He is Lord
Text: John 20:24-31
But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and [yet] have believed.
"AMONG US at this day we have many persons who are like Thomas-dubious, demanding signs and tokens, suspicious, and ofttimes sad. The doubter is prone to fits of depression. I think that there is sometimes a slight touch of Thomas in most of us. There are times and seasons when the strong man fails, and when the firm believer has to pause a while, and say, "Is it so?" (Spurgeon)
Jesus revealed Himself to Thomas instead of letting him wallow in the mire of doubt and unbelief.
Thomas responds, "My Lord, and My God"
I want to present 4 examples of scripture where Jesus is Lord, and trust that by the grace of God and the moving of His spirit, doubt and unbelief will again be driven from the Lord’s Thomases.Jesus dealt with Thomas’s doubt by appearing to Him, to us He deals with our doubt thru the Word of God. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God..
He is:
Lord of the Beasts for those who doubt God’s delivering power.
Lord of the Barrier for those who doubt God’s power to change others.
Lord of the Flame for those who doubt God’s hand in circumstances.
Lord of the Dance for those who doubt God’s ability to bring happiness.
First as the ruler of creation He is Lord of the beasts, bringing their passions under His control.
If God can control the beasts of the earth, He can control the beast in you. Sometimes when people are struggling with an area of sin or temptation they can be tempted to give up thinking it hopeless. Or like Thomas their faith is weak and they think the only way to victory is to get "zapped," by God. God does at times deliver people through a spiritual "zap," but more often then not He requires us to struggle against sin, crucify our flesh, and die to self. He gives us weapons sufficient to the task which if properly employed will bring victory. One of those weapons is the realization that the ... "law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."1 In other words not only do we have our beastly passions beating within our breast, but we also have holy passions in the person of Jesus, of whom the scriptures say, "greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world." (1 John 4:4) Consider the following, and remember He is Lord of the Beasts!
1 Samuel 6:1,2,7-12
1 Samuel 6:1-2 "And the ark of the LORD was in the country of the Philistines seven months. And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, What shall we do to the ark of the LORD? tell us wherewith we shall send it to his place."
1 Samuel 6:7-12 "Now therefore make a new cart, and take two milch kine, on which there hath come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart, and bring their calves home from them: And see, if it goeth up by the way of his own coast to Bethshemesh, [then] he hath done us this great evil: but if not, then we shall know that [it is] not his hand [that] smote us: it [was] a chance [that] happened to us. And the men did so; and took two milch kine, and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home: And they laid the ark of the LORD upon the cart, and the coffer with the mice of gold and the images of their emerods. And the kine took the straight way to the way of Bethshemesh, and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left; and the lords of the Philistines went after them unto the border of Bethshemesh."
The Philistines had the Ark for 7 months, God smote them with tumors in every city it went, finally they put it out in the open field, and mice seemingly came from nowhere and destroyed their wheat harvest. They decided the only way to prove if this is really God is to put the ark on a cart, with two cows that had been nursing calves, and had never been put on a yoke, and if the cows somehow cooperate together and somehow know the way to Israel, and go there without anyone leading them, and if they will turn their backs on their own nursing young than it must be God who is judging them, and their gods. (V.5) The Lord of the beasts brought it to pass!
God gave them a sign, but it didn’t change them at all! John 3:19,20
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
Observe in this story (1 Samuel 6) the power of God over the beasts.
V.12, they went immediately. They went lowing - crying out for their children. They didn’t like it but they were compelled onward.
The departure of these cows from their home and young, their immediate cooperation with the yoke, and departure to a strange land is an amazing instance of the control of God over the strongest of animal instincts.
It was against nature, even as the lions in Daniel’s den didn’t eat him. Cows turned their backs on their young, and hungry lions refused to eat. Why? Because there was a Divine influence upon their life.
God can subordinate to His purposes the strongest natural and unnatural inclinations.
He can tame the beasts, He can tame the beast in you.
He can deal with your earthly fleshly passions.
Have you been struggling with your animal instincts? Or fleshly cravings? Or your human temper?
Reach hither thy finger by faith and touch these passages and say God, "If you can tame those animals, you can tame me." Now when doubt rises up remind yourself that you are standing on God’s word and confess it to yourself and the devil.
He is Lord of the Beasts for those who have been doubting God’s delivering power.
