“Just like Jesus?”

Sometime we say I want to be just like Jesus. I want to be more like him. But do we really? Is it just words? First I must say we are not Jesus nor are we a god. We are being conformed into His image not becoming Him. The only way this happens and can happen is if we place our faith in what He did at the Cross and then the Holy Spirit will work in us.

Sometimes we sing a song or say phrases without really meaning what the words are saying. Like “I surrender all” Do we really mean that? These scriptures show some of what Jesus went about doing. We say: “I want to be just like Jesus” Do we really mean it or is it just words??

He Preached:

Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom...

He did this even though it was taking Him to a place that He would have to die for.

Love as He loves:

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it...

The bible says we are to love like him, do we??? He gave himself for the church... What actions did He take that we are not willing to take because that means we would have to die to self. This is not just for husbands, but all believers...

Touched a Leper:

Matthew 8:2-4 ...there came a leper...And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him...

Do we reach out to others no matter where they are at in life?

He took paths that would led him to help another that by tradition He should not have helped:

John 4:3-9 He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee. And he must needs go through Samaria. Now Jacob's well was there. ...There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

He had compassion:

Matthew 14:14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them...

Matthew 20:34 So Jesus had compassion on them...

He sat down and talked with sinners:

Matthew 9:10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.

Please don’t think this means we can go do the things they do or be like them. We are to live lives that are holy and acceptable unto God. But sometimes we pick and choose who we will talk to or we avoid others that are not christians. Who will tell them??? How will they believe unless they hear???

He offended many:

Matthew 13:56-58 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.

Sometimes the things we are led to say might offend others are we willing to say them anyway???

He went where others have not gone before to help his disciples:

Matthew 14:22-25 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side... But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves... And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

Sometimes God asked us to be the first to step out and go somewhere or do something no one has done before, do we step out or do we stay in the comfort zone???

He took time to be alone to pray:

Matthew 14:23 ... he went up into a mountain apart to pray...he was there alone.

He was willing to give up his life, are you:

Matthew 16:24-25 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

He told his friend the truth:

Matthew 16:23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

Sometimes we hold back because someone is our friend and we don’t want to rock the boat. This does not mean we are to play God in their life. But if we are led by the Spirit to say something to a friend do we avoid it???

There are so many other things that could be shared in this teaching, but the point is don’t sing a song or say a phrase without really meaning it. Or don’t be a surface person, on the surface you say, “I want to be just like Jesus”, but in your heart and actions you really don’t...

The bible says to examine yourself:

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you...

Jesus said not my will, but thine...

Matthew 26:39 And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

We are to be a bond slave, a servant, one whose will is swallowed up in the will of the master. Sometimes we miss out on blessings because we won’t let Him have His will in our lives. You won’t go where He wants you to go, because you have other ideas. You won’t travel or say or do what He wants you to do because you have other ideas or thoughts. That is not the heart of a servant. We need more servants in the church. So many want to be a “Minister”, “Pastor”, “In charge”, but are not willing to just do what God wants them to do. Not all can be in the same office. Who will be like Stephen and serve tables? Read Acts 6, this allowed others to give themselves to prayer and ministry of the word...And the word of God increased because of it.

Only Faith in the finish work of Christ can produce what it takes to be like Jesus. We can not do it on our own, but we can look at our motives, actions, ideas, thoughts, etc... to see if we are in the faith.

"Heart Knowledge Pt 2" By Len Paxton

"Heart Knowledge" By Len Paxton

"Look what the Lord has done!!!"

The Lord has...

The Lord has delivered me & given me victory...

1 Samuel 17:37 David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.

The Lord has stood by me and has strengthen me, when others have forsook me...

2 Timothy 4:16-17 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me...the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me...

Acts 23:11 ...the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul...

The Lord has saved me...

John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Titus 3:4-6 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us...

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

The Lord has given me favour...

Genesis 39:21 But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

1 Samuel 2:26 And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men.

Acts 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

The Lord has given me Grace & Mercy...

