Tell Someone “Jesus Christ is Lord” today
by Holbert Marie
In talking with a friend the other day, I asked him a simple question, “When was the last time you told some one ‘Jesus Christ is Lord’ or ‘Jesus is my Lord?’ ”. I found the prickling of the Holy Spirit asking me the same question! As much as I think I love my Lord, It caused me to ponder and further ask, “Do I really love the Lord with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind and strength? Do I really love others at all, let alone as much as my self?”, which is the ‘greatest of all commandments’ (Mark 12:29). I went on to ask, “If I really love you Lord like I think I do, why am I sometimes hesitant to tell others about ‘the Love of my life’, Jesus Christ my savior, my Lord, my King? Do I really KNOW you, am I really your Sheep? (John 10:1-5) Or have I become like the priest or arrogant, haughty teachers who, have a form of Godliness—claim knowledge about God- yet DENYING Your power, that one should turn away from –(2 Tim 3:5)? Am I taking You for granted as a ‘common thing’ (Heb 10:29,30) having forgotten the fear of the Lord ? Have I become like the corrupt priest (Ez 34) of Jesus day, quoting scripture and teaching the ‘law’ and yet not keeping them or KNOWING HIM, thus bringing the ‘seven woes’ of Matt 23 on to myself?
Paul said he needed to carefully look to himself, lest ‘after preaching to others that I would not become disqualified’ (1 Cor 9:27, Tit 1:16). If Paul said this, shouldn’t I also listen and take heed, knowing that ‘the love of many will grow cold’ (Matt 24:12) and of the ‘falling away’ that will be a sign (2 Thes 2:3) of His coming as we approach the dreadful ‘day of the Lord’ (Joel 2:11 – 14)! Have I become, complacent or ‘lukewarm’ (Rev 3:14-21) from the love of money and cares of the world (Matt 13:22)? If so, shouldn’t I obey His call to ‘be zealous and repent’ and act on His rebuke and discipline (Rev 3:19) acknowledging His patience and forbearance knowing it is the ‘goodness of God that leads me to repentance’ (Rom 2:4) and then bear the ‘fruit of repentance’(Matt 3:8) loving Him first and then others?!
If I truly believe that Jesus Christ is the only name that a ‘man’ can be saved (John 3:17, Acts 2:21, 4:12) from the deserved wrath of God and an eternal hell (John 3:36), then surely I should ‘love’ my ‘friends’ and associates enough to at some point tell them about my Lord Jesus Christ, Yes? (1 Pet 3:15)? If not, what is my EXCUSE? Maybe I do not really believe the Lord’s words that there is a real eternal hell (Matt 9:42,43) believing God is ‘too merciful’ to allow anyone to go there? Maybe I just love the world (1 John 2:15-17) and therefore do not care for others eternal souls? Am I worried about causing conflict talking about Him (John 6:61-79)? Or am I a coward (Rev 21:8) as I fear being rejected by men? Am I ‘a sinner’ and so say nothing as to not be a ‘hypocrite’? Has the ‘lawlessness abounding’ made my love grow cold (Matt 24:12)? Have I lost my ‘first love’ and need to repent (Rev 2:4,5)? So that I may again let His light so shine before men that they might see Him in me and glorify my Father in heaven! (Matt 5:14-16)
This led me to ask other questions. ‘What is the ‘gospel’—good news– we are ‘preaching?’ Is it calling our selves “Christians”, doing ‘ministry’ (Matt 7:21-23)? Is it talking about “God” our “faith”, our ‘church’, denomination, ‘pastor’ , famous or celebrity ‘anointed’ preacher/teacher/prophet/apostle’ (1 Cor 1:10-13, Phil 1:15-18)? Is it being ‘good’ or a ‘law abiding citizen’ that ‘submits to secular “authorities”‘ no matter what they tell you to do? (Luke 18:18-23)? Is it being a ‘positive’ or ‘happy’, person who smiles a lot (Jude 16)? Is it our ‘lifestyle of integrity’ (Is 64:6)? Is it our ‘testifying’ about financial success or prosperity (Matt 19:23,24)? What about our ‘doing good’ trying to give to or help people (1 Cor 13:1-3)? Without giving glory to the name of Jesus for our ‘good deeds’ we are simply ‘exalting ourselves’ or to be ‘seen by men’ (Matt 6:5) and have become flavorless salt (Matt 5:13). What about doing ‘miracles, healings and casting out demons’? (Matt 7:22.23)
The answer to all of these questions is an emphatic NO! Jesus says that many will come to Him in that day saying they did miracles and wonders in His name and to which He said to them, depart from me you workers of iniquity for I never KNEW YOU (Matt 7:21-23). The miracles of God are from the Spirit of God, not from men (1 Cor 12:1-11)! Jesus tell us that there will be demonically inspired wonders that would deceive even, if possible, the elect (Matt 24;25).! So, what then IS our gospel message? Here it is: Phil 2:9-11
…God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the NAME OF JESUS EVERY knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that EVERY TONGUE should CONFESS that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
How often does the “name above all names”, Jesus Christ, the Living Word (Logos), enter into our thoughts and come out of our mouths in praise, worship, honor and adoration, let alone in WITNESS or TESTIMONY to others!? His name should be ever dear in our hearts and near to our lips! If one believes the Bible is the inspired word of God then the apex, the center focus, of the entire scripture centers around the Lord Jesus Christ (John 5:39). He is the savior, healer, redeemer, King of Kings. Lord of Lords, the Alpha and Omega and on and on and on. It would take me forever to describe Him or list all His attributes or works (John 21:25) and we should remember this fundamental and absolute truth; There is no other name by which anyone can be saved!
