Christian Ethics, Pt. 4: Submission and Supplication

When a man is placed in the rule of the church. Your submission and your obedience in receiving him is the equivalent of receiving Christ. So being subjective and obedient leaders is really your obligation or having finances that hold up to scrutiny. Indeed, those are aspects of integrity areas you are directly responsible for but what part do others play in keeping your character aboveboard what role, if any, does the church does your pastor have in helping you maintain your integrity well today on grace to you. John MacArthur considers questions like those. As he continues his series called the integrity factor yesterday, John explained that God expects you to be in the world but not of the world and that God expects you to live sacrificially for him and with 1/3 expectation on that list. Here's John with today's lesson.

The third standard of Christian behavior toward God is submission not only separation under him not only sacrifice made to him.

But submission to him. I want you to notice how the submission is ordered.

Verse 17 obey them that have the rule over you and submit yourselves. There now here is a responsibility toward God. You say it sounds to me like a responsibility towards a ruler yesterday but the wonderful thing that is evident in this text that evident another text in the New Testament is this that God now watch it that God mediates much of his rule in this world through men. God has done that for a long time. Throughout the Old Testament, God mediated his rule at times of change through profits, judges in this age God mediates his rule through spirit controlled man someday, God will mediate his rule in the living Christ, who sits on the throne of David and rules in the world and the kingdom right and he will mediate his own king, but at this time God is literally ruling his people through certain spirit led men that we know that if we study the New Testament we find that God has set leadership in the church and there were in the assembly of the Hebrews here. Certain men given the rule of that congregation. The apostle Paul defines these men as elders, bishops, or if you choose the word presbyter switches translated presbyter.

It's all the same thing. Teaching pastors. These men were ordered of the spirit of God to have the rule of the church.

They do not rule for themselves. They rule in the stead of Christ there called under shepherds and that's really what I am. That's what your pastors are.

That's what any pastors are in any given church, so any 17 it says obey them that have the rule over you and submit yourselves the submission here is not really a man, but it is to God as he rules mediating his rule through spirit controlled man, so there were in that assembly as in all early local churches gifted man chosen by the Lord granted to the church. The rule in Ephesians chapter 4 the Bible says that Christ won trophies at the cross and that he came back into heaven with all of the spoils and he brought gifts that it says in verse 11 of chapter 4 that he gave those gifts under the church and the gifts that he gave one of the church were apostles profits. Evangelists and teaching pastors, the trophies of the victory at the cross, God gave back to the church. Some of those trophies as gifts for the instruction in the ruling in the body. In the book of acts. Instruction is given to ordain elders in every city in the book of Titus the same instruction is repeated so that in every local congregation.

There were men who ruled that congregation and other are some church governments today where the congregation rules the leaders that's foreign to the New Testament, there needs to be a well oiled working relationship going both ways. But the rule of the church was always given to the gifted men placed by the spirit of God in control as it says obey them that have the rule over you. There is no qualification to that. It doesn't say obey him if you like him just as obey him, the spirit of God is placed them there to rule this is part of God's chain of command within the framework of the church.

The term them. That rule over you is one word in the Greek just one word. Again, it simply means chief or leader obey leaders obey chiefs and submit yourselves, it is rendered governor in acts chapter 7, it is rendered chief in Luke 2226 is all God has given to the church. Certain men, through whom he mediates his rule is the right of those men to declare the direction of the church to preside to teach the word to reprove to rebuke to exhort and to do it with all long-suffering to do it in meekness in first Peter and I want to show you some things that need to be mentioned here. Lest you think we lorded over you in first Peter chapter 5 verse two Peter giving instruction to the elders, verse, verse one.

Reminders will begin the elders who are among you I exhort whom also an elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ in a particular the glory that shall be revealed.

That means he saw Christ dying he saw the marvelous Transfiguration of Christ. This is what he says to the elders feed the flock of God. The word is literally pastor and pastor means to feed them, and the food is the word feed the flock of God which is among you watch taking the oversight word is Bishop. That's the job of of the of the elder is to take the oversight to rule the church now watch not by constraint, but willingly, not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind not just out of money and noticed that there are several perils to the pastorate several perils to being an elder Carol number one is the peril of covetousness, the peril of covetousness. Some people want to rule because they covet authority. They covet professional position. They covet bigger churches more money, more power, and they wind up being petty tyrants who lorded and dominate over the church and this is very, he answers that in verse three neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being what examples to the flock. So you lead, not as a dictator but as a pattern positivity be thou an example of the believer in everything word and deed via pattern that others can follow.

