Let The Lord Jesus Christ Be In Control

Let the Lord Jesus Christ Be in Control (Rom 15:14)

Perhaps one of my favorite songs comes from the pen of Eliza Hewitt who wrote:

"More about Jesus would I know. More of His grace to others show. More of His saving fulness see. More of His love who died for me.

More about Jesus let me learn. More of His holy will discern. Spirit of God, my teacher be. Showing the things of Christ to me.

More about Jesus in His Word. Holding communion with my Lord. Hearing His voice in every line. Making each faithful saying mine."

Only when we are so filled with the Lord Jesus Christ’s power, perspective and presence are we able to overcome the lusts of the flesh that corrupt, destroy and disqualify so many from usefulness. Recently, Terrill Owens, of the Philadelphia Eagles was disqualified from service. He could not control his own egocentric desires, anger and selfish interests for the good of his team and was suspended for the entire season. Too many believers are being put out of the game of life because they are unable to conquer their own desires by allowing the Lord Jesus Christ to control their mind, will and emotions. The following nine aspects of putting on the Lord Jesus Christ has saved me from many self-destructive tendencies and I hope they will help you:

Paul wrote the words, "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provisions for the flesh to fulfill its lusts." (Rom 15:14)In the new living translation is comes across with greater clarity. "But let the Lord Jesus Christ take control of you and do not think of ways to indulge your evil desires." (Rom 15:14)

Paul uses several key descriptions of the authority, function and perspective that exude out of the Lord Jesus Christ that enable us to overcome our fleshly tendencies to sin.

1. Lord - DIRECTOR - Jesus is our Master who alone has the right to determine the course of our decisions. We are told in Prov. 3:5-7 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." A director is someone who controls and governs the movements of a person to do a certain thing. A director has the right to give orders to everyone under His control. He has the right to send us where He wants us to go, to determine what is the best role for us to play and to describe the words we are to speak. A director even gives indications how we should deliver our message to others. A director has the master plan of instruction for our lives enabling Him to supervise our actions, attitudes and interactions. We must constantly look to the director for directions or we will receive the signals to chart our course aright. The director has the capacity to manage our affairs in a way that maximizes our outcome. Apart from the director we will find ourselves failing to play the part that we are assigned and be written out of the script of life.

2. Jesus - DELIVERER - Jesus is the one who not only saves us from our past sins, but also our present sins and our future temptations to stray from His will. Jesus is the one who delivers us from the evil that is in the world, the flesh and the devil. He taught us to pray, "Deliver us from evil, for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever." We need Jesus to deliver us from discouragement, sorrow and critical attitudes that often drag us in to a cycle of sadness.

3. Christ - DOMINION - Christ is our Messiah and King. He alone has the sovereign control over all the affairs of everything. Paul wrote, "From Him and through Him and to Him are all things." (Rom 11:33-36)Let us give Him His right to do whatever He desires with our mind, our bodies and our emotions. He is the omnipotent one who is able to do exceedingly abundant beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works mightily within us. (Eph. 3:20) He is able to keep that which we commit to Him against the day of our heavenly calling home. (2 Tim 1:12) Nothing is too difficult for Him as His is the kingdom (King’s domain) He controls all things, owns all things and He is the judge of everyone. Apart from Him we can do nothing. The one who has dominion is the controller of all people, territory and powers. He wants us to fight the good fight of faith by being strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. He is the governor of all life, liberty and events so we do not have to fear though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the sea. As He is our refuge and strength a very present help in the time of trouble. (Psa 46:1-3)His power, dominion and sovereign abilities are greater than all our problems, predicaments or pressures.