Embracing Submission: Trusting God for Transformation

Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound concept of submission to God, particularly within the context of marriage and personal life. The journey from a turbulent marriage to a thriving one requires both partners to submit their roles and relationship to God. This submission is not about losing oneself but about aligning with the divine design, as God is the creator of marriage. When faced with challenges, such as a spouse who is not aligned with God's will, the call is to lead by example, as outlined in 1 Peter 3, and trust in God's transformative power.

The essence of submission is trusting God with all aspects of life, acknowledging that our paths are inherently crooked without His guidance. Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us to trust in the Lord wholeheartedly, as He is the one who makes our paths straight. This trust is not passive but requires active engagement with God's Word, which is capable of saving our souls and transforming our present circumstances.

We also discussed the danger of using grace as an excuse to continue in sin, emphasizing that true freedom comes from living under God's rule. The analogy of a recipe was used to illustrate the importance of following God's instructions precisely, as deviation leads to undesirable outcomes. Just as a recipe ensures the desired taste, God's Word ensures a life of freedom and fulfillment.

The story of the Israelites serves as a cautionary tale of how quickly freedom can turn into captivity when we choose to do what is right in our own eyes. Despite being set free by God's mighty hand, they returned to slavery by relying on their own understanding. This pattern is repeated in our lives when we forsake God's guidance for our own ways.

Ultimately, the call is to trust in God's mighty hand, which has the power to save and sustain us. Whether it's in marriage, finances, or personal struggles, submitting to God is the path to true freedom and survival. The invitation is open to all who seek prayer and support in their journey of submission, recognizing that it is a daily commitment to trust and obey God.

Key Takeaways:

1. Submission in Marriage: True transformation in marriage begins with both partners submitting their roles to God. This means leading by example and trusting in God's power to change hearts, as outlined in 1 Peter 3. The journey requires patience and faith, knowing that God's mighty hand can work in ways we cannot. [13:22]

2. Trusting God's Guidance: Proverbs 3:5-6 teaches us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts, acknowledging that our paths are crooked without Him. This trust is active, requiring us to engage with God's Word, which has the power to save and transform our lives. [14:32]

3. The Danger of Misusing Grace: Grace is not a license to continue in sin. True freedom comes from living under God's rule, as illustrated by the analogy of a recipe. Deviating from God's instructions leads to undesirable outcomes, while obedience brings fulfillment. [16:20]

4. Learning from the Israelites: The story of the Israelites serves as a warning against doing what is right in our own eyes. Despite being set free, they returned to captivity by relying on their own understanding. This pattern is a reminder to trust in God's mighty hand. [30:25]

5. The Power of God's Mighty Hand: God's mighty hand has the power to save and sustain us in all areas of life. Whether it's in marriage, finances, or personal struggles, submitting to God is the path to true freedom and survival. The invitation is open to all who seek prayer and support in their journey of submission. [27:03]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [12:50] - Submitting Marriage to God
- [13:22] - Leading by Example
- [14:32] - Trusting God's Guidance
- [15:33] - The Power of God's Word
- [16:20] - Misusing Grace
- [17:41] - Survival Through Submission
- [18:54] - Freedom and Slavery
- [20:01] - The Recipe Analogy
- [23:18] - Living Under God's Rule
- [25:23] - The Mighty Hand of God
- [27:03] - Trusting in God's Power
- [30:25] - Lessons from the Israelites
- [32:42] - The Importance of Obedience
- [37:34] - The Call to Trust and Obey

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. 1 Peter 3:1-2
2. Proverbs 3:5-6
3. James 1:21

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Observation Questions:

1. According to 1 Peter 3, how are wives encouraged to influence their husbands who may not be aligned with God's will? [13:22]

2. What does Proverbs 3:5-6 instruct us to do with all our hearts, and what is the promised result of doing so? [14:32]

3. In James 1:21, what is the Word of God described as being capable of doing for our souls? [15:33]

4. How does the sermon illustrate the concept of misusing grace with the analogy of a recipe? [22:01]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How might the principle of leading by example, as mentioned in 1 Peter 3, apply to other relationships beyond marriage? [13:22]

2. What does it mean to actively trust in God's guidance according to Proverbs 3:5-6, and how can this trust manifest in daily life? [14:32]

