Tap The Brakes
Romans 6:13-22
Intro: There is a word that appears in this chapter at least five times. (twice in vs. 13, vs. 1 and twice in vs. 19) I believe that this word found in these verses is the key to a happy Christian life, a blessed Christian life and an obedient Christian life.
That word is “yield”. Understanding the power of this word, yet the simplicity of this word is essential to success as a believer.
To illustrate this principle, I want to use the picture of a vehicle coming down an access ramp onto a highway. This is a common place where you might find a yield sign.
I. Requires an Awareness
Before you can yield, you must be aware of two paths that are merging.
As a born again believer, there is an awareness of this simple fact: you have options.
No believer can say, “The devil made me do it!”
There are always two paths – the right one and the wrong one.
When confronted with a decision, a choice or a possible action, there are two.
The way of man, and the way of God.
The desire of the flesh, and the desire of the Spirit.
The will of the old man, and the will of the new man.
- 1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
WAY TO ESCAPE: an egress, way out, exit; applied figuratively to the way of escape from temptation
II. Requires an Acceptance
This step in the yielding process is acknowledging that Christ is your Lord – giving Him the right-of-way.
- I Cor. 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
As your Lord and Master, He has all rights.
He has all the right in the world to exercise control and leadership.
He has purchased the right to tell you how to live your life.
Paul referred to it in Romans 12:1, 2 as our “reasonable service”.
Once we are aware of His will, His presence, His word, His plan, we then must acknowledge His right to lead.
III. Requires an Allowance
Realizing there are options is one thing.
Accepting the fact that God is right and deserves to be your Lord and Master is one thing.
Allowing Him to lead is another.
This allowance – this submission – this denial of your own will and decision to follow Him is the crux of the Christian life.
ILLUSTRATION: If you’re coming down an access ramp onto a highway. It is simple to see that there are two paths merging. It is even simple to see that the flow of traffic is bigger, faster and more powerful than you are. The yielding process doesn’t happen until you TAP THE BRAKES.
NOTE: God doesn’t want to stop your life. He just wants to lead it.
The secret to yielding when merging into a flow of traffic isn’t to stop. Or backup. Or turn around.
The secret is to simply TAP THE BRAKES and follow their lead.
How many times does the Bible use the word “let” in connection with being a disciple?
Paul used the word “permit” twice – both times acknowledging that God was in charge.
- 1 Corinthians 16:7 For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit.
- Hebrews 6:3 And this will we do, if God permit.
Conclusion: The first time we find the word yield used in this way is in II Chron. Notice how blunt God was about it.
- II Chron. 30:7 And be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren, which trespassed against the LORD God of their fathers, who therefore gave them up to desolation, as ye see.
- 8 Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you.
- 9 For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him.