Lord of Lords
The most repeated word in the Bible is: Lord. Over 5000 times it appears in the Scriptures. Lord does not exist in a democratic system, because Lord means control and dominion by a sovereign and democracy talks about cooperation of equals. Lord can only be understood in the context of a kingdom. The designation of Lord is only reserved for God. He is the Creator and thus Lord over all that He creates. The source of all man’s problems is when he claims to be lord of what he didn’t create.
When Moses was sent by God to deliver the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt, He did so by the revelation of His name Lord. In Exodus 6:3, it reads: “I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name Lord I did not make myself known to them.” Moses was told to tell the children of Israel, “I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgement.” (v.6) God Almighty was about to reveal that He was in charge; that He had the power and the right to use this power as He saw fit, because He is the Lord of lords.
Lordship is the key to understanding the Kingdom of Heaven’s economics. As Lord, God is the source. Jesus taught that the Father, the Source, knows what you need. You don’t have to stress about what you will wear, or what you will drink or eat, because the Lord knows what you have need and will take care of you. Anxiety and fear are a result of not trusting God as the source. If you are afraid of losing your job, then you are saying the job is your source; it is your father and lord. Without an understanding of Lordship, one becomes need motivated. Future needs become today’s fears. Stress builds up and creates an open door for the work of the enemy. The Lord separates today from tomorrow. He provides for our daily needs; our daily bread. In revealing His name, Lord, to Israel, God gave them the manna every day while in the desert, He caused water to spring forth out of a rock. He sent plagues to inflict the Egyptians and Israel was spared. Even their clothes did not wear out while they journeyed for 40 years in the wilderness. As Lord, all is subject to Him.
Lordship is the source of all conflict and comfort to mankind. Jesus was crucified because of His claim to be Lord. The Lord Jesus posed a threat to the religious leader’s positions and claims to ownership and control. Throughout all of history, those who do not recognize Jesus as Lord, hate Him. If Jesus were just a good man, a wonderful statesman, or holy prophet, there would be not point of conflict, but because He is Lord, all knees must bow before Him. To those who submit to His Lordship, their lives are at peace. There is no more “kicking against the pricks”. There is no more inner struggles or outward stress. To those who have embraced His rule experience righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Many have come to know Jesus as Savior, but not as Lord. They have received by faith the benefits of His grace, but have not yielded their will to Him. As a result their lives are continually in conflict with God and others. Jesus is both Savior and Lord. Because He is Savior, He is Lord and because He is Lord, He is Savior. You cannot separate the two. “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2.10-11) Jesus is Lord of lords.
Scriptures to meditate on:
Ex. 6.1-9; Mat. 6.25-33; Psalms 16.2; Phil. 2.9-11; Rom. 14.17; Eph. 4.5