IS JESUS CHRIST YOUR LORD?

                                                                                                                                                                            By W. G. Guy

          This question is posed because we in the church commonly refer to Jesus Christ “as lord”; but do they really know Him as LORD?  To help us to understand the term “lord” requires further study of this word and how it is used.
 
          In the Old Testament, there are four words that are used for “lord” as revealed in Strong’s Concordance of the Bible.  Generally the use of this word refers to God.  The first and most used word for lord is Strong’s 3068 – Jehovah: the Hebrew name of God.  This word is always written in all capital letters - LORD.  The second word for lord is Strong’s 113 –  awdone: which means owner, master, controller; and is used of a human ruler – a lord.  The third word for lord is Strong’s 136 – awdoni: and is used when referring to or speaking about God, not as in a personal or formal address to Him.  The fourth word used for “lord” is Strong’s 3056 – jah: the sacred name of God, and means most vehement and holy one.  This form of the word is only used in praising God for who and what He is, and is found primarily in Psalm 100 and 150, the Praise Psalms.

          In the New Testament there is only one word used throughout for “lord”.  That word is Strong’s 2962 – kurios: and means supreme authority, master, head, the one who rules over you.  The use of this word in the New Testament refers mostly to Jesus Christ as being Lord, but can also refer to God the Father.  Our modern dictionary also defines “lord” as one in authority as ruler, master, head (even boss).

          We in America have never been under a feudal system of government as existed in Europe.  This was when the land you lived on was owned by a person with authority who exercised rule over all of his land; and over all those who occupied it.  The term “landlord” is derived from this kind of authority. 

       Thus our only experience with lords is with those we identify as landlords; the owners or managers of the property in which people reside.  As a result of our limited experience with these so called “lords” or landlords, we do not have the sacred respect for our Lord Jesus Christ as is due Him.  In addition to that, we fail to have the proper reverence for His rule and authority over us.  This is why the title of this article is: IS JESUS CHRIST YOUR LORD?  Since we are not very familiar the concept of “lordship” we really are not submissive and obedient to Jesus as Lord of our lives.  Thus we tend to do our own thing as to the way we live.  Jesus even addressed this problem with His own followers.

Luke 6:46 – And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? 

          How can they refer to Him as Lord when they do not acknowledge His rule and authority; very much like we do in churches today.  Jesus goes on to say what happens to those who do not respect and obey His authority.

Luke 6:47-49 – Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:  he is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.  But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

          The main reason for this lack of respect of the Lordship of Jesus Christ is due to the failure of those who are tasked with the leadership of the church.  Jesus spoke of this in detail in Matthew 7 telling us of preachers, prophets and teachers who do things their own way, and not His way.  He also told us to know such ministers by their “fruit”, their character and nature, not their gifts.

Matthew 7:20-27 – Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.   Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity, (who do you own thing).

          Again, Jesus describes the end result of such ministers who do things man’s way, (as trained by other men in seminaries), and not as being led by Him and His Holy Spirit.

Matthew 7:24-27 – Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:  and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.  And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:  and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

          Consider whose house is the object of being built: it is His house. known as the church.  This is why He is so concerned about its structure and why it needs to be built His way; UNDER HIS LORDSHIP!

         Basically, we as believers in Him, need to humble ourselves and acknowledge His Lordship as Head over of each of us, as well as over the church.  Otherwise man, with his corporations, his committees and counsels, are the head of the church: which  means that Jesus is not really the Lord of it.  In fact, if the church is incorporated then the state is the head of that church.  Just fail to pay the annual corporation fee, or file the annual report, and find out how long your church lasts: the state will dissolve it.
Thus when difficulties, trials and adverse circumstances, called storms, occur, such churches and people will fall to the adversities because they are not secured on the rock and built the way Jesus directed.  The church should be like it was when it was first formed.  It should not be the fragmented, divided and diverse form that we have now; many of which speak against one and other as though they were enemies.

          Acknowledging Jesus as Lord means you trust in Him to direct your life, and have faith that He has the answers that you need.  If He is truly your head and authority, you will daily look to Him and walk in obedience.
Therefore, consider for yourself: does Jesus have rule over your life?  IS JESUS CHRIST REALLY YOUR LORD?  And do you obey Him and His commands.  How about your church?  How about your pastor? SELAH – think about it! 

          The church of today even denies the role and function of those who Jesus ordained, after He ascended back to the Father, to do the task of building His church.  They say these roles of apostle, prophet and teacher, as leaders are not for today.  No wonder the church is in such a disorganized mess; it has rejected Jesus’s leadership and prefers man’s ordained leaders instead.

Ephesians 4:13-16 – And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:  that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;  but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:  from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

​          As Jesus said – And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?