3. How does the analogy of a recipe help us understand the importance of following God's instructions precisely? [22:01]

4. What lessons can we learn from the Israelites' experience of returning to captivity after being set free, and how does this relate to our own spiritual journey? [30:25]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you tried to change someone through your own efforts rather than trusting in God's power. How can you apply the principle of leading by example in that situation now? [13:22]

2. Identify an area in your life where you struggle to trust God's guidance. What steps can you take this week to actively engage with God's Word and seek His direction? [14:32]

3. Have you ever used grace as an excuse to continue in a behavior you know is wrong? How can you realign your actions with God's instructions to experience true freedom? [16:20]

4. Consider a situation where you relied on your own understanding rather than God's guidance, similar to the Israelites. What changes can you make to ensure you are following God's path? [30:25]

5. Think of a personal struggle you are currently facing. How can you submit this area of your life to God's mighty hand and trust in His power to sustain you? [27:03]

6. How can you incorporate the practice of prayer and seeking support from others in your journey of submission to God? What specific steps will you take to reach out for prayer this week? [39:27]

7. Reflect on the analogy of the recipe. Is there an area in your life where you have deviated from God's instructions? What specific actions will you take to return to His "recipe" for your life? [22:01]

Devotional

Day 1: Transformative Submission in Marriage
True transformation in marriage begins with both partners submitting their roles to God. This submission is not about losing one's identity but about aligning with the divine design, as God is the creator of marriage. When faced with challenges, such as a spouse who is not aligned with God's will, the call is to lead by example, as outlined in 1 Peter 3, and trust in God's transformative power. The journey requires patience and faith, knowing that God's mighty hand can work in ways we cannot. [13:22]

"Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered." (1 Peter 3:7, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you lead by example in your marriage, demonstrating submission to God even when your spouse may not be aligned with His will?

Day 2: Active Trust in God's Guidance
Proverbs 3:5-6 teaches us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts, acknowledging that our paths are crooked without Him. This trust is not passive but requires active engagement with God's Word, which has the power to save and transform our lives. By immersing ourselves in Scripture, we allow God to guide us and make our paths straight, leading us to a life of fulfillment and purpose. [14:32]

"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." (Proverbs 16:3, ESV)

Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to actively engage with God's Word and allow it to guide your decisions and actions?

Day 3: The True Freedom of Obedience
Grace is not a license to continue in sin. True freedom comes from living under God's rule, as illustrated by the analogy of a recipe. Deviating from God's instructions leads to undesirable outcomes, while obedience brings fulfillment. Just as a recipe ensures the desired taste, God's Word ensures a life of freedom and fulfillment when followed precisely. [16:20]

"For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." (Galatians 5:13, ESV)

Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you have been using grace as an excuse to continue in sin? How can you realign with God's instructions today?

Day 4: Learning from the Israelites' Mistakes
The story of the Israelites serves as a warning against doing what is right in our own eyes. Despite being set free by God's mighty hand, they returned to captivity by relying on their own understanding. This pattern is a reminder to trust in God's mighty hand, which has the power to save and sustain us. By learning from their mistakes, we can avoid the same pitfalls and remain in the freedom God provides. [30:25]

"But they soon forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel." (Psalm 106:13, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you relied on your own understanding instead of seeking God's counsel. How can you ensure that you seek His guidance in future decisions?

Day 5: The Sustaining Power of God's Mighty Hand
God's mighty hand has the power to save and sustain us in all areas of life. Whether it's in marriage, finances, or personal struggles, submitting to God is the path to true freedom and survival. The invitation is open to all who seek prayer and support in their journey of submission, recognizing that it is a daily commitment to trust and obey God. [27:03]

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you." (1 Peter 5:6, ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to humble yourself and submit to God's mighty hand? What steps can you take today to begin this process?

