WALKING LIKE JESUS WALKED
Text: John 14:27
Introduction:
1. ”What does it mean to be a Mature Christian? How do I know if I’m maturing as a Christian?”
2. Tough question!
3. We’re all on a journey:
(1 John 2:6 ESV) whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
4. Our journey started with Salvation (Newborn baby Christian) Just Like Jesus
a) Jesus began his walk by being baptized because:
It becomes us to fulfill all righteousness.
b) He immediately had to deal with the devil, resisting temptation by relying on God’s word.
5. The walk ends with eternity in Heaven (Mature believer in Christ)
6. In between Salvation & Heaven is the “Muddle in the Middle”
7. How do I know if I’m “On Track”?
8. How do I know if I’m progressing like I should?
9. There are no report cards to tell us!
10. The simple answer – every day/week/month/year, becoming a little more like Jesus.
Romans 8:29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
11. If you were to graph your life, would you see yourself becoming more like Jesus?
12. OK, so a mature Christian is becoming more & more like Jesus.
13. Practically, what does that mean?
14. I see 4 ways to become more like Jesus.
Discussion:
I. Speak as Jesus Spoke
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
A. The hours before His crucifixion, Jesus knew he would soon be betrayed, arrested, beaten and crucified.
B. Jesus knew His apostles would scatter, curse & swear they never knew Him.
Yet, look at His words to them in the hours before his abandonment, torture and death.
C. If you knew what Jesus knew in those hours, what would you have said to your disciples?
D. He spoke words of peace, words of love, words to calm, words to heal (even before his betrayal)
E. Jesus’ Words always put other’s needs above His own!
Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
1 Peter 3:15-16 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
F. Do our words do the same?
G. Read James 3:1-12
H. Old English Prayer from the 1600’s
Lord Grant this one request I pray:
Guide thou my tongue! The words I say
can never be called back again,
should they cause anger, sorrow, pain then
in an ever-widening sphere,
they spread their havoc far and near.
So guide my tongue in every word,
that it may bless where it is heard.
I. If we’re to Mature in Christ, to become just like Jesus, we must speak as Jesus Spoke. Also we must...
II. See as Jesus Saw (Matt 9:36)
A. Jesus had the ability to look beyond the surface and see the soul!
B. I believe that God (through the Holy Spirit) can give the mature Christian the same ability!
C. Jesus saw the:
1. Broken hearted shame of the prostitute.
Luke 7:36-50 36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.” 41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Jesus eating at Pharisee’s home
D. The woman with alabaster perfume
E. Pharisees chastised Jesus because he allowed her to touch Him. But jesus defended her!
F. Defended her lifestyle-NO!
G. Defended her worth-yes!
Loneliness of the Leper.
Matt 8:2-3 “And behold, a leper came and worshipped Him, saying, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean”. Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Ans immediately his leprosy was cleansed”.
H. Humiliation of the Adulteress.
John 8:11 “...And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”
I. If we’re to become just like Jesus, we must learn to see the Soul beyond the Sin.
J. I Believe that too many times we “write off” people’s souls because all we can see are their sin.
K. Jesus looked beyond the sin. Jesus saw the worth of the Soul!
L. There is also the way Jesus saw the world
Matthew 6:19-21 19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
2 Corinthians 3:18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
M. We live in a world where many are spiritually apathetic – caught up in their hobbies and stuff – not thinking of eternity.
The type of man most likely to grow very, very rich is the type of man least likely to enjoy it. MAX GUNTHER
The poorest man I know is the man who has nothing but money. JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER1
When one of the wealthiest men in history, John D. Rockefeller, died, his accountant was asked, “How much did John D. leave?”
The accountant’s reply was classic: “He left all of it.”2
N. For love of money:
1. Achan took the cursed thing and brough death on himself, his family oand others. (Joshua 7)
2. Balaam tried to curse God’s people (Jumbers 22:4-35)
3. Delilah betrayed Samson to the philistines (Judges 16)
4. Gehazi lied to Naaman and then Elish and was afflicted with leprosy (2 Kings 5:2-27)
5. Judas betrayed our Lord
6. Ananias and Sapphira lied to God and the Holy spirit and were struck dead (acts 5)
O. Is it any wonder that Paul said
1 Timothy 6:6-11 6 Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. 11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.
P. Is it any wonder Jesus said:
Luke 12:15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
Matthew 16:26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
Matthew 26:14-16 14 Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.
III. Love as Jesus Loved (John 15:12-13)
A. Vs 12-Jesus told us to love one another just like He loved us.
B. How did He love us?
C. Vs 13-He laid down His life.
D. When’s the last time we’ve laid down our lives for our friends?
E. Not literally-when’s the last time that it “cost you” to do something for someone else?
F. When we show love to another because it makes us feel good, that’s not real love.
Real love cares more about giving than getting!
G. Chuck Swindoll “Strike the Original Match” Illustrates real love (Giving) from false Love (Getting)
Guy who fell in love with an opera singer. He hardly knew her; only view of the singer was through binoculars -- from the third balcony. But he was convinced he could live "happily ever after" married to a voice like that.
He scarcely noticed she was considerably older than he. Nor did he care that she walked with a limp. Her mezzo-soprano voice would take them through whatever might come. Whirlwind romance and a hurry-up ceremony, they were off for their honeymoon together.
She prepared for their First night together. She plucked out her glass eye and plopped it into a container on the nightstand. She pulled off her wig, Ripped off her false eyelashes, Yanked out her dentures, Unstrapped her artificial leg, Took out her hearing aid. Stunned and horrified, he gasped, "For goodness sake, woman, sing, sing, SING!
H. If we’re to be mature in Christ, to become Just Like Jesus, we must
I. Speak as Jesus Spoke, See as Jesus Saw, Love as Jesus Loved, and lastly......
IV. Serve as Jesus Served (Mark 10:45)
A. What does it mean to Walk As Jesus Walked?
B. I believe=Focus our lives around serving others-like Jesus did
C. Jesus did not exist to serve Himself
D. He deserved to be worshiped/served-yet served others/pointed them to God
E. What we’re talking about here is “basin Theology
F. READ John 13:1 ff
G. BASIN THEOLOGY!
Closing
1. Speak as Jesus Spoke
15. John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
16. See as Jesus Saw
Matthew 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
17. Love as Jesus Loved
John 15:12-13 12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
18. Serve as Jesus Served
1 John 2:6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
1 Alcorn, R. (2003). Money, possessions, and eternity. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale.
2 Alcorn, R. (2003). Money, possessions, and eternity. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale.
