Jesus Is Lord

Phil 2:5-11

One day a new 2^nd Lt realized he didn’t have change for the coke machine. A private happened to be walking towards him and he asked if the man had change for a dollar. “I think so, let me check.” Wanting to make sure his authority was intact the young LT said, “is that how you address an officer? Now let me ask you again, do you have change for a dollar? “ the soldier straightened up, saluted crisply, and replied, “No Sir!”

Americans, by our nature have a little problem with authority. You see it in our music, our movies and even in our wars. Revolutionary war was over authority; The Civil War was over authority. We don’t like to be told what to do.

So when we say Jesus is Lord, what does that really mean? Do we really want to give him authority in our lives? This morning, we’ll look at what it means for Jesus to be Lord.

PRAYER

I. Lord

A. Definition

1. the term Lord pops up often in the Bible.

a) In fact in just the NT it is used 719 times.

b) Most of the time, referring to Christ or God.

c) So to understand Christ we need to understand Lord.

2. We are far enough removed from the word that we don’t really understand what Lord means.

3. Webster’s dictionary uses these definitions

a) : one having power and authority over others:

b) : a ruler by hereditary right or preeminence to whom service and obedience are due

c) : one of whom a fee or estate is held in feudal tenure

d) : an owner of land or other real property

e) obs : the male head of a household

4. It was used for Jesus in a couple of ways

a) It was first used as a title of honor and respect

b) It was also used to denote his authority over mankind.

B. Role of Lord

1. When you were a Lord, you had absolute power over those beneath you.

a) If a Lord wanted someone put to death for any reason, he just had it done. He had complete control over his subjects.

b) When a Lord went to war, he could call up every able bodied man under his control to fight and die for him if needed.

c) Many years ago, I was talking to a woman who had been recently divorced from a monster of a man. As her story unfolded, you saw a sick and twisted man who destroyed his family and quite possibly got away with murder.

d) Part of his evil was the need to completely control his family. He convinced his daughters that the ghost of their dead mother wanted them to be intimate with him because she couldn’t anymore.

e) He also expected his new wife to only refer to him as Lord when at home because Sarah called Abraham Lord and she needed to understand who was the head of their household.

f) That’s absolute power used wrongly.

g) READ Phil 2:9-11

h) Christ has absolute power, yet he will never abuse his authority.

i) But make no mistake, EVERY need will bow and EVERY tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord.

2. He also had a responsibility to those under his control as well.

a) He was supposed to care for and protect them from enemies.

b) He traded his protection and care for their loyalty.

c) A good lord was loved by his people.

d) A bad lord was despised by his people, but they still had to do his will.

II. Jesus Is Lord

A. Giving Jesus Authority

1. One big difference between the physical lord and our spiritual Lord is choice.

2. Most people didn’t have a choice about who their lord was, but we do.

3. We make a willful decision to make Jesus our Lord.

B. Why Give Jesus Authority?

1. We’ve established that we don’t like authority very much, so why willingly give Jesus authority over us?

2. For the Christian, the answer is simple.

a) He has earned it.

b) His sacrifice for me is so profound, that I have absolutely no problem calling him Lord of my life.

c) READ Rom 8:6-8

d) He wanted the best for me long before I even considered Him.

C. Is Jesus really Lord?

1. Now, I have to struggle with Jesus really being my Lord.

2. Jesus authority in the abstract is fine, but what about when it confronts me and my desires?

3. Is Jesus Lord of my life, or just the areas I’m willing to surrender to him?

4. That’s where we get stuck isn’t it?

5. Is Jesus really going to be Lord of my life? Am I really going to surrender EVERYTHING to Him?

a) When I am alone… Is Jesus Lord?

b) When I know I won’t get caught… Is Jesus Lord?

c) When I figure out my finances … Is Jesus Lord?

d) When I plan my time… Is Jesus Lord?

e) When I am angry and want revenge … Is Jesus Lord?

6. As the famous quote goes, “now you’ve gone from preaching to meddlin’!”

7. The hot new TV show is a game called “Moment of Truth” on the game, you are asked a series of question for money. At each level the questions get a little more personal. The catch in all of this is that you are hooked up to a lie detector!

8. When we start asking the difficult questions about the Lordship of Jesus in our lives, the answers can get a little awkward.

D. All aspects of Jesus

1. As we continue to understand Jesus and Jesus crucified, it’s important that we understand all aspects of who Christ is.

2. Churches for too long have only wanted to preach a loving Jesus who is there whenever you need him.

3. They don’t preach the parts of Jesus that our society doesn’t want to stomach.

4. We shy away from what is really means to say Jesus is Lord.

5. We’re afraid to say Jesus is the ONLY way to Salvation because that isn’t politically correct.

6. We don’t like to deal with the aspects servant hood and holiness because that might turn people off.

7. Jesus said he would turn family members against each other, that the world would HATE us for living as Christians.

8. Jesus will be a stumbling block to many, but for those who accept him and his teaching, he is salvation.

9. Will you accept Jesus as Lord of your life today?