Genesis 19:19 Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life...

2 Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace...

Titus 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Lamentations 3:22-24 It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

The Lord has given to you, so ye give to others...

1 Peter 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

As we have had the Lord give us gifts, let us minister those gifts to others. The world really does need to see Jesus in us...

There is so much more the Lord has done. What has He done for you...

Let’s pass them onto others...

"Our New Site, Anointed teachings from many"

Click Below:

http://pastorlenandfriends.wordpress.com/

“Got Passion”

Today there are so many distractions that many have lost there love & passion for Jesus.

Revelation 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

This women in the next scriptures had such passion, love, and a heart of graditude that she did what others looked at as being wrong. She loved Jesus so much for the forgiveness she received that she did not care about what others thought about her. She worshipped him anyway!!

Luke 7:37-45 ... a woman in the city, which was a sinner, ... brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet...weeping...washed his feet with tears...wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

Her passion looked past what others thought. Her passion looked past her own pride. He passion took her to a place where she was not welcome to go.

...Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, ...saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.

Jesus answering...Simon... There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

...Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.

My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.

You see the others around her looked down on her for what see did. Not Jesus! Her passion led her to Jesus. He had forgiven her much and that resulted in much love and much passion.

What has taken your passion for Jesus? Has the trials and hardships of live drained you of the love you felt for God when you first got saved? Where is your passion? Do you put more into your job, your friends, your family, your play, than your time with God? Is all of your energy taken up by the things of this world?

Do we take for granted the things we have received since we believed? We have received forgiveness for our sins as this women. It says she loved much, have we loved much? Have we forgotten where He has brought us from? Do we put Him first?

"God Pride?"

Pride is excessive belief in one's own abilities, that interferes with the individual's recognition of the grace of God. It has been called the sin from which all others arise.

"the love of one's own excellence"

Sin Of Pride - Preoccupation With Self
The sin of pride is a preoccupation with self. It is thus very fitting that the middle letter in the word is "i." Pride is all about "me, myself, and I." So even as the word "pride" is centered upon an "i," the sin itself is also centered upon "I."

Two well know examples:

1) Lucifer's fall, For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.'

Satan's enmity against God began with "I". And so it is with us. If you are preoccupied with yourself, you are suffering from the sin of pride.

Ezekiel 28:17
Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty...

We all like our own opinions, but that can cause pride to be puffed up with in us. We even fight to get our opinion heard or agreed with.

Why do we argue? I know... I know... I am right...

pride can led to offense

2) "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men - extortionists, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."⁴

^{Pharisee = Jimmy Swaggart’s notes, a fundamentalist, who claimed to believe all the bible}

^{Publican = Jimmy Swaggart’s notes a tax collector, referred to by Israel as a traitor & there by beyond salvation.}

^{Pharisee -} I am not like other men, I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.

How do we look at others.

Other thoughts about pride:

1. 2 Kings 14:10
   Thou hast indeed smitten Edom, and thine heart hath lifted thee up: glory of this, and tarry at home: for why shouldest thou meddle to thy hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?
   2 Kings 14:9-11 (in Context) 2 Kings 14 (Whole Chapter)
2. 2 Chronicles 25:19
   Thou sayest, Lo, thou hast smitten the Edomites; and thine heart lifteth thee up to boast: abide now at home; why shouldest thou meddle to thine hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?

Meddle - Interfere in or busy oneself unduly with something that is not one’s concern, to touch or handle something without permission.

These men in 2 Kings and 2 Chron. we lifted up in pride.

Pride also causes you to hold on to your hurt

You do not have permission to hold on to your hurt...

We hold on to our pains. We look at others and say our pain is worse.

You have no right to hold on to something that the word of God says to let go of.

But he hurt me... But I was... This happened to me...

Why are you giving your pain more glory than God!!

Women beware the women's lib movement can cause you to not receive what God has for you. I have my rights... I know what I am doing... I am just as good as him... I,I,I...

A lot of divorces can be stopped if the spouses would humble themselves and say they are sorry... or not always have to be right...

