Submission - the gateway to freedom

This past Sunday I preached in south city church (dublin) on the topic of Submission to God. I related it to faith for this reason: Unless we learn to submit to God in His faithfulness it will be impossible for us to have faith. Submission is about yielding. The greatest strength for a believer lies beyond natural strength of personality or abilities. It lies in submitting to God. In this place we are able to resist the forces of darkness and to align ourselves with the Living Word of God that is Jesus Christ.

One of the deepest forms of submission, I have felt God say to me, is submission to the FAITHFULNESS of God

There is no faith without knowing God and knowing that He can be trusted.

Submission is not something I regularly 'feel like! God wants us to learn the obedience of faith though inspite of 'feelings'

. We are to be led by the Spirit of God, not merely by 'feelings'

Whether we 'feel like' forgiving soomeone who has offended us is not the point

. Offence is a snare and a dungeon master and God has taught us to forgive not seven times but seventy times seven times. Seven is the number of God and perfection. As we submit to Him we find no excuses left to hold bitterness or unforgiveness against another in the light of the scandalous grace that has been shown firstly to ourselves!

Christ came as the fulfilment of all God's promises concerning the Messiah. In complete surrender and obedience faithfulness He went to the cross in order to make a provision for every person alive. He surrendered His will in order to redeem mankind and through this perfect obedience and sacrifice has made a way for us to be saved and to become His children.

Do you know this faithful God? Have you met Him yet? He loves you and is truly a faithful God. As you turn away from your own way today, turn to Him, bow your knee, submit your life afresh to God...

this is the gateway to freedom and true life in and by the Spirit of God