Epaggelia

To call someone “Lord” doesn’t mean much today, as Festus called Agrippa “lord”, is the way the word is used flippantly in politics, Acts 25:26. But as Jews and Christians use the word “Lord”, it should be used only in reference to our God of omnipotent rule.

            Jesus is Lord over terrestrial forces, he proved this first in the making of wine from water, Jn. 2:1-12. And in instantly creating loaves & fishes for over 9,000 people in different occasions, Jn. 6:1-4, Mk.8:1-10, and also for instantly withering the fig tree, he proved his sovereign judgment in nature, Mt.21:18-22. And over celestial forces, proving this when he walked on water, Mk. 6:45-52, Jn.6:15-21. And over our climate, he proved it when he stilled the storm & sea, Mk. 4:35-41, Mt. 8:23-25.  He holds everything together, Col. 1:17, Heb. 11:3.  And over animals, showing instant control in riding the young colt of a donkey, never trained nor ridden on before, during the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Lk. 19:28-40. And of the sabbath, fulfilling the old law of Moses with it’s prophecies and making null & void all of it’s commandments against us on the cross, Lk. 6:1-5, Col. 2:14.  And over the demons, proving this when demons cried out for mercy in His presence, and He showed them none, Luke 8:26-39, 11:24. Jesus is also Lord over the human body, the most complicated and amazing of His creations, He proves this in the many marvellous healings of human weaknesses and deformities in His miracles, Mat. 4:24 & Jn. 21:25.  He is the firstfruit of the Resurrection in overcoming death, Jn. 11:25-26.

            Is Jesus Lord over our life?  One day He will be Lord over EVERYONE in judgment, 2^nd Ths. 1:7-10.  It is wise to be in submission to His Lordship now, before He arrives. Both Paul & Thomas showed their submission to Jesus as Lord.

Paul the Apostle knew that to call Jesus his Lord meant sacrifice, Php. 3:8.  If we make Jesus our personal Lord, we submit everything we are and everything we have beneath His control, for then will we truly know how great and merciful a Lord He really is, Ps 25:10 All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. Ps 86:15 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.  Ps 103:17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;  Ps 136:1 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endures for ever.  Ps 145:8 The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.

Thomas the Apostle knew Jesus as The Lord and expressed his personal and public dedication to Him as offering his own life, Jn. 11:15-16, but The Lord Jesus was not truly his own Lord, until he saw Jesus resurrected, THEN, Thomas said, “My Lord, My God”, Jn. 20:28.  Secular history records Thomas as a lifelong faithful apostle and left this earth as a martyr for his Lord.  We may not physically see Jesus, but we do have the mind of Christ in His word, 1Cor. 2:16, and the Spirit of Christ in our heart, Rom. 8:9.  If you are looking you can see His Lordship.  This can only be seen with the eyes of your understanding from your inner being, which Paul talks about in Eph. 1:18, 3:16.  His Lordship can create a new life in us, if we will accept his gift and entry terms into the Kingdom, Ac. 2:38-39, 22:16. Repentance and baptism is not done simply to show the world that Jesus is Lord.  Obeying the commands of Jesus in repentance, confession and baptism are simply demonstrations of our faith in the promises the Lord Jesus makes.  What is His promise?  He will remove your sins and give Himself to you.  Acts 2:36-39

 The Lordship of Jesus can be seen today in His…

…Supper and Cup, 1^st Cor. 10:21 & 11:20

 … Day, Revelation 1:10.

And in our conversation, Romans 10:9, 1^st Corinthians 12:3.

 His Lordship is seen in the fact that He has been appointed HEAD over His body. What He wants done, should be at least attempted by us. Today in the USA, many see Christianity as an enterprising business, an organization that uses a message to make money.  This is sad, because whenever a “body” is turned into a business it is usually referred to as prostitution. Let us make Jesus and His will, the command of our heart, and try to give everything that is His, freely. Freely we received, freely we must give.

The Apostle Paul struggled with this subject, and teaches us that our only problem is our mortal weakness of ignorance. The fact that we are human, means that we can not know the future for certain. We therefore can not know clearly what we should pray for in every circumstance.  Romans 8:26, “Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered”.  But this is only true, if we are solely leaning upon our own humanity, experience and knowledge. What if we lean on God, His word and what we have learned from Him? Then we can indeed know what His will is and pray accordingly. Whatever areas of our life which are not commented on in Scriptures, indeed leave us ignorant of His will, but when the Scriptures speak about God’s will for our lifestyle, work and attitude, then we know what to pray for with certainty and can pray with clarity and confidence. The Hebrew writer proclaimed this in Heb. 4:15-16 & 10:19-22. Confidence in prayer, can only come, when we understand what the blood of Jesus does for us, and what the will of God is for our daily lives.  God wants us each to have confidence. How do we get this? A clean & clear heart, as well as a lifestyle that is pleasing and obedient to God. Read 1^st John 3:21-22.

Here are subjects every Christian should have confidence in praying about:

 1. God’s Strength & Wisdom, Ephesians 3:14-16, James 1:5.  Saint’s perseverance and requests, to grow in The Spirit, 2^nd Cor. 1:21-22, Acts 8:14-16,  Eph. 6:17-18 & Jn. 17:11-16.  Saint’s love and holiness to grow, and the Father’s name is sanctified,“hallowed”,  1^st Ths. 3:11-13, Jn. 17:22-26, Mt. 6:9.   Saint’s thankfulness to grow, 1^st Thes. 5:18-19.

2. Evangelists message to have boldness & open doors, so that God may grant  repentance, Eph. 6:19, Col. 4:3. Rom. 15:30 &  2^nd Cor. 1:10-11, 2^nd Tim. 2:25.    Harvest laborers, sowers & reapers, to perform God’s work, His kingdom’s will be  done, Mat. 6:10,13, 9:36-38 & Jn. 4:33-35.

3. People in Government to use authority for the promotion of peace, godliness &  honesty, 1^st Tim. 2:1-2, Rom. 13:4, Psa. 46:9.

4. Persecuted Saints, Hebrews 13:3.

5. Enemies of The Church, Mat. 5:44.

6. Forgiveness for ourself the sinner, and the salvation of your neighbor, Rom. 10:1,  Heb. 7:24-25 and also the sinning saint,  Mt. 6:12, Ac.10:4, 8:21-24, Luke 23:34  & 17:1-5.  Personal deliverance from Satan’s temptations, Mt. 6:13. Luke 23:46,  Prayer is to be used, to place ourselves into His care & direction. We know our souls are located in Christ, but do we put our events, behaviour and interests into the Father’s hands? This is linked to the growth of sanctification. 2^nd Peter 3:18. Helping us make ourselves available for His deliverance from Satan.

7.  Personal daily necessities, Casting your care upon Him, Mt. 6:11. Matthew 27:46 &  1^st Peter 5:7