Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
“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.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010
"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...
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