Alba 4-16-2023
THERE IS ONE LORD
Ephesians 4:5
This morning's message is entitled “There Is One Lord” from Ephesians chapter four, verse four.
What if you had a boss that demanded that you check in with him every ten minutes, no matter what? What if he required it even if you were in the middle of other important work?
What if he demanded it whether you were at the office or at home? What if he required it even if you were trying to spend a few minutes relaxing in the back yard? What if he demanded it even if you were having a meaningful conversation with a loved one?
What if I told you that many people already have that boss: their cellphone. They say on average, people check their cellphones 85,000 times a year. That averages out to just over once every 6 minutes out of every 24 hours.
It is strange, isn't it, what things we will allow to control us? We often rebel at the idea of being made to do certain things. But then we allow ourselves to be captivated by things of minimal value in the long run.
Yet I think that most of us would have to admit that there are many things that exercise more control over us than they should, even if it is not cell phones.
So if that is the case, it would be wise for us to take a closer look at what it is that we are putting first in our lives. And as Christians, we need to ask if Jesus has any part in the daily actions and decisions we make. Because the Bible says that Jesus is Lord.
In fact, the title ‘Lord Jesus Christ’ is used 60 times in the New Testament. We become used to referring to Jesus that way, just assuming that those words are simply a description of our Savior. But each word has a special meaning.
His name is Jesus, which means Jehovah Saves, or Jehovah is Salvation. Remember when the angel told Joseph that Mary's child was conceived by the Holy Spirit and that he should, “call His name Jesus, (why?) for He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21) Jesus = Savior.
And Christ is the title for Jesus. Christ means Messiah, “the anointed one”. For centuries, the Hebrew people looked for and longed for the Messiah.
Remember how after Jesus talked with the Samaritan woman at the well, she ran and told the people in town, “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. (So what did she say about Him?) Could this be the Christ?” (John 4:9)
She was calling Jesus the Messiah. And He is! Even the angels proclaimed at Jesus' birth, “Unto you is born this day... a Savior who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11
The third word that describes Jesus is, that He is “LORD”. There are several things that tells us about Jesus. The first is that He is divine. “Lord” is used in the Old Testament to describe God the Father 6,111 times (NKJV).
And in the New Testament, “Lord” is found 653 times, alternately referring to either God the Father or Jesus. To call Jesus “Lord” is to acknowledge that He is divine, that He is God in the flesh, Immanuel.
After Jesus was crucified, buried and rose from the grave, He met with the apostles. The first time Thomas wasn't there. Then a week later Thomas was present, and Jesus appeared.
Offering Thomas the evidence of hands that had been nailed to the cross and a side that had been pierced by the centurian's spear, Thomas had to acknowledge who Jesus is.
His words in response were these: “My Lord and my God.” (John 20:28) He knew that he was in the presence of divinity.
I John 4:15 tells us that, “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.”
But there is even more implied by calling Jesus “Lord”. Because that is an acknowledgment that He has authority over us. How much authority does He have? What did He say?
He said, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Mathew 28:18). I would say that is fairly complete, wouldn't you?
If indeed Jesus has all authority in heaven and in earth, that necessarily implies that there is no authority that is above that which was given to Jesus.
There is no position that is above that which was given to Jesus. There is no power that is above that which was given to Jesus. Jesus demonstrated His power by His miracles, showing His authority even over nature.
That is not surprising because Colossians 1:16-17 says, “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.”
Jesus demonstrated His authority over what we call “natural laws” when He calmed the storm with the words, “Peace, be still”. Also when He walked on water.
And also when He caused Peter, Andrew, James and John to catch so many fish that their nets were breaking and their boats were so full they almost sank.
It was then that it says in Luke 5:8, “When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, 'Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!'”
Notice, it is when Peter sees in that event the authority of Jesus over the sea and the fish that he bows before Him and calls Him “Lord”.
Don't forget, Jesus has “all” authority. So that means that He is Lord of all creation all the time. Therefore "all" means each of us as well. If Jesus truly is the Lord of heaven and earth, then He is also the Master of our individual lives.
His rule as Lord is not limited to only governing the vast universe; it is also on a personal level. Jesus is Lord of our normal, everyday lives - our choices, priorities, activities, attitudes, words, everything.
The apostle Paul captured this truth in Romans 14:8 when he wrote, “For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.”
It is impossible to compartmentalize Christ's lordship. Jesus doesn't want to be only part of our life. If we give Him just a portion, then we are telling the Lord that there are other things we consider at least as important as He is. Do you know what the Bible calls this? Idolatry.
Jesus never asked people to give Him a try. He demands full surrender. He said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. (Luke 9:23). We can't squeeze Jesus into one segment of our life and continue living as we please. If we are truly His, then we will want Jesus to be Lord of our life.
