Why the Lordship of Jesus Is the Linchpin of Kingdom Authority Ephesians 2:1–3
The Lordship of Jesus is the foundation of the Kingdom of God and the key to walking in true spiritual authority. Every believer entered the Kingdom the same way—by confessing that Jesus is Lord and believing that God raised Him from the dead. But salvation is more than a moment of confession; it is the beginning of a life lived under the authority of the King. In this episode of the Light on Life podcast, we explore how believers were rescued from the domain of darkness and transferred into the Kingdom of God, and why submitting to the Lordship of Jesus is the linchpin to exercising Kingdom authority.
This Week: Why is the Lordship of Jesus the key to Kingdom authority? In this episode we explore how salvation transfers believers from the domain of darkness into God’s Kingdom and why submission to the King comes before exercising authority.
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Accept the Challenge
Each week's podcast contains a call to action. The Word of God will not produce in your life unless you put into operation.This week's call is:Revisit the Lordship of Jesus in your everyday life. Bounce some of the different areas of you life off your heart and ask yourself the question, "Is Jesus Lord of this area today?
Join the Conversation
Each week's podcast also contains a question designed to encourage testimony. Testimony is vital to a believer's life. We overcome by it (Rev. 12:11).This week's question is:
How has the Lordship of Jesus impacted your life? Would you please share your thoughts in the comments section below?
About Emery
Emery committed his life to the Lord Jesus Christ over 40 years ago and has served as both a full-time pastor and an itinerant minister. Both he and his wife Sharon of 35 years emphasize personal growth and development through the Word of God. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is both the focus and the hallmark of their mission. Read more about them here.
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Podcast Notes:
Ephesians 2:1–3 (NKJV) — 1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
This realm called 'this world, this realm influenced and controlled by demons, this realm that entices the lust in your flesh to fulfill all the desires of your mind, and this in such a constant unending cycle that it it's just your nature to be this way, all of this is what life was like pre-Jesus.
This is the dark lifestyle which Jesus delivered you out of.
Colossians adds to this idea.
Colossians 1:13 (NASB95) — 13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,
Do you see the words domain of darkness?
That's exactly where you were before you met Jesus.
You were a citizen in a different Kingdom.
Your salvation then was a domain shift.
Do you remember what the definition of a kingdom was?
It was the domain where the King exercises dominion.
Prior to receiving Jesus, you rsomain was the domain of darkness and your king was Satan.
But, thank God, Jesus rescued you.
The word 'rescued' is a verb.
It's an active display of God's power.
The word means to free from harm or evil, and in some cases from imprisonment.
You have been freed from the domain or the Kingdom of darkness.
If this is true and it is, you are no longer subject to the King of darkness.
Jesus said...
John 14:30 (KJV) — 30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
Satan has nothing in Jesus and the truth is, he has nothing in you either because you are in Jesus.
The other word in Colossians three, which helps us, is the word 'transferred.'
Believer's in Jesus have been transferred from one kingdom to another that is from Satan's kingdom of darkness to God's Kingdom of light.
The word 'transferred' means to move something from one place or sphere to another.
The 'something' that got moved is you.
Abbott and Costello did a comedy skit many many years ago called 'I Can Prove You're Not Here.'
Costello challenges a tough guy to a bet by saying "I can prove you're not here."
The tough guy accepts the bet thinking this is easy money for him.
And they Costello asks him a series of questions proving the tough guy is not where he thinks he is.
"Are you Chicago", Costello asks?
No says the tough guy.
"Are you in New York", Costello asks?
The tough guy again says no.
"Are you in Philadelphia", Costello asks?
"Well no", says the tough guy once again.
Then comes the punch line.
Well if you're not in Chicago, or New Your, or Philadelphia, then you must be some place else.
"That's right", agrees the tough guy.
Well if you're someplace else, you can't be here.
And Costello walks off with the guys money.
Get the point, "If your someplace else you can't be here.
If you're not in the Kingdom of Darkness, if your not in the world system, if your not under being influenced by demons, then you must be someplace else.
And that someplace else can only be the Kingdom of God.
But, how did you get into the Kingdom anyaway?
