Jesus Is Lord
🗣️ Speaker: Pastor Derrel Strickland
Pastor Strickland's sermon emphasizes the profound truth that Jesus is Lord, using Peter's transformation and bold proclamation at Pentecost as a central example. He encourages believers to recognize Jesus's authority and divinity, backed by scriptural evidence and personal conviction.
The core takeaway from Pastor Strickland's sermon is the importance of acknowledging and accepting Jesus as Lord, not just in words but through a surrendered life that reflects His lordship and divine authority.
Additional Info
The info below was generated by an AI from the audio recording of the sermon.
Introduction:
In a powerful sermon drawing from the insights of Dr. James Davis' book "Unhindered," Pastor Strickland delves into the significance of acknowledging Jesus as Lord. This post explores the key moments and teachings from his sermon, emphasizing the transformative impact of truly accepting Jesus's divine authority in our lives.
The Central Message: Jesus as Lord
Discuss the main theme of the sermon, which is the recognition of Jesus as Lord. Include a brief overview of how Pastor Strickland uses scripture from Acts 2 to affirm this truth, supported by Peter’s transformation after receiving the Holy Spirit.
Lessons from Peter's Transformation
Detail the story of Peter's journey from denial to proclamation, focusing on his speech during Pentecost. Highlight how his transformation exemplifies the change that can occur when one truly embraces Jesus as Lord.
The Power of the Resurrection
Explain the significance of the resurrection in validating Jesus's identity as Lord and Christ. Discuss how the resurrection serves as a cornerstone for Christian faith, as emphasized by Pastor Strickland in his sermon.
The Role of Surrender in Faith
Explore the idea that proclaiming Jesus as Lord involves more than words—it requires a surrendered life. Include Pastor Strickland’s emphasis on living in a way that reflects Jesus’s lordship and the transformative effect this can have on individuals' lives.
Applying the Message
Offer practical advice on how readers can apply the sermon's teachings in their daily lives. Suggest ways to acknowledge Jesus's authority through personal devotion, community involvement, and through sharing the message of Jesus with others.
Conclusion:
Summarize the importance of recognizing Jesus as Lord both in belief and practice, echoing Pastor Strickland’s call to let this truth transform how we live. Encourage readers to reflect on their own spiritual journey and consider the depth of their commitment to Jesus's lordship.
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Use the questions listed below as a launching point to discuss the sermon points together as a family. These are great for dinner table discussions and small groups.
What does it mean to you personally that Jesus is Lord?
How does acknowledging Jesus' lordship change how we live our daily lives?
Can you share a time when recognizing Jesus as Lord had a profound impact on a decision or situation in your life?
In what ways does the concept of lordship challenge the way the world operates?
How does understanding Jesus as both Lord and Christ affect our relationship with Him?
What role does the Holy Spirit play in helping us recognize and surrender to Jesus as Lord?
What obstacles do we face in acknowledging Jesus as Lord, and how can we overcome them?
In what practical ways can we declare Jesus as Lord in our community and to those around us?
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Connecting our kids to what we as adults are learning and hearing on Sundays is vital to passing on our faith to the next generation. Use the summary below as a great way to talk about the message we heard with your kids.
Today, let's talk about a big truth: Jesus is the boss of everything, including the whole universe! Imagine this: there was a man named Peter who was really scared to tell people he knew Jesus. But then, something amazing happened! Jesus showed Peter and his friends that He was way more powerful than anything they had ever seen. Peter got super brave and started telling everyone that Jesus is the boss, the Lord. And guess what? We can trust Jesus too, just like Peter did, because He is always taking care of us and wants the best for us. Isn't it cool that we can be friends with the boss of the universe?
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Understanding the lordship of Jesus in the context of the early church involves appreciating the radical nature of this claim in a polytheistic world. In the Roman Empire, confessing Jesus as Lord was subversive, as Caesar was considered lord. Early Christians, by proclaiming Jesus as Lord, were declaring their ultimate allegiance was to Him above any earthly authority. This confession could lead to persecution, as it was a direct challenge to the imperial cult. Therefore, Peter's bold proclamation and the early church's insistence on Jesus' lordship was not just a theological stance but a deeply countercultural and risky declaration of faith.
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Many of you have purchased and read or reading the book unhindered by Doctor James Davis. And he says it's not a commentary but rather a sermonary. And I agree with that.
And I want to just begin with a quote from that book. This morning, they crucified him, God crowned him, they entombed him, God enthroned him, they cast him out. God caught him up, they executed him, God exalted him.
That's the Lord that we serve. My message this morning is a very simple message that Jesus is Lord. Jesus is Lord.
