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Alike Christ Series
Contributed by Rev. Dr. Andrew B Natarajan on May 3, 2019 (message contributor)
Summary: What is the expectation of God from his followers. He calls them as adopted children. Simply Paul Says to be confirmed to the ‘Son of God’ in our attitude, in our mind, in our emotions and actions.
Text: Romans 8:28-30
Theme “Be confirmed to the image of His Son”.
Introduction:
What is the expectation of God from his followers. He calls them as adopted children. Simply Paul Says to be confirmed to the ‘Son of God’ in our attitude, in our mind, in our emotions and actions.
Attitude:
Jesus moved with compassion to everyone, whomsoever he saw and met during his ministry. He had shown mercy to the needy. He never rejected anyone who came to him. He answered all those who called out his name either in silence or with louder voice. The ears of Jesus were so attentive to hear the cries of the widows, Canaanite woman, paralyzed and blind. Many occasions, Jesus was so moved to feed his followers. Once he wanted to have rest and relaxation with his disciples but suddenly the crowd followed him and they sought him. Jesus was so moved seeing this crowd and ministered to them. Jesus moved with compassion, shown mercy to others, moving around doing good to others.
Actions:
Luke writes in Acts in one word about the entire actions of God as Doing Good. Jesus, while he was on the earth, he walked in accordance with the scriptures, he was found in the temple of Jerusalem interacting with the priests, pharisees and lawyers. When the time has come, he went to Jordan to be baptized by John the Baptist. He was so much concerned to fulfill the scriptures in every aspect. Mathew often remembers in his Gospel that ‘this had happened in order to fulfill the scriptures’. spending time in prayer, understanding the times of the prophecy and striving to fulfill them all, exercising the spiritual powers with authority and finally sacrificing our own life for the sake of others.
Prayer life of Jesus:
It was an extraordinary- he sought God early in the morning, he prayed the whole night, he spent forty days and nights in fasting and prayer. He cried aloud at many occasions. He prayed before selecting his twelve and the seventy disciples. He prayed before doing any miracle - multiplication of the bread and fish, raising of the dead ones, healing of the sick, and before casting the demonic spirits. Prayer was his life.
Mind:
Jesus was very conscious to please God the Father. He was carefully sought the will of God and submitted to Him. He did everything to fulfill the Will of God. Satan offered Him many glories but he refused to listen to his voice. Jesus spoke the heart of God. Jesus was an authoritative and powerful teacher. He taught very practical lessons to His disciples. The Kingdom of God was understood by all His followers through simple similes, metaphors and narrations. The use of the parables was excellent to reach His followers. When we are confirmed to the image of the Son of God means we are confirmed to the image of God himself.
Challenge: God expects all of us to prove that Christ is not dead and gone but he lives in us. We are replica of His Son and through us the world has come to know the compassion of God, Love of God and cares of God.
Today, millions believe in the name of Jesus not because they were healed and not because they had received their sight but because they have seen the living Christ in many followers of Christ. So, let us once again recommit ourselves to be confirmed to the image of Jesus Christ, Amen.
I am labor to see that Christ is born in you all.