So there's always the peril of covetousness that a man covets money or the covet's power to become sort of a mini dictator and then in the pastorate there is a second peril.

That's the peril of conceit.

This is something I think many of us have to deal with in our lives is the problem of pride. He deals with the peril of conceit in verse five. In like manner, you younger, submit yourselves under the elder Yale UB subject one to another, be closed with what humility God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time in the pastorate there is the peril of desire to be exalted. The peril of conceit. And thirdly, there's the peril of compromise so easy to compromise verse eight be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil like a roaring lion walk is about, seeking whom he may devour whom resist steadfast in the faith, there's always the problem of the peril of compromise, giving into Satan watering down your convictions because it's expedient. So it is not an easy thing to take the oversight to rule, but that is the calling of God. There's a special honor. The Scripture says, for those who rule well in first Timothy 517, Paul said this let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, specially they who labor in the word and doctrine and in the next verse.

It even goes so far as to say, make sure you pay the preacher enough so that he can live in first Thessalonians chapter 5 in verse 12 it says this and we beseech you, brethren, to know them who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you. He says you are to be aware of their you. I have a deep knowledge of your leaders think it's a wonderful thing when people in a church will make themselves available to be known by those that are in leadership apparently even in those times. Some of the people never got to know the leaders and to get a full acquaintance in the full involvement is much as was possible in their lives. So we find that is very obvious as he says their first Thessalonians. There are some who are over you in first Timothy some rule. And Peter says some take the oversight. It's all saying the same thing in the framework of the church. There are some given to the church by the spirit of God to rule in the church.

I always think it's kind of a tragedy when you have the pastors in the elders being led around by the congregation. That's not the way God intended to function. That doesn't mean as I said that you become a little dictator, not at all responsive and sensitive to the needs of people. But remember this, the Bible indicates clearly that we are the under shepherds of Christ first Peter five for which we were just looking at says and when the chief Shepherd shall appear, you shall receive a crown of glory that fate if not away, where under shepherds serving the chief Shepherd. So as elders we have a tremendous responsibility not only to feed the flock not only to warn the flock of impending danger not only to nurture the flock when they're injured and wounded, but to be sure that we take the oversight in terms of disciplining the flock in terms of maintaining leadership in the flock, and giving direction. In fact, in first Timothy 31 it talks about a bishop. The word Episcopal loss simply means to look over or to watch over and that's the responsibility of the pastor.

In fact, the term Bishop Fisk apostle which you get Episcopalian, the term itself is a title used by the Athenians for the officers that were sent to manage the affairs of a subjective state. In other words, the Athenian government when it wanted to rule over a subjective state would send a man called an overseer.

That's exactly the term the spirit of God uses for those who would rule in the church to serious responsibility. Believe me, and we have to give an account to God as we shall see for how we rule but I want you to notice one other thing it says and 17 it says obey them and submit yourself. I think the term obey has very very definite connection to teaching, I think the word submit has very definite connection to authority. So there is to be obedience to their teaching and submission to their authority. And this is not our duty to these men it's our duty to whom God because they rule in the stead of Christ don't and I think every man of God ought to realize that responsibility. It's a very sobering responsibility in John 1320 let me use a verse that applies in and maybe brings a principal to focus. Jesus said this, verily, verily I say unto you, truly, truly, was he that receive us. Whomsoever I send. Listen, listen, he receive us me and taken a step farther. Whoever receives me receives my father and so you see, when a man is placed in the rule of the church. Your submission and your obedience in receiving him is the equivalent of receiving Christ is their equivalent of receiving him that sent me that Jesus and so being subjected and obedient to leaders is really your obligation to God, and you know when you don't have that you have chaos in the church when you don't have spirit filled leaders who rule well are you don't have people who submit and obey the word that they teach you have dis-unity and that the Spirit is well aware of and that's why the injunction is here. One of the salient qualities that a Christian must have in here look at this for things are narrowed down as our obligations to God, just for separation sacrifice and the third one is submission to the leaders of the church now not writing a hobbyhorse. I'm only teaching you with the word of God says is Dr. Bob Jones safe you don't like it. Call up heaven.