Acts 4:8-12
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: 9 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, 10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by HIM this man stands here before you whole. 11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 12 Nor is THERE SALVATION IN ANY OTHER, FOR THERE IS NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN GIVEN AMONG MEN BY WHICH A MAN CAN BE SAVED.”
So if it is good to ask myself these questions, then I should ask others. Why is it that we seem to be hesitant to speak of that name, who we claim to be our Lord, specifically before others that do not know him? If you are being honest, you know most ‘Christians’, rarely have ‘God’ related conversations with unbelievers, we tend to avoid them instead of looking for an opportunity (1 Pet 3:15). We avoid making them, and ourselves, ‘uncomfortable’, while forgetting the real ‘discomfort’ will take place when that ‘friend’ finds themselves being tossed into the lake of fire (Hell) for not knowing Jesus Christ as savior and Lord (Rev 20:15) as you watch in horror as they cry, “You knew, you knew and yet never said a word, WHY NOT!?!?”(Ez 3:18-20) When we do come upon a chance to have a “God” or ‘faith’ based conversation, how often is the name Jesus Christ or claiming Him as our Lord interjected into it? Do we quickly acquiesce or allow the opportunity to pass or even ourselves change the subject, not speaking anything of real value or worth at all? Why is that, Is Jesus your Lord/Master? Are you ashamed of Him and His gospel (Rom 1:16)? If you find you cannot say that ‘Jesus is Lord’ (1 Cor 12:3) to someone, even a believer, then maybe you yourself need to be saved and ‘born again’ (John 3:3) or at least you need to repent! I have noticed that it seems like our whole goal in ‘witnessing’, is to make sure no one ever feels uncomfortable or gets offended, EVEN AT “ALTAR CALLS”, in the overwhelming majority of the churches that I have seen!
Here is the truth, Jesus Christ Himself is ‘the stumbling block’ which ‘offends’ (Rom 9:32, 1 Cor 1:23). You will not be saved if you do not feel deep sorrow over the truth of your sin and selfish rebellion to God! You won’t even think you need to be saved without this! This feeling is called conviction! It is a primary job of the Holy Spirit (John 16:7-10). Without conviction (not condemnation, Satan’s accusations), one will not truly repent, will not turn towards the crucified and risen Christ, to save him from the just wrath of God. He is — “the way the truth and the life”, the only way, the door, — to friendship and life with the Father and His eternal Kingdom! (John 14:6). He is God in the flesh! (John 1:14).! Go look at the first gospel messages in Acts 2 and Acts 4 (shared above) and compare it to the ones that we see preached from most of today’s pulpits! Peter, speaking by the Holy Spirit, is not concerned that they are offended or ‘feel bad’! Look at the results! Compare it to the gospel of today in our theater like venues. One that glosses over feelings of conviction, where there is little time for anguish over ones sin and rebellion; one that has shallow roots and will lead many into falling away when persecution comes. (Matt 13:5,6, 2 Thes 2:3)!
