We’ve studied keys to submitting to God. What are 6 Hurdles to Submitting to God in Everything? Let’s look at what God has to say about hurdles in the Christian life.
James 1:2-4 NIV “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
“Consider it all joy, my brothers and sister, whenever you face trials of many kinds”. Really? Joy in trials? Its talking here about the end result. What does it produce? Perseverance. It builds our faith and we learn to persevere through everything. This is what gives us joy.
“Let perseverance finish its work”, why? So we can become mature, lacking nothing as we grow in Jesus Christ.
“If perseverance is to “finish its work,” faith must persist and not falter or give up. The goal in view is that believers “may be mature and complete. Perseverance in facing trials develops maturity of character and a balance of all the graces and strengths needed for the Christian life.” Expositor’s Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): New Testament Copyright 2004
What are 6 Hurdles to Overcome in Submitting to God in Everything?
- Unbelief
- Sin
- Idols
- Works
- Temptation
- Suffering
1. Unbelief
Matthew 17:20-21 NIV ” He replied, ‘Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
In this passage, Jesus is talking to the disciples. They had tried to cast out demons from a man’s son and were unable to do so. Later, in private they asked Him why they could not? Jesus told them they didn’t have enough faith.
If faith as small as a mustard seed could move mountains, then their faith could not have been very strong. We cannot submit to God without faith. When we don’t have faith, its unbelief.
Staying in God’s Word and praying will help us overcome this hurdle. Faith comes from God, the more we submit to Him, the more faith we will have.
2. Sin
Hebrews 12:1 NIV “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,”
In the 11th chapter of Hebrews is the well-known list of people known for their faithfulnesss to God. It’s often referred to the “Hall of Fame” of the faithful. This is part of the cloud of witnesses here in 12:1. Because of their perseverance in the faith, we want to follow their lead. One of the hurdles we have is sin that deters us from staying the course of faith in Jesus Christ. We want to become more obedient to Jesus’s path and staying away from sin.
When we do sin, there is a remedy.
1 John 1:9 NIV “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
When we sin, we break fellowship with God. If we don’t confess it, a barrier is between God and us. The answer is confessing our sin and restoring fellowship with Him.
3. Idols
An idol is anything that we place above God. When we idolize something, it gets in the way of growth in Jesus Christ.
An example of a idol can be money.
Hebrews 13:5 NIV “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’”
Money is not evil. The love of money is the problem. We become so involved in what money can do, that it gets out of hand. Credit card debt, loan debt can get us in a lot of trouble. Being content with what we have creates a better environment for us and our families. The Lord promises to take care of us.
Matthew 6:31-33 NIV “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
This is God’s promise that when we are seeking Him and His kingdom, He will give us what we need.
4. Works
John 15:5 NIV “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
Just because we are a Christian, does not mean we are relying on Jesus for direction. When we are doing “works” without depending on God, we are working for ourselves. This creates a hurdle in submitting to God.
We need to have a connection with Him to know what it He wants us to do. Always stay in touch with the Lord in prayer and His Word to be in His will.
5. Temptation
Matthew 26:40-41 NIV “Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Jesus is again talking to the disciples. They are in Gethsemane, just before Christ is arrested. He has been praying and the disciples have fallen asleep. Christ tells them to watch and pray so they will be alert. They are tired and this sets them up for temptation.
Falling into temptation can be very easy. It takes dependence on Jesus Christ to resist.
1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
In this verse, God promises us that we don’t have to give in to temptation. We can go to Him and He will provide a way for us to escape.
6. Suffering
John 16:29-33 NIV “Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God. ‘Do you now believe?’ Jesus replied. ‘A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’”
The disciples’ eyes have been open to Jesus’ words. They now understand. He tells them of the suffering they will go through but promises them they will have His peace. He has overcome the world.
When we are suffering it is hard to think about anything else. We sometimes move away from God, thinking it’s His fault. This can cause us to falter, thus creating a hurdle to overcome in submitting to God in everything.
We need to look up, Jesus has promised us peace in our trials.
1 Peter 5:10 NIV “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”
In this verse, God tells us that He will restore us in our suffering. He then will make us strong and firm in Him.
Conclusion
We have looked at 6 Hurdles to Overcome in Submitting to God in Everything. These are some of things that can separate us from God, therefore creating hurdles to stay in God’s will.
Looking at God’s Word, we gain more insight in to what we need to do. The wonderful thing is, God gives us ways of overcoming these hurdles through His love. He doesn’t leave us there.
If you have any questions please comment below.
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