Sunday, November 27, 2005
A Kurios Revelation
I didn't go to church tonight as I have been feeling pretty dizzy all day. I don't think blowing through a sax would have helped me in any way feel better. (I could have gone and not played but I would have felt bad.) What made it worse was that I was meant to be leading Elevation (our church youth group). Fortunately, Natz was able to take the reigns from me and I'm sure has done a first class job.
So, I basically spent the evening in front of the TV. That is fairly strange for me because what's on TV these days rarely holds my attention. (I sound like I'm 70!) I was watching a preacher, Dr Myles Monroe, speak on the Inspiration Channel on Sky. He was preaching about Kingdom principles and what precisely it means to be a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven and to be favoured by the King. God was speaking through this man to me because the message blew me away! I'd never thought about what it meant to be a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven before. I didn't know that the King had chosen to make me a citizen and that He is responsible for my well-being. So much more of the Bible made sense now; it was all so easy!
Most of the later part of the message relied on the Greek word that is translated to "lord" in English texts: the transliteration is "kurios". The meaning is much richer than a simple term of respect (e.g. "sir") or even an acknowledgment of control (e.g. "master"); it implies complete ownership.
Psalm 24:1-2, NIV
God owns everything because He made it all; no one has any right to come along and take it away from Him. Everything I have is His; I am but a steward and He may ask me to divert His stuff elsewhere at any time. It is His.
And if I claim to be saved, He owns me, too!
Romans 10:9, NIV
When I call Jesus my lord I am calling Him my owner; He has complete ownership of me. He can tell me what to do and what not to do. He decides what happens to me. He owns me! He owns my body, my intellect, my soul, my problems, my computer, my books, the air I breathe, the talents I have... everything is His to do with as He chooses.
While that in itself might be cause for concern, it isn't... because I am a Kingdom citizen. The King looks after his citizens. The King provides for his citizens. The King helps his citizens with their problems. There is nothing to worry about and the King has told us to quit worrying [Matthew 6:25-34].
Like a Father, God loves us, cares for us, teaches us and is patient with us. Like a King, God provides for us, protects us, bestows blessings on us and works things under His control for our favour.
Thank you, God!
So, I basically spent the evening in front of the TV. That is fairly strange for me because what's on TV these days rarely holds my attention. (I sound like I'm 70!) I was watching a preacher, Dr Myles Monroe, speak on the Inspiration Channel on Sky. He was preaching about Kingdom principles and what precisely it means to be a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven and to be favoured by the King. God was speaking through this man to me because the message blew me away! I'd never thought about what it meant to be a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven before. I didn't know that the King had chosen to make me a citizen and that He is responsible for my well-being. So much more of the Bible made sense now; it was all so easy!
Most of the later part of the message relied on the Greek word that is translated to "lord" in English texts: the transliteration is "kurios". The meaning is much richer than a simple term of respect (e.g. "sir") or even an acknowledgment of control (e.g. "master"); it implies complete ownership.
[H]e to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding.
The New Testament Greek Lexicon
Why is God the owner? Because He made it.
1 The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live init; 2 for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.
Psalm 24:1-2, NIV
God owns everything because He made it all; no one has any right to come along and take it away from Him. Everything I have is His; I am but a steward and He may ask me to divert His stuff elsewhere at any time. It is His.
And if I claim to be saved, He owns me, too!
9That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:9, NIV
When I call Jesus my lord I am calling Him my owner; He has complete ownership of me. He can tell me what to do and what not to do. He decides what happens to me. He owns me! He owns my body, my intellect, my soul, my problems, my computer, my books, the air I breathe, the talents I have... everything is His to do with as He chooses.
While that in itself might be cause for concern, it isn't... because I am a Kingdom citizen. The King looks after his citizens. The King provides for his citizens. The King helps his citizens with their problems. There is nothing to worry about and the King has told us to quit worrying [Matthew 6:25-34].
Like a Father, God loves us, cares for us, teaches us and is patient with us. Like a King, God provides for us, protects us, bestows blessings on us and works things under His control for our favour.
Thank you, God!
