Submission is not what you think it is and it is really important for us, as Godly wives to totally understand what it is and to decide to be submissive so that we are in the place God has for each of us. Not being submissive, is rebellion, it is that simple and in these next few lessons, we are going to really come to understand what submission is, look at scriptural examples of submissive people and how we translate this into our lives.

What do you think submission is or the Word submission means?

Webster's dictionary defines it as: surrendering to the authority, discretion or will of another. 2. To commit to the decision, consideration or judgement of another.

When you look at these definitions alone, submission sounds like something we don't want to have anything to do with, that it puts us in a position of servitude to another.

But we need to stop and think for a minute, we submit to all kind of things every day.

We submit to local authority when we follow traffic laws, we submit to the federal government when we pay our taxes, we submit to our employer when we arrive at work at a certain time. This does not make us any less of who we are, does it?

But let's take this secular definition, much further.

Ephesians 5:17-22: 17. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the

Lord is. 18. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the

Spirit, 19. speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20. giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21. submitting to one another in the fear of God. Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

In these verses Paul starts out by telling us not to be unwise, but to understand what the will of the Lord is. He then goes on and tell us, it is to be filled with the Spirit, singing to one another and to the Lord, giving thanks always.

But then look at the next two verses, He tells us first to submit to one another in the fear or reverence of the Lord.

The first thing Paul stresses is submitting to other Christians in reverence to God.

We think only of ourselves, and then maybe our family and husband, but if push came to shove, the last people we submit to is each other. If a guest Pastor or singer is passing out free product, we will jump over pews or knock each other down to get the free book or CD. But if we were really submitting to each other in love, the Pastor would have to go to each person and give it, because we would be back in the pews saying. "No, you go down and get the book, no you go… no, I insist, you go…" and no one would move. This is definitely not the way it is!

I want us to look at the ultimate example of submission, to see how we are to submit to each other.

John 10:30: " "I and My Father are one.''

Jesus plainly explains part of the Godhead here, He and the Father are one, but it did not change his role on Earth, He came for a specific purpose, to do the Father's Will and that is what he did.

John 8:29: "And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.''

John 12:49-50 "49. "For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. "And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.''

He spoke and taught what the Father instructed Him to teach. He did nothing outside the Father, everything Jesus did, was according to the Father's plan and purpose and He had the choice to do it. Jesus willingly chose to submit to the will of the Father during his life

and ministry. It was a willful decision He had to make, just as it is a willful decision we have to make.

Before we can submit to our husband, however, we must learn to submit to God.

Have you taken the time to sit down and actually look at your life, what you are doing, what your goals are, and are they lined up with God's Word and His plan for you. Have you spent time on your face before God, seeking His will in you life.

It may surprise you to know, God's will in your life is to love and serve Him with all your heart, soul and body and then to love your neighbor as yourself.

1 Peter 2 11-25: Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12. having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. 13. Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14. or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. 15. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men 16. as free, yet not using your liberty as a cloak for vice, but as servants of God. 17. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. 18. Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. 19. For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer for it, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 22. "Who committed no sin, nor was guile found in His mouth''; 23. who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24. who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness by whose stripes you were healed. 25. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Peter tells us that our Godly conduct, which is guided by submission leads others to Christ. In verse 17, of our text Peter also tells us to love our brothers, Honor all men, and to be submissive. If we cannot learn to walk in submission to our brothers and sisters in Christ, to each other, the Pastor and if we are married to our husband, how will we submit to God’s will for our lives. Many of us think it is easy to submit to God, but difficult to submit at work, to each other and if we are married, that submission to our husband is so not relevant to today, we don’t have to worry about it!

Ladies, if we cannot be submissive at work, to our local government etc, we will not be submissive to God. But I submit to God all the time, you may be thinking!

But are you really? Let me ask you a few questions.

Do you tithe a tenth of your salary?

Are you attending church regularly?

Do you get involved in church, volunteer to help in needed areas or do you just come on Sundays, worship and leave?

You see, all these areas are Biblical principles we are to adhere to. The Word tells us to pay our tithes, a tenth, to attend church and not forsake the assembling of the saints, to not just talk about faith, but do the works of God to support it. Most of us fall very short in total submission to God and what His Word says. We fall short in these areas, because we cannot submit in our everyday lives.

We are so "me" centered that we have forgotten what submission really means. It is not being pushed around by someone, controlled by someone or ruled by someone or some organization. Submission is putting the needs of others over ourselves. It is thinking of someone else first, doing what needs to be done to help others, and to walk in love toward everyone, no matter who they are or what color their skin is.

1 Peter 3: 1. Likewise you wives, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2. when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. 3. Do not let your beauty be that outward adorning of arranging the hair, of wearing gold, or of putting on fine apparel; 4. but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible ornament of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

Peter tells us to put on a gentle and quiet spirit. Ladies, a gentle and quiet spirit is a submissive spirit. A gentle and quiet spirit is kind, obedient and giving. A gentle and quiet spirit thinks of others before itself. A gentle and quiet spirit looks at the person and her needs, not the color of her skin or her nationality. When Peter talks about outward adornment, he is not telling us not to wear nice clothes or makeup. He is telling us not to let that be all we are about. I am definitely of the opinion if "the barn needs painting, then paint it!" So you will not see me in shabby clothes or without makeup. But I will not spend all my time shopping and primping. I believe that our outward appearance should be neat, clean and as attractive as possible for in that we glorify God also, but we must work mainly on our inner woman. We must study to show ourselves approved, a workman who needeth not be ashamed and work to cultivate a gentle and quiet or submissive spirit.

I hope this has led you to open you heart to God and hear his voice in this area of submission. I pray for each of you to grow spiritually, to put on that gentle and quiet spirit of submission and to walk in love daily toward others.

I pray for the Holy Spirit to show each of you where your weakness is and how to improve. I pray for open hearts and minds to hear God’s voice and be obedient so that our submissive spirits will be noticed by all and make a difference in both our lives and someone else’s life.