I didn't write it. This is the word of God.

In verse 17. Let me take it a step further obey them that have the rule over you and submit yourselves why, for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account stop in their incomes, the sobering responsibility that we have. They watch like wakeful shepherds. That's our priority is a serious thing to be a wakeful Shepherd of the flock that has sheep that are forever gone astray. And we have to labor as those and I and I say this even with a sense of reluctance in my own heart to to even admit that this is true that I must give an account to God for the way that I minister to the care of the souls that he entrusted me in James chapter 3 verse one it says this my brother and be not many teachers knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation or in many things we all stumble when a man of God who stands before the people stumbles usually doesn't fall alone is usually a whole slew of people coming up behind in the fall over is a greater condemnation. First Timothy 416. Paul says, take heed on the yourself Timothy are going to be a leader you gonna watch yourself and under the doctrine continue in them.

For in so doing thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear the people are following is important how we walked, and someday were going to give an account to the great physician. The chief Shepherd of how we rule and how we live so he says be submissive and be obedient.

That's your obligation toward God because God has set men in your midst to rule over you and they must give account as those who watch for your souls to others besides accounting to God. There's a couple of other reasons that you are to submit watch for 17 in the middle that they may do it with joy and not with grief at the first race you to submit because of the joy that it brings the leaders because of the joy that it brings the elders and the pastors and you know I think you and I've said this many times in I think it to be true. I think sometimes the saddest group of people the most grieved group of men are very often ministers, pastors, and I think sometimes the reason is because of the fact that they are dealing with a stubborn and rebellious people who because they will not submit. Rob them of the joy of their ministry. The idea of the word grief here is groaning over a thankless task and there are many men whose ministry is a very thankless thing. He says you are to submit just for the joy of the one who labors with you know, the apostle Paul knew about that joy. Apparently, especially the Philippians were a submissive bunch. He didn't express a whole lot of joy over the Corinthians. In fact, they were a pain in the neck as well as the heart, but in Philippians 14 he says always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy instead of the Philippians. You make me happy. And the reason was because they were submissive.

You read the letter to the Philippians and in you don't get any rebellion at all there is any. There is not really any false doctrine.

There is not really resistance there just a couple of cantankerous women causing problems, but that was about it. You Odeon syndicate chapter 4 and he told us is a guess to get them together and shape it up. You know but basically he's just simply expressing joy over submissive people and he does it.

Chapter 2 verse 16 pieces holding for the word of life that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain.

Either labor conveyances.

I want you to keep doing what you're doing and do a little better so my joy remains in chapter 3 verse 18.

He says for many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ in here.

He admits that sometimes even in his ministry.

There are people who walk in such a fashion that makes him cry that makes him weep that gives grief instead of joy brother in 17 he says, be followers together of me, and mark them or walk even as you have us for an example for many don't walk that way their enemies and they grieved me. Paul found joy in those who were obedient and those who wouldn't walk the way he tried to teach him to walk. He was grieved in all the other letter in the New Testament perhaps expresses the purest kind of church is the first letter of the Thessalonians, and again here was a church that was so beautiful and so responsive and so submissive and here's what he says to them and to 19.

What is our hope and joy. What is our crown of rejoicing are not even you again. He says you Thessalonians make me so happy you make me so happy. Why because they responded to his ministry. Verse 20. I love the short verse for you are our glory and joy that in chapter 3 verse nine for what thanks can we render to God again for you and they would just weave that we have thanked ourselves out of thanks. He says for you for all the joy with which we joy for your sakes before our God were just overjoyed with joy because of you. There is a classic illustration of a group of submissive, obedient people who follow the principles they were taught and brought joy to his heart.

So, submit for the joy, the leader's armored car thieves had enough youth patted your case. Let me go to unit the second reason you are to be submissive not only joy for me with joy for you joy for you. Look at 17 again obey and submit why that they may do it with joy, not with grief. Now watch for that is unprofitable. What you if you don't obey, and you don't submit. Guess who loses you to measure not following the pattern of God.

If you don't have a willing and loving, obedient spirit, then you why because you are out of sync with what God is doing your out of sync with what is being taught. You know, there are some people resent me so much they could learn anything if they try. Is it in the long run. I'm not the loser.