Before we read our passage, I want to remind you that on the day of Pentecost Peter did not argue with them. And that really kind of went against his grain. Because if you read about him when he was traveling with Jesus, he always wanted to make himself known.
He was willing to argue. And I know none of you are like that, but I've heard of people that like to just argue. But Peter found out something that he was unlearned.
He was ignorant, he was untrained and people could argue with him and probably win the argument. But on the day of Pentecost, the same man that just 50 days earlier had denied Jesus three times was afraid to stand with him. Even with other servants, he denied being with him.
Now we see him standing, preaching to a crowd of 3000. Something happened. He found out that it wasn't about who he was, but it was about who God was.
He found out that it was not about him, but it was always about Jesus. He was an unlearned fisherman and he could not argue with people. But when he reached a place where he said, but God said, folks, can I encourage you? When people want to argue with you, don't do it.
Cause you're gonna run into people that are better arguer or debater than you. You're going to run into some people that are probably a lot smarter than you. I know I do all the time.
Started with my dog and my cat. Whatever. I run into things that are a lot smarter than I am and I can't argue with them.
But when I get to a place where I say, but God says, God said, it's hard to argue with God. And that's what Peter was doing on the day of Pentecost, after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. And we begin reading at acts, chapter two, verse 22.
Men of Israel, hear these words. Jesus of Nazareth. Now let me just remind you that when Jesus was traveling and walking around, he made the statement, and the people made the statement.
Can anything good come out of Nazareth that was a place of poverty, a place of not educated. So can anything good come out of Nazareth? Jesus of Nazareth. A man that was poor, a man that his people were slaves, a man of poverty.
His earthly parents couldn't even afford a lamb. When he was dedicated, they had to give a bird. So he had nothing in himself but notice what it says.
A man attested by you or proven by you by God, with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst. As you yourself know, this Jesus delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God. You crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.
God raised him up loosing the pains of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. See, the resurrection validated Jesus. Without the resurrection, he was just another man, but because he rose from the dead, that validated he attested them.
God raised him up loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. For David says, concerning him, I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue rejoice.
My flesh also will dwell in hope. Aren't you glad we've got hope? For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your holy one see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life.
You will make me full of gladness with your presence. Full of gladness. I tell you what, the world needs a dose of God's gladness.
I said, the world needs a dose of God's gladness with your presence, brothers, may I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. What was Peter saying? Peter said, I can take you to where David's buried. And if we wanted to dig into that tomb, we'd find his bones.
Because David died and was buried, and his tomb is still with us. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh seek corruption. God raised up.
And of that we are all witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. For David did not ascend into the heavens.
But he himself says, the Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool. Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ. This Jesus of whom you crucified, this Jesus of Nazareth.
Can anything good come from Nazareth? And of course, in the natural, they were saying no. And the problem that Jesus had during his three years of ministry, no one wanted to accept the fact that he was the son of God. That was the reason they crucified him, because he was claiming to be the son of God.
But now he said, because he was resurrected, he proved to us beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus was both lord and Christ. Now Christ was more or less his natural name, the Christ the Messiah. Now the word messiah means the anointed one.
He was the one that was anointed. But then we get to the word Lord. Lord.
The Niv Bible. Now I didn't count this, so I'm not. You can go count them if you'd like.
But according to the my Concordance Niv Bible lists the name or the word Lord 5000 times. Now like I said, I didn't count them. So if you want to validate it, go, go check it out.
5000 times exactly. In the Niv Bible, the word lord. Word lord.
And in the Hebrew, in the Old Testament, the word that's translated Lord is Yahweh. It means the name for the God of the universe, the God of the universe. Now remember I preached a few weeks ago.
I mentioned the fact that there's only one God and you're not it. There's only one God of the universe. Now in the Old Testament, the word lord, or Yahweh is often compounded such as Jehovah Jireh, our provider, Jehovah Rahah Rapha, our healer and many many many others.
But again, in the Old Testament, the word literally means the ruler of universe. Now since he is the ruler of the universe, do you think that God qualifies to be called lord? I mean, he's a ruler. He's the ruler of the universe.
Now in the New Testament we have the greek word kurios. Kurios. And that word literally means having power or authority.
The owner, the possessor and disposer of a thing. It means one who has control. It means the master.
Didn't Jesus often talk about the Lord of the harvest? The Lord of the harvest, the one who is control of it, the master. So we're going to look at this concept that Jesus is lord, and we will prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus is lord. But the question is, is he your lord? See, that's the question, because we know he's lord according to scripture.
And I know there's a lot of people, like I said, you can argue. There'll be people that want to argue with me and say, well, I don't believe the Bible. That's okay.
