Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,†and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,†except by the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:3
Surely anyone can say the words “Jesus is Lord”. So what does Paul mean when he says that no one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit?
Unfortunately words are becoming increasingly empty in society. Idle promises and outrageous statements are made with little or no consideration. It was not meant to be so.
Our words are to have meaning and impact. To recite the words Jesus is Lord takes no special unction of the Holy Spirit, but to live up to your words when you do so certainly does require the power of the Spirit.
Another important word here is the word, “Lord”. It means absolute authority. To state that Jesus is Lord is both a universal truth and a personal dedication and commitment. To claim Him as Lord is to acknowledge that He is above all in both creative origin and in power. It is also to submit to Him as the absolute authority in your life.
Without the power of the Holy Spirit no one can live such a claim. Our self-centeredness, our sinful nature will not allow such a claim, nor can it live up to such a claim. We must submit to the power of the Holy Spirit, always, in order to be able to truly say, “Jesus is Lord.”