Lordship

“You will never know that Jesus is all you need, until Jesus is all you’ve got”-Mother Theresa-

What Is Lordship?
Submission to God’s will – Matthew 8:2
Placing God first in your life – Matthew 22:36-40
Accepting responsibility & accountability – Matthew 25:14-30
Doing God’s will – Matthew 7:21-27
Personal obedience regardless of the cost – John 21:15-23

In a little church in Eastern Europe, about 100 people had gathered to worship God on a beautiful Sunday morning. They had just finished a prayer, when suddenly, with a loud bang, Communist soldiers burst through the front door, sub-machine guns in hand. They made their way to the front of the church, calling the people gathered there “the filth of the earth” and “parasites ruining the glorious revolution”, and shouted that thge time had come to rid the nation of them.
Acknowledging that there might be some who did not really believe all that religious nonsense, the soldiers gave them 60 seconds to leave the room. There was silence. Then, suddenly, about half of the congregation rushed quickly to the doors, some even through the windows, to get out in time. The minute was over, and deeper silence fell upon the remaining half of the congregation as they stared down the muzzles of the guns. After this, the men dropped their guns and said, “Brethren, we have come to worship with you! But first, we had to get rid of the hypocrites!”
One word separated those who stayed from those who left…
LORDSHIP!

(Read Matthew 7:21-23)

S. M. Lockridge said, There are 3 classes of people…
Those who neither call Him Lord nor do the things He says.
Those who call Him Lord but do not do the things He says.
Those who call Him Lord and do the things He says.
He went on to say this:
“Christ’s Lordship is based on His ownership. God didn’t have to put His signature on the corner of a sunrise; Nobody else is going to cause the sun to rise…He’s the owner. God didn’t have to put a laundry mark on the lapel of a meadow…He’s the owner. God didn’t have to carve His initials on the side of the mountain…He’s the owner. God didn’t have to put a brand on the cattle of a thousand hills…He’s the owner. God didn’t even have to take out a copyright on the songs that the birds sing…He’s the owner!”

My Time With God

Preparation Time
Commit yourself to the Owner right now. Billy Graham has said: “It is generally much less difficult for us to commit the keeping of our future to the Lord than it is to commit our present. We know we are helpless in regards to our future, but we feel as if the present is in our own hands, and must be carried on our own shoulders; and most of us have an unconfessed idea that it is a big deal to ask the Lord to carry us and ask Him to carry our burdens too.”

Waiting Time
During your waiting time, Let God…

Love You.
“God, I feel Your love today, especially in the area of…”

Search You.
“God, You have permission to reveal any uncommitted area in my life.”

Show You.
“God, is there anything that I need to know as I enter this day?”

Confession Time
Lordship in your life means that your words and your walk are the same. If any of the following thoughts speak to your heart and show inconsistencies in your life, spend time confessing these areas to God.

You call Me Master and obey Me not.
You call Me Light and see Me not.
You call Me the Way and follow Me not.
You call Me Life and desire Me not.
You call Me wise and acknowledge Me not.
You call Me fair and love Me not.
You call Me rich and ask Me not.
You call Me eternal and seek Me not.
You call Me gracious and trust Me not.
You call Me noble and serve Me not.
You call Me mighty and honor me not.
You call Me just and fear Me not.
If I condemn you, blame Me not.

Bible Time
We can never pray out of God’s will when we pray God’s Word.

…Read Luke 6:46-49 slowly a couple of times.
…Close your eyes & allow a main truth to surface in your heart.
…Pray the Scripture and allow God to minister to you.

Meditation Time
After praying the Scriptures, write down the thoughts that God has impressed upon your mind…

Intercession Time – Praying for Others
Begin this time with a prayer of blessing & thanksgiving for the people for whom you will now intercede.
Name Request

Petition Time – Praying for Yourself

How to Petition God Properly
Talk to Him about the “little things”
Be honest with God
Pray “Thy will be done”

Prayer Requests:

Application Time
The smallest obedient act is better than the greatest intention.

Q: What is the main thing that God has impressed on me today?

Q: What am I going to do about it?

