Sunday, September 23, 2012

Lordship of Jesus


I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth: And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord;

As we hopefully remember, we are looking at the Apostle’s Creed. There is much to believe in but we will take out time as we go along this issue.

Lordship of Jesus:
   I would state that belief in Jesus is the centered element of the Christian Faith.  Not only believing IN Him but also following Him.  A lot of people ‘believe but there is no life change. Some don’t let that belief effect their conduct or belief system. When we say we believe in gravity but we don’t worship it!  That kind of belief is non-active. Problem is, with belief in Jesus—when there is no activity, it fails to really make any lasting connection.  Belief takes the believer into a new area of life.  I would say that belief in Jesus is THE central belief that really sets us apart from the world.  
 It is centered on a term that some shun or even hate: The Lordship of Jesus.
   He has called us to follow Him.  His followers tended to be a little fickle from time to time.  Even His closest three left Him there in the Garden but once they received the Holy Spirit of Promise…there is the difference.
   Lordship is when a person moves from sin in repentance and turns to Christ in Faith 人は罪からイエスへ向きなおす。 .  A person who sees and understands that his sin is too much for him and that this sin is an affront 侮辱 to Holy God, he turns in repentance to Jesus—The One who says: “Come unto Me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28.  This is called “Believing Repentance.” "悔い改めを信ずること"
   The Bible teaches the Lordship of Jesus.  We will be doing the same.  Nothing new here but it needs to be both looked at and also believed. In fact, once this is settled in our hearts and minds, other parts of life will run in conflict with this because it does affect ALL of our life.
From Luke 2:11, we read of the first announcement of Jesus’ birth as: “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.”
   Lordship of Jesus Christ on our lives means He would have ABSOLUTE and complete control over our lives.  Once this is understood, believe me, your life will be changed dramatically in bringing Glory to God.
The costs Jesus paid:  イエスが支払った代価:1コリント61920   In 1 Corinthians 6:19 and 20, we find: 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
   It is absolutely true that He did not pay for this with silver or gold, “But with the precious Blood of Christ  1 Peter 1:19.  He became Lord over us because He bought us with such a dear price and that of His costly blood. 
   Remember that Jesus humbled Himself on the Cross and this was an obedience unto death.  He was not going to jump off the Cross to prove His claims.  He would raise from the dead instead.  And because of this action on His part, God exalted Jesus.  神はイエスを喜ぶ:ピリピ2:5-7  He gave Him a Name that was above every name. Look at Philippians 2:5-7.  Every Knee Shall Bow IN HEAVEN and on the earth.  His Lordship is universal and for all time.  Salvation comes to us ONLY when we acknowledge Him as Lord—Rom 10:9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved..
   He requires Loyalty and Devotion イエスは忠誠と献身を求める:ルカ14:26-27、マタイ633、マタイ420 When we read that very hard passage in Luke 14:26~27 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. we can see that this is a very serious passage.  This means our love for our family members should NEVER come above our love for God.  It means this is not a simple walk in the park!  It is very serious. He is very willing to go the distance to get our attention…in fact, He went all the way to the Cross so that we could come to Him.  We are called to seek His Kingdom first and also His righteousness. Matt 6:33 (But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.).  That means we CANNOT love our family members more than we love God!
   His call is a simple one but it has deep challenges.  “Come, follow Me” was what He said to the fishermen.  The Bible says that “At once they left their nets and followed Him.” Matt 4:20     
   Following Jesus is not an easy choice…not an easy road to take.  We are to take up our Cross and follow Him… Those who have taken up the Cross and who put their faith in Jesus, have three distinct marks: 一度主とともに十字架にあるには3つの特徴がある: 1) they are facing only one direction, 一方向のみに向く
2) they can never turn back—[you are nailed to the Cross決して引き返さない and
3) they no longer have plans of their own.もはや自分自身の計画によらない.   Taken in part from A.W. Tozer’s comments in Tim Hansel, Holy Sweat, 1987, Word Books Publisher, p. 187.
   How are you marked? Going anywhere you want to go OR is the direction you are going the way He wants you to go?
   In following Jesus, and Salvation is freely offered to one and all, the cost is high.  He does not guarantee earthly comforts. (Luke 9:58 Foxes have holes but …) 2nd, He challenges is to do the work of getting the Word out if we claim to be spiritually alive in Him.  We are not to make excuses (Luke 9:60 “let the dead bury the dead…”)  And lastly, Jesus gives us a challenge to look forward and not keep looking back—at what we had. (Luke 9:62/ No one puts his hand to the plow…)
In fact, we are really challenged in His words to us in Luke 14:33 “In the same way, any of you who does not give up EVERYTHING he has cannot be My disciple(!)  So, when we follow Jesus, we need to really count the cost in following Him because He insists on 100% loyalty! 