Quotes

"and some of us want to know how do we get from one year of turbulent marriage to a successful 10 years each side the woman and the man has to submit their marriage to God you have to submit your roles to God you have to go find out what God says because you know why because he created it you can't do it your own we can't make your own way and people say a woman will say well I'm trying to submit my life to God but my husband is out of line will you do a priscilla did in a war room and you go to your prayer closet and you pray for your husband and then you continue to submit your life to god which means you will remain a wife as unto God see sometimes you're looking at your husband you're supposed to be a wife unto God and lead by example based on first Peter 3 so that by not your words but by your example he is eventually changed by the mighty hand of God that came and got your tail in the past" [00:12:34]

"because you got to believe that the same mighty hand that came after you is the same mighty hand that can change him you can't do it though no matter how much you say to him or never no matter how much you try to change things or manipulate things it can't come from you the whole Bible is about a lot of things but one of the things is him trying to take responsibility but we won't give it to him he says come to me all you who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest you know what that means you can give you rest that's what that means proverbs 3:5 and 6 you know what is it saying trust in the Lord with all of your heart do not please don't do that you know why because I am going to make your paths straight you know what that means you can't make your paths straight that also lets you know that your path is crooked" [00:13:47]

"the vs. are outing us and so what we do is we we try to continue to do these things on our own and it doesn't work that way they're saying and Deuteronomy six and he's saying all over the New Testament is that I have the mighty hand that saves and not only do I have the mighty hand that saves you for a future land but it saves you in your present land that's why it says in James 1:21 receive the word and plant it which is able to save your soul it's able to save your soul but you have to receive the word so you can be saved and not saved some of your life yet trust me you can be saved for tomorrow tomorrow and feel like you're in bondage today why because it has to do with submitting your life to the rule of God it's a different half but people we are playing the same exact game you can't use grace as an excuse to walk in sin and then get mad that you're not having an experience with God" [00:14:59]

"what shall we say then shall we continue in sin so that grace may increase may it never be how shall we who have died the sin still live in it or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized in Christ have been baptized into his death therefore you and I have been buried with him through baptism into death so that as Christ was raised to the glory of the father so we too might walk in the newness of life and so it's simple I got to keep going because he's but I struggled with this passage because after I studied it I was like I can't really talk about just that long I don't know what he wants me to say I mean submit your life to God like all of it I mean he's saying he's saying the answer is you know the question that's coming what does it mean we have this answer but that question what does it mean to submit your life to God it means your survival survival connotates that things won't be perfect storms will come but you will stand it means you're good" [00:16:26]

"there there is a promise that he had promised to their fathers there's a land here right now in Deuteronomy 6 there are about 3 or 4 weeks away from crossing over there they're on the cusp of a promise and some of us are on the cusp and you're getting tired don't grow weary of doing good because you're only 3 weeks away you're on the cusp of something showing up for you that is a promise that God has for you that's why the Bible says continue in the way because God has your life and if you if you leave God's hand to do it your own way you just became a slave to something else so so you can either use freedom to go be a slave or you can choose to become a slave so that you can be free those are only options you can use freedom somebody's that say it again so okay you can use freedom and you end up being a slave because you thought your hand could do it or you can say you know what somebody knows a little bit better than me" [00:18:03]

"i'ma go be a slave and then you'll wake up and realize oh now I'm free because who the Sun sets free is free indeed I mean it's a different Testament but we still talk in the same exact game it's an answer for every generation you know my mom is a great cook can't wait to talk about her when she gets here she's a great cook one of the things that I love I mean as as time has gone on the family has grown she doesn't cook the whole meal herself anymore okay she gets other people to bring stuff over the house but there's a few dishes that we don't allow don't bring none of your stuff in here when it comes to a few of my mom's dishes one of them for me is the mac and cheese somebody say Amen mac-and-cheese will change your life it comes out of the oven and she knows to set it down John John is ready give me the taste test I happily come up there with my fork I taste it while it's hot burning my tongue and everything I could care less put it in my mouth move my fork" [00:19:10]

"you know you know when you start dancing while you eat it's good and then my siblings will come in and they'll see be dancing with my fork and like John John you got that mac and cheese out you got that mac and cheese out because I love my mom's mac and cheese and when I had moved out of the house and started doing things on my own I wanted to remake it because of my previous experience that made me dance I said I got to make me some mac and cheese I did what I thought she did now she has the mighty hand but I took it on my own and I put my own thoughts together based on a previous experience and mess came out the oven that mess came out the oven I put it in my mouth ain't nobody dancing I said man and do this right and I had high expectations because I thought I knew but I had a low experience because I didn't know and so what I did was I got smart I said mom I tried to make you mac and cheese on my own didn't work out there we'll let me hold on in that recipe real quick let your boy hold on to that now she does it in her head because it's been so long but she went ahead and wrote out the recipe for me I took that recipe and when I tell you because I tried it on my own and it was gross oh I didn't move from that recipe to the right or to the left I stuck to it and when that stuff came out of the oven I was dancing again and you want to ask me what it means to live under the rule of the recipe my answer is always gonna be about the precision of the taste ain't none wrong with the recipe no more I thought I could do it on my own but I realized that it was the recipe that actually set me free to experience the taste now I don't use the same tools she like to use her hands and grade the cheese I ain't doing all that I'm finna go buy me some grated cheese she want to use her hands and whisk it like this forearms just burning I tried the forearms just burning I am doing all that because we got new tools I don't care what your tools are tools may change but the recipe better stay the same if you want to do your dance and your promised land" [00:20:01]

