Worship & Word: Sunday at Empowerment Temple- with Rev. Dr. Robert Turner

Main message: Submission is a voluntary, spiritual choice to place yourself under God's authority (not the forced subjugation of slavery); it requires dying to self, is costly for the called, and produces new life and fruit when you choose Jesus.

Key points:

• Submission defined (Greek hypotasso): to place oneself under—an intentional choice, not coercion.
• Distinction between subjugation (forced, oppressive) and submission (willing, spiritual).
• Submission involves death to self (grain of wheat must fall and die) and is part of the cost of a calling.
• Choosing God is daily and active (Joshua’s “choose this day”); Jesus also chooses us and invites our response.
• True submission leads to praise, gratitude, freely given stewardship, and spiritual fruit—not guilt-driven religious duty.

Scriptures mentioned: James 4:7, John 12 (John 12:24), Joshua 24:15, John 15:13, Matthew 10:8