Embracing the Lordship of Jesus: A Call to Faith

Devotional

Day 1: Divinity Revealed in Jesus

Understanding Jesus as God incarnate is essential to our faith. The miracles, teachings, and resurrection of Jesus are not just historical events to be acknowledged; they are divine signposts that point to His true nature as God in the flesh. This realization is not a mere theological concept but a transformative truth that should shape one's entire existence. When one grasps the reality of Jesus' divinity, it demands a response that goes beyond intellectual assent to a life lived in alignment with this profound truth. The evidence of Jesus' deity is found in His works and His words, which were so radical that they led to His crucifixion. To truly know Jesus is to see the face of God, to understand His character, and to experience His love and power firsthand. [01:01:29]

Colossians 1:15-17 (ESV): "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together."

Reflection: How does recognizing Jesus as the image of the invisible God impact your understanding of His teachings and your daily life?

Day 2: The Urgency of Choosing Jesus

The decision to follow Jesus is the most critical choice one can make in life. It is not a matter of convenience or cultural adherence but a deliberate act of surrender to His Lordship. This decision carries eternal significance and must be approached with urgency and conviction. The call to follow Jesus is an invitation to secure one's eternity in Christ and to live with the assurance that comes from trusting in Him for all things. The reality that our tomorrows are not guaranteed underscores the immediacy with which one must respond to Jesus' invitation to salvation. [01:11:43]

Hebrews 3:15 (ESV): "As it is said, 'Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.'"

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?

Day 3: Baptism as a Public Declaration

Baptism is an outward expression of an inward transformation. It is a public declaration of dying to the old self and being raised to new life in Christ. When one witnesses a baptism, it is a celebration of a life changed by the power of the Gospel. This sacred act is a testimony to the world of one's faith and the beginning of a transformed life that seeks to follow Jesus in obedience and devotion. The act of baptism is a powerful symbol of what Jesus has done in the believer's life and serves as a milestone in their spiritual journey. [01:22:17]

Romans 6:4 (ESV): "We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life."

Reflection: How does your own baptism reflect the transformation you've experienced in Christ, and how can you live out that transformation today?

Day 4: Communion as Sacred Remembrance

The Lord's Supper is a profound moment of communion with God and fellow believers. As participants partake in the bread and the cup, they remember the sacrifice of Jesus and proclaim His death until He comes again. This act of remembrance is not only a reflection on the past but a call to examine one's heart in the present and to live in gratitude for the grace received. The Lord's Supper is a sacred time to renew one's commitment to Christ and to reflect on the new covenant established through His blood. [01:32:19]

1 Corinthians 11:25-26 (ESV): "In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.' For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes."

Reflection: In what ways can you live out the covenant relationship with Jesus that you remember during the Lord's Supper?

Day 5: Intimacy with Jesus

Our relationship with Jesus is meant to be intimate and personal. He is not a distant deity but a present Savior who desires a deep, abiding connection with us. As believers grow in their knowledge of Him, they experience the fullness of life He offers. This relationship is nurtured through prayer, reading Scripture, and living in obedience to His commands. The intimacy with Jesus transforms one's life, providing peace, purpose, and a sense of belonging in the family of God. [44:31]

John 15:4-5 (ESV): "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."

Reflection: What practical steps can you take today to deepen your personal relationship with Jesus and experience a more intimate connection with Him?

Sermon Summary

In the heart of our faith lies the profound truth that to know Jesus is to know God. This morning, I implored you to consider the gravity of Jesus' claims about His identity and the implications for our lives. Jesus' teachings, miracles, and very life were not merely for spectacle or moral guidance; they were the undeniable evidence of His divinity. He was not executed for His miracles or for being a great teacher; He was crucified because He claimed to be God, a claim that still challenges the world today.

Jesus' words to His disciples in John 14 are as relevant to us now as they were then. He urged them to believe in Him, not only because of His words but because of the works the Father did through Him. These works were the signposts of the Messiah, the visible, tangible image of the invisible God. Jesus is the complete revelation of what God is like, and our search for truth and reality ends in Him.

