Do You Truly Know Jesus as Lord?

Devotional

Day 1: Thirty Silver Coins and the Hollow Faith

Judas traded eternal purpose for temporary gain, his hands clutching payment while his heart drifted from Christ. This betrayal wasn’t sudden—it grew from small compromises, secret greed, and a refusal to truly surrender. Like Judas, many claim proximity to Jesus without letting Him transform their desires. The question isn’t how close we walk to Him, but whether we’ve let His lordship pierce our deepest hungers. True discipleship costs everything, yet Judas settled for coins. [01:19:53]

Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. (Matthew 26:14-15, ESV)

Reflection: What “silver coins” tempt you to compromise your walk with Christ? How does your daily choices reveal whether you serve Him or hidden agendas?

Day 2: Crawling to the Cafeteria: When Commitment is Tested

Some relationships demand crawling through darkness before dawn—whether with God or others. The preacher recalled fraternity hazings where recruits crawled blindly, trusting strangers’ demands. Many treat faith the same way: performing rituals without knowing the One they serve. Jesus invites us beyond empty motions into a covenant where we study His character, not just His commands. Surrender isn’t gritting teeth; it’s opening hands. [01:20:41]

Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find? (Proverbs 20:6, ESV)

Reflection: Where have you been “crawling” through spiritual routines without heart engagement? What step will you take today to know Christ more deeply than duty?

Day 3: Good Teacher or Lord? The Heart of True Surrender

Judas called Jesus “teacher” but never “Lord”—a distinction that damned him. Intellectual agreement with Christ’s wisdom isn’t salvation. Hell fills with people who admired Jesus’ ethics but refused His cross. True faith kneels, not just nods. It’s the difference between reciting creeds and letting His blood rewrite your story. Jesus isn’t a life coach; He’s the Lamb demanding everything. [01:31:42]

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21, ESV)

Reflection: Do you approach Jesus as a helpful teacher or your sovereign King? What area of your life still resists His absolute authority?

Day 4: White Lies and Empty Offerings: When Pretense Replaces Devotion

Ananias and Sapphira lied about their generosity, preferring applause over authenticity. Their sin wasn’t keeping money—it was pretending to surrender what they clutched. God hates hypocrisy more than honest struggle. Like Judas’ kiss, fake devotion betrays Christ. True worship requires bringing our brokenness, not performances. God sees past Sunday smiles to the heart’s ledger. [01:35:56]

But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. (Acts 5:1-2, ESV)

Reflection: Where do you pretend spiritual maturity instead of confessing weakness? How can you offer God raw honesty instead of polished lies today?

Day 5: Renewed Minds and NFL Games: Where Does Your Allegiance Lie?

Judas fixated on money; many today obsess over sports, careers, or drama—anything but Christ. Renewing your mind isn’t a one-time prayer; it’s hourly choosing eternal focus over earthly noise. Peace comes not from avoiding storms but anchoring in the Savior mid-tempest. What fills your thoughts when the church lights dim? Your answer reveals who owns your heart. [01:36:50]

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2, ESV)

Reflection: What distractions most often pull your gaze from Christ? How will you intentionally “renew your mind” in the next 24 hours?

Sermon Summary

The question, “Do you know me?” reaches deeper than being around church people, looking right, or carrying a title. Judas walked with Jesus for three years, saw the miracles, heard the words, and even handled the money, but Jesus never became his Lord. Judas called Him teacher and master, but he never truly surrendered his heart. Thirty pieces of silver showed that Judas had been close to Jesus without being committed to Jesus.

The contrast between knowing about God and knowing God warns against a faith that is only outward. A person can sing, shout, talk holy, and still have a mind fixed on something else. The Pharisees looked righteous, yet judged harshly. Ananias and Sapphira gave an appearance of sacrifice while holding back truth in their hearts. God does not deal in white lies, half commitment, or religious performances. God knows the heart.

The covenant of marriage helps show the weight of commitment. Marriage cannot live on appearances, forced affection, or people pretending to know one another. Love has to handle another person with care, because even a joke can wound someone who is supposed to be loved. Peace of mind cannot be bought, and a godly relationship cannot be forced. The person somebody asks God for ought to be asking God for them too.

God’s mercy still gives people a chance, even when God already knows the road they are headed down. Jesus chose Judas knowing what Judas would do, because God would that no man perish. Sinful people do not have to die without Jesus. Repentance opens the heart to Christ, and confession brings the sinner honestly before God. The devil says to wait until life is together, but Christ saves those who come to Him right now.

The renewing of the mind calls for more than occasional church attendance. Holiness means keeping the mind on Jesus instead of letting entertainment, money, sports, fear, and worldly noise take the first place. Prayer without ceasing means turning to God in every situation: when somebody lies, when bad news comes, when sickness enters the family, and when stress tries to take over. Jesus gives peace, power, and understanding for making it through. The real question remains: does Jesus have the heart, or does He only have a place nearby?

