In the captivating video titled “The Lordship of Christ,” Francis Chan shares a deeply personal testimony that explores the transformative power of surrendering to the authority of Jesus Christ. Through his own experiences and a thorough examination of Scripture, Chan reveals the profound significance of embracing God’s lordship in our lives.
Recognising the Holiness of God
Chan reflects on his tumultuous upbringing, filled with loss and unanswered questions. However, his life took a decisive turn when he encountered the life-transforming message of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Through prayer and a deep dive into Scripture, Chan gained a profound understanding of God’s holiness. Chan recalls,
“I remember the first time I read Isaiah 6… It described God and how the angels are covering themselves up and just screaming how holy He is.”
The awe-inspiring revelation of God’s holiness awakened a hunger within him to know more about the nature of the Almighty. Chan delves into the biblical concept of fearing God, explaining its connection to wisdom. He references Psalm 25:14, which states,
“The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.”
Chan emphasises the importance of acknowledging God’s power and greatness, fostering a healthy reverence and awe for Him.
Understanding the Lordship of Christ
Chan emphasises the significance of Jesus’ lordship and the call to discipleship. He quotes Luke 6:46, where Jesus poses a probing question to His followers:
“Why do you call me Lord and yet you don’t do what I ask you to do?”
“Jesus asked a question: ‘Why do you call me Lord and yet you don’t do what I ask you to do?'” Chan repeats, emphasising the importance of surrendering our lives completely to Jesus’ authority and embracing Him as Master and Lord.
Contrary to popular belief, Chan dismantles the notion that surrendering to God’s authority is burdensome. Instead, he presents it as a source of joy and fulfillment. Drawing from his own experiences and hardships, Chan shares the profound impact of embracing God’s lordship.
“I look back and think, ‘God, I am so grateful for all the places You’ve taken me, even when it’s difficult.”
Chan expresses gratitude for the transformative journey of surrendering to God. He invites readers to trust in God’s faithfulness, even in the midst of trials, and recognise the profound love behind His invitation to surrender.
Surrendering to God’s Authority
Using a poignant personal anecdote, Chan highlights the importance of giving God complete control over our lives. He shares the story of adopting a 16-year-old girl and the challenges she faced in accepting authority. Even though Chan’s daughter loved him and his provision, she did not love his authority. One day he told her,
“I want to love you so well that one day you’ll be glad you’re actually under the rules of my house.”
Chan draws parallels between this experience and our relationship with God, emphasising the necessity of surrendering to His authority to experience the fullness of His love and provision
Personal Reflection and Invitation
In closing, Chan encourages readers to reflect on their relationship with God and consider whether they have fully surrendered to His lordship. He underscores the significance of approaching God with reverence and sincerity in prayer, inviting readers to experience the transformative power of surrender.
“Invite Him into your life… Experience the transformative power of surrender.”
Chan passionately urges, extending an invitation to readers to embark on a life-altering journey of surrendering to the lordship of Christ. By doing so, we can experience the abundant life, wisdom, and peace that come from walking in the lordship of Christ.
To listen more to the transformative power of surrendering to the authority of Jesus listen to Francis Chan here.
About Francis Chan
Francis Chan (born 1967) is the former founding pastor and teaching pastor of Cornerstone Community Church in Simi Valley, California. Francis Chan is the bestselling author of multiple books including his latest “Letters to the Church”. He is currently pastor of We Are Church, a house church network planting churches in Northern California. Francis and his wife Lisa have seven children and three grandchildren.
Have you thought about becoming a qualified counsellor? It’s a great opportunity to learn how you can extend God's love and grace to the hurting out in the community.
For those who would like to enrol in aifc’s accredited Christian counselling courses we have two intakes per year for courses commencing around the following months:
Enrolment Season - opens approximately 2 months prior to our courses commencing. Enrol online here during our enrolment season.
We also offer two modes of study:
A Master of Counselling course was introduced in 2018.