   On the practical side 適用   of it, what does this look like?  Will I need to sell all my belongings and move to India?  Well, let’s not go there yet.  Let’s instead look at some practical applications of His Lordship.
He wants your Mind! イエスはあなたの心が欲しい!ローマ1202
   This past week, as I was reading in my devotional time, I came across Romans 12:2.  BAM!  Do not be conformed any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  Yes, we are losing our minds and He wants us to be active in taking it back—to bring Him honor.  There is a sense of urgency in this verse…  “any longer…”  It USED to be that way but not any longer…grow up!
   The battlefield of this warfare is in the mind.  It is in the Spiritual realms. It is not to be fought with sticks and stone or setting off fireworks to scare the evil spirits away or by using special water to sprinkle on people or things.  It is fought in the spiritual arena. By having a renewed mind—one that is Christ centered—one can get the battle won.  Along with this renewal of the mind, John sets our sights on not loving this world we find ourselves in.  (1John 2:15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them., 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.)  And James 4:4 says You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God..  In seeing this, you can see that we need to be careful to reject the thought patterns we used to have.
   Here is a simple test to understand Jesus as Lord of your mind: Ask the question, “What is His thoughts of what I am thinking right now?”  Beware, “For the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts(1 Chronicles 28:9).  Is He pleased?  Is He deeply concerned?  Do we need a renewal of our minds?
He wants your BODY   イエスはあなたの体を望んでいる:1コリント620、ローマ人への手紙1201  
   Jesus is most interested in a living person who is active and functioning in tune with His plans for us. 1 Cor 6:20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.  Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.  This is how we please God.
He wants your DECISIONS  イエス様はあなたの意思決定を望んでいる:使徒行伝1010、マタイ2:3、箴言3:5,6 
   Jesus wants to help us with the day to day choices we make.  Ones that would bring Him honor.  Acts 22:10 “‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked.“ ‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’  Matt 2:3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.   Proverbs 3:5, 6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart   and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
He wants your FINANCE$.   イエスはあなたの富を望んでいる:マタイ6246:19-21、ルカ16:9、使徒432、使徒5:1-11 The Lord has it all: cattle on a 1,000 hills so why would He be interested in your yen or dollars?  This is the heart of matter.  
   Matt 6:24  “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.  
   Matt 6:19-21 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.   
   Luke 16:9  I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.  
   Acts 4:32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.    
   Acts 5:11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.
     Lastly, He wants your WORK. イエスはあなたの働きを望んでいる。 Again, He is the Creator God—why is He concerned with our work.  Not that we need to work for His Love or work to satisfy any needs He has… He is concerned with how we deal with TIME 時間 ; .   What kind of ENERGY   エネルギー we use for Him and others.   Our RESOURCES  資源 -talents, skills, our concern for others—our love.  And He is concerned with our PRIORITIES  優先順位 .   Is He first in our life?  What place does He have?    Without these four elements in check with His Heart, we are headed for a Spiritual shipwreck.   
      1 Cor 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.  Col 3:23, 24 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.  Matt 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.  Luke 10:39-42 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”  Mark 6:31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
    1コリント1031、コロサイ32324、マタイ516、ルカ10:38-42、マルコ631
Jesus, who died for your sins, is worthy to receive all the power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.  We can never ascribe or credit too much to Him.  But He is worthy also to be believed.  To be loved more than any other, in opposition to any that would rival Him; to be followed, wherever He may lead us, through an evil report or a good report; to be favored to ease, pleasure, wealth, health, to anything and everything this world has to offer.  Jesus is worthy to be our example, our confidant, our king, and our all.  He is worthy of all He requires, all we can give, all His people have done for Him or suffered in His cause. Taken from James Smith, in Daily Remembrances.  He is worthy to be Lord of our lives!  Lordship of Jesus DEMANDS our worship!  物事の終わり:イエスキリストの支配権は、礼拝を要求する! Remember this: Andrew Murray once said: God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.
We call Him Master and yet do not obey Him,
We call Him Light and do not see Him,
We call Him Way but don’t follow Him.
We call Him Life and don’t desire Him.
We call Him Wise and don’t acknowledge Him.
We call Him Faith but don’t Love Him,
We call Him Rich but don’t ask Him,
We call Him Eternal but don’t seek Him,
We call Him Gracious but don’t trust Him.
We call Him Noble but don’t serve Him,
We call Him Mighty but don’t honor Him,
We call Him Just but don’t fear Him.
If He condemn us, don’t blame Him!  
 From: Resource, July/August, 1990.     
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