Steps to take in my obedience to God:

Faith Time
Faith is our positive response to what God has said. Spend a few moments praying, through your eyes of faith. Tell God the positive things you see happening because of His goodness!

Praise and Thanksgiving Time

Praise God by recognizing WHO HE IS!
Thank god by recognizing WHAT HE HAS DONE!

This Week’s Memory Verse: (Matthew 6:33)

This Week’s Time Alone With God

Monday – This Lesson

Tuesday thru Friday – Lordship is a heavy issue. Spend this week settling the “Who’s #1 issue.” Study the Lordship Ladder below, read the Scriptures, and determine to climb up. Start at the bottom of the ladder and check off each rung that you have climbed.

The Lordship Ladder

Peace Romans 8:1

Total Surrender Romans 12:1-2

Hunger for Righteousness Matthew 5:6

Partial Surrender Luke 9:57-62

Wrestling Romans 7

Seeking Matthew 6:33

Unstableness James 1:8

Getting to Know You

“Lord, Lord,” they said, “open the door for us!” But he replied, “Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.”-Matthew 25:11-12

When I take my wife out to eat on a date, she won’t let me face the TV in the restaurant. She knows I get distracted watching whatever is on. It could be sports or it could be a special on basket-weaving, I still get sucked in. And I don’t really see the problem with it. If there is a lull in the conversation and we don’t have anything to talk about, what’s the harm in watching a little TV?
I never really understood why this was an issue until one night when we went out to eat and I got distracted watching 2 couples at 2 different tables. At one table was a young couple clearly in love. They may have been newlyweds, but my guess is they were still dating. They were sitting on the same side of the booth, snuggled up, talking non-stop, laughing at each other’s jokes. Their food was getting cold, but they didn’t care.
At the table next to them was an elderly couple, and I’m guessing they had been married for decades. They didn’t say a word. Nothing. I watched as they just sat there in silence. I finally pointed this out to my wife, saying, “Look at that. Isn’t that kind of sad? It starts off one way, with this young couple just talking, talking, talking, and then decades later, you have this older couple just sitting there in silence. It’s sad.” And my wife said, “I think it’s kind of sweet.”
At first, I was confused by her reply. Until it hit me: It was sweet because they didn’t have to say anything. Being together, focused on each other, even in silence, was a picture of the kind of relationship my wife wants. She doesn’t care about the nice dinner. She isn’t impressed by my expensive gifts, kind words, or thoughtful acts. She wants my heart. She wants to know me.
Ultimately, that’s how our relationship with Jesus will be defined. Our acts of piety, our adherence to religion, our observance of rules and rituals — none of this will impress Him. More than He wants our words of affection, our tithe dollars, or our acts of service, He simply wants to know us and for us to know Him.

Following Today
How well do you know Jesus? Write down a list of things you already know about Him. Consider looking up His “I AM” statements (the good shepherd, gentle and humble in heart, the way, the truth, the life, etc.) in the Gospels using an online search engine.

No Exception Clause

“Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth below — You who keep Your covenant of love with Your servants who continue wholeheartedly in Your way.”
-1 Kings 8:23-

I saw a report on Fox News about a group of new vegetarians. They interviewed one of them, a 28-year old woman. One of her quotes captures the viewpoint of the group: “I usually eat vegetarian. But I really like sausage.” She represents a growing number of people who eat vegetarian but make some exceptions. They don’t eat meat, unless they really like it. As you might imagine, the real vegetarians aren’t real happy about the new vegetarians. They put pressure on the new group to change their name. And so, here’s the name they chose for themselves: flexetarians. As I watched the report, I realized something: I am a flexetarian! I absolutely refuse to eat meat, unless it’s being served! The young woman on Fox News explained it this way: “I really like vegetarian food, but I’m just not 100% committed.”
A lot of people follow Jesus this way. They compartmentalize the areas of their lives they don’t want Him to have access to. They try to negotiate the terms of the deal: “I’ll follow Jesus, but I’m not going to sell my possessions. Don’t ask me to forgive the people who hurt me; they don’t deserve that. Don’t ask me to save sex for marriage; I just can’t help my desires. Don’t ask me to give a percentage of my money; I worked hard for that. I really like Jesus, but I’m just not 100% committed.” They call themselves Christians. They follow Jesus, but they’ve made some exceptions.
But following Jesus requires a complete and total commitment. Jesus never left open the option of selective commitment. He allows no exception clauses. You don’t get to say, “I will follow Jesus — except in this area of my life, where I will do things my way.” You can’t treat the call of Christ like a spiritual all-you-can-eat buffet, picking and choosing as you go through the line. There is no such thing as a flexetarian when it comes to faith. If you call yourself a Christian, by definition, you are committing yourself to follow Jesus in every area of your life.