There is power in the name of Jesus, to save from sin and death, power to heal as seen in Acts 4. This created the chance to declare the name of Jesus Christ as Lord. The miracle itself is not the gospel, it is the vehicle that opened the door for the name of the Lord to be declared! Just because a person is healed does not mean they are saved!! See how bold Peter is, (after denying Christ earlier, Luke 22:61) throwing in this tidbit that they crucified him! (The truth is WE ALL CRUCIFIED HIM). He alone has power to forgive sins (Matt 9:6). Yet, sadly, I would imagine the unbelievers speak His name in mocking as a swear word more in public then we who call him Lord and savior do! Especially outside of our safe ‘Christian’ social circles!
Again, I have to ask, Why is that? Do you fear man (Prov 29:25)? Are you afraid of persecution and rejection (Matt 13:20,21)? Are you afraid of His name being offensive (Luke 7:23)? Are we trying to come across as ‘normal’ or ‘cool’ and not as a some kind of ‘Jesus freak’ or ‘religious fanatic’ which might ‘scare them away’ (Rom 12:1-2.) In any case, what is the justification or EXCUSE we use for not sharing our “testimony of Jesus Christ” (Rev 12:11, 12:17, 19:11), our love for our LORD. Is He really your Lord? If He is, you will care about your ‘friends’. Wouldn’t you warn them if you saw impending death coming towards them? I think you would. If you are passionate about something, you are going to talk about it whether it is, a person, a hobby, business, money, whatever. You will talk about things you have interest in and care about and that you may have in common with another. As said, Birds of a feather flock together. However, if you rarely if ever, talk about your Lord Jesus Christ, then He is probably not in your ‘top five things you love and care about’ list! You really don’t have a witness and really don’t care about those who are perishing without Him! So then I would have to ask again, do you KNOW Him? Is He your Lord and master? Or is He just a repeated prayer you made at some point at a church? Is Jesus saying to you what He did to those calling Him Lord– Master (owner) in Luke 6:46-49?
“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? 47 Whoever COMES to Me, and HEARS MY SAYINGS –(logos) and DOES them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the ROCK— (Christ, 1 Cor 10:4 and “the stumbling stone, the rock of offense”) And WHEN the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the ROCK. 49 But he who heard (What did this man hear? There is no ‘logos’. He is not hearing the words/sayings of Christ!) and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth (no Rock, no Christ) without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”
Have you not ‘heard’ (read) ‘His sayings’ (logos), that Jesus Himself said, if we CONFESS Him before men He will CONFESS us before the Father and also if we DENY Him before men, He will DENY us before the Father Matt 10:32?! Let’s look at these two words in the language of the NT scripture, Greek, before reading the passage.
Confess= Homologeo, this is a compound word from Homo= ‘same’ and Logos= ‘word’ and specially the ‘Word of God’ or CHRIST who is the Logos! (John 1:1-3). So ‘Confess’ means to say the ‘same word’ as Him. It’s talking of a covenant or close relationship between you and Him before others, as you would claim your kids and wife or husband publicly.
Deny= Arneomai, this means to refuse, contradict, disavow or reject, the root word is Rheo = to utter or speak. So DENY basically means TO REFUSE TO STEP UP AND SPEAK OR UTTER! It’s basically being ashamed of Him! It does not mean necessarily to deny knowing Christ as Peter did, it can mean just not admitting you know him when you have an opportunity to do so. It is ‘denial’ by passive omission and just overt denial!
Now here is the full passage. What does He tell us to do? What is the CONTEXT? (I encourage you to read the whole chapter. WARNING: It may not make you feel good.)
Matt 10:27-33
“Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather FEAR HIM who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell (God the Father, who will show great wrath towards those who reject His Son, which is His way to salvation from that wrath Psalm 2:10-12). 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Do not fear therefore; YOU are of more value than many sparrows.32 THEREFORE whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
The word THEREFORE makes the verses 32 and 33 a summative statement for what He spoke of before. He is telling His disciples (us, who claim His name) to declare what they have both seen and heard about HIM. HIS WORDS AND DEEDS. Obviously if one has not seen or heard anything from Jesus, they can’t say or preach anything! He tells them to not fear men or what they might do to them for His name sake (Matt 5:11,12). He goes onto say that it is His Father who should be feared (Luke 12:4, 5) and it is also He who is watching over them carefully and will provide for them and protect them (Luke 12:6, 7), IF, IF, IF they CONFESS HIM, Jesus Christ as Lord and their ‘Testimony’- ‘his’ story – of His grace and goodness before MEN! Do you have a confession and a ‘testimony of Jesus’?
