled with the Spirit, it's this nice little play on this idea of being filled. Being under the influence of alcohol or under the influence of the Spirit. Now, here's what Paul isn't saying, I don't think. You're not praying for the Spirit to come back every day, right? Because he's telling, he's a command to be, pray that you would be filled with the Spirit. And he's talking to Christians." [00:37:39]
"So what I think being filled with the Spirit is, it's a command for Christians to daily invite the Spirit to take control. So when we are singing, come Lord Jesus, I want you to think more of like, we're not asking to come. He's already here. Lord, help us to recognize your presence. Help me to yield to you today. Help me to surrender to you. Right? That's, we're surrendering to a substance? No. Surrender to the Spirit every day. Christians, for those who are not yet followers of Christ, today could be the first day you fully surrender." [00:40:27]
"Thirdly, submit to the Soma, verse 21. Submitting to one another, in the Greek it's the allelon, out of reverence for Christ. Now I'm going to say a little bit more about this in a second, but that Greek word allelon, it's used over a hundred times in the New Testament. These are fellow believers, brothers and sisters in Christ, living in loving mutuality for the cause of Christ. So Paul, I think, is saying, as we refuse to be submitted to these substances, these stucknesses, and as we choose to daily be submitted to the Spirit, then it's a natural outgrowth to submit to the allelon, the one another, fellow brothers and sisters in Christ." [00:41:40]
"So we first stand under Jesus, hupostasso, and then we're standing under one another, hupostasso. That's why I'm thinking the filling is referring to another pairing. It's not using the same words, but I see interesting kind of pairing that go along with that as well. So I think Paul's point is this, don't stand under the influence of alcohol or sexual sin or bitterness or greed, et cetera. Don't be under the influence of a stuckness that's destroying your life anyways, right? Part of the dark life, the old life. Instead, be under the influence of the Spirit that leads to be under the influence of one another, fellow brothers, sisters in Christ." [00:43:58]
"See, the world is telling us to please oneself through a substance, please oneself through an acquisition of money, please oneself by doing things that'll make you happy. It's the happy life, but it's really a prison trying to get all of these things to make your life happy or feel in control or to sway some kind of fear you have in your life. See, it's only by submitting to the spirit and then to one another that we find freedom and so each day my friend is asking the holy spirit to fill him to take over and to use what god gives him to share it with others and it's amazing to see the way god is gifting him and he's seeing these gifts that he's sharing now sharing he wore a like a jesus shirt and he had like anyway so he had this amazing opportunity and people are coming up saying tell me what is this who's this jesus in you is it's really cool what god's doing in his life" [00:55:34]
"Where could you serve? See submitting to the spirit into one another is refusing to selflessly selfishly make life all about you see remember I said about that standing under word the hupotasso standing under one another it's sharing what god has given you to others it wasn't meant to be hoarded your god is gifting you take a look at ephesians 2 10 he's crafted you specially to do good works that god has prepared in advance for you to do for you to walk in it's meant to share that's the spirit filled life yes it could involve charismatic gifts awesome but it's sharing whatever gifts god has given you to with others whatever those gifts are some of you have a gift of like you i don't know you're good good at analyzing you're a gifted analyzer we'll do it for the kingdom you're a gifted organizer do it for the kingdom tell tony he would love some people with organizing skills to come we have a couple projects for you literally it's a gift from god some of you are gifted artists amen some of you are gifted therapists gifted teachers gifted gifted gifted gifted gifted gifted" [00:57:26]
"Matthew 10, 39 says this, if your first concern is to look after yourself, you'll never find yourself. But if you forget yourself and look to me, you'll find both yourself and me. You lose your life, and you find it. I'm going to close with this one illustration, and I shared it in my first sermon at my prior church, and my last sermon at prior church. And it's this story that David Platt tells about the story of the Queen Mary ship, and how it was built earlier in the 20th century. It was a luxury liner. How many of you ever visited the Queen Mary? You know what I'm talking about? Okay, a few of you. It's a giant, it was like this famous ship, had this whole array of indulgences designed to entice the rich. It could fit up to 3 ,000 wealthy patrons on it at one time. It was larger than even the Titanic, okay? Now what's interesting though, for six years, it was during World War II, and the country was in a state of a national emergency, and the nation called upon the ship to be turned into a troop transport." [01:02:42]
"And so they transformed the Queen Mary from a luxury liner serving 3 ,000 tourists into a troop transport carrying 15 ,000 troops. And so the whole ship was completely turned upside down to accomplish a mission during war, instead of accommodating wealthy patrons on vacation. And you can still go today and see some places where they designed it for a troop transport, and here's a section where it was like the luxury liner. It's pretty interesting to see it. So the question I leave us with today is this. Which image better describes the church in America today? Are we more like a luxury liner or a troop transport? Because what would happen if we look square in the face of this fact of around 30 ,000 children every day who are dying from either hunger or preventable disease? And what if we said we're not going to use this ship anymore, our lives, our families, this church, we're not going to use it to indulge our pleasures, and sit by the pool, and ask for more hors d 'oeuvres, and wave over the servants, right? And instead we're going to transform everything and say, how can we give our lives for the sake of accomplishing this mission?" [01:03:49]
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