Nine Observations: Why Did God
Put the
"Submission" Principle
in the LORD's Prayer?
1B. Introduction: "Be filled (1B.) with the Knowledge of
His Will" By doing What God says:
"Thy Will Be Done on Earth as it is in Heaven."
In the context, we are commanded to pray this prayer in a secret place, thus
privately with the Lord. In Philippians 4:6 we are informed we can pray about
"everything" = anything that we believe to be God’s will for us.
[Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
V.7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your
hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.] What kindness God has shown
to us, and what desire He has demonstrated to sympathize with our weaknesses
[Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the
feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet
without sin.]
1-heart changing | 2-makes
willing | 3-takes replacement | 4-filled
knowledge | 5-a battleground | 6-a process
| 7-volume encourages execution | 8-extremely
important | 9-a spiritual attitude | applications
| Maturity scriptures
SOME OBSERVATIONS...
1. Prayer is really a "heart" changing activity.
Praying honestly alone to God causes me to face myself, my nature, and God's
work being done in me.
Each of us knows his heart's condition. This is because we each have a
God-given conscience. And we, in our spirit, know when it has to be changed in
order to do the will of God. Our usual problem is getting the change to take
place. And this is where prayer "can" be such a dynamic factor in our
life.
2. So... prayer that I would be willing to do God's will leads
me from one state (unwillingness - or failure to believe by faith so as to do)
to another state (total yielding upon immediate or first understanding- total
complete obedience at all times in the spirit of joyfulness).
for example,
a. At Salvation God makes the change:
before
Eph. 2.1 We are "dead in trespasses and sins..."and we
"walked according to the course of this world."
after
Ephesians 2.19 We become "fellow citizens with the saints."
b. After Salvation We "learn" to make changes:
before
Jonah rose up to "flee" from the will of God.
after
Jonah, because God got Jonah where Jonah would talk with Him, prayed
for salvation and thus gave Jonah a second chance to do God's will.
3. Much of scripture on this subject utilizes the vital
concept of "replacement."
I can know God's will and even remove elements abominable to God- but then
fail to make a vital ingredient to replace the loss or lack of acting- and the
result will reverse the first good act. It can even make it worse.
For example:
A: Col 3.9 Col 3.12
a) put off the old man b) put on the new
B: Jam 1.22 Jam 1.22
a) be not hearers only b) be doers
URGENT: Danger of Not Replacing -:
il- Matt 12:43-45 <v. 43> When the unclean spirit is
gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth
none. <44> Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came
out; and when he is come, he findeth [ it ] empty, swept, and garnished.
<45> Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more
wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last [
state ] of that man is worse than
the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
4. There are a few excellent prayers of godly men which
illustrate this principle- praying to know God's will for self and others.
A. Paul
1. Col. 1.9-14 This passage, because it so pointedly instructs us on the
will of God, will form the core of our outline for this principle.
2. Eph. 1.17-21; 3.15-19
B. Jesus
1. Phil. 1.9-11
2. John 17
5. Submission to God's will is THE TRUE BATTLEGROUND for
both the lost person and for the Christian.
! It is of spiritual dimension, not physical "flesh and
blood", (Eph. 6.11) and
! It has eternal consequences: never obtaining spiritual life
(unbelievers) 1Co 15.50, OR
loss of rewards (believers) 2 John 1.8.
6. Submission is a process- it does not happen
without preparation, commitment and conviction. It is described as 1)a
"walk" and 2) as maturity. "Perfecting" Eph 4.12-13; Philip.
3.12-15; 2Ti 3.17; Heb 6.1, 13.21; Ja 1.4, 17, 25; 1Pe 5.10
7. The prayers in Scripture that illustrate this principle
lead us to believe that praying to do God's will is a big part of the actual
execution of it, both by the person himself or one for which he is praying.
for example:
Paul prayed for Christians he had won to the Lord - see Col 1.9-14; Eph
1.17-21 & 3.15-19; Philip. 1.9-11.
He prayed fervently (Eph. 1.16) that they would fill themselves with the
knowledge of His will and this act must have dominated his life. (He "did
not cease to mention" them in his "prayers.")
8. The fact that these prayers exist in Scripture (in
powerful contexts) highlights and magnifies the spiritual warfare
which takes place in the realms of "principalities, ...powers, ... the
rulers of the darkness of this world,... [and] spiritual wickedness in high places"
to prevent God's will from being done on earth. Satan's kingdom opposes
and oppresses God's kingdom, and they are measured not in
physical, but rather in spiritual dimensions (of eternal instead of
temporal values).
How does God revive us (encourage us to do His will)?
Through His mercy, undoubtedly. When the psalmist says,
<Ps119:149> Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O LORD,
quicken me according to thy judgment.
We know praying that God will revive according to His justice is a
prayer He loves to hear, because He is most willing to answer for that reason.
When He goes the extra "mercy- mile" He receives greater Glory.
9. Submission to God's will is really not merely a physical
concept but also very much a spiritual one - constituted in decisions made in
the mind of an individual, especially over a period of time. A bid for the
control of man's mind is the chief occupation by the evil one, Satan, to
oppose God's will.
Applications
I will study every day this coming week an example of a man or woman in
the Bible who changed because they learned to submit to God’s will.
I will identify at least 5 ways that I have not submitted to God’s will in
my life, and then I will pray each day for a heart to change, marking down each
time I pray to keep a record for myself.
I will list verses on each area where I lack submission to God and will share
it with someone I trust who will help me overcome the areas where I am rebelling
against God’s will.
Eph 4.12-13;
12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying
of the body of Christ,
13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son
of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness
of Christ;
Philip. 3.12-15;
12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I
press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold
of me.
13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I
do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those
things which are ahead,
14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in
Christ Jesus.
15 ¶ Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if
in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.
2Ti 3.17;
17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every
good work.
Heb 6.1
1 ¶ Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of
Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of
repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,
13.21
21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you
what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory
forever and ever. Amen.
Ja 1.4, 17, 25;
4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and
complete, lacking nothing.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from
the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and
is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in
what he does.
1Pe 5.10;
10 ¶ But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by
Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish,
strengthen, and settle you.
Pp 3.15 : 25 verses on maturity
Ro 15:1 ¶ We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the
weak, and not to please ourselves.
1Co 2:6 ¶ However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the
wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
1Co 14:20 Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice
be babes, but in understanding be mature.
Col 1:28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all
wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
Col 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you,
always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and
complete in all the will of God.
2Ti 3:17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every
good work.
Heb 5:14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those
who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Jas 1:4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and
complete, lacking nothing.
1Jo 2:5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in
him. By this we know that we are in Him.
Php 3:12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I
press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold
of me.
Php 3:13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I
do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those
things which are ahead,
Php 3:14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in
Christ Jesus.
Ga 5:10 I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other
mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.
Ps 25:8 ¶ Good and upright is the LORD; Therefore He teaches sinners in the
way.
Ps 25:9 The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way.
Pr 2:3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for
understanding,
Pr 2:4 If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures;
Pr 2:5 Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, And find the knowledge
of God.
Pr 2:6 For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and
understanding;
Pr 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own
understanding;
Pr 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Isa 35:8 A highway shall be there, and a road, And it shall be called the
Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, But it shall be for
others. Whoever walks the road, although a fool, Shall not go astray.
Lu 11:13 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your
children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those
who ask Him!"
Joh 7:17 "If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the
doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.
Jas 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all
liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
All Night in Prayer a PRIORITY
Lu 6:12 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. | 
