What Does it Take to be an Imitator of Jesus?
Ephesians 5:1-2 says “be you therefore followers of God as dear children; and walk in
love, as Christ also has loved us, and has given Himself for us an offering and a
sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor”.
First we must know what did Jesus do:
1) Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost. He came that we would have life
and have it more abundantly.
2) Jesus had compassion for people. He healed them all.
3) Jesus was manifest to destroy the work of the devil.
4) He made Himself of no reputation, but considered us important (Philippians 2:5-8)
5) Jesus only spoke the word of God. We as Ambassadors must represent the kingdom
of God at all times. It is written “God gave the word, great was the company of those
who proclaim it”. We see this victory as Jesus defeated satan in the wilderness testing,
He answered satan’s questions with “it is written” then went on to quote the answer that
contradicted what satan had said.
Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:10-18 to do this: We are to be conformed to the image of
Christ (Romans 8:29-32). We are to grow up into the likeness of Christ. We grow up
into Jesus by speaking the word of God with love. Jesus said “I only say what I heard
My Father say” “I do nothing of Myself”. What are you saying? Jesus said “you will
give an account of every idle word you speak” “by your words will you be condemned,
by your words you are justified.” Remember the word is seed and you will get what you
sow (Galatians 6:7-9). Just as God spoke and saw, we being made in the image of
God, do likewise.
Deny yourself. Jesus said “if any man would follow Me, let him take up his cross and
follow Me”. How can a young man change his way? (Psalms 119:9-11). As long as we
are trying to make ourselves good, we fail, but when we let go and let God, it just
happens.
By reading the Bible regularly (daily) you are letting the word penetrate into your heart
and Jesus said “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks”(Matthew 12:34).
It is a good practice to read the Bible through every year, because just like when you
practiced your time tables you learned it by heart. As you read the Bible through you
are learning it in contents. When you only read a verse here and there, you can take it
out of contents. Example: Job said “the Lord gives and the Lord takes away”, but Job
said this before he pressed in to understand God. After he repented and prayed for his
friends, God restored Job with twice as much. The Bible will define itself, when we do as
it says “from the mouth of two to three witnesses, let it be established”. Jesus said “My
words are spirit and they are life”. So the more word, the more life. That’s it in a nut
shell, if you want to imitate Jesus, say what He said. He said “I only say what I heard My
Father say”.
In Galatians 5:16 “walk in the Spirit (Word) and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh:”
Be rooted and grounded in love (the word) (Ephesians 3:17-19). God told Joshua “this
book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth” (shall not stop coming out of your
mouth).
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: March 17, 2006