Preacher’s Pulpit by Dr. Joe Tims
Principles to Make Christ the Lord of Your Life
Luke 6:46
“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”
INTRODUCTION
Why is that after all the promises God has given for victory in Christ, is there so much defeat among those that claim to be SAVED?
(Phil 4:13) “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
Paul affirms that the new birth produces a change in a person’s life.
(2 Cor 5:17) “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
Yet, some of the most messed up lives are among those that claim to be a child of God.
It is because the believer has not made Jesus the Lord of their life.
There are four principles that must be followed to make the Jesus the Lord of your life.
I. The Living Principle
(1 Cor 6:20) “For Ye Are Bought with a Price: Therefore Glorify God in Your Body, and in Your Spirit, Which Are God’s.”
A. Price: What a price was paid for our redemption.
(2 Cor 5:21) “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
B. He bore our punishment!
C. How can we as a believer refuse to live for Him when He died for us?
D. How can we treat His love for us with such contempt.
(Heb 10:29) “Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, where with he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?”
II. The Serving Principle
(1 Sam 12:24) “Only Fear the Lord, and Serve Him in Truth with All Your Heart; for Consider How Great Things He Hath Done for You.”
A. Consider all that God has done for us.
B. We should naturally want to serve Him in return.
C. We should serve Him enthusiastically, with our whole hearts or ‘heartily”.
(Col 3:23) “And Whatsoever Ye Do, Do it Heartily, as to the Lord, and Not unto Men;”
D. It should be demonstrated by whatever service He asks of us.
E. What is the difference between the living principle and the serving principle?
1. The living principle is a matter of attitude and inward spiritual condition.
2. The serving principle is an outward display of what’s in our hearts.
III. The Praying Principle
(Phil 4:6-7) “Be Careful for Nothing; but in Every Thing by Prayer and Supplication with Thanksgiving Let Your Requests Be Made Known unto God. {7} and the Peace of God, Which Passeth All Understanding, Shall Keep Your Hearts and Minds Through Christ Jesus.”
A. The praying principle calls for us to give ourselves and our needs to God instead of taking matters into our own hands.
(Phil 4:19) “But My God Shall Supply All Your Need According to His Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus.”
B. Since God is in control we can let go of our anxiety about the future and rest in Him.
C. Prayer is the ultimate response of trust in God.
D. There is no matter too small or too large to commit to Him in prayer.
(1 John 5:14) “And this Is the Confidence That We Have in Him, That, If We Ask Any Thing According to His Will, He Heareth Us:”
IV. The Trusting Principle
(Psa 118:8-9) “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. {9} It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.”
A. Trusting means taking God at His Word.
B. It is an activity that leads the will to obey God.
C. If we trust fully in God we can have peace of mind and know that our future is in His hands.
(Isa 26:3) “Thou Wilt Keep Him in Perfect Peace, Whose Mind Is Stayed on Thee: Because He Trusteth in Thee.”
CONCLUSION:
Have you ever trust Him as Savior?
Is He the Lord of your life?
Are you the Lord of your life?