How Is Your Attitude (3)
Introduction
Last week we saw the seven steps down that Christ took when he began the process of paying the price for your sins and mine. However, He did not stay that way. God never intended for Him to do so; so today, we look at the seven steps of His EXHALTATION. May God use this revelation to excite us about the glory given to God so that we, too, might bring glory to Him?
I. GOD EXALTED HIM TO THE HIGHEST PLACE.
A. That is still the supreme purpose of God today.
That His Son be glorified in this universe and that He be glorified on the earth where mankind dwells. Here where mankind rebelled against God.
B. This is what makes Earth significant
The thing that makes this earth significant is the death of Christ down here-nothing else. Astronomers tell us that we are a little speck in space. And if our little world would be blotted out, it wouldn’t make any difference to the universe. The thing that has lent dignity to man and caused him to look into the heavens and sing the doxology is the fact that Jesus came down here and died on the cross for us.
Now the second step:
II. GOD GAVE HIM A NAME ABOVE EVERY NAME.
A. Taking His Name in Vain
The next time you take His name in vain just remember: God intends to exalt that Name you use as a curse word and drag in the mud. That name is used a lot. Many times in prayer and many time otherwise.
B. The Name Ranked Above All Others
The Name was given Him to emphasize His rank above all other beings. This name is superlative. It is incomparable. There are names of many great men and women on the earth. But the name of Jesus Christ will be exalted above all of them.
The third step:
III. AT THE NAME OF JESUS.
A. Jesus means Savior.
Matthew 1:21 (NIV) She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
Now notice the reference to prophecy. This is one of the most wonderful fulfillments to prophecy. Call Him Jesus because He will save His people from their sins. We don’t often realize this enough because we don’t recognize the seriousness of sin. Illustration of Glenda Grimes; can’t believe God loved her that much.
B. You see, all of us are on a sinking ship.
If there is going to be a savior, he must come from outside. No human being can be a savior. We can’t save ourselves and no matter how much we love our friends and family, we can’t save them.
C. Salvation in His Name
You shall call His name Jesus because He is going to save His people from their sins. That little baby grew up and is EMMANUEL GOD WITH US.
Does that make you tremble? It should, it does me. He shall be called JESUS! He and He alone can save us from our sins.
The fourth step:
IV. OF THINGS IN HEAVEN.
His name is above
A. The holy angels.
B. The saints.
C. The redeemed of all the ages.
Of course these have been worshiping Jesus Christ as Lord through the ages.
The fifth step:
V. AND THINGS IN EARTH.
Both redeemed and unredeemed. The redeemed will continue their worship of Him that started when they were saved. At that same time those unredeemed who have refused to acknowledge will be forced to fall on their knees and confess that He is LORD.
The sixth step:
VI. AND THINGS UNDER THE EARTH.
Now this doesn’t mean that everybody will be saved. It means that even hell itself will have to bow down to Him because He is LORD.
Now the seventh step:
VII. EVERY TONGUE SHALL CONFESS THAT HE IS LORD.
Again, that doesn’t mean that everyone will confess His as SAVIOR. But even hell will have to acknowledge His LORDSHIP. That should even increase their anguish. Be careful of calling Jesus Lord if He is not your Lord.
Listen to Jesus in Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV) 21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
You must know Him as your Savior before you know Him as Lord. If He is your Savior, you can become obedient to Him as your Lord.
CONCLUSION
Acknowledge Him as Lord, you will. Now you can acknowledge Him as Savior and Lord. If you refuse, one day you will be a part of every knee bowing and every tongue confessing Him as Lord. Then you will hear the words, “Depart from me, I never knew you. What will it be for you?