"this is what does it mean what does it mean to live you her life under the rule of God God owns your life and to give your life to anything else there's only to experience a taste that you don't like I've been in counseling sessions with my dad not Charles literally you in my business but just certain invited once and as I was thinking about this message I realized that he basically says one thing he whether it's marriage whether it's anxiety depression addiction debt he Pro he gets questions probes questions he pulls things out and then he lays out on the table areas that are not submitted to God's Word and at that moment that he lays it out in such a way that that person goes oh I didn't think about that I didn't see that and they're already doing this before he starts giving his his his critique they're saying I already know you know when you know where the preachers going I already know what time it is and in one way or another he says you got to submit your life to God because the Bible tells you how to get out of that the Bible tells you how to heal your marital situation the Bible tells you when the husband is out of line when the wife is out of line that the Bible tells you what it tells you what to do and so in those sessions he's going to probe find pull out show and then tell you to submit your life to God because you want to change your experience and what we do is we go to our own hand in order to produce that change says right here we were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt but God brought us out with a mighty hand the mighty hand of God he told the people put blood on the doorpost and the Passover Exodus 12 12 and 13 death is gonna come but if you have blood on that doorpost it's going to pass over you you say that's Old Testament no it's a different half is the same game it's the same mighty hand of God Colossians 1:20 you have been reconciled to God through the blood of Jesus Christ so you put blood on the doorpost and death has you have been taken off of hell's doorstep that is the same mighty hand of God Moses came and he showed the people that he was sent from God because he did all of the plagues and the miracles Jesus came and he showed the people that he was sent from God as God himself because he did all of the miracles he's letting you know who he is he's the one to deliver you he's letting you know I am the one with the mighty hand I mean he he reconciled you to God in an instant because of his work he became a man and took on the limitations of man and let people that he created crucify him in order for you to be saved that is a mighty hand of God he lived a perfect life so that you can trust him and therefore share in that perfection so that you can be acceptable to God both able to be reconciled to him now and to walk into his house later that is the mighty hand of God so how can his hand be that mighty to take us off of the doorsteps of Hell to reconcile us to a holy God right the law on your heart in an instant but he can't get you out of debt he all of a sudden is going to struggle to help you out in your circumstances and situations he he doesn't have a mighty hand when it comes to bringing you your peace and your joy oh I understand how that works we leave his mighty hand to do it on our own but we believe his mighty hand has the power to save us and then we have this other experience because we have submitted ourselves to a whole nother Kingdom and Kings have outcomes for their kingdom so if you make something else your king you will experience that particular Kings outcomes even if you've been set free that's why the latians 5:1 says it is for freedom that you have been set free therefore never again return to the yoke of slavery all you got to do is say verses backwards and you get them you know what that means that means that there is a yoke of slavery that you can return to even if you've been set free" [00:23:18]

"and how we keep going from 43 to 86 as we submit our lives to God so that it can be for our good and our survival as it is today how do you go forward in your marriage we submit our lives to God because it's for our good and our survival he has a promise for us he brought us together we we we made vows that that God got it right so then he can't be unguarded get it wrong we have to submit our lives to God this is how there's no magic trick I'm just drawing this out for my dad safe but let me show that the people of Israel did they want slaves in Egypt right then they were free the slaves were free judges - ten there grew up a generation that did not know the Lord or the work that he had done see us about that work they know what happened back then they were raised in the promise with the silver spoon in their mouth and so following God when you have a silver spoon in your mouth seems like a restriction you don't realize it's freedom unless you know about Egypt they know about Egypt so they thought why are we doing this so they went from slavery to freedom to judges 21:25 and they did what was right in their own eyes you know what happened after that 586 BC Nebuchadnezzar and his boys showed up they slaughtered southern Israel Judah and took them boys in the captivity for 70 more years and God allowed it why because you wanted to do what's right in your own eyes even when you had been set free from a few former slavery so you've been set free now you're back in captivity why are you back in captivity because you're doing what's right in your own eyes so you got all the prophets telling you man we're getting slaughtered really things are bad things are happening but something else is coming so we can be set free again and now we need to employ Nehemiah and Ezra we need y'all real quick because we need y'all to help us rebuild but it was already built and they got torn down because you opened yourself up because you're doing what's right in your own eyes and you had already been set free from a former slavery but now you got to go rebuild your life because you're in captivity for 70 years because you did what's right in your own eyes even though you had already been set free by mighty hand but you chose to use your hand so now you're enslaved again and now your life is broken down and now you got to find some people to help you go rebuild it when God had already built it" [00:25:23]