Following Today
Honestly evaluate your commitment to Christ. Do any areas of your life come to mind where you have withheld complete commitment? Have you inserted an exception clause that shouldn’t be there? What will you do about it?

He Calls Us

In love [God] predestined us for adoption to so ship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will — to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One he loves. In Him, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us. -Ephesians 1:4-8

The highest view, in my thinking, of God’s sovereignty is not that God causes everything; it’s that he causes everything to work together for His good purposes (see Romans 8:28). That’s a whole other level of sovereignty and power — He takes whatever happens and, in His all-encompassing wisdom and power, uses it to accomplish His work and His purpose.
Let me try to illustrate this. Suppose that I, as a wise and loving father, knew that my son was going to be an all-star football player when he grew up. If I had that knowledge, wouldn’t it significantly change most everything about the way I raised him? I wouldn’t bother spending much money on piano lessons or art classes. Those glazed doughnuts? Not in my house. Video games would be replaced with exercise regimens. Monday night football would take precedent over “America’s Funniest Home Videos.” I would use my newfound knowledge to help guide my son to his certain destiny.

In much the same way, God knows our ultimate destiny. He already sees our truest identity. And so, His purpose is to draw us closer to Jesus. He uses everything that happens — even the bad stuff — to do this. Whether it’s our own fault or someone else’s, God has predestined everything to work together to pull us along toward Him, and to shape us in the process. He doesn’t waste anything. We can follow Him with confident faith, trusting that He is already working things out for our good and His glory.

Following Today
Think back over significant events of your life. Can you trace God’s hand bringing you to where you are today? What circumstance in your life right now is beyond your ability to understand? Write it down and profess your trust in our good, sovereign God. (To consider a little further: What would change today if you knew your ultimate destiny? Here’s a little secret: YOU DO!)

Jesus Is Not A Registered Voter

Again the high priest asked Him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”
“I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”-Mark 14: 61-62-

Jesus didn’t establish any religious organizations. He never identified himself as a capitalist, a socialist, a royalist, a colonist, or any other kind of -ist. He will not define Himself in those terms. He’s not a Republican, a Democrat, or a member of the Green Party. He does not underwrite liberals or authorize conservatives. Nobody can lay claim to Him — not the Catholics, the Protestants, the evangelicals, the charismatics, or the fundamentalists.
Jesus did not incite the Inquisition, endorse the Reformation, sanction the counter-Reformation, validate the Puritans, or divide Ireland. He did not take sides in the Civil War, and he did not write the United States Constitution.
He isn’t counting on us to make Him famous, and He doesn’t need us to help him appear creative, attractive, or really cool. He’s not the champion of the hippies because He wore sandals, nor the idol of the hipsters because of His epic beard. Contrary to what your parents might have told you, He didn’t wear a suit and tie to church. He probably didn’t even go on Sunday mornings. He is not hemmed in by the church’s hymns or set free by spontaneity in worship.
You see, nobody can label Him; He’s the Lord of all. Nothing can confine Him; He uses the earth as a footstool. No one can manipulate or control Him; He uttered the world into existence with the sound of His voice. Nothing surprises Him or catches Him off guard. He has never uttered the words, “Hmm, I never thought of that.”
He is above all, through all, and in all. He is all-present, all-knowing, and all-powerful. He gives life because He is life. He perfectly loves because He is perfect love. He alone is God. And we stand in awe of Him!

