King of Kings and Lord of Lords. This is declared in many worship songs and read in church almost every week, but is JESUS really LORD? I have spent much of my adult life so burdened by Matthew 7 where Jesus says, “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord! Will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter...many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name.” We sang songs in your name, we “worshiped” you and we love you. The way this question is answered has eternal ramifications. John 15:14 - “You are my friends if you do what I command!” When we allow Jesus to be Lord over our lives, HIS Spirit leads us for HIS glory, not ours. Our job is to say “YES” to God in total, complete obedience.
Paul said it best in Romans 1:1 “This letter is from Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, chosen by God to an apostle and sent out to preach HIS Good News.” When we call Jesus Lord of our life, we no longer have a say in what we do or where we go! We are called to be slaves, not of the world, but of Christ Jesus and HIS leading. John 12:49-50 “I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. And I know HIS commands lead to eternal life: so I say whatever the Father tells me to say.” When Jesus is Lord over our lives, every word, every thought and everywhere that we go is because HE is leading us. Our lives become simple because HE leads every single thing in our lives according to HIS will.
So how do we make HIM Lord over our lives? Matthew 16:24 “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross and follow me.” When we give up our own way in obedience to the Christ, we allow God to be LORD over our life. When we don’t give up our own way, we actually prove we are children of the devil. (1 John 3:8)
I also am concerned with all of the “Promises of God” that are sung and talked about often. Jesus is faithful and doesn’t let us down, but when Jesus is Lord over our lives, his promises of trials, struggles, tribulations, being hated for HIS name’s sake will also happen. When Jesus is Lord of your life, HIS spirit may lead you into a wilderness for 40 days. Living in Nashville, churches have professional musicians leading worship week after week and “Jesus is Lord” is declared often, but not lived out. It’s one thing to sing about how great God is, it’s another to die to yourself and take up your cross and be led by Jesus!
Jesus being Lord over our lives influences culture rather than the other way around. Culture has infiltrated the church and music. People are trying to write songs that sound like the world, feel like the world to influence the world, but all I hear is the church influenced by the world.
I urge you to make Jesus Lord over your life. HE said that if we want to follow HIM we must deny ourselves. From personal experience, when we turn our life over to Christ, our life can become simple and incredibly amazing! Signs, miracles and wonders follow those that believe. Believing is not a one time declaration, but a life sacrificed for whatever the KING of KINGS and LORD of LORDS wants. His will becomes our will and we then can have the guarantee of eternal life. Let Jesus run your life and allow HIM to bring HIMSELF glory through your surrendered life.
Kevin Eakin
Pastor, Eyes On Jesus, Nashville