Consider Jesus
The Bible tells us “be you followers of God as dear children. And walk in love as
Christ also has loved us, and has given Himself for us as offering and a sacrifice to
God for a sweet smelling savor”. Jesus said “I only do what I have seen My Father
do”. We are to consider Jesus as He responded to circumstances in this world and
do the same. A copy is an exact likeness of the original. Jesus was “made like to
us, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God,
to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has
suffered being tempted, He is able to help them that are tempted. Wherefore, holy
brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of
our profession, Christ Jesus” (Hebrews 2:17-3:1).
Jesus tells us in John 8:31-32 “If you continue in My word, then are you My
disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free”.
The keep is to continue in His Word. In John 15:4 Jesus tells us “Abide in Me, and I
in you, as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more
can you, except you abide in Me”.
We are to find the Word which goes against the circumstances, that come against
us, and meditate on them until the circumstances change. We have to confess the
Word of God over our circumstances; Jesus says in Matthew 10:32-33 “ whosoever
therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father
which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny
before My Father which is in heaven” and in Luke 12:8-9 “{also I say to you,
whosoever shall confess Me before men, him shall the Son of Man also confess
before the angels of God. But he that denies Me before men shall be denied
before the angels of God”; and Jesus is the called the Word of God (Revelation 19:
13).
The Bible says “while we are not to look at the things which are seen, but at the
things which are not seen for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things
which are not seen are eternal” (II Corinthians 4:18). Remember that “we are to
bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (II Corinthians 10:5).
Hebrews 12:1-2 reveals that we are to “lay aside every weight, and the sin which
does so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.
Looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith”. You see as we submit
ourselves to Him, He is able to do a mighty work in us. The Bible says He is the
potter and we are the clay.
Paul wrote in Titus 2;12-14 “teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly
lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. Looking
for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior
Jesus Christ. Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity
and purify to Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works”. I John 3:1-3 says
“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be
called the sons of God, therefore the world knows us not, because it knew Him not.
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be,
but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him
as He is. And every man that has this hope in Him purifies himself, even as He is
pure”.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: January 19, 2007