Dwight Fletcher | Jesus as Lord = unmatched authority

“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” These words are at the beginning of many letters in the Bible and hold special significance today. Hurricane Melissa has brought more than winds and rain to our country over the past week. Many of us have also experienced fear, destruction and feelings of hopelessness. And what we believe about Jesus makes a huge difference in how we approach the days to come.

We’ve been in a series on the Lordship of Jesus and the hope it brings to believers, which is now even more relevant. One major way that Jesus’ Lordship brings hope to us is through His unmatched authority. In Philippians 2:5-11, it says that Jesus, though God, humbled Himself and died on the Cross for us. Because of that ultimate sacrifice, every knee will bow to His Name.

In Ephesians 1:22 (NIV), Paul says that Jesus is “…far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.” This means that, in Christ, Satan’s power over us is cancelled. Satan is a thief and a destroyer. He tries to steal your peace, your health, your safety and more. The devil harasses you, fights you and disheartens you.

But here is the Good News. Jesus is Lord over the devil. Throughout the gospels, we see that when Jesus commanded demons to flee, they always had to obey. Walk side by side with Jesus, and watch the devils flee. Let Him say on your behalf, “Get thee hence, Satan!”

His unmatched authority goes even further. Jesus also has the authority to cancel sin. Jesus has the authority to totally forgive us because He died for our sins, but that’s not all. Colossians 2:14 tells us that as our Lord, He cancelled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In Christ, the power of sin is cancelled. Is there some area in which you can’t seem to get the victory? Jesus has won the victory for you! What’s even better is that He understands our position; He understands your pain. Hebrews 4:15-16 promises that no matter what weakness, struggle or temptation you face, Jesus knows what you’re feeling because He was tempted in every way. He is Lord over all that you can bring to Him and He makes that power available for us to overcome every sin and temptation. We just need to approach God’s throne of grace with confidence.

Jesus also has authority over death. The grave could not hold Jesus; He defeated it from the inside out. Jesus said, “I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades” (Revelations 1:18 NIV). The grave had to release Jesus. He is Lord over death and the grave. Satan often uses the fear of death as a weapon against us, but Jesus conquered the grave. As believers, we now have nothing to fear in the moment we take our last breath. Jesus has already been there and prepared a place for us.

Jesus also has authority over sickness. He is Lord over paralysis. He is Lord over pain. He is Lord over cancer. He is Lord over eye problems.

He is Lord over depression. He is Jesus who conquered both sin and sickness and is present to heal. Do you have a broken heart? Isaiah 61:1 says Jesus has the power to heal the broken-hearted. Are you facing a great obstacle? Jesus has the power to move mountains! Ask the “Lord of all” to be Lord over your obstacle, today. Then watch how everything has to submit to the authority of Jesus.