LORD by Pastor Shah, Clearview Church, Henderson
Introduction: We all have a title. When you are young, it could be just a “kid” or “brother” or “sister.” If you are a parent, you could be “mom” (some days you may want to change it!) or “dad” or “grandpa” or “nana.” When you go to work, you could get a job title. I did a search on the craziest job titles in the workplace – “Chief Flavor Officer” (Taste ice cream) or “Animal colorist” (color animals for movies). Titles tell us what a person does and their level in the family, company, or institution. Jesus had many titles but the one that tops the list is “Lord.” It means that as God he deserves our worship and obedience. In this message we will learn what that means.
Philippians 2 5Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, andcoming in the likeness of men. 8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient tothe point ofdeath, even the death of the cross. 9Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11andthatevery tongue should confess that Jesus ChristisLord, to the glory of God the Father.
Question: What do you think about Jesus? Is he the Lord of your life? Is he in control of your life? Have you ever asked him to save you?
Context: For the benefit of those who are visiting with us, we are in our series called MIND (RE)SET from Philippians 2. We are learning what it means to have the mind of Christ. So far, we have learned that because Jesus being equal with God, humbled himself and became obedient as a slave and died the slave’s death for us, God the Father highly exalted him and gave him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of those in heaven, of those on earth, and of those under the earth. We learned last weekend that those who are bowing are the fallen angels. They are not really worshipping Jesus but simply acknowledging that they lost and Jesus won. Now we go one step further in verse 11“andthatevery tongue should confess that Jesus ChristisLord, to the glory of God the Father.” Our focus in this message is on “Jesus Christ is Lord.” We hear it 2 other times in the New Testament:
Romans 10:9“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.” Jesus is Lord is the key to our salvation.
I Corinthians 12:3“Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.” Jesus is Lord is the proof of our salvation.
In other words, “Jesus is Lord” was a very early and important confession of the church.Why was this?
1. MEANING OF LORD
The word “Lord” is the Greek word “kurios.” From very ancient times, it meant “someone who had authority or control over.” It implied a superior position. It’s in the Greek Old Testament (LXX) that we find it get a whole new meaning. That word “kurios” is found over 8000 times in the Greek OT, over 6000 times for the Hebrew word “Yahweh,” the name of God and some even for “Adonai,” the substitute name for God. The Jewish people did not like to use God’s name (Yahweh), so they substituted Adonai for it by using the vowels in between. Either way, the word “kurios” is used as God’s name in Greek. In the New Testament, the word “kurios” is found about 700 times. Although it is used at times for kings and masters, it’s main use is as a designation for God. Some examples:
Luke 2:9And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.
Matthew 11:25At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things fromthewise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.
James 5:10My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience.
2. EXALTATION OF JESUS
Even though Jesus did not directly call himself “kurios,” he did things that prove that he was God. He repeatedly used the designation “I Am” (God’s name) for himself – John 8:58Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” Then you know his 7 “I Am” statements– Bread of Life, Light of the World, Door of the Sheep, Good Shepherd, Resurrection and the Life, the Way, Truth, and Life, and True Vine. He even said John 10:30“I andMyFather are one.” Of course, his miracles also proved that he was God but the eyes of the people were not able to see him as such.
After he finished the task of giving his life for us, the Father did something very powerful. He bestowed on him the title “kurios” or Lord. Listen again to verse 9Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11andthatevery tongue should confess that Jesus ChristisLord, to the glory of God the Father. Now officially, he has the title “Lord.” It was a fulfillment of Isaiah 45 22 “Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I amGod, and there isno other. 23 I have sworn by Myself; The word has gone out of My mouthinrighteousness, And shall not return, That to Me every knee shall bow, Every tongue shall take an oath.”
Don’t misunderstand: He was already that by nature but now even by designation.
3. RESPONSE OF THE CHURCH
What did this do for the first believers? They were Jewish people who believed in one God:
- Ten Commandments – Exodus 20:1And God spoke all these words, saying: 2“I amthe LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3“You shall have no other gods before Me.
- Shema – Deut. 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORDisone! 5You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
What happened when he came back from the grave and met Thomas? John 20 27Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your handhere,and putitinto My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” 28And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
Because of the resurrection of Jesus and the visions, they knew right away that Jesus was/is God. There was no confusion for them – I Corinthians 8:6“yet for usthere isone God, the Father, of whomareall things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whomareall things, and through whom welive.”
Now they prayed to Jesus, called upon him, baptized in his name, sang songs in worship to him, and even celebrated the Passover in his name. Now it was the Lord’s table.
1 Corinthians 11 23For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the samenight in which He was betrayed took bread; 24and when He had given thanks, He brokeitand said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
25In the same mannerHealsotookthe cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drinkit,in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
Jesus was/is our Savior God and now he deserves our worship and obedience.
Application:Do you know what that truly means? Are you saved?
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