God Responds to Submission
If you must learn anything early in your walk with The LORD; that’s a consistent key for a progressive walk with The LORD; learn this; GOD RESPONDS TO SUBMISSION.
Before you brag about your righteous credentials; remember the man who ran to The LORD Jesus Christ asking what he needed to do to inherit eternal life.
This man responded that he had ticked all the boxes in keeping the commandments from his youth.
The Scriptures say;
“Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me”. Mark 10:21.
This being the most significant trial of them all — the test of complete submission to God — grieved his soul and he walked away sorrowful.
“And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. Mark 10:18-22.
How stunning to see through this incident; that it’s possible to be adherent to religious ordinances, yet the heart is not completely submitted to the rule of God in following Him.
The Scripture reveal how a Gentile woman who cried unto The LORD Jesus Christ received not an answer, till her heart was tested and The LORD marveled at how she was willing to be submitted — even to being likened as a dog eating the crumbs which fall of the table.
“And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.” Matthew 15:22-28.
The ultimate difference between King David and King Saul was that God saw in David; a man who was after His heart — one who yielded in submission to The LORD — even when he erred and was found wanting at certain times in his walk with God.
Little wonder Psalms 34:18 reveals;
“The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit”.
The one whose heart is bowed to God perpetually even in His weakness and frailties; is the one most closest to The Throne.
Remember the woman with the alabaster box,
“And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, and stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner”. Luke 7:37-39.
Interestingly, The LORD Jesus Christ knowing their thoughts;
“And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.“ Luke 7:40-47.
The greatest of all accomplishments in The Kingdom is complete and total submission to The LORD.
The greatest accomplishment The LORD Jesus Christ Himself will accomplish as foretold in 1 Corinthians 15 wouldn’t be the conquest of the world; it will be the submission of a conquered world to The Father.
“Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. 1 Corinthians 15:24-28.
You may have kept all the commandments from your youth as the man did such that you are without sin.
You may have fought great beasts and conquered nations, gained knowledge and revered amongst men as a Pharisee, and still fail the test of being in submission to The LORD.
Yet, the woman with the alabaster box, whose eyes are filled with tears, heart broken and contrite in repentance, storehouse emptied in surrender, may be allowed to sit at such proximity at the feet of The Master, because she dares to pour out her heart and soul to The LORD.
Oh! What a fearful mystery of God!
Yet; it is the key that unlocks the Heart of God.
“And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” Matthew 26:39.
“Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.” Hebrews 10:5-7.
~ by Abel Praise
Abel Praise, serving as Team Lead, Ministries Of Abel Praise is committed to working with apostolic and prophetic ministries across nations to raise up a new generation of leadership in The Body of Christ; by making teaching and training resources available and stewarding Ministers In Congress Conventions.
Amen brother!! This is a word full of Awe and full of Truth containing the fullness of the salvation bought at the cross!!