“Return to Glory”
(Phil. 2:9-11)
Dr. Richard S. Koole
Chapel Pointe
August 3, 2008
I. Introduction
A. Those who sought to conquer the world
1. Examples
a. Napoleon
b. Hitler
c. Alexander the Great
d. Attila the Hun
e. Genghis Khan
2. Wanted to be LORD (or ruler) of the world
a. To have people bow before them
b. Yet all failed
3. The book “Rules of Deception”
a. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the 12th Imam
1. The final ruler
2. Called the Mahdi
b. Will establish a worldwide Muslim Caliphate or empire
c. Following a catastrophic war that Ahmadinejad wants to start
4. Will anybody ever be acknowledged as ruler of the whole world?
a. …and truly be LORD of everything?
II. REVIEW
A. The Humiliation of God’s Son (Phil. 2:5-8)
(5) Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: (6) Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, (7) but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. (8) And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross
Last time we saw that Jesus was 100%...
1. God
(6) Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped
2. Man
a. “but made himself nothing”
1. “emptied himself”
b. “Taking the very nature of a servant”
c. “being made in human likeness”
d. “and being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself”
3. Sinless
a. “He who knew no sin became sin for us”
4. Obedient
a. “and became obedient to death, even death on a cross”
B. “Therefore”…..v.9
1. A great word
a. Based on the previous—the following is possible
b. Incredible verses follow!
2. Therefore…Jesus deserves all that follows!
III. Text - Philippians 2:9-11
(9) Therefore God exalted Jesus to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, (10) that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, (11) and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
A. After the humiliation of the cross Jesus:
1. Rose from the grave
a. The agony of watching a child suffer
1. Our son John and birthmark
2. It was killing me to watch
b. God the Father watched
“When God looked down from Heaven and saw what man had done to His Son He said—“You have done your worst—now I will do my best.”
c. As the women came to the tomb Sunday morning
1. To tend to his corpse
2. An angel said to the women (Luke 24:5-7)
“Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 7 saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and the third day rise again.’ ”
2. Returned to Heaven
a. After 40 days on earth
1. To provide proof positive
2. 500 witnesses, etc.
b. His return to Heaven….Acts 1:9-11
Now when Jesus had spoken these things, while they watched, he was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel. 11 Who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
c. Now the THIRD step…back to Phil.2:9-11
3. Received his title (Phil 2:9-11)
(9) Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
a. God gave him the name that is above every name (v.9)
1. Jesus—the name of His humiliation
b. God gave him the title of “Lord”
1. (v.11)—“That every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord”
c. All will acknowledge Jesus is the Lord of Lords
B. Someday all will bow at the name of Jesus
(10) that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
1. Those in Heaven
a. Angels, believers, and all others
b. Rev. 5:11-14
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” (13) And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” 14 Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.
2. Those on Earth
1. What if Jesus were to return today?
2. Bowing is a sign of worship and submission
3. Some will bow by choice….I know I would!
a. Jesus is “worthy”
b. Those who have already accepted him as Lord
4. Importance of the Lordship of Jesus
a. Romans 10:9
(9) That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in you heart that God raised him form the dead, you will be saved.”
b. Words of Thomas— “My Lord and my God”
5. Churches failing to preach the “Lordship of Jesus”
a. Jesus is more than an escape from Hell
b. Jesus is more than your good buddy
6. Jesus is Lord of all creation
7. If Jesus were to return today
a. While many will bow by choice…many others will bow by force
b. No more question who is Lord on this earth
c. Even though they have rejected him
3. Those Under the Earth
(10) that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
1. The final group --(Rev. 20:11-15)
11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
2. They will bow down and confess he is “Lord”
a. But it will be too late
b. He was not their Lord
3. Now is the acceptable time
a. (II. Cor. 6:2)— “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the Day of Salvation.”
4. No guarantees regarding tomorrow
a. Confess Him as “your Savior and Lord” today
C. Someday all will confess Jesus is Lord
(11) and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
1. Every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord
a. The first confession of the early church
“Jesus Christ is Lord”
b. Key to Salvation
2. Not to take anything away from God the Father
a. “to the glory of God the Father”
b. As we praise the Son—we praise the Father
*no jealousy in the Trinity
c. (John 13:31)— “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him.”
3. The Greek word for Lord is “Kurios” (kuu’ ree os)
a. The same word used by the citizens of the Roman Empire to acknowledge the divinity of Caesar.
1. A test phrase to check the loyalty of the people
2. It was Kurios Kaiser, and it meant “Caesar is Lord”.
b. The Early Christians wouldn’t say it
c. The first confession of the church became:
1. “Jesus Christ is Lord”
2. When a Christian insisted that Jesus is LORD he meant that Jesus, not Caesar, is divine.
a. Cost many their lives
4. What they meant
a. Jesus Christ, not Caesar, is the absolute Lord
b. Jesus Christ is my Lord
5. From the Hebrew word for Lord, “Adonai”
a. But Adonai does not just mean “Lord”
b. The word “Adonai” contains a built in personal ending.
1. It means “my Lord.”
c. The first confession of the early church
1. “Jesus Christ (not Caesar) is my Lord”
6. Mary in the garden Easter morning
a. “mou kurios” (John 20:13)
b. “My Lord”
7. Thomas one week later when he saw Jesus
a. “mou kurios” (John 20:28)
a. “My Lord”
8. There is no question Jesus is Lord…
a. Some day every creature will acknowledge the fact
b. But that won’t save them
9. But is he your Lord?
It isn’t enough merely to acknowledge mentally that Jesus Christ is God. The devils also do that and tremble. Jesus must be your Lord.
10. Someday all in heaven, on earth, and under the earth will confess that
Jesus is Lord
1. But for many it will be with great anguish
2. Because he was not their Lord
3. They have rejected him
11. Some have so watered down the Lordship of Jesus
a. Fear they will scare away the unsaved
b. But Jesus wants all of you
c. There will be a price to be paid
d. But there will be a comfort gained
12. Can you honestly say “Jesus Christ is my Lord”
13. Only one Lord at Chapel Pointe
IV. Summary
A. Next week, another “therefore”
1. Practical steps to making Jesus the “Lord” of your life
2. “Working out your salvation with fear and trembling”