Jesus makes this simple, confess that you know Him, that He is your Lord before men and He speaks to His and your Father (John 20:17), He makes intercession—is your advocate, stands in the gap, speaks up and entreats favor for you before before the Father on judgement day— (Rom 8:34, Heb 7:25) The Father always listens to His Son (John 11:42) and will release His Spirit, His angels, His protection, His provision, His grace, or whatever it is we need at the time! If we are ashamed of Him (Luke 9:26) or deny (which means not confessing His name before men) then Jesus is also “ashamed” or “denies” us and will not say anything before the Father and therefore we are left on our own against men and our adversary Satan our chief enemy, both now and WHEN HE RETURNS! Confessing or declaring the name of the Lord is also THE KEY to the opening the ‘gates of Hell’.
Matt 16:13-19
13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” 14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
This is a key ‘cornerstone’ or ‘bedrock’ (Luke 20:17, 18, Acts 4:11 – quoted earlier) scripture, it is here that Jesus acknowledges outwardly for the first time that He is, as Peter confessed, — as revealed to him by the Father — truly the ‘Christ’, or ‘Messiah’ in Hebrew (John 1:41), the ‘anointed one’– the only begotten Son of the living God! What does Jesus really go on to say? He says that Peter was blessed by the Father, for being the first one to CONFESS openly out of his mouth, that Jesus was indeed the Christ before men and as such he would be the first to get to proclaim Him as ‘the Christ’ before men, which is exactly what we see happen in Acts 2 and again in Acts 4! AFTER DENYING HIM THREE TIMES (Matt 26:34) — (This is not some sort of ‘promotion in rank’ or ‘hierarchy’ over the other disciples! Peter did not become ‘Pope’, — Peter was married (Matt 8:14) — as some interpret and as, for a season, Peter himself appeared to interpret, it to mean. The truth is Jesus clearly refutes that sort of thinking in Matt 20:24-28. and Mark 10:41-45. We also see Peter is simply one of the twelve in the decision making process of Acts 6:1-4, he is not preeminent or the Head or lead apostle!) — In reality this scripture is not about Peter at all. IT IS ABOUT JESUS BEING THE CHRIST THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD!
Jesus goes on to say that on this ROCK, WHICH IS THE CONFESSION THAT “JESUS IS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD,” that came out of Peter’s mouth, is the ROCK (1 Cor 10:4) on which Christ will build HIS church– (ecclesia—fellowship of the saints –Eph 4:1-16). And it is this confession of truth that THE GATES OF HELL CANNOT RESIST OR PREVAIL AGAINST IT! He goes on to say that He will give the Keys to the Kingdom of heaven and what do Keys do? They unlock gates! And the main key that unlocks the prison and stronghold ‘gates of hell’ is, “Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the Father!” our opening scripture from Philippians and very similar to the one Peter confessed in Matt 16:16!
Proverbs 18:10 says this:
The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.
When this Proverb was written the author could not speak the name of the Lord. God was known as “I am who I am”, (Haw Yaw (Yahweh) Ex 3:14) a name that a human mouth can not say lest they desecrate it because He is Holy – flawless, pronounced ‘Jehovah’ in English) which is ‘One’– Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Today we can call Him Jesus Christ, again in English, who is “I am”, “the Word”, God who became man (John 1:14)! The Jews, God’s covenant people, “the son’s of Abraham”, sought to stone him for making the claim of being “I am” (John 8:58,59). So what this Proverb 18:10 is saying is simply that “Jesus Christ is Lord”, the “I am” the living ‘Word’ is the Strong Tower!