Following Today
Take several minutes today to stand in awe of Jesus. Pick a couple of worship songs to listen to. Heed the advice of the psalmist: “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). Then pray this prayer from Habakkuk 3:2: “Lord, I have heard of Your fame; I stand in awe of Your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day; in our time make them known.”

What Does Your Jesus Look Like

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.-Colossians 1:15-

As a pastor in a local church, I have many conversations with people who are having a hard time following Jesus. They become entangled again by the same alluring sin. They struggle with maintaining even basic spiritual disciplines. Sometimes they want to live for Him, and sometimes they want to want that. They are exhausted, discouraged, and defeated. They are disappointed in themselves and believe that Jesus is disappointed in them as well.
On occasion, I have asked some of them this question: What does your Jesus look like? If you were to draw a picture of Him, what would you portray? A few give quick answers, though most have never given it much thought. When they do reply, the pictures are varied and unique. To some, Jesus appears kind and gentle, maybe even a little passive or wimpy. (You’ve probably seen Jesus’ senior picture — you know, the famous one where He’s gazing peacefully toward the horizon?) To others, He is an angry and frightening warrior, holding a flaming sword in one hand and a lightning bolt in the other. Sometimes He is smiling, surrounded by children; or assuring — the Good Shepherd caring for His sheep. But one man described His picture this way: “He’s standing with His back turned slightly away from me. His arms are folded, and His head is cocked as if to say, ‘Really? Come on.’ I can’t quite see His face, but I don’t think He’s necessarily scowling or angry. I just thinks He looks disappointed, wondering why I can’t get my act together.”
A question struck me as I listened: Who would want to follow a Jesus like that? If your image of Jesus has been tainted by your life circumstances, your local church, or your cynical friends, you may not be following the real Jesus. If your picture of Jesus looks more like your disapproving dad or a legalistic preacher or a hypocritical Christian, you might find that following that Jesus just doesn’t sound too appealing. And you’d be right.
The good news is, that’s not the picture of Jesus the New Testament paints. He is full of truth, yet equally full of grace (John 1:14). He is not condemning (Romans 8:1), but is instead advocating on our behalf (1 John 2:1). He is a trustworthy guide (Luke 1:79), a friend of sinners (Matthew 11:19), and a watchful shepherd (John 10:11).
And I think you’ll find this to be true: As you come to know Him as He truly is, you’ll be drawn to following Him more closely.

Following Today
What would your picture of Jesus look like? Consider drawing Him, if not with a sketch, at least with a description. Does your picture or description match up with what the Bible teaches about Jesus? Prayerfully begin to re-paint His image in your heart and mind today.

“You cannot do a kindness too soon because you never know how soon it will be too late.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson-

You may not be familiar with the name, Stephen Grellet. Grellet was born in France, was a Quaker, and died in New Jersey in 1855. That’s about all we know about him, except for a few lines he penned that have made him immortal: “I shall pass through this world but once. Any good I can do, or any kindness that I can show any human being, let me do it now and not defer it. For I shall not pass this way again.”

One day a man came to Jesus and asked Him what the most important verse was in the Bible. Jesus said, “Love God and love your neighbor as yourself.” That’s the whole essence of Christianity. That summarizes the whole law and all the prophets. What was Jesus saying? He was saying that nothing matters more than relationships. NOTHING. Your relationship to God and to other people.
Jesus also said that the hallmark of being a Christian is love. By this shall all men know you are His disciple. Not that you have Bible knowledge, but that you love. The word for love in action is “kindness.” Kindness is simply love in action. It is not a feeling. It is something you do.

The teacher asked the pupils to tell the meaning of loving-kindness. A little boy jumped up and said, “Well, if I was hungry and someone gave me a piece of bread & butter, that would be kindness. But if they put peanut butter & jelly on it, that would be loving-kindness.”