Pride can led to deception. (I know the bible...)

We must look to Jesus who humbled himself and died on the Cross for us. We must forgive and not let our hearts be puffed up in Pride.

Pride can cause you not to seek God: Psalms 10:4

Psa 10:2

The wicked 7563 in [his] pride 1346 doth persecute 1814 the poor

Not just the physically poor, prideful people attack people they consider week. Pride causes one believer to believe that they need to be doing what the other believer in front of them is doing, ( they also believe they can do it better)

Be content where you are... God has a plan and purpose for you right where you are. He has called you for a specific task and He has you right where He wants you to be. He will lift you up in due time. If you will just hold fast to God, trust Him and follow him, He will bring you to the place He has for you...

Pride will cause you to stop having faith in what Christ has done for you at Calvary, because you are self sufficient, independent.

Lay aside your ways, your thoughts,... Only way to do that is...

Remember the process of sanctification, believe in the finished work of Christ, then the Holy Spirit will work in your life and then the outflow of that will be right living, right thinking,...

Today is a new day, start here, then tomorrow also is a new day, start here,... and again... do not let yesterdays hurts come over to today’s living.

Look to Christ, Look to what He has done for you at Calvary, let the power of the Holy Spirit work in you and let what God has always wanted for you to come into your life.

Pride can cause a person not to get saved...

Are you putting. “I” on the throne?

Pride is at the very top of the list of things God hates. "These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren" (Proverbs 6:16-19).

David Wilkerson:

Christians also recognize pride in others because they may appear to be stuck up, self-centered, ambitious and high-minded. But few Christians would consider themselves proud.

Pride is independence - humility is dependence. Pride is an unwillingness to wait for God to act in His own time and in His own way. Pride rushes in to take matters into its own hands. One of the greatest temptations true Christians face is getting ahead of God. It is acting without a clear mandate from God. It is taking things into our own hands when it appears that God is not working fast enough. It is impatience.

The Cross Represents the death of all my own plans, all my own ideas, my own desires, my own hopes and dreams. It is most of all the absolute death of my own will. This is true humility. Humility is associated only with the Cross. "He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death at the cross. (Philippians 2:7-8). He had told His disciples, "My meat, My fulfillment in life, is to do the will of Him who sent me (John 4:34). He said "I can of mine own self do nothing: As I hear, I judge..." (John 5:30). In other words, I refuse to take matters into my own hands. I wait to hear every direction from my Father!, He who is the Light, absolute intelligence, knowing all things, humbles Himself, makes Himself totally dependent upon the Father in all things. I can't do it on My own" Jesus said.

John wrote, "As He is, so are we in this world ... (1 John 4:17). There is not a true Christian but who can say, "I really want to do His perfect will." But here is where we miss it, we set our hearts on something that we want, something that looks good that sounds logical, but is not God's will. We will fast and pray and intercede for it! Cry a river of tears! Claim it! Bind demons hindering possession of it! Quote Bible! Get others to agree with us! One of the biggest traps to Christians is a good idea which is not God's mind, a good strategy which is not His, a well-conceived plan that is not His. The question is - can your desire survive the Cross? Can you walk away from it and die to it? Can you honestly say, "Lord, maybe it's not the devil stopping me, but You! If it's not Your will it could destroy me. I give it up to the Cross! To death! Do it Your way, Lord."

It is when you go down into the grave of death to all self, all ambition, all self-will, that you hear His voice. Jesus said, "The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God... All that are in the graves shall hear His voice" (John 5:25,28), This is why thousands of Christians today are getting into trouble hearing still small voices. There is confusion, things are not coming out right, because there has been no dying to self-will. Yes, I believe God does speak to His children. You can hear His true, holy, unmistakable voice, but only after crucifixion of self-will and self-desire. Jesus heard clearly from the Father. So did Paul, Peter, John and Stephen; but only because they were dead to this world. They were consumed with doing His will only.

Examine your heart. Do not be lifted up in Pride. Humble yourself!!!!!