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WHAT?! Me Submit to Someone Else?
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsIn stark contrast to a world that resists submission and rejects being told no, God is creating a Family of sons and daughters who will submit to Him and to each other, to serve Him, praise Him, and reign with Him in His Kingdom forever. The apostle Paul emphasizes the importance of submitting to one another in the fear of Christ, a principle that applies only to those filled with the Holy Spirit, as the world cannot and will not adhere to this call. This submission is a duty for everyone in God's church, illustrated through specific relationships such as wives to husbands, children to parents, and servants to masters, each urged to submit as unto the Lord. Submitting to one another means being subject to each other, akin to soldiers in a regiment under authority, voluntarily relinquishing individual control for the sake of unity. Negatively, it requires avoiding thoughtlessness, selfishness, self-assertion, and being opinionated or dictatorial, traits that stem from self-centeredness and cause conflict. Positively, it involves being enlightened by the Spirit to understand one's own shortcomings, recognizing that all gifts and abilities come from God, and prioritizing the good of the whole body of Christ over personal gain. Elders, in particular, face the temptation to lord over others due to their position of leadership. However, they are called to be examples to the flock, submitting to one another and avoiding the danger of becoming dictatorial. This submission must be practiced in the right spirit, with humility and love, especially in matters of personal opinion or non-fundamental issues, while standing firm on vital truth. The motive for this submission is the fear of Christ, reflecting a desire to please Him, avoid disappointing Him, and glorify His name through a life of love and unity within the church and personal relationships.
Marriage and the Bride of Christ (Part One)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsWives are admonished to submit to their husbands, children to their parents, servants to their overseers, and we all are admonished to submit to one another.
Sovereign God, Not Man
Commentary by Richard T. RitenbaughWe have all become little 'sovereigns.' Everyone thinks he or she can make up the rules about God's truth, when God is to be the sole arbiter of truth.
Sovereignty and Submission
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughBeing reared in a democratic nation sometimes complicates our relationship with God; God's government is actually a sovereign, benevolent dictatorship.
Self-Government and Responsibility (Part One)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughWe need free moral agency to be transformed into God's image. Unless one has God's Spirit, he cannot exercise the internal control to be subject to the way of God.
Jude and the Glorious Power of God
Sermon by Mark SchindlerAttributing the messages of God's spokesmen as coming from Satan constitutes speaking evil of dignitaries. Jude emphasizes submission to divine authority.
Pride of Life
Sermonette by Clyde FinkleaWe are admonished to put out the leavening of pride and arrogance. Pride is something we loathe in someone else, but tolerate in ourselves.
Hiding in Plain Sight
Sermonette by Mike Ford59% of 'Christians' do not believe in Satan, but we see his hand in the transgender movement, the obsession with climate change, and the abortion plague.