Thank you for taking the time this week to read the Weekend Sermon. I am always happy to be able to post the sermons, and I hope that everyone is having a very good week.
I want to apologize for the sermon being delayed. I had something that I need to take care of Friday, so I just decided to post the sermon today. It has been a busy week and a good week in writing for which I am thankful to the Lord.
I would ask your prayers in a couple of matters. I hurt my back yesterday. Please pray that it heals up soon. I also still need prayers about finding the right part-time job. I do have some prospects. Thank you for your prayers.
In other prayer matters, please pray for those in Hawaii who are facing the problems with the hurricane. Pray for the people's safety.
Please continue to pray that the fires in California will be brought under control quickly. Pray for the safety of those combating the fires.
Continue to pray for peace in the world. This week, let us concentrate our prayers for peace on the nations of Syria and Yemen.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us all pray for Taiwan and Turkmenistan. Pray that many will hear the message of Jesus' love and forgiveness.
Over the course of the last few weeks, we have been in a series of messages examining who Jesus is. Today is the last message in our series, and we will focus on the fact that Jesus is Lord.
The Bible is clear that there are two ways in which Jesus is Lord. Jesus is Lord in a universal way, and Jesus can be Lord in a personal way.
The Bible is quite clear that everyone on this planet has one of two allegiances. We are either aligned with this world and its values, or we have accepted the lordship of Jesus Christ in our lives.
Jesus is Lord is the first confession of faith of the church. It signified that a person who is a Christian is someone who has accepted the rulership of Jesus in his or her life. It signifies that a person has turned his back on the world and its evil value system, and he is embracing the person and work of the Lord Jesus.
I Peter 3:15 says that a Christian is one who has sanctified Christ as Lord in his heart. A Christian is someone who according to Romans 10:9 has confessed with his mouth that Jesus is Lord.
In John 13:13, Jesus stated that He is both Teacher and Lord. He is the one who we follow. To have Jesus as the Lord of one's life means that Jesus is the ruler and master. We acknowledge His rule over us. We are willing to obey his teachings and commandments. We are willing to do what He asks of us.
Having Jesus as Lord is what is means to be a Christian. A Christian follows the Lord wherever the Lord Jesus leads. He is our ruler, and we are subjects of His Kingdom. This world and its value system are not our home. We are strangers and pilgrims in this world who are looking for that city whose builder and maker is God. It is the city of the New Jerusalem, which shall come down out of Heaven when Jesus returns in power and great glory to rule over all the universe.
The statement Jesus is Lord was a radical and life changing statement for the early Christians. In the Roman world, Caesar was considered to be Lord. He demanded full allegiance. By stating that Jesus is Lord, the early Christians where stating that their allegiance was to Christ and not to any human being. Many gave their lives because they would not deny that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Acknowledging Jesus as the Lord of one's life means that we do not acknowledge any earthly ruler as equal to or above the Lord Jesus. We place no country over the reign of Jesus Christ. When we say that Jesus is Lord of our lives, it means that He is in control, and our total allegiance is to Him.
Now, there is a way that Jesus is ultimately and universally Lord. One day, Jesus will come again. At that time, the Bible says in Philippians 2 that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. He will reign forever and forever. All those who mocked Jesus and ridiculed Him and His teachings will bow and recognize that He is Lord. Jesus will be triumphant, and He will be acknowledged for who He is.
I am looking forward with great anticipation to that day when Jesus comes again. I will gladly proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord, and I hope to do my best to acknowledge Jesus as my Lord while I am on this earth. In my heart, that is all that is really important. Knowing and serving Jesus as Lord is what life is about. All praise and glory be unto the Lord Most High.
That ends our series on who is Jesus. I hope that you have been blessed and gained insight during the series. Beginning next week, we will be starting a new series of messages on the last few chapters in the book of Romans. I will post the sermon next Friday, Lord willing. On Monday, I will post the verses. I will post the next chapter of my book about Toby on Wednesday. May God bless you all. Amen.
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