Years ago while I attending classes for pastors in California , we pastors were given the book Celebration of Discipline" copyright (c) 1978, by Richard J. Foster. This
well known book, has been ,over the years, very helpful to many
Christians both Laity and Clergy alike.Mr.Foster's work"Celebration of Discipline".
Mr. Foster's book speaks to believers about how Christians can avail ourselves of the "Spiritual Disciplines" and grow in the Christian life thru a relationship with Jesus Christ by way of the "Spiritual Disciplines"
With that acknowledgement I would like to offer in my own words, as best that I may, what I have gleaned from Mr,Foster's book.
Spiritual Opportunities
What the "Spiritual Discipline" are, are Spiritual Opportunities for each and all of us to have Communion with our God in times of deep personal intimacy which brings us to see that he is with us and wants us and loves us.
Availing our selves of the "Spiritual Disciplines" aids the Christin in growing in Christ likeness, this process over a life time , is what the ancient Church called "Deification".
The Value of the "Spiritual Disciplines" are that they bring the believer to experience what is true, that Jesus Christ is with us, that is his Spirirt fills all time and eternity and out of his endless love for us he reached out to us and abides with us. We are able then to live out of a holy relationship with the great God, the Holy Trinity, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and to participate is that relationship of mutually love and submission each honoring the other above self.
Submission
We have been invited into this relationship thru Jesus Christ. In this holy relationship we are called to relinquish our own self advancement and posturing and willingly yield to others in submission libertaing each of us from the tyranny of the self into true freedom.
This submission and yeildedness to others , frees us from always having to get our own way, to win or to come out on top, of defeating another. To let go of ego without fear of having our ego's rankled.
This submission frees us from the opinions of others. It allows us to give. To see what is truly important, what matters. Freedom from nonessential arguments and assertions of ourselves and of others around us.
Submission frees us to extend grace into the lives of others even before an offense can occur.
Heart of the Problem
Submission goes to the very heart of the problem; the very way in which we view others and ourselves. When we live out of a heart that is in submission we no longer see others as competitors. When our hearts are not filled with submission we can outwardly comply to the needs of others yet inwardly seethe with anger and jealousy, that our request, need , wants or ideas were not met or utilized.
The Heart of the Problem is a Problem of the Heart.
The Heart of the Problem is a Problem of the Heart.
Submission deals with the state of our heart that, is then expressed outwardly with respect and consideration for others.
Submission allows us to be under the authority of another, even those whom we may consider less honorable as we would like, such as politicians, or those whom we report to in our occupations or else where in the societies in which we live. Rm:13
Submission is being in a state of restful trust in our Lord Jesus .
Subjecting the self to the will of God will be of great importance when a free people finds their personal liberties legislated away and power is consolidated into the hands of the wicked who in turn create a body of unreasonable laws design to turn law-abiding and righteous godly citizens into out laws, replacing personal freedoms for license to indulge the lust of the flesh.
It will be in such times when we will need the kind of freedom we can have thru our Lord Jesus Christ.We can know true freedom even in the face of tyranny.When such times arises, as they will thru out human history then our freedom lies in Jesus alone.
Submission to One Another
St. Paul writing to all Christians in all ages spoke of the mutual submission that we are to have toward one another tells us in his Epistle to the Church at Ephesus in Asia minor that we are to "submit one to another" Eph:5:21
We are to have lives of holy submission recognizing that it is to the great God to whom we in truth owe all submission. We are to live lives which reflect this holy posture of heart, fallowing our Lord Jesus each day setting aside our self, living lives of sacrificial submission embracing the cross of Lord and following Jesus.
"Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." Matt:16:24
This is another way of telling us that we do not have to alway get our way.That true happiness is not dependent on each of us getting our own way.
Submission of Self
Submission is not just self denial or self sacrifice, but rather sacrifice of our very "self" .
The "self" which deceives us into fighting for what we want to the detriment of others.
The "self" , which clamors to be heard to be acknowledged to be catered to.
The "self" which competes for dominance and prominence over another.
The "self" which seeks to undermine and manipulate another.
The "self" desires to force it's will over another.
The "self" which attempts to dismiss or pull down another.
The "self" from which all strife arise from.
The "self" which never can know true rest or peace.
It is the the very "self" which needs to be in submission. The "self ' which tries to build empires in order to subjugate all within it's sphere. It is the very "self" which needs submission to the lead of the Holy spirirt and the reign of the Kingdom of God.
We find this submission in and thru our Lord Jesus who always was in perfect holy submission to his holy Father. We can experience this thru our shared identity in Jesus. When we have this type of Christ-like submission we find an all new sense of personal destiny which exceeds any of the grandiose promises of the the "self" of the flesh. We find more than can be imagined.We find true life in Jesus.
"Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it."Matt:10:39
We will gain more than we lose, we gain the freedom of not feeling sorry for our "selves" when we do not get our way.
We find thru submission true freedom which will lead to great reward in this life and beyond.
"So the last will be first, and the first will be last."Matt:20:16
God calls us to be in submission in this holy submission to him first and above all and in this submission we will find great freedom and reward.
Benediction: May we each and all find true peace, rest and freedom in holy submission to our Lord Jesus Christ , today, tomorrow and forevermore. Amen.
Rev. Todd Crouch, Pastor
The
Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion2101 Old National Pike.
Washington, Pennsylvania. www.gcfountainoflife.org
The Fountain of Life is heard on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com
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