Take a look at the picture painted here. What is a strong tower and why would you run to it? It’s a high fortress, an impregnable safe place, where enemies cannot get to you. When do you go to a ‘strong tower’? When you are under threat from enemies who seek to do you harm. So who can run to that tower? Well, we know who can’t run to it, the unrighteous those who fear man, and not God. Prov 29:25: “The fear of man is a snare but whoever trust in the Lord shall be safe!” Only the righteous can run into the strong tower and we all know that none of us are righteous (Ps 14:3, Rom 3:10) by our own efforts. In fact the opposite is true, we were all enemies of God at sometime (Rom 5:10). So we can not run to this tower and get into it on our own merit or deeds. The enemy would snare us and take us captive. So how can we get into the tower? WE NEED A KEY TO OPEN THE DOOR. That key is the declaration of Jesus Christ is Lord which is what makes us Righteous in the first place (Rom 3:21-26) Christ is our righteousness! It is the ‘blood of the Lamb’ (Christ, cleanses us from all sin) and the ‘word of our testimony’ (the declaration of Christ) and not ‘loving our life unto death’ — this is fearing man or the evil one more then God to the point of ‘saving’ one’s life on this earth Luke 17:33 — (Rev 12:11). This opens the door to the strong tower were one is safe from their enemy and no one can confess that “Jesus is Lord” except by the power and revelation of the Holy Spirit which again is God and comes from God. (1 Cor 12:3)
Simply put when we allow the enemy to take away the primary ‘KEY’ of the Kingdom of Heaven’ — (which is the confession that “Jesus is Lord” coming out of our mouth, which is a required evidence of true salvation (Rom 10:9) — through Satan’s lies, fear of man, fear of persecution, fear of offending, etc. We are now stuck outside of that tower, which is Christ, and we have to face our enemy on our own and that will not work out well for us! The enemy cannot touch us when we are in the strong tower unless the Father specifically allows it and if He does allow it, He allows it for one of three reasons: 1.) To demonstrate His glory in some way as we see in the man born blind in John 9:1-3. 2.) To refine us as gold to discipline and prune us that we might bear more fruit (Pr 3:11,12, John 15:2) and 3.) That we have chosen “a better resurrection, not accepting deliverance” (Heb 11:35) — this means deliverance was offered or available and they either did not know it was available or chose not to accept it. Jesus chose not to accept the deliverance that was there, for our sake! (Matt 26:53,54) — and to “partake of the fellowship of His sufferings” (Phil 3:7-11).
If the Lord allows us to suffer, HE WILL ALWAYS GIVE US THE GRACE (Divine ability) WE NEED TO ENDURE AND COME THROUGH IT (1 Cor 10:13)! Let us remember that Jesus our Lord himself suffered, much more then any of us ever will (Phil 2:5-8) and He also had to learn obedience by the things He suffered (Heb 5:8). We need to remember the Lord did not say that our life here would be without pain or problems, In fact He promises that we will be hated and suffer persecution and tribulations for His name sake. (Matt 24:9-13, Acts 14:22).
Yet the Lord also promises that those who confess Him before men will be safe and that is not just ‘salvation’ for the Kingdom to come. This is here on earth as well (Luke 21:18, Luke 10:18-19). Confessing Him opens the strong tower; releases the power, favor and protection of the Father. So that even if we are thrown in a lions den (Dan 6) for His namesake, if He so wills, nothing can harm us. If He so allows, we have the privilege of suffering for His namesake. (Acts 5:40,41)! Or better yet get to go to our real home (Phil 1:21-23)
So that leads me back to our original questions. When was the last time you declared ‘Jesus is Lord’ and ‘glorified’ Him before people or shared your testimony of what the Lord has done for you? IF you have not done so recently, I will again ask you why not? I will further ask you, how are things going in your life, in your business, in you marriage, in your family? Are you walking in victory, joy, peace and love, on fire for Jesus with out any fear? Do you have treasure in heaven (Matt 19:21)? Are you in love with your God, wife or husband, how are your children doing in their walk with the Lord (Psalm 112:2)? Or are you lukewarm or on the verge of falling away (2 Thes 2:3) or lost your first love (Rev 2:1-7, Matt 24:12) or are you worried, under a shadow of fear (2 Tim 1:7)? See how often Jesus tells us to not worry, fear or be afraid (John 16:33)! Have you become ‘offended’, stumbling over the ‘rock of offense’, as you see ‘the wicked prosper’ (Psalm 37:7-11, Mal 3:13-4:3) and as injustice abounds (Is 59:15) ? Does Jesus anger and offend you when He tells you to ‘hate’ everyone, including your self for His names sake (Luke 14:25-33) or to sell all to obtain Him, the Priceless Pearl (Matt 13:46)? If so, maybe you should seriously consider humbling your self before Him and returning to the Lord and seeking Him with all you heart (2 Chron 7:12-14); and once again declaring before others that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father, especially to those who you know do not know Him. In fact that is the primary reason Jesus leaves us on the earth after we have revelation of Him (Matt 28:18-20)!
So, Step out, take a ‘risk’, give it a try and see how the Father will step up on your behalf as your Lord Jesus confesses you before your Father!