That's fine. You don't have to believe the Bible. I've even heard people say, well, God said it, I believe it, and that settles it.
That's not true. God said it. You don't have to believe it.
It's still settled. Huh? Because God said it. Because he cannot lie.
And he is the ruler of the universe. He is the controller of the universe. So the.
There's no doubt in my mind that Jesus is the Lord, that Jesus is Lord. The question is, but is he your Lord? Now, see, I know a lot of people say, well, you know, they did in Jesus day when Jesus asked, who do men say that I am? He said, well, some say you're Elias. Some say you're this, some say you're that.
But who do you say that I am? He said, you are the Christ, the son of the living God. You are Lord, the ruler of the universe. There were people back then that don't believe it, didn't believe it.
And there's some today that don't believe it, but it's still true. But see, you can't argue with them on knowledge. But let's look, see what the Bible says.
What does the Bible say? Now, where did Peter get the idea of what David said? He said, david said. David said. Well, I tell you where he got it.
He quoted David. So go back to psalm 16, psalm 16. And you're going to see some of the same words that Peter quoted.
Preserve me, o God, for in you I take refuge. Aren't you glad he's your refuge? I say to the Lord, you are my lord. I have no good part from you.
As for the saints in the land, they are excellent ones in whom all is my delight. The sorrows of those who run after another God shall multiply their drink. Offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on the Lord is my chosen portion and my cup you hold my lot.
The lines have fallen from me in pleasant places. Indeed I have a beautiful inheritance. I bless the Lord who gives me counsel in the night.
Also my heart instructs me. Verse eight. I have set the Lord always before me, because he is at my right hand.
I shall shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices. My flesh also dwell secure.
For you will not abandon my soul to sheol or let your holy one see corruption. See, David, about 1517, hundred years before Jesus came along, he said, I'm not talking about me, I'm talking about the Lord. I'm talking about the Lord, the ruler of the universe.
I'm talking about this man, Jesus. Therefore my heart is glad and my whole being rejoices. My flesh also dwells secure.
For you will not abandon my soul to sheol or let your holy one see corruption. David was prophetically speaking about Jesus back when he wrote psalm 16. He says, you make known to me the paths of life.
In your presence there's fullness of joy. At your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Well, now, how significant is this? Well, see, in Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus says, I'm the lord of the Sabbath.
Now, that doesn't mean a whole lot to us, but to the Jews, that meant a lot, because the lord of the Sabbath was saying, I am old and greater than the Sabbath. Greater than the Sabbath. That's one of the reasons they couldn't handle that.
It went against their indoctrination, because to the Jews of the first century, because to declare himself lord of the Sabbath made him equal to God. And that's the reason they crucified him. He was professing to be God.
But to the Jew, that was blaspheming. Now, what does the word Lord mean? The God of the universe. Now in Peter, a little bit after we read that verse on the day of Pentecost, just a few chapters later in the book of acts, we find where Peter went to a man's house by name of Cornelius.
Cornelius was a gentile. This was really, really great. It's significant.
We don't have time to deal in the significance, but let's just look at a couple of verses in chapter ten, verse 34. So Peter opened his mouth and said, truly, I understand that God shows no partiality. Aren't you glad? Because prior to this, if you weren't a jew, it wouldn't apply to you.
But he said, I want you to know that God shows no partiality that he can be your lord and my lord just as well as he could the Lord of the Jews. But in every nation, anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ, he is what? Lord of all.
He is Lord of all. Well, now, what's significant about that? Well, in the book of Romans, who gives us much of our theology of a New Testament church? Romans, chapter ten, verses that we're very familiar with. I want us to begin reading at verse eight.
But what does it say? The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. That is the word of faith that we proclaim. Because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is what is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For with a heart one believes and is justified. And with a mouth one. One confesses and is saved.
And is saved. For the scripture says, everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame. I don't know if you noticed that, but that's in here two or three times will not be put to shame.
For there is no distinction between jew and Greek. For the same lord is Lord over all, bestowing his riches on everyone who calls on him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord, we'll be saved.
Now, that's simple enough. That we confessed with our mouth that Jesus is Lord. Believe in our heart that Jesus raised him from the dead.
We shall be saved. But now, what exactly does that mean? Was this contradictory what Jesus said? Because, see, in Matthew, chapter seven, notice what it says about in chapter seven of Matthew, verse 21. Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my father, who is in heaven on that day, many will say to me, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and cast demons in your aims and do mighty works in your names? And then, well, I declare to them, I never know you knew.
You depart from me, you workers of lawlessness. Was that contradictory? Was it contradictory? And Luke went on to say something else. Says, why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say? You say, well, that seems to be contradictory.