"it's the progression of the people of Israel and it's Old Testament noticed sound like my Testament it's the answer for every generation because even after his mighty hand we go back to our own hands and I've realized over time and people in my life of having to look at me crazy and my life being broken down and then heaven okay let me put the pieces back together a man who was already built stay there it's already good yeah it's for your survival and for your good I just want you to let you I just wanna let y'all know this is like free hours I mean some people don't do it like it's against them or like it doesn't benefit this like benefits you my my son Camden I know I pick on Camden macam does my boy he's we were I took him to Padre Luke last week I just drove down there with all five kids Lord that was a vacation for them we didn't mean it was just like oh we're trying and Camden was out on the beach and he was playing and his little sister Kyler threw sand in his eyes on accident and so he came running over dad did my eyes my eyes my eyes are hurting my eyes are hurting I said Camden I had a bottled water I said open your eyes and pour some water in it it'll wash the sand out he said no that's gonna hurt and my - they can use sorry Joker you already heard I'm trying to make this better for you and he's like that's gonna hurt that's gonna hurt and while he was hurting he still had the fear of trusting I'll leave it like that okay I can't do it I said son I have water what water is a cleansing agent he five I'm trying to figure out how to tell him I'm a Portis in your eyes and it's going to help get the sand out he said dad it's gonna hurt it's gonna hurt so I put the bottle tap a cap back on the bottle and I just went sat down I mean I can't so I just let Camden run around the beach in his slavery I just" [00:27:03]

"y'all are getting a sense of how a parent I just figure it'll teach you you get to decide how long you want to run around this beach with your eyes hurt I mean and then eventually he said okay because you ran out of options and because you ran out of options in your pain you tried everything else now it's okay but then his fear built back up again and he said dad I can't do it I said I said well what you can't do son is use your hands and he said I can't do the water and he did it shoe he had been playing in the sand his hands are dirty so he tried to bring freedom to his eyes by using his own hands and all he did was stick more dirt in his eyes and then start running around the beach again I screwed the bottle cap back on and set back down in my chair some of us actually think we can bring cleanliness and freedom to your life with your hands you don't realize how absurd your hands are you've been playing in the sand so long and then you getting stuff all in your eyes and then you're experiencing in your life and in your finances and in your marriage and all of this stuff is going on and God is saying I got the living water for you I got it for you open your eyes so I can pour it in now I don't trust you I'm hurting too bad all right then have it your way keep on running around the way you want to run around keep on doing what you want to do until you decide to open your eyes to let him pour that living water in you'll just continue to live in the slavery you created with your own hands somebody better submit their life to God because God is the one who has your life to submit your life to anything else there's only to become enslaved to something that ain't got nothing for you so how long do you want to run around that beach how long do you want to stay in captivity he says there is a question that's coming there's a pre prescribed answer that's already given he has a mighty hand he brought me out in order to bring me in to a promise that he has for my life it is for my good and my survival as it is right now so it is only right for me to obey God it is only right for me to trust God how do I open I you love him John 14:15 if you love me you will do what I say you say that's the New Testament I can go back to the Old Testament in Deuteronomy chapter 6 love the Lord your God with all of your if you love me with all of you you will obey me with all of you don't tell me you love me but you won't obey me how do we reciprocate love to God not through saying I love you everybody does that the only way you can reciprocate love to God of what he's done for you his obedience and until you obey you cannot be set free even when you've been set free times up I'm done y'all can stand to your feet" [00:30:25]

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