How many of you have put together a model car? Let me show you some models.
(power point of a few cars)
What do all of these models have in common? There are lots of things we could mention. Let me share just six things these all have in common:
1. They are all cars. 2. They all are used for transportation. 3. They all have seating capacity. 4. They all have four wheels. 5. They all run on petroleum fuel. 6. They all were designed and built by someone with a clear plan and pattern.
Models are important. Our lives are built around them. What do your kids want for Christmas? Where did they get those ideas? From models around them. We all follow models and are impacted by them. In fact, God uses models more than laws when it comes to teaching us in the Bible. The Bible gives us living people to follow rather than simply instructions.
When we read the book of Philippians we see how God’s word selects four models for us to build ourselves by. Christ Jesus, the ultimate model for life. (2:5-11). Timothy, who demonstrates faithfulness and Christ like care for others. (2:19-24). Epaphroditus, who demonstrates hard work and risking his life for Christ. (2:25-30). Finally there is Paul, who is this week’s model for us to think about and discuss.
I am taking these out of order. We skipped the first and most important model, Christ, and will look at His example next week on Christmas day.
Is your life a model of the Christian life? Would you allow God to build your life into a model Christian by following those He has supplied? Will you let your light shine by being a model Christian for others to follow and even invite them to do so?
2 Peter 1 tells us:
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
Peter tells us not only that Jesus Christ is the model but what are the tools and pieces to put together so that this model is complete and working for God’s glory and our security in our lives.
I remember getting a model car for a birthday present when I was about 12. It was a really neat kit with what seemed like literally thousands of tiny parts all molded onto a plastic frame with a tiny stamped number either on the part or if it was too small, right where you broke off the model part from the frame. Do you know what I’m talking about?
(power point image of a model car preassembled)
Instead of reading the directions and taking the time to study where each part was or where it went, I foolishly started snapping off the little pieces from the frame and piling them back into the box. I thought I would know where to glue them with no problem.
As I recall most of the little pieces never made it onto the model. I got the shell together and the doors, roof and wheels glued on and called it finished.
Why does the little book of Philippians spend so much of its content on models for life? What does this tell us about our need for models to build our lives by today?
Like the Philippian Christians and all other Christians we read about in the New Testament, we need mature Christian models to pattern our lives after. We need mentors who show us how to live this life for Christ. Besides Jesus Christ himself, who do you think is mentioned most as a model for us to follow in building a Christian life?
The Apostle Paul wins hands down. He doesn’t just live the life of a Christian, he shares his Christian life with us as an example and model for us to follow. And, not only that, Paul boldly and clearly commands us to follow his example. He doesn’t just suggest that we might imitate a few of the better things we see in his life. Listen to his own words in Philippians:
Look at chapter 3:17, and 4:9.
17 Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.
9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
This is not an anomaly with Paul that just happens in Philippians. Paul told every church to follow his example.
To the Corinthians he stresses: 1 Cor 4: 14 I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children. 15 Even though you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17 For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.
Remember, what we are reading here are the inspired words of God. This is not a suggestion, but a command.
What God is teaching us is how to grow up in our Christian faith. We need models to follow in the scriptures, and we need living models to follow in the church today. We need to become models for others to follow. This is what you signed on for and your purpose until Jesus comes to take you home!
What things in Paul’s life does God tell us to follow? Philippians 3 has the most clearly laid out biography of what to follow in the life of this model Christian. He specifically spells out what the pieces are and where they go.
Look again at this chapter.
There are two parts to Paul’s life here. The before and after views.
Here’s Paul before he became a Christian. All the parts were in the box, but they were connected to the wrong things.
Philippians 3:3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.
He had all the rough materials to glorify God, but they were assembled in the wrong ways. He was confident, but in the wrong things. He was dedicated, but to the wrong purposes. He was zealous, but for the wrong focus. He sought righteousness, but the wrong kind. He was sincere, but sincerely wrong. He was bold, but for the wrong objective.
Paul was a model Pharisee. He had modeled his own life after the highest and best he could find. Gamaliel was his mentor/model.
Listen to his own words in Acts 22:1-5
1 “Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense.”
2 When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet.
Then Paul said: 3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers and was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. 4 I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, 5 as also the high priest and all the Council can testify. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.
Does anyone see any problems here? Where did Paul find his models for building his life up to this point? How was it going for him? I’m sure Paul had many admirers as he continued to build his life around these models.
But suddenly, everything changed in his life. God took all the components of this man and tore them loose from everything Paul had assigned such value to. Paul’s world was rearranged when he came face to face with the ultimate model for life: Jesus Christ the Lord of all.
Now where is Paul’s confidence? Where is his dedication? What is the focus of his zeal? Where is his righteousness? What became of his sincerity? Toward what objective does he direct his boldness?
Just listen again to Philippians 3:7-16
7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
How did Jesus build the faith into his disciples? He modeled it. Then he told his disciples to follow his example.
(power point of Jesus washing disciples feet, then other Christians serving needy, etc.)
How does God build the faith into our own lives and the lives of our family and friends?
We must first follow Christ and as Christ is formed in us, we model his life in ours and invite others to follow us.
2 Timothy 2:2 This is God’s plan.
Look at all these Christians serving here. What do they have in common? Many things, but here are six to take home and take to heart.
1. They all were made in God’s image and likeness.
2. They all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
3. Jesus Christ came and died for all of them.
4. They have all accepted Christ as Lord and Savior and have obeyed the gospel call.
5. They are all following Jesus Christ and using their gifts and talents to grow, live and serve in Jesus’ name.
6. They are all models for others to follow as they follow Jesus.
