Bend 7-31-10 Do You Know the Lord?

Introduction – I have a question for you that you may have been asked before.

• Do you know the Lord?

• If you were asked, how would you answer?

• What does the word "Lord" mean and what does the Bible say about knowing the Lord? 1 John 2:4) – "He who says, 'I know Him,' and does not keep His commandments is a liar."

• nec. to keep commandments to "know the Lord"

• WHY? (Luke 6:46 - "Why do you call me "Lord, Lord" & not do the things I say?") (Matthew 7:21 - "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord', shall enter the kingdom of heaven but he who does the will of my Father in heaven.") --Many professing Christians say "Lord, Lord" & do not do the things Jesus says. --Most of us do the things Jesus says but never say "Lord, Lord" S.P.S. Do you know the Lord?

• Do you know what "Lord" means?

• How does this apply to Jesus Christ & our relationship with Him?

• In our church culture, most members, even ministers, rarely ever say "the Lord"?

• Because “the Protestants do” – often in a syrupy manner

• Why do some say "the Eternal"? First of all, let’s clear away the cobwebs and understand what “lord” means.

• "Lord" (def.): "Lord" (English word) = (hlaf [bread] + weard [keeper]) - "one who has power and authority, as from headship or leadership; a master; ruler." O.T. adon (#113) - title of courtesy & respect used in addressing superiors --used of human superiors adonai (#113) - "plural of majesty" (ex. pope - "we") N.T. "kurios" (#2962) - "having power or authority" (1) designation of any person of high position (2) as an emperor or king (3) as a master, one to whom service is due (4) owner of possessions NKJ Matthew 21:40 "Therefore, when the owner [kurios] of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?" NKJ Mark 13:35 "Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master [kurios] of the house is coming -- in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning -- NET Mark 13:35 Stay alert, then, because you do not know when the owner of the house will return (5) one who has full control of something (6) as a title of respect --señor (Spanish) - "lord, sir" --addressed to:

Matthew 21:30 - a father Husband – NKJ 1 Peter 3:6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, master (employer) – NKJ Matthew 13:27 "So the servants of the owner came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?' ruler – Matthew 27:62-63 62 ¶ On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, 63 saying, "Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise.' Angel – NKJ Acts 10:1-4 ¶ There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, 2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, "Cornelius!" 4 And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, "What is it, lord?" So he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. Despotes (#1203) – “one who possesses extreme authority” (Vine’s) NKJ Acts 4:24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: "Lord [despotes], You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, (Luke 6:46 - "Why do you call me "Lord, Lord" & not do the things I say?")

• because the term “lord” refers to someone in authority over you 1 John 2:4) – "He who says, 'I know Him,' and does not keep His commandments is a liar."

• nec. to keep commandments to "know the Lord" • not only because of His authority over us, but also to have a relationship with Him. NKJ Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear. YHVH (#3068) - personal name of God (consonants only in Hebrew) --"tetragrammaton" - 5989 occ. in OT --meaning of name = past, present & future of verb "to be" --.:. Moffatt renders "the Eternal" --KJV & NKJV & others designate with solid capital letters • NKJ Genesis 2:4 ¶ This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God [YHVH elohim] made the earth and the heavens. NKJ Genesis 15:2 But Abram said, "Lord GOD [adonai YHVH], what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?" why written " LORD" & “GOD”?

• deemed too sacred to pronounce, so read "Adonai" instead of "YHVH" [QUOTE – Schaff- Herzog Encyclopedia] Jesus Christ followed this tradition (disciples - no record of using name)

• N.T. rendering of YHVH is "kurios" ("lord"), same as "adonai"

• reason I say "LORD" instead of "the Eternal"

• following good example (Jesus Christ & N.T.) • because it is what the translation says • could be confusing to new person

• "the Eternal" = meaning of God's name, not name itself • OK to say, of course (for YHVH, not Adonai or kurios) • Also OK to use the Hebrew name, although no one knows for sure how it should be pronounced. another "lord" Judges 2:8-13 8 Now Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died when he was one hundred and ten years old. 9 And they buried him within the border of his inheritance at Timnath Heres, in the mountains of Ephraim, on the north side of Mount Gaash. 10 When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the LORD nor the work which He had done for Israel. 11 ¶ Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served the Baals; 12 and they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; and they followed other gods from among the gods of the people who were all around them, and they bowed down to them; and they provoked the LORD to anger. 13 They forsook the LORD and served Baal and the Ashtoreths. NKJ 1 Samuel 8:7 And the LORD said to Samuel, "Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.

• Israel didn't want the true Lord to rule them, so they served the ba'alim instead.) Is this still true today? • Satan knows to "never change a winning game."

• Ba'alism - adapted to life at the time NKJ Romans 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. Do YOU know the Lord? (1) Do you honor the high position of God the Father & Jesus Christ? • Model prayer teaches us to begin by "hallowing God's name"

• attitude toward God's word & law NKJ Isaiah 66:2 "But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word. (2) Are you looking forward to Jesus Christ’s return as King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16)?

• Feast of Trumpets – next Holy Day anticipates this awesome event.

• Beginning of “the Day of the Lord” NKJ Revelation 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet.

• Ironically, most professing Christians who refer often to “the Lord” misunderstand the meaning of this term, thinking that “the Lords’ Day is Sunday.

• Which day of the week is “the Lord’s day”? NKJ Mark 2:28 "Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath." (3) Is Jesus Christ your Master, one to whom service is due?

• Do you acknowledge the supreme, sovereign authority of Jesus Christ as your Lord & Master?

• acknowledging Jesus Christ as your Lord = master/slave relationship Colossians 3:22-24 22 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

• serve = Gr. douluo (#1398) - "to be subjected to someone as a slave" (AG) Romans 6:16-18 16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. Matthew 6:24 - can't serve 2 masters (God vs. "mammon" [material values]) (4) Do you acknowledge Jesus Christ as the owner of ALL your possessions? (Matthew 19:16-22 - example of rich young ruler) (Luke 14:33 - "Whoever ... does not forsake all he has cannot be my disciple.") (5) Is Jesus Christ THE one who has full control of EVERYTHING in your life?

Luke 14:26 (Contemporary English Version) You cannot be my disciple, unless you love me more than you love your father and mother, your wife and children, and your brothers and sisters. You cannot come with me unless you love me more than you love your own life. NKJ Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. NKJ Colossians 3:1 ¶ If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. 5 ¶ Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. (6) Do you exemplify the attitude of respect embodied in the term "lord"? NLT Romans 13:1 ¶ Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.

Ephesians 5:22 22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. Ephesians 6:5-9 5 ¶ Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; 6 not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. 9 And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him. (7) Can you refer to Jesus Christ as "the Lord" and really mean what you say?

• The answer to that depends on the answers to the above 6 questions?

Conclusion – Do you know the Lord? • I hope you do. Eventually, all mankind will come to know the Lord. Hosea 2:16-21 16 "And it shall be, in that day," Says the LORD, "That you will call Me 'My Husband,' And no longer call Me 'My Master,' 17 For I will take from her mouth the names of the Baals, And they shall be remembered by their name no more. 19 "I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me In righteousness and justice, In lovingkindness and mercy; 20 I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, And you shall know the LORD. NKJ Jeremiah 31:34 "No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."

• Let's be thankful we have the opportunity NOW to REALLY know the Lord.

• Let's be sure we indeed DO know Him so we can help ultimately all mankind to know the Lord.