Confess the Lord Jesus Christ

Sermon By: Dick Webster

Luke 12:8-9

Intro:

In the world we live in we hear the name of Jesus used in many contexts

Some in a blasphemous way

Some in a religious way

Few in a reverent way

The name of Jesus Christ is the name above all names

Should be held in the highest of honor and praise

Should be lifted above all other topics of discussion

Jesus Christ was God incarnate into a human form

Jesus and the Father were the same and one in the same

John 10:30 “I and the Father are one”

Greek word means “1” one in contrast to many

John 8:19 Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.

John 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

Jesus was God himself and thus deserves all honor and glory

God gave all He had in the person of Jesus Christ

And what do we give to Him?

How do we honor Him for all He has done?

How do we use the name of Jesus or DO WE?

Jesus was given the right hand seat of God the Father

This is the position of power

We are to do things in Jesus name for in His name is the power of God

The Holy Spirit was given to us for power

The Holy Spirit always glorifies the person/name of Jesus Christ

We are commanded to confess the name of Jesus to all men

We will then be confessed in heaven before the Father

It means to speak, declare, admit what you know to be true

To speak freely of the facts and deep convictions

Not to be used in a religious sense but in a Holy sense

The world has heard too much religion

They don’t need any more religion

They need the power and forgiveness of Jesus Christ

They need the power of the Holy Spirit to be revealed

The name of Jesus Christ has grown cold because we hear it so liberally

We need to get back to the basics of Christianity as in the book of Acts

We need to start honoring and glorifying Him as our Lord and Savior

Jesus said if we don’t confess Him, He will NOT confess us before the Father

Let me share with you a few points I find to be critical

I) WE MUST CONFESS HIM WITH OUR MOUTHS

ILL> The reward of confessing Christ: -- There was a prince of right royal blood, who once upon a time left his father's palace and journeyed into a distant part of the king's dominions, where he was little known and cared for. He was a true prince, and he had about his face those princely marks -- that strange divinity which doth hedge a king -- that might have made the onlooker know that he was right royal. But when he came into the place, the people said, "This is the heir to the throne; let us insult him, let us hoot him!" Others said, he was no heir at all. And they agreed to set him in the pillory. As he stood there, every man did pelt him with all kinds of filth, and used all manner of hard words towards him; and they said, "Who dare acknowledge him for a prince? who dare stand by him?" There stood up one from the crowd, and said, "I dare!" They set him up in the pillory side ,by side with the prince; and when they threw their filth on the prince it fell on him, and when they spoke hard words of the prince they spoke hard words of him. He stood there, smiling, and received it all. Now and then a tear stole down his cheek; but that was for them, that they should thus ill-treat their sovereign. Years went by, the king came into those dominions and subdued them; and there came a day of triumph over the conquered city: streamers hung from every windows and the streets were strewn with roses. There came the king's troops dressed in burnished armour of gold, with plumes upon their glittering helmets. The music rang right sweetly, for all the trumpets of glory sounded. It was from heaven they had come. The prince rode through the streets in His glorious chariot; and when He came to the gates of the city, there were the traitors all bound in chains. They stood before Him trembling. He singled out from among the crowd one man only who stood free and unfettered, and He said to the traitors, "Know ye this man? He stood with Me in that day when ye treated Me with scorn and indignation. He shall stand with Me in the day of My glory. Come up hither!" said He. And amidst the sounding of trumpets and the voice of acclamation, the poor, despised, and rejected citizen of that rebellious city rode through the streets in triumph, side by side with his King, who clothed him in purple, and set a crown of pure gold upon his head. C.H. Spurgeon

So it shall be with those who confess Jesus Christ AS there Lord and Savior

We shall on that day hear the words “I know this man or woman”

We shall then praise His holy name for eternity

It is not popular to proclaim the name of Jesus in this day and age

People will mock and make fun

We will lose friends and close associates

We shall be set aside as “weird” or “not fun to talk with”

But if we don’t proclaim the name of Jesus the world will die in their sins

I am not talking about like how the comedians do

Humor is good but leave it out of the church teachings

It is not a funny thing but a very serious subject

I don’t see the Apostles being humorous in any of their teachings

Some will have people laughing their way into hell itself

Or even as some Christians do in a loose manner

Any time His name s mentioned from our lips it should be in a reverent manner

Glory and honor should be present for His sacrifice

This is not a popular thing to preach but I see a serious situation on our hands

Christians must begn to profess Jesus to a dying worlk

It is not just the job of the Pastors and the church

We each have a responsibility to proclaim His name

II We Must Confess His Name in Our Actions and Lives

Notice in the illustration I gave earlier the man STOOD next to the prince

Jesus wants more Christians to stand in this day for Him

To many are lying down on the job

Too many are afraid to make a real stand for Jesus

They are to concerned about their image or their status in society

We are willing to stand for about anything else but not Jesus

It is easy to take a stand for something the world recognizes as acceptable

But understand the world doesn’t accept Jesus Christ

The world is the devils playground and we are the child no one plays with

Jesus taught us to make a complete stand for Him and His Word

We may even talk of Him but our actions don’t portray His will

Actions speak louder than words

Many a witness has been ruined by the actions of a person

As you seek holiness you ma have people to go back to and apologize

If your actions are not in harmony with your words, YOUR USELESS

If your actions are not in harmony with the Word, YOUR USELESS

Jesus said to be Holy as I am Holy

Set aside

He said we are not of this world

So then why do we take such a part in this world

We give everything else devotion, but not the work of the Lord

AGAIN actions speak louder than words

Jesus is looking for people who will talk the talk and walk the walk

I hear all the excuses for not doing what we know is right

But on that day you will have a difficult time explaining your actions/words

People are watching you, do they see Jesus?

I heard people say “I hear so-and-so speak of Jesus then so-and-so does that”

They see Christianity in your actions more than your words

If you act no different, why should they change?

Conclusion

Start walking the walk and talking the talk

Start showing the world more of the love of Jesus

Live a life that will have Jesus proclaiming our name in heaven today and tomorrow

Jesus gave his life, what will you give Him today

Are you ready to show the world the Jesus you love

If you don’t know Him make today the start of a new eternity