Isaac and Yieldedness
As previously written about, a great lesson that can be taken away from the example of Isaac's life is the lesson of submission. Isaac was the child of a fulfilment of God's promise. To know that God is faithful to fulfill His promises is a very necessary foundation that we must have before we can truly yield to God. Isaac, in being born to a mother who was past the natural age of childbearing certainly could not have missed the fact that his birth was a result of God's faithfulness. No doubt his parents told him about the circumstances of his miraculous birth. When Ishmael was sent away, it would also seem that they must have explained some things to Isaac as well. How do you explain to your child why his older "brother" is no longer living with them and that Ishmael was not to be an heir with Isaac (Gen 21:10)? Isaac understood his special place in the family. He understood enough to submit himself even unto death when Abraham and he went to Mount Moriah. Submission and yieldedness are an outworking of the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus in us. We certainly see that submission at work in the life of Jesus as well. The spirit of submission is to be a mark in the life of each child of God. Submission separates us from the carnal life. The 2 (carnal life and spiritual life) are opposed and cannot dwell peacefully together. Ishmael ( a type of the carnal life) mocked Isaac ( a type of spiritual life). The carnal nature must be cut off so that the spiritual nature can reign. Why?
The carnal nature does not yield itself to God's ways. It is actually opposed to God's ways. In Galatians 5:17-25 Paul outlines the differences of the fruit of the carnal nature and the spiritual nature. Envy, strife, wrath etc. versus meekness, longsuffering, love, peace etc. A child of God who has not learned submission can cause harm to their witness of God's work in their life. When we see others around us falling short of God's grace, it can be a temptation for us to speak out against it. We naturally want to say something about the sin we see around us. Maybe we even see people who are Christians that are not acting properly. It can be very tempting for us to speak up. There are times we should speak up, but there are times we should not. Unless we have learned submission, we can do more harm than good by speaking out when we should be instead allowing ourselves to be broken in spirit, humbling ourselves before God and taking the matter to Him in prayer first. If a person is operating in the carnal self will when a person points sin out to others, it comes with a sense of condemnation. This only causes the hearer to feel "condemned", resulting in them becoming defensive and hardening their heart. However, when we are broken in spirit and cry out to God on behalf of the sinner, the Holy Spirit brings "conviction" to the sinner. Along with that conviction He brings the desire and power to repent - which means to turn around and go in a different direction. The work of God will be done inwardly. And we can rejoice in seeing this work of God. As it is written, "Not by might, not by power (human power), but by His Spirit." This in turn strengthens our faith and encourages our hearts as we see His work in the hearts of others. There is a work that only He can do, and it is a lasting work. It comes by us submitting to Him, as Peter wrote, "Submit yourself under the mighty hand of God. . . , casting your cares upon Him. . ."( 2 Peter 5:6,7) These verses come right after Peter says, "All of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble." In chapter 3 verse 15 he tells us, "Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and be ready always to answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear."
When we truly understand that we are sons of God as a result of His promise (not as a result of our own will of the flesh), and we learn true submission, then we are able to humble ourselves before Him and receive His grace. Then our words (if He directs us to speak) will be spoken in meekness rather than condemnation. It is in this setting that the Holy Spirit can move freely, even as Paul wrote, "When I am weak, then I am strong." And all the glory will go to the Lord because we will know that it was His Spirit, not the arm of our flesh that brought about the miraculous result, and we will be able to rejoice in His faithfulness in hearing and answering our prayers.
The carnal nature does not yield itself to God's ways. It is actually opposed to God's ways. In Galatians 5:17-25 Paul outlines the differences of the fruit of the carnal nature and the spiritual nature. Envy, strife, wrath etc. versus meekness, longsuffering, love, peace etc. A child of God who has not learned submission can cause harm to their witness of God's work in their life. When we see others around us falling short of God's grace, it can be a temptation for us to speak out against it. We naturally want to say something about the sin we see around us. Maybe we even see people who are Christians that are not acting properly. It can be very tempting for us to speak up. There are times we should speak up, but there are times we should not. Unless we have learned submission, we can do more harm than good by speaking out when we should be instead allowing ourselves to be broken in spirit, humbling ourselves before God and taking the matter to Him in prayer first. If a person is operating in the carnal self will when a person points sin out to others, it comes with a sense of condemnation. This only causes the hearer to feel "condemned", resulting in them becoming defensive and hardening their heart. However, when we are broken in spirit and cry out to God on behalf of the sinner, the Holy Spirit brings "conviction" to the sinner. Along with that conviction He brings the desire and power to repent - which means to turn around and go in a different direction. The work of God will be done inwardly. And we can rejoice in seeing this work of God. As it is written, "Not by might, not by power (human power), but by His Spirit." This in turn strengthens our faith and encourages our hearts as we see His work in the hearts of others. There is a work that only He can do, and it is a lasting work. It comes by us submitting to Him, as Peter wrote, "Submit yourself under the mighty hand of God. . . , casting your cares upon Him. . ."( 2 Peter 5:6,7) These verses come right after Peter says, "All of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble." In chapter 3 verse 15 he tells us, "Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and be ready always to answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear."
When we truly understand that we are sons of God as a result of His promise (not as a result of our own will of the flesh), and we learn true submission, then we are able to humble ourselves before Him and receive His grace. Then our words (if He directs us to speak) will be spoken in meekness rather than condemnation. It is in this setting that the Holy Spirit can move freely, even as Paul wrote, "When I am weak, then I am strong." And all the glory will go to the Lord because we will know that it was His Spirit, not the arm of our flesh that brought about the miraculous result, and we will be able to rejoice in His faithfulness in hearing and answering our prayers.
posted by Laurie T at
9:16 AM
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