Romans 10:13 says that, “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” To call on the Lord means to yield one's life to the supreme Lord of the universe.
Romans 10:9 promises, “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
A word of caution here. Some might think that there is almost something magical in saying the correct words. As if to say the words “the Lord Jesus” with your mouth is an automatic pass into heaven.
To call on the name of the Lord is more than just words. It is acknowledging all God has done to save us and professing agreement to, and belief in, all that as been written concerning His Son, Jesus Christ.
It is believing the historical fact that Jesus lived a perfect life, died on the cross as a perfect sacrifice, and rose again from that tomb, giving us victory over sin, death and the devil.
But remember the warning of Jesus in Matthew 7:21-23. He said, 21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
“22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’
“23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”
To call on the name of the Lord is to express the willingness to submit to Him as Lord in all areas of life. To believe Jesus is Lord is to believe with conviction.
It is to declare His Lordship saying, He is Lord of my past. He is Lord of my present. He is Lord of my future. He is Lord of my life. Lord of my all.
There is more to it than just saying the words. It needs to be accompanied with repentance, a turning away from sinful ways and actions, no longer practicing lawlessness. If Jesus is your Lord, you will be willing to do what He says you should do.
When we confess that Jesus is Lord, we acknowledge His rank or supreme place over us. We are pledging our obedience and worship; we are placing our life under His protection for safekeeping.
There was a TV show that ran in the 80’s called “Who’s the Boss?” We need to ask ourselves, “Who is Lord of my life?” And honestly ask, “Is it self, or is it Jesus”.
As Lord, Jesus has all authority over every area of our lives. Jesus has authority over our financial life - how we spend, save and give our money.
Also over our social life - how we treat other people by our words and actions. What we do with our hurts. How we use our tongue. How we treat others. Do we do our jobs well? Are we an example for Jesus?
He calls us to avoid even a hint of sexual immorality. That means to obey His Word in regards to its teaching about sex before or outside of marriage. Jesus has authority in every area.
You may not think that the police have authority over you as you are cruising 15 mph over the speed limit on highway 96. But once those flashing lights come on, you become instantly aware that they do. (I am not speaking from experience, at least on highway 96.)
It is the same with Jesus, but even more so. For He is Lord of the universe. He is Lord!!! It does not matter whether a person accepts Him as Lord or not, He will still be Lord.
He is the one in authority. And scripture tells us that He is the one to whom we will one day give an account, whether we realize it or not. He is Lord whether we acknowledge it or not.
You cannot deny that there is gravity on this planet. But if you choose to reject its control and jump off a high rocky cliff thinking that gravity will not pull you down to the ground to your death, you are sadly mistaken!!
And it is also true that if we choose to reject Jesus’ control of our lives through His Spirit, there will be dangerous spiritual consequences. The fact that Jesus is Lord demands that we submit ourselves to Him. And why wouldn't we?
The Lordship of Jesus is based on who He is and what He has done for us. Romans 14:9 says, “For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.”
We are under the Lordship of Jesus Christ because He has earned it. He deserves our full commitment. Jesus deserves our complete and total loyalty. That gives Him power and authority over every area of our lives. The question is, how do we respond?
The word “Lord” is kurios in the original Greek. It is the equivalent of the Hebrew word Adonai. That also means Lord, and carries with it the idea of a master/servant relationship in which the servant wants to please his master.
Why would we want to do anything less than that? Thankfully, Jesus is not a hard task master. What He demands of us, He showed through His own example saying that He “did not come to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:45).
And after showing His servant attitude in washing the feet of the apostles, He encouraged the same attitude in them.
He said in John 13:16-17 “Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”
If we follow Jesus' example and His commands, He promises blessings. So if we want His blessings, we must yield to His Lordship.
Philippians 2:5-11 encourages us saying, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
There is only one Lord. Be sure that you serve Him.
CLOSE:
A teacher was telling about the time their new elementary school was raising the American flag for the first time. To make the day special, they had invited a marine Corps color guard to come out and perform the duty for them.
The day before the ceremony, the Marine in charge of the unit called to confirm directions to the school. After doing so, the secretary asked whether he was sending marines who like children.
There was a brief pause on the other end of the line before the man replied, "Ma’am, if I tell them to like children, they will like children."
The marines are taught to understand authority. To understand who is in charge. To understand who their leader is, and they follow orders.
In the Bible we are taught the same thing about “Lordship". We have a commander whose words and orders we are to follow. Because He is Lord.
After Jesus said that all authority has been given to Him, He said, 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” (Matt. 28:19-20 KJV)