Not really. Because see that word in Romans where it says confession? If we confess with our mouth, that word literally means to say something to agree with, not to deny. And if you go to a court and you stand before the judge, and the judge asks you, well, how do you confess? He says, I confess to be guilty.
How do you plead? Well, you can plead guilty or not guilty, or you can cast yourself on the mercy of the court. But when you confess, I'm guilty, you know what that means? That means you're guilty. You confessed it.
You've confessed it. And that's why the word is used in the Romans when we confess that we're guilty. Paul had already told us earlier in Book of Romans, for all have sinned and come show the glory of God.
So when we confess our sins, we confess our guilt. We admit our guilt. And another aspect is not to deny.
And another form of the word is not confessed, but to profess, which means to declare openly, I confess I'm guilty. And I profess openly that Jesus Christ is Lord. Now what does the word Lord mean? It means having power or authority, being owner of, possessor of, and disposer of a thing, one who has control.
So see, there's one thing to say that he is Lord, but if you're not letting him control you, then actually he's not your Lord. We have to admit our guilt and profess our need for savior and surrender to him. Look at what Paul says to the church at Philippi.
Philippians, chapter two. I'm gonna read eleven verses, because we need to remind you that Paul was in prison writing to the church at Philippi. He was writing to them.
And the whole major theme of Philippians is joy. Joy in the midst of difficulty, joy in the midst of struggle. And then chapter two, it begins with these words.
So if there's any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the spirit, that's another word for fellowship. Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being full of accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility.
Count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.
What does it mean? We need to have the mind of Christ. If he is our Lord, he is our owner, he is our possessor, he is the one we serve. Then we need to surrender to him.
And we are going to have the mind of Christ. And the mind of Christ is, is to do the will of Christ. That's the reason.
It's not contradictory when Jesus said, well, just because you say Lord, Lord doesn't mean you're getting into heaven. You have to submit and surrender your life to him. It says, who? Though he was in the form of God did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking the form of a servant.
Jesus became human because the God of the universe, we know he was fully God, but he also was fully man. He became being born in the likeness of man and being found in human form. He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross.
Therefore, God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name. So that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow in heaven and on earth, and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord through the glory of God the Father. Did you catch that? Now you can go look that up in the original language and you find out that every knee means every knee.
Even Satan. Come on. Even all those people that deny God, there will be coming a time that every knee will bow.
So, see, we come to that same conclusion. He is Lord. The only issue right now, are we claiming him and accepting him as Lord? Are we surrendering to him? Are we allowing him to rule our life and control us? Now, let me go ahead and say here.
We know we all fail, okay? We all mess up. The only guy that ever got wealthy by messing up was the guy that invented the zipper. He messed up.
Y'all get that after a while. But I'm glad that God overlooks our messing up. And when we surrender to him, we remind ourselves and we say, thank you, Lord, because you are Lord.
Every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is lord. Revelation, chapter 17 is a powerful verse. Verse 14.
They will make war on the lamb, and the lamb will conquer them. For he is the lord of lords and king of kings. And those with him are called and chosen and faithful.
Let me read that verse again, so it's, quote. So powerful. Before we, I want to remind you something.
I know this is election year, and I know that you're looking forward so eagerly to the next few months, so you hear all these advertisements. I want you to know something. It's not the elephant.
It's not the donkey. It's the lamb. It's the lamb.
Okay? And it says this again, they will make war on the lamb, and the lamb will conquer them. For he is the lord of lords and king of kings. And those with him are called.
They're chosen and they're faithful. Jesus is lord. The scriptures clearly proclaim it, he is lord.
Jesus is lord. The question again, we know he is lord, but he is your lord. Because that only comes through a surrendering, a confession with our mouth and believe in our heart that he is who he says he is.
The son of God, the king of kings and the Lord of lords. When the worship team comes, and those that are going to be baptized, if you want to make your way to the back, want to sing an old chorus and I've modified the words just a little bit, you know, the course. Is his lord, his lord.
I want us to sing it. He's my lord. He's my lord.
He has risen from the dead and he's my lord. My tongue has confessed that Jesus Christ is my lord. Would you stand with me as we sing? Now, if you're not able to stand, you feel free.
Don't have to. But I want us to worship the Lord for a moment. And if you need prayer today, if you'd like to accept Jesus as your lord today.
I can't think of a better day than right now. In just a few minutes, we're going to have a baptismal service. I think three or four that's going to be baptized in water.
We know he's lord, but is he your lord? That's the question, Father. Have your way in the closing moments of this service. Have your way in the baptismal service today as we proclaim you being the lord of these people's lives.