“Jesus is the kindness of God.” (Titus 3:4)

How is Jesus Kind to me?
He understands my weakness – Read Hebrews 4:15-16
He tells me the truth – Read John 8:32
He forgives my sin – Read Romans 3:23-24
He affirms my worth – Read Psalm 139:16-17

My Time With God

1.) Preparation Time

Read Ephesians 4:32

Woudn’t it be wonderful if Christians were known by their kind spirit instead of their judgmental spirit?
In the early days of Christianity, there was some confusion among the pagans concerning the words “chrestos” which means kind, and “Christos” which means Christ, and the confusion carried over into uncertainty as to whether these strange people wer followers of someone they called Christos or whether they had a religion based on kindness. A most fortunate point of confusion!

2.) Waiting Time
During your waiting time, let God…

Love You.
“God, I feel Your love today, especially in the area of…”

Search You.
“God, you have permission to reveal any wrong motive in my life.”

Show You.
“God, is there anyone whom I need to show kindness to as I enter this day?”

3.) Confession time
Q: Am I kind to others when I see their weakness?
Q: Do I tell the truth in love?
Q: Do I affirm the worth of those around me?

Spend a few moments in confession or your “poor” areas.

4.) Bible Time
We can never pray out of God’s will when we pray God’s Word.

…Read Luke 10:29-37 slowly a couple of times.
…Close your eyes & allow a main truth to surface in your heart.
…Pray the Scripture and allow God to minister to you.

Ask yourself, “Would I react like the priest, the Levite, or the Samaritan?”

5.) Meditation Time
After praying the Scriptures, write down the thoughts that God has impressed upon your mind.

6.) Intercession Time – Praying for Others
Begin this time with a prayer of blessing & thanksgiving for the people for whom you will now intercede.
Name Request

7.) Petition Time
How to Petition God Properly
Talk to Him about the “little things”
Be honest with God
Pray “Thy will be done”

Prayer Requests

8.) Application Time
The smallest obedient act is better than the greatest intention.

Q: What is the main thing God has impressed upon me today?

Q: What am I going to do about it?

Steps to Take in My Obedience to God:

9.) Faith Time
Faith is our positive response to what God has said. Spend a few moments praying through your eyes of faith. Tell God the positive things you see happening because of His goodness!

10.) Praise & Thanksgiving Time

Praise God by recognizing WHO HE IS!
Thank God by recognizing WHAT HE HAS DONE!

This Week’s Memory Verse – (Hebrews 10:24)

This Week’s Time Alone With God

Monday – This Lesson

Tuesday – God’s Word teaches that success in life plus failure in relationships = failure. Make a list of people with who you are experiencing failure relationally.

Wednesday – Commit yourself to the restoration of this relationship. Read Romans 12:18.

Thursday/Friday – It’s interesting to me that in Matthew 25, Jesus says that on Judgment Day, the one thing you’ll be judged for is how you treated other people. “I was thirsty and you gave me drink, naked and you clothed me, sick and in prison and you visited me.” What we’re talking about is the heart of Christianity –
Love in action.

For the next 12 days, minister to Christ by ministering to a hurting person.

Jesus Is My Hero

The Lord will march forth like a mighty hero.
-Isaiah 42:13-

Jesus is certainly superhero material. He may not have worn a flashy outfit, complete with leotard and a cape. He might not have had laser vision or bionic legs, but don’t let that fool you.
The citizens of first-century Palestine often sought His help. He multiplied a meager lunch into enough food for thousands. With little more than a few words, He transformed jugs of tap water into fine wine. His powerful hands healed incurable illnesses and lifelong disabilities. Violent storms were stilled by the sound of His voice. Demonic minions scattered at the mention of His name. On at least one occasion, He passed through a locked door as if it wasn’t even there. And though His sandals must have logged hundreds of miles during His life, He was not limited to such ordinary means of transportation. At the end of His life on earth, He ascended back into heaven without using a helicopter or a rocket suit.
Not even the archenemy Death could defeat Him. “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? … Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:55, 57). Jesus won that epic battle in a most decisive victory, standing up and walking out of His own grave.
Now that’s definitely superhero stuff. But do you want to know something truly incredible? Something absolutely amazing? Something really awesome? God gives that same power to those of us who believe in Him! It’s true! Hard to believe, I know. Not often experienced, I understand. But the better we know Jesus, the more we’ll imitate Him. And the more we know and follow Him, the more we understand the power-filled life that he promises (see Ephesians 1:17-23). God wants His power to be a part of your story. He offers you the power to overcome addiction, release the bitterness, repair the relationship, or whatever else you might add to this list. Nothing is too difficult for the God who conquered death.