In our gathering, we witnessed the transformative power of Jesus' call in the life of Miss Tammy, who, inspired by another's obedience to baptism, decided to follow Jesus and be baptized herself. This decision was celebrated as we prepared to partake in the Lord's Supper, a sacred moment where we remember the sacrifice of Jesus and the new covenant established through His blood.

I challenged you to consider where you stand with Jesus. Is He a liar, a lunatic, a legend, or your Lord? The decision cannot be delayed, for our tomorrows are not guaranteed. Today is the day of salvation, and I urged you to surrender to the Lordship of Jesus, to secure your eternity in Christ, and to live with the assurance that comes from trusting in Him for all things.

Key Takeaways

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Bible Reading

John 14:7-11 — "If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him." Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves."

2. John 5:18
"This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God."

3. John 10:33
"The Jews answered him, 'It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.'"

Observation Questions

What does Jesus claim about His relationship with the Father in John 14:7-11?
According to John 5:18, why were the Jews seeking to kill Jesus?
In John 10:33, what specific charge do the Jews bring against Jesus?
How did Jesus respond to Philip's request to see the Father in John 14:8-9? [39:45]

Interpretation Questions

Why is Jesus' claim to be God so significant for our faith? How does this claim challenge contemporary views of Jesus? [35:00]
How do Jesus' miracles serve as evidence of His divinity according to the sermon? [01:00:55]
What does it mean to have an intimate relationship with Jesus, as described in the sermon? [41:07]
How does the story of Miss Tammy's baptism illustrate the transformative power of Jesus' call? [01:21:02]

Application Questions

Reflect on your own belief in Jesus' divinity. How does this belief shape your daily life and decisions? [35:00]
Jesus' miracles were described as "divine signposts." Can you identify a moment in your life where you experienced a "divine signpost"? How did it impact your faith? [01:00:55]
The sermon emphasized the urgency of deciding to follow Jesus. What steps can you take this week to deepen your commitment to Jesus' Lordship in your life? [01:11:43]
Baptism is an outward expression of an inward transformation. If you have been baptized, how has this act influenced your spiritual journey? If not, what might be holding you back? [01:22:17]
The Lord's Supper is a moment of communion and remembrance. How can you prepare your heart to partake in this sacrament more meaningfully? [01:32:19]
Jesus desires an intimate and personal relationship with us. What practical steps can you take to cultivate a deeper connection with Him this week? [44:31]
The sermon posed the question: Is Jesus a liar, a lunatic, a legend, or your Lord? How would you answer this question, and what evidence from your life supports your answer? [01:11:43]

Sermon Clips

1) "Jesus claimed to be God and it ultimately led to his execution. And in John chapter 14, Jesus is again going to affirm His deity to the disciples. He wants them to understand this fully." [39:01](Download | Download)

2) "Jesus is the visible, tangible image of the invisible God. He is the complete revelation of what God is like. The search for God, for truth, and for reality ends in Jesus Christ." [53:51](Download | Download)

3) "To know Jesus is to know the Father. It's by faith that we see the Father as we come to know Christ better. I want my relationship with Jesus to be deeper and more intimate today than it was yesterday." [44:31](Download | Download)

4) "Jesus' body broken for you. Lord, we are so thankful for your body broken for us. Let us never take that gift for granted as we remember it and celebrate it today." [01:27:30](Download | Download)

5) "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. This do as often as you drink it in remembrance of me for as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, You proclaim the Lord's death till he comes." [01:32:19](Download | Download)

6) "Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me. Or else believe me for the sake of the works themselves. Believe me, trust me when I tell you, I am the one." [01:01:29](Download | Download)

7) "Jesus wasn't executed because of His teachings. So maybe it was the miracles, right? No, friends, Jesus was executed because He claimed to be equal with God." [35:00](Download | Download)

8) "We want to reclaim the intimacy and relationship that we had with our Creator in Eden. That's what we want. The kind of relationship that Moses had with God, face to face as with a friend." [47:25](Download | Download)

9) "Jesus appeals to His character, 'Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?' He's asking the disciples to recognize His divine nature through His character and works." [57:27](Download | Download)

10) "It's all about Jesus. He's the author of it all, the sustainer of it all. He's the one who created everything. It's not about you, it's not about me, it's all about Jesus." [55:25](Download | Download)

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