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Key Takeaways

1. Closeness to Jesus requires true surrender [01:31:21] Judas stayed near Jesus, but nearness did not make Jesus his Lord. A person can know church language and still refuse the authority of Christ. True faith does not merely admire Jesus as a good teacher. True faith bows to Him as Lord and Savior. [91:21]
2. God knows what appearances cannot reveal [01:34:28] Religious appearance can hide greed, pride, judgment, and deceit for a season. God sees beyond the suit, the song, the title, and the public reputation. The heart cannot be dressed up before God. Honesty before Him is better than a polished lie. [94:28]
3. Love must handle people with care [01:25:56] Love does not purposely hurt somebody and excuse it as a joke afterward. Commitment pays attention to what wounds the person it claims to cherish. Marriage and every meaningful relationship require care, truth, and peace. Forced connection cannot produce the peace that God gives. [85:56]
4. Repentance brings sinners to Christ now [01:33:17] The devil wants sinners to delay until they feel worthy or have life figured out. Christ calls sinners to come as they are and confess their need. Salvation begins with surrender, not self-improvement. God’s mercy remains open because He does not desire anyone to perish. [93:17]
5. Prayer keeps the mind fixed on Jesus [01:37:33] Prayer without ceasing means taking every trouble straight to God. Trouble, sickness, lies, and uncertainty become places where dependence on Christ grows. A mind renewed by God cannot be ruled by every distraction. Jesus gives peace and power in the middle of real life.

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Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[75:03] - Never Let Go of God’s Hand
[75:50] - God Is Still a Miracle Worker
[76:49] - Love, Marriage, and Peace of Mind
[79:25] - Matthew 26 and Judas Iscariot
[80:05] - Do You Know Me?
[81:54] - Jesus Chose Judas
[83:16] - Covenant Commitment to Jesus
[84:54] - Betrayal and Care in Relationships
[87:07] - Judas Looked Faithful
[90:20] - Friends Who Wait for a Fall
[91:21] - Jesus Must Be Lord
[93:17] - Come to Jesus Right Now
[94:28] - Hypocrisy and Hidden Sin
[97:33] - Pray Without Ceasing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 26:14-16
“Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.” [01:19:41]

2 Peter 3:9
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” [01:23:11]

1 Thessalonians 5:17
“Pray without ceasing.” [01:37:43]

Observation questions

In Matthew 26:14–16, what did Judas seek from the chief priests, and what price was agreed upon?
What details show that Judas was close to Jesus outwardly, including the trust and responsibilities he was given? [01:28:37]
According to the message, what names or titles did Judas use for Jesus, and what title did he fail to use? [01:31:33]
What everyday situations were named as times when believers should pray without ceasing? [01:37:43]

Interpretation questions

Judas spent years around Jesus, witnessed His works, and still chose betrayal. What does this show about the difference between being around faith and surrendering to Jesus as Lord? [01:33:17]
Second Peter 3:9 shows God’s patience and His desire that people not perish. How does God’s patience give someone time to repent without making sin less serious? [01:22:43]
Why can religious activity, a good reputation, or a church role fail to show what is truly in a person’s heart? [01:34:46]
What does “pray without ceasing” look like when understood as turning to God in every situation instead of living in nonstop spoken prayer? [01:37:43]

Application questions

When you honestly ask, “Does Jesus have my heart, or only a place nearby?” what areas of your life most need deeper surrender to Him? [01:37:07]
Is there any part of your life where you have been tempted to look faithful on the outside while holding back truth, obedience, or trust on the inside? What would honest confession to God look like? [01:35:52]
What distractions most often compete for first place in your mind—entertainment, money, sports, fear, relationships, or something else? What is one practical way you can turn your mind back to Jesus this week? [01:36:34]
Think about the people closest to you. Are there words, jokes, attitudes, or actions that may wound them even if you do not mean to cause harm? How can you handle them with greater care? [01:25:56]
When stress, sickness, bad news, or somebody’s dishonesty comes into your life, what is usually your first response? How could prayer become your first response in one situation you are facing now? [01:37:43]
Is there any reason you have been tempted to delay repentance, such as waiting until life feels more together or until you feel more worthy? What does it mean to come to Jesus right now? [01:33:45]

Sermon Clips

46s

“But Judas never referred to Jesus as being lord. He never referred to Jesus as being god. He referred to Jesus as being good teacher. Good master. And I just stopped by to tell you, that ain't good enough. Amen. Alright. Everybody who's in hell did something similar to what Judas did. They lived this life and died without Jesus being their lord and savior. Glory god. Glory to god. And that's how you get to hell.”

37s

“That don't mean pray twenty four seven. That mean every time I get into a situation, pray. Every time somebody lies on me, pray. Every time I get a phone call, there's a sick member in the family, pray. I'm gonna pray without ceasing because my relationship with god, he takes the stress away. Yes, sir. My relationship with god gives me the peace and the power and the understanding that I need to make it through 2026.”

49s

“But the thing about Jesus, he is so holy that he'll give you a chance even though he know you headed down Skin Row. That men and women in prison right now that are there because they've done some awful things. But they still have a chance to get their soul man together. Amen. They still got a chance to get their inward man saved. God loves us so much. He would that no man perishes. Thank god for Jesus because with that in mind, he's given me a chance to make heaven my home. Alright. Right.”

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