It is not that you doubt His delivering power, but you doubt your ability to receive that power. Faith is the key that unlocks all the power of heaven, have more faith in God’s power to deliver than in your power to fail. Actively confess it. There is something about confessing the word of God that releases it’s power into our lives. If you confess your weakness over and over again, you will not walk in deliverance, but if by faith you will say, "He is able and willing to deliver me," you will find the Lord of the Beasts will work on your behalf to contain and control the beast in you.
Second, as the first principle of the law of motion, He is Lord of the Barrier, changing things as He will.
The first principle of the law of motion says that an object in motio
n will remain in motion until acted upon by some outside force, and an object not in motion will remain not in motion until acted upon by some outside force. For example if you roll a ball, it will eventually stop because it hits something, or gravity has worked upon it. Likewise if it is not moving, it will stay that way unless something hits it, whether a person, or wind, or gravity, or some other outside force.
Jesus is the outside force that can start things in motion, and stop things in motion. Is there someone near to you who needs to be changed? That you have agonized over, that you have prayed over and cried over? Nothing seems to be changing, and there is no outside evidence of movement in the right direction? We will concentrate on Jesus’ ability to stop things, and call Him - Lord of the Barrier, by so doing we will help to strengthen your faith and reanimate your prayers for those you may have given up on. Consider...
Jesus is the outside force than can stop an object in motion, and He is the outside force that can start an object in motion..
Genesis 20:1-8
1 And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.
2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.
3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife.
4 But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?
5 Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.
6 And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.
7 Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.
8 Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid.
God intervened in the heart of Abimelech. God overruled his natural inclinations, especially in light of chapter 19 and verse 18. "For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham’s wife." This chain of events happened between the time of Sarah’s conception of Isaac, and her birth of him. The only way in this short time Abimelech could have known the woman were barren is if there was some physical abnormalities. Abimelech therefore had no relations with his wives, and was kept supernaturally from Sarah. She was beautiful to look at, and had he desired he would have lain with her. The truth is, that he probably did desire but the Lord of the barrier stopped him, by changing his inclinations, and intervening in the secret thoughts of his heart.
The point is that the Lord of the beasts, is also Lord of the barrier - he can change the hearts of men and women. He can stop them from going in one direction and start them going in another. We see this beautifully illustrated in this passage from the book of Hosea, "Therefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and make a wall, that she shall not find her paths. And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them: then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now."2 It is the story of Hosea’s unfaithful wife and how God would make her life miserable and put up barriers in her way to prevent her from sinning as much as she wanted to. God can frustrate the plans and purposes of sinners!
So has there been someone near to you who needs to be changed?
That you have agonized over, that you have prayed over and cried over?
Nothing seems to be changing, and there is no outside evidence of movement in the right direction?
Reach hither thy finger this morning and let your faith touch this truth, stir up your faith once again and call on God to hedge in their ways. Call on the Lord of the Barrier to keep them from sin. Call on the Lord of the Barrier to deal with their finances, to break down their car, to blockade their way in whatever ways may be necessary and to lead them to Christ. Remember He opens and no man closes, He closes and no man opens, He is Lord of the Barrier! (Rev 3:7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;)
Third He is Lord of the Flame those who doubt God’s hand in circumstances.
Has the Lord of the barrier put up barriers in your way?
Are you struggling with circumstances that don’t seem to be going the way you want them to.
Have things happened that have made you doubt God is in control of the direction of your life?
He is Lord of the Flame for those who doubt God’s hand in circumstances.
In Isaiah 54:16 we read... "Behold, I Myself have created the smith who blows the fire of coals,..." God is in charge of circumstances even those we do not like. Illus: The 3 Hebrew boys were thrown into a fiery furnace, but the Lord of the Flame kept them from injury, even from the smell of smoke. When circumstances go our way, we usually have no problem believing God is in them, but when they don’t we often struggle with them, wondering where is God in all this? Long ago I was taught a simple prayer that has helped me much in life to "change those things that can be changed, and to accept those things that cannot be changed." That simple prayer is this, "Lord, if this is OK with you, it is OK with me." This is a powerful prayer that touches heaven and will either move God to change your circumstances, or bring a release of grace for you to endure and overcome them.
