There never was a name like the name of Jesus — so representative of sacrificial love at its best. And someday, "every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord . . . to the glory of God the Father."' 1

Where the lordship of Jesus is a settled issue in the Christian's life, all other issues are settled. It is my privilege and responsibility to teach the members of my congregation what the Bible says about serving God; witnessing and soul winning; stewardship of time, talent, and treasure; faithfulness to God's work; missions; and many other aspects of Christian responsibility. I contend that if the Christian has settled the lordship issue, then all other issues in his or her life are also settled. When Jesus is Lord of a person's life, he will fulfill his duties, obligations, and responsibilities with joy.

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S.M. Zwemer makes a sobering statement about the lordship of Jesus Christ: "Unless Jesus is Lord of all, He in not Lord at all." 2 This is a challenge to all Christians, to bring all areas of our lives under the sovereign rule of Jesus Christ. In our lives there should be no rivalry for His throne.

The lordship of Jesus has both future and present relevance in our lives. Read the words of the apostle Paul in Philippians 2:9-11 (NKJV): "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." This passage has both future and present application.

There is coming a day when every person who has ever lived will bow and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords. But for the Christian that great confession should be an everyday reality. A Christian should live moment by moment in faithful submission to the lordship of Jesus Christ.

While attempting to know more about the lordship of Christ and at the same time yield more fully to His lordship, I discovered that I would, in presenting this glorious subject to others, make an appeal to people that was incorrect and potentially misleading. There was a time when I would conclude my sermon by making an appeal to my hearers to make Jesus Lord of their life. The Lord knew the intent of my heart, but I am not as sure that the same was true of those who heard my appeal. We do not make Jesus Lord — He is Lord! Now when I preach on the lordship of Christ, my appeal to those in the audience is not to make Jesus Lord; I now appeal to them to surrender their lives to the sovereign rule and ownership of the Lord Jesus Christ. No one makes Jesus Lord. He is Lord whether we acknowledge it or not.

The central message of the Bible is that "Jesus Christ is Lord." The most important truth in relation to the Christian experience is the lordship of Jesus Christ. If this is true, should it not compel us to make the this message a matter of priority and urgency? Could it be that the source of defeat, discouragement, and despair in the lives of some Christians is, in large part, the fact that they are attempting to live the Christian life in their own strength and power? They have not yet discovered the truth taught by Paul in Philippians 4:13 (NKJV): "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."