Following Today
Are you living a life of power, or do you regularly feel defeated? In what areas of your life do you feel like you could use some heroic strength? Admit your weakness here. Then pray, believing God’s truth for you: “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak” (Isaiah 40:29).

The Better Thing

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed — or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”-Luke 10:41-42-

Most of us resonate with Martha because we are a distracted culture.We are always on the move, always trying to get something done. Our phones are constantly dinging to let us know there is a text we need to return or an appointment we’re going to be late for.
Martha had Jesus right in front of her. I can imagine her grandchildren someday excitedly asking, “What was it like? Jesus in your home! That must have been awesome! What did He say? What was it like to be right there with Him?” And Martha would have to respond, “Well, to tell the truth, there were these fancy dishes I was trying to find. I never really even heard what He said. I just caught bits and pieces of the conversation as I flew back and forth through the room. Your great-aunt Mary will have to fill you in.”
How many times have we been so distracted that we’ve missed a divine appointment? How often does God long to speak to us, but He keeps getting our voicemail because we’re too busy to pick up.
The fruit of busyness seems obvious. Productivity. Effectiveness. Accomplishment. It’s easy to equate busyness with virtue or discipline. But Jesus evaluates it through a different lens, and the results become clear. Distraction. Anxiety. Misplaced emotion. So Jesus commended Mary for her choice to quietly sit and listen and learn. To set aside everything there was to do and simply take some time to be with Him. And in the end, Mary chose the best thing; in fact, it was the only thing that was really needed.

Following Today
Read the rest of this short story from Luke 10:38-42. Think through what dominates your to-do list. What causes you to become “worried and upset”? Are you tempted to view “time away” with the Lord as a distraction from your work? If so, confess your misplaced priorities to Jesus. Then make a conscious choice to sit and listen to Him each day. What would happen if, for the next 14 days, you scheduled time with Jesus at the beginning of each day? Mark it on your calendar. Choose what is better.

Another Wipeout

“You will know that I am the Lord; those who hope in me will not be disappointed.” -Isaiah 49:23-

When I was a young boy, I remember one time racing some of my friends on our bicycles. We were speeding down a hill and preparing to navigate a sharp left turn. I squeezed the handlebar to slow down and suddenly realized that my brakes did not work. I had a split-second decision to make: Ride the bike over the curb into the woods ahead, or dismount as quickly as possible. I decided to bail, sending the bike crashing into the trees ahead as I tumbled onto the asphalt below. It was a spectacular wipeout!
My guess is that you have had your share of wipeouts as well, if not literally, then figuratively. You were expecting smooth sailing, but a storm came up. You worked like a maniac to navigate the roadblocks, and you crashed into them instead. You tried to slam on the brakes, but only accelerated into disaster. You were following your dreams, and they turned out to be rabbit trails. Fired from your job; served with divorce papers; flunked out of college, drowning in debt.
Wipeout. Failure. Disappointment. And it’s not just situational, but relational too. You reached out for a helping hand only to find pointed fingers. You searched nearby faces for empathy or grace, and instead found ridicule and judgment. Your trust was returned with betrayal, your kindness repaid in abuse.
But God can redeem our failure. He can rescue us when we fall. Those who hope in Him will not be disappointed. Those who turn to Him find grace and mercy when they need it most (see Hebrews 4:16). When we are humbled, he lifts us up with His strong hand (1 Peter 5:6). And when we fall, He doesn’t rebuke, but proves Himself mighty to save (Zephaniah 3:17).

Following Today
How were you disappointed most recently? It’s not too late to let your personal failure or disappointment point you to God. Write out a prayer — a personal psalm of sorts — expressing your trust in Him to turn your defeat into hope. Expect Him to come through.