Romans 10:9–10 (ESV) — 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
You get into the Kingdom by saying with your mouth because you believe it your heart, that Jesus is your Lord.
So, calling Jesus Lord is Christianity 101.
It's Kingdom of God 101.
It's the first thing one has to do in order to get transferred.
You confess His Lordship over your life to receive His salvation (Romans 10:9-10).
Confessing Jesus as your Lord is central to Kingdom of God culture.
The gospel of the Kingdom is not just 'receiving Jesus into your heart’.
Receiving Jesus means receiving His Lordship.
But, it's even more than receiving it.
It's walking out the reality of His Lordship everyday.
The word 'Lord' comes from the Greek word 'kurios' which means generally ‘lord, or master’. It means one who is in charge by virtue of possession, an owner. [1. William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 578.]
Here's a truth about the Lordship of Jesus.
You've been transferred but you have also been paid for.
It means you no longer belong to yourself.
1 Corinthians 6:20 (KJV) — 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
1 Corinthians 7:23 (KJV) — 23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
To often these truths haven't been pressed home to us.
Calling Jesus Lord is just words to so many people.
To so many, it's going to church and being a nice person.
But Lordship is so much more than being obliging it also means being obedient.
The Lordship of Jesus means the King of the Kingdom has something to say about your life.
Remember, that you gave your word to God on this matter when you gained entrance to the Kingdom.
After all, you are His citizen.
He is the reigning authority in the Kingdom.
He has input about what you should be doing.
He's the King after all that is unless you are just a rouge citizen.
His input comes through two avenues; the Word of God and the Spirit of God.
The Spirit of God is the main instructor of Kingdom life.
If you want to know how to live in God's Kingdom as a good and faithful citizen, you have to listen to the Holy Spirit and let Him teach you.
The Spirit of God will teach you about walking in love, living in humility, doing good works, walking in authority, and believing God.
He will refer you to the constitution of the Kingdom, which is the Bible.
The Spirit of God will witness to your heart about your specific task to build the Kingdom.
The Lordship of Jesus means He will lead you to the job you're supposed to be working.
The church He wants you to attend.
The person you should take as a marriage spouse.
The place you live.
Calling Jesus Lord is serious business.
You don't get to choose.
You don't get to plan out your life.
Who told you that you get to choose?
The King of the Kingdom is the one who chooses.
He is the sovereign ruler.
It's His will, the will of the King that we are to bow down to.
That's the Lordship of Jesus.
Many have entered into the Kingdom uttering the words Jesus is Lord but continue to live their lives as if Jesus is not Lord.
Haven't you considered the results your life produced doing life your own way?
Doing your own will only produced sin, frustration and defeat.
Results which are foreign to God the King.
God is a God of victory and never defeat.
But, to experience continual triumph you must follow His will in all areas of your life.
Citizenship is a by-product of Lordship.
We serve at the pleasure of the King.
We give ourselves up to His will.
True citizens say yes to His Word and His promptings, we count not ourselves as our own (1 Corinthians 6:19) because He is Lord.
He is the sovereign King.
Luke 6:46 (ESV) — 46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?
As soon as you stop allowing Him to have a say so in your life, you stop being effective in Kingdom affairs.
The Lynch Pin to Authority
James 4:7 (KJV) — 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
The order in this verse is intentional and crucial.
Submitting to God comes first, then comes the exercising of authority.
If you don't submit to God, you can't exercise authority.
The Greek word 'submit' needs defining.
The word is a verb, implying that it's something you do.
The word means to be or become inclined or willing to submit to orders or wishes of others or showing such inclination.
So, what this verse teaches is before you can gives orders to devils, you have to be willing to take orders from God.
Authority is annulled unless you submit to the Lordship of Jesus.
Those who desire to flow in authority must be under authority.
In order for devils to heed you, you have to heed God.
In order for devils to bow to you, you have to bow to the King.
There is no way around this.
📖 Light Notes
If this teaching encouraged you, take a moment to read “Three Decisions of Quality That Will Set Your Life on Fire.” This Light Notes article explores the powerful decisions that ignite faith, strengthen commitment, and set a believer’s life on fire for God.
Read the Article →