Make Him Lord

Week 3 – Lessons From a Near Death Experience by Pastor Mark Cowart

Do you think of God as mean and judgmental or kind and compassionate? Do you see God as waiting for you to mess up so He can punish you? Or does His heart break for you when you’re in pain?

Let’s take a deeper look at what scripture reveals.

Behold, therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. Romans 11:22 NKJV

This is talking specifically about the Israelites who were delivered out of bondage in Egypt and destined, in God’s plan, for the promised land. On the journey, they rebelled. They turned against God, and they didn’t get to go in.

Further into the interview with Howard Pittman, he talks about his personal experience at the gate of heaven, as it were. He pleaded for his life on the basis of his “good works” as a preacher and teacher. He was rebuked for serving himself rather than God. He said that when God first spoke, it was like the sound of thunder. Then, he heard compassion and pain in the voice of the Father. “God was hurting for me,” he says. It is difficult for us to comprehend how God loves us.

For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
I John 5:3 NKJV

How can you keep His commandments if you don’t know them? When I was growing up, the Bible was a part of public school. There were curricula used to “survey” the Old and New Testament, and some of the test questions I’ve seen would be challenging for me. Now, God’s Word is forbidden in most schools. People taught the Ten Commandments, for example, tend not to end up habitually breaking the law and going to prison. The commandments of God are an expression of His love, intended to protect us from such an outcome.

Back when I was going to Sunday School and hearing sermons in “big” church (no children’s church back then), I was also learning about what is in the scriptures. I had a distorted view of God. I thought that God was angry, and you better just watch it because He is out to get you. If you get out of line, He will knock you down.

It wasn’t until I began to hear the “word of faith” teachings and started to learn about righteousness and grace that I got corrected in my thinking. The love of God, who is love, motivates Him to discipline us. Parents know that their children are frustrated by the limits needed to keep them on the right path. Often, children see chastening as cruelty and not as love. In their pain, they may not understand you are doing what you have to out of love for them.

He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly. Proverbs 13:24 NKJV

A parent who does not love their child will not bring correction.

Discipline your children, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to their death. Proverbs 19:18 NIV
Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.   Proverbs 22:15 KJV

Discipline while there is hope. When they get older, that foolishness can be permanently set in their heart. Then we have people who are out of control, and they respect no boundaries. Similarly, the commandments of God are like the guardrails of life to keep you on the path of life. When you go up into the mountains of Colorado, there are guardrails to keep your vehicle from falling over the side. The Word of God is an expression of the love of God for your life, from start to finish. He is not angry at you. He is angry at sin, at darkness. Because we are all born into sin, we are all in this world of darkness.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 NKJV

He sent Jesus to deliver us out from under the power and control of the enemy.

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Colossians 1:13 KJV

In Howard Pittman’s testimony, he says, “I realized God was hurting for me.” His life was out of alignment with what God intended, and he was heading for destruction. Like you and me, he thought his life was on track, doing pretty well. Our perspective on this can vary with what standard we compare ourselves to.

For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 
II Corinthians 10:12 KJV

Our standard should be the Word of God. We should know that He never requires anything of us that He does not empower us to do. In light of these revelations, we should be asking ourselves, “Am I saved?” Have I met the standard revealed in God’s Word? This is the most important question of your life.

How does anyone know for sure their name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life?

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ Romans 8:15 NKJV

We know that the Spirit of God can break through to the hardest heart to open a person to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Don’t ever give up on anyone. Their saving revelation might not come through you, but God can send just the right person across their path.

I remember a time many years ago when a church member invited me to speak with her father-in-law who was moving here from another state. He was terminally ill with cancer and not expected to live past six months. I felt an urgency to get over there and visit with this very successful, very intellectual man.

Discussing spiritual things with him was a unique challenge. He cited many religions and felt their good teachings could not be discounted as ways to righteousness. He was well read, and I was crying out to God in my spirit to help me. The man was struggling, he was pushing back, he was processing.

Finally, his son came home from work and joined us. He reminded his dad that he had a short amount of time to consider and decide upon these things that would ultimately determine where he would spend eternity. Then, the guy said, “Okay, I’m ready to pray.” I about fell over, because he had rejected just about everything we had talked about.

He explained that he had experienced a struggle in his mind the night before over the idea that there is an afterlife. He came out of this spiritual battle ready to seriously consider the Biblical evidence.

We went down the “Romans road” together that day. All have sinned. God so loved. It’s a gift, a free gift that you cannot earn. All our righteousness is as filthy rags. He was ready to pray. He received the Lord right there. I drove away knowing that was a spiritual battle won only by the grace of God. And, the man passed away within a week.

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. Romans 8:16-17 NKJV

Notice this talks about bearing witness. What do you think that is? Remember, you are a spirit that has a soul and lives in a body. You know in your spirit that you are a child of God. In your mind, there is likely a battle going on challenging this very thing, the adversary sowing doubt whenever he can. I believe that you would not be having these particular thoughts unless you are saved!

There are a couple of other things we want to look at here. How does one move from being a “lukewarm” Christian to being “on fire”? Recall the Laodicean church in Revelation chapter 3 which thought they were lacking nothing. In John’s vision, they were cited by the Lord Jesus Himself as being blind, wretched, naked, miserable and poor. They had church growth, they had wealth and they were doing well. Yet, they were considered to be “lukewarm”. How did that happen?

One thing so riveting about Howard’s testimony is that the Lord said to him, “Your faith is dead.” He had been doing many good works with his resources, which he thought he was doing to serve God. He insisted, “I called you Lord every day.” And Jesus said to him, “That’s right. But you never made me Lord of your life.”

How do you make Jesus the Lord of your life? Your salvation comes instantly when you trust Him, when you receive Him as your Savior. But then, you have to make Him Lord. In order to truly follow Him, you have to first deny yourself.

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Mark 8:34 NIV

Then deny yourself. The world, people, and even the church, may be pulling you in a direction that is not God’s plan for you. How do you know the difference? Only by His Word and His Spirit. Seek until you find. If He is your Lord, you have a personal relationship. You can ask Him anything, and He will answer. It’s a promise.

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3 NIV

Take a moment to pray this prayer if you have never made Jesus the Lord of your life. The prayer doesn’t save you. It is a declaration as you come into relationship with Jesus. You are making the decision to believe in your heart and confess with your mouth.

I confess that I am a sinner and I repent of my sins. I thank you Jesus that you died for my sins. I make this decision to openly declare that Jesus is Lord of my life and I believe in my heart that God raised Jesus from the dead. I thank you that I am saved. I want to do all that you created me to do in this life. Thank you Lord that you fill me now with your Holy Spirit. Amen.