They are, because that steals the their own joy because where there is no fruit.

There's no Jew, just after Jesus got through talking about all the wonderful fruit that a Christian can have in his life.

He said these things I'm telling you that your joy my joy might be in you and your joy might be what full fruit brings joy so to submit put you in a position to be profited by the ministry. If you react in rebel, you can't profit for the members of the body to be in constant rebellion is thus to be a source of deep grief to their pastors and elders, but it's also to despise their own blessings. It not only prevents you receiving instruction in your heart, which results in spiritual barrenness, but at sacks all your zeal as well.

So everybody loses.

When you rebel and you find two that the people who griped most about. Their leaders are those most subject to bitterness and spiritual infirmity always well so spirit filled submission brings joy around the everybody say will want to find disagree. Well, I don't think the Bible says if you have an idea that maybe sounds a little out of sync, he should maybe shared in love.

I think that's good.

Say yes, but I know a pastor who did so and so. The Bible says if an elder has done something wrong rebuking, but rebuking him in the front of two or three other elders right is first Timothy 519 and 20. So were not impervious were not in some kind of ivory tower sitting up there shooting little theological arrows down everybody sort of drowning in the moat. No.

If there is something to be said to us that needs to be said it all be set at the Scripture allows it even encourages rebuke an elder, yes, but not with some serious thought and before two or three verifying what and then a few be deemed to deserve the rebuke rebuke him before all that the whole congregation may fear the consequences of sin mission is vital to maintaining your character. Whether you're a follower or a leader that's a one sentence summary of John MacArthur's important instruction today on grace to you because you study the integrity factor, along with teaching each day on radio.

John also serves as Chancellor of the Masters University in seminary. John Ive's conviction that the real proving ground of a person's integrity is marriage. It's hard to maintain the semblance of integrity. If you're living with someone who sees what you really are behind-the-scenes and with all that in mind that we have a question here that came in on our Q&A line and I think a lot of people have the same question.

Sonia has hi my name is Tonya and I continue every day, unable to and I've learned a lot from you and I'm just very grateful and I had a question regarding a family and my family claimed to be Christian. My question is when a man and woman be recognized as married in the eyes of God. If they are living together and they are committed to each other. I appreciate your answer. Thank you very much for the simple answer is no because marriage is a covenant is a covenant made openly and publicly before God and men, the whole notion of marriage is basically built on an open covenant between one man and one woman for life and the society recognizes the nature of that covenant always has recognize the nature of that covenant.

I think a very important thing to think about is the Jesus himself did his first miracle at a wedding at the first miracle of his entire ministry he did at a wedding.

When he turned the water into wine at the wedding that he was validating that covenant event itself.

So II think if we allow for the fact that anybody who lives with anybody constitutes a marriage then we don't have marriage and that just obliterates everything. The very fact that if you are going to divorce your wife in the Old Testament for any reason at all you had to get a bill of divorcement that's what the Old Testament says write a bill of divorcement if there is legitimate grounds for divorce indicates the fact that this is the breaking of a covenant at a level that requires some kind of legal act because marriage even in the eyes of God is a covenant, a kind of legal binding covenant between a man and woman before God and before people write thank you John and if you're listening today and like Sonia, you have a question you'd like to ask John, I'd encourage you to call our Q&A line and leave your question, you just might hear John answer it on an upcoming broadcast contact us today. The number for the Q&A line 661-295-6288 simply leave a message with your question, the number one more time. 661-295-6288. If you're driving you can't write that down you will find the Q&A line number also@ourwebrightty.org no turning the corner a bit. Reminder that when air John's lesson, not just teaching the content of the passage were teaching Christian men and women how to approach their Bibles on the rope and how to evaluate what others are teaching this vital ministry is possible because of the support of listeners like you if you'd like to help us take biblical truth to people around the world. You can mail your donation to grace to you.

Box 4000 panorama city, CA 91412 or call 855 grace or go to our website TTY.org that's TTY.org now for John MacArthur and the entire staff.

I'm your host Phil Johnson saying thank you for making grace to you part of your day and be here tomorrow when John wraps up his study on the integrity factor. It's another 30 minutes of unleashing God's truth one verse at a time wasting