Submitting Through Praise.
Greetings and welcome to our monthly reflections. This month I would like to look deeper into the issue of submission.
As we have already seen submission is not taken kindly in the marketplace or in the military yet it is one of the most fundamental principles of social life. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud But shows favour to the humble.” Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded…….. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. Brothers and sisters do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbour? (James 4:6-8, 10-12 NIV).
- We all have our key weak points and therefore it is impossible to have a fulfilling life and unless we know under whose authority we exist.
- Our constant challenge as a body of Christ is that we are not fighting against flesh and blood but against powers and principalities of this world.
- Our adversity the devil is roaring like a lion seeking whom he may devour, It is therefore important that we fully submit to God who has already given us victory.
- The main reason that the devil fell from the glory of God was because he wanted to take away the Glory of God and steal God’s praise.
The Devil would like to steal God’s praise.
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. (Matthew 4:8-11 NIV)
People find it very difficult to give praise to God. Many times I have asked myself, “why would it be so difficult to praise and worship God who gives us all things?” I have found that it is the main way of surrender, when we worship God with all our lives, there is nothing left for the devil to use and hence we get a total friendship with God.
“Let Israel rejoice in him.” Psalm 149:2
Be glad of heart, O believer, but take care that your gladness has its spring in the Lord. You have much cause for gladness in your God, for you can sing with David, “God, my exceeding joy.” Be glad that the Lord reigns, that Jehovah is King! Rejoice that he sits upon the throne, and rules all things!
Every attribute of God should become a fresh ray in the sunlight of our gladness. That he is wise should make us glad, knowing as we do of our own foolishness.
- That he is mighty should cause us to rejoice instead of trembling at our own weakness.
- That he is everlasting should always be a theme of joy when we know that we wither as the grass.
- That he is unchanging should perpetually yield us a song, since we change every hour.
- That he is full of grace, that he is overflowing with it, and that this grace in covenant he has given to us; that it is ours to cleanse us, ours to keep us, ours to sanctify us, ours to perfect us, ours to bring us to glory
–all this should tend to make us glad in him. This gladness in God is as a deep river; we have only as yet touched its brink, we know a little of its clear sweet, heavenly streams, but onward the depth is greater, and the current more impetuous in its joy. The Christian feels that he may delight himself not only in what God is, but also in all that God has done in the past.
The Psalms show us that God’s people in olden times were made to think much of God’s actions, and to have a song concerning each of them. So let God’s people now rehearse the deeds of the Lord! Let them tell of his mighty acts, and “sing unto the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously.” Nor let them ever cease to sing, for as new mercies flow to them day by day, so should their gladness in the Lord’s loving acts in providence and in grace show itself in continued thanksgiving. Be glad children of Zion and rejoice in the Lord your God
Conclusion.
If we learn to praise the Lord we will also like David learn to submit to him, Our total submission will stir in us the Joy of salvation and even when things God wrong we will know that we are in the total Custody of our King and no harm can be fall us.
Like David in Psalm 91 we will know that –
“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High, will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.
Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
(Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14)