Why it is so powerful is because, first of all it is a prayer of submission and humility. You are saying to God, "if this is what you want for me then I embrace it, I accept it, you are the king and to your will I submit. I humble myself before you and accept that which you have for me." Not that we desire trouble, but the fruit we trust God is using it to bring. Secondly it is a prayer acknowledging Lordship, you are saying, "God I know you are in control of all things, you are supreme, you ruleth over all, you are Lord of the Flame, and you doeth according to your will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto you, What doest thou? (Dan 4:35). Thirdly it is a prayer of trust and faith. Though a simple prayer, you are saying much. You are saying to God, "by this simple prayer I trust you with the answer. If necessary I know you will move heaven and earth on my behalf, and if necessary not the least molecule shall move. I completely trust you to answer this prayer in the way that most fits Your purposes. I commit my way into Your hands, and know that you will decide what is best for me and Your purposes." Finally, it is a prayer of alignment with God’s purposes. By praying it you are saying to God, "I desire Your will for my life what ever it might be. If it be hard I accept it, if it be easy I accept it, Lord what ever You want for me, is what I also want for me."
A short but powerful prayer that is a prayer of submission and humility, a prayer acknowledging Lordship, a prayer of trust and faith, and a prayer of alignment with God’s purposes. This is the kind of prayer that God enjoys hearing. Whenever I have prayed it in my life it has always brought God’s peace about the situations I was facing. It is a prayer that sums up in one sentence the theology of James 4:7, Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Lord, if this is OK with you, it is OK with me, is a prayer that submits to God and resist the devil in the same sentence, and because it does such a sure answer is promised.
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Mark 4:35-41 when circumstances would threaten His purpose He stops them. The disciples were astonished that even the wind and waves obey Him. They always have, they always will. Some are overly concerned with the devil, who is the prince of the power of the air, I remind you that Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. satan may put you in a fiery furnace, but the Lord of the flame will see to it you don’t even have the smell of smoke, if that is what His purpose is.
If you have been struggling with the circumstances of your life, and have not liked the direction it has moved, submit yourself to the Lord of the flame today, Reach hither thy finger and by faith touch Him saying, "not as I will, but Thy will be done, My Lord and My God."
Fourth He is Lord of the Dance for those who doubt God’s ability to bring happiness.
Hebrews 1:9 Jesus was anointed with the oil of gladness more than anyone else who ever lived.
Jesus was the happiest human who ever lived, even though:
He never married or dated. Some people think that is what you need for happiness.
He never owned a home. Some people think that is what you need for happiness.
He didn’t own a car, but was always bumming a ride. Some people think that a certain type of vehicle is what you need for happiness.
He was betrayed by His friends. Some people are looking for a group of friends for happiness. Some people are looking for acceptance, some people are looking to be part of a click or crowd.
He was relentlessly pursued and attacked by His enemies. Some people are looking for love from others. Some people are continually bummed out because their father or mother abandoned them.
Jesus was excited about life. His days weren’t too long they were too short! When life is hard, they are too long when life is good they are too short. Life is good for those anointed with the oil of joy. Jesus was excited about prayer time, He often arose a great while before day, and stayed up late into the night, because His time with God was joyful and exciting!
From Hebrews 1:9 we learn God has an oil that can make people happy beyond anything this world has to offer, and in spite of what ever set backs you may face in this world. We need to be like the woman at the well and say, "John 4:15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw."
Jeremiah 31:10-14
10 Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.
11 For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed h
im from the hand of him that was stronger than he.
12 Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.
13 Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.
14 And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the LORD.
If you have been struggling with unhappiness, would you make a commitment today to recognize that Jesus is the source of all true joy, that He has an oil He can anoint you with that will make you to dance, if so recognize His greatness in this area by reaching hither thy finger this morning and by so doing say I am looking to you for happiness for you are, "My Lord and My God."
In closing, the scriptures tells us that no man can say Jesus Christ is Lord, but by the Spirit of God3, it has been the goal of this brief teaching to show through the scriptures the Lordship of Jesus Christ in four areas; our beastly nature, barriers, circumstances, and the Lord of Joy. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God, it is our prayer that the word presented has stirred your faith, and that by faith you can again proclaim that He is Lord of the Beasts, Lord of The Barrier, Lord of the Flame, Lord of the Dance, and Lord of your life.
