Complete Submission
Have we ever wondered how we would have reacted to the angel who came to announce the arrival of the Messiah coming to earth?
Have we ever considered if we would have been strong enough in our faith to react as Mary?
Have we ever pondered the truth behind her whispered words?
Oftentimes, we look at youth and think we know more than they or that we are more prepared with life experiences, to better understand revelations; however, it is a truth found time and again that God comes to those who have childlike faith, to those who believe at face-value, and to those who believe, without totally understanding all the details of the entire plan.
“And Mary said, “Behold, the Lord’s bondservant; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.”
(Luke 1:38 NASB)
What does Complete Submission look like in a person’s life?
- Does submission mean that we arise and seek the Lord first, before anything else?!
- Does submission mean that we do the work found within the day God has provided, working within His strength?!
- Does submission mean that we speak only the words, just as Jesus would speak, and that we swallow all the rest?!
- Does submission mean that we verbally testify and actively walk with God as we proclaim to those we encounter, how we know that we know that we know—Who is our LORD, our MASTER, and our SAVIOR?!
- Does submission mean that we do exactly whatever God gives us to do and nothing else?!
Submission reveals strength in the LORD.
Submission reveals trust in ALMIGHTY GOD.
Submission reveals hope in the SAVIOR.
Submission reveals belief in the only REDEEMER.
Submission reveals faith in the FATHER.
If God had chosen us to be the one, the mother of the Messiah, how would we have reacted to the angel of God whenever we encountered this heavenly being who came to earth to reveal God’s plan?
Within God’s Word, we are given so many instances of people who encountered angels and lived to testify to the world what had been revealed to them and to share with the world how the angel’s news would impact the entire world.
Let’s take a stroll through some of these heavenly visits as we are reminded of how God visits the faithful, the regular believers, the people who are walking with the Lord—as they go through their lives.
“In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah, and he had a wife from the daughter of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
(Luke 1: 5-11 &25 NASB)
They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.
And yet they had no child, because Elizabeth was infertile, and they were both advanced in years.
Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division,
according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering.
Now an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. . . .
This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among people.”
May we take notice of a few key details:
- Zechariah & Elizabeth were righteous in the sight of God.
- Both walked blamelessly.
- Both faithfully kept God’s commandments & requirements.
- While doing the work he was called to do, the angel of the LORD encountered Zechariah.
- People surrounding him were devoted to prayer.
- He saw the angel, standing there—right where he performed his priestly duties.
- The LORD took away Zechariah’s pain and replaced it with JOY!
It is true; God visits the faithful, the regular believers, the people who are walking with the Lord—as they go through their lives. Let’s look at some men who encountered God—the shepherds who were given a sign, the star pointing the way to the Messiah.
“In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock at night.
(Luke 2: 8-12 NASB)
And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.
And so the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;
for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
And this will be a sign for you; you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
May we take notice of a few key details:
- The glory of the Lord suddenly surrounded them, without warning, while they lived an ordinary day in an ordinary workplace.
- God surprised them, and even afraid, they listened to God’s messenger.
- Even frightened, they heard, they believed, they obeyed, and they followed.
- This news was “good news of great joy which will be for all the people; . . . .”
- The birth foretold to the shepherds could not be kept silent: “born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
- The unusual & unexpected occurrence, the sign they were to see was “a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
It is true; God visits the faithful, the regular believers, the people who are walking with the Lord—as they go through their lives. Let’s look at another man who encountered God—the apostle named John, a man who had been arrested and ostracized on the island of Patmos, all because he preached and testified of Jesus.
“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John,
(The Revelation 1: 1-2 NASB)
who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ everything that he saw.”
May we take notice of a few key details:
- John was given the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
- God gave this Revelation to John to share.
- This Revelation will soon occur.
- God’s Revelation came to John through the angel of God.
- John was to share, to testify with others—EVERYTHING that he saw.
God sent an angel to Mary, the mother of Jesus.
God sent an angel to Joseph, the earthly man who was betrothed to Mary.
God sent an angel to the shepherds who were out in the field tending their sheep.
God sent an angel to the apostle John, a man imprisoned and cast onto a remote island.
God did!
God sent His heavenly beings.
God did!
God sent angels to speak to those who walked in Complete Submission to the Father.
Jesus is the Savior to everyone who believes in Him.
Who do we know that needs a personal relationship with Jesus?
- How can we be used by God today?
- How can we be faithful bond-servants of our Lord?
- How can we testify what God has done for us?
Preparation means we stay—ready.
Consistent means we walk—faithfully.
Signs, Stars, the Bible, Voices, heavenly angels, prayer: God speaks to His children in so many ways.
God invites each of us to be an integral part of His plans, but we must choose to be ready, and we must choose to say, “Yes, LORD.”
Submission reveals Strength in the LORD.
Submission reveals Trust in ALMIGHTY GOD.
Submission reveals Hope in the SAVIOR.
Submission reveals Belief in the only REDEEMER.
Submission reveals Faith in the FATHER.
Complete Submission means we do exactly whatever God gives us to do and nothing else!
Who is our LORD, MASTER, & SAVIOR?
May we walk worthy.