17, August 2003
Dakota Community Church
Bold Like Jesus
Week 2: Imitate Christ Series
Hebrews 12:2-3
2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
1. Bold in the knowledge of who He was.
Mark 14:61
61But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?"
62"I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."
- Many people will try to tell you that Jesus never claimed to be God, here you can see that He did and boldly
2. Bold in opposition to the devil.
Matthew 4:3-7
3The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."
4Jesus answered, "It is written: ’Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ "
5Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6"If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written:
" ’He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ "
7Jesus answered him, "It is also written: ’Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ "
- Jesus was bold in the face of Satan. We need to imitate this as well.
- Know your authority in the spiritual realm.
3. Bold in facing misguided friends and family.
Mark 3:20-21, 31-35
20Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. 21When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind."
31Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. 32A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, "Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you."
33"Who are my mother and my brothers?" he asked.
34Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! 35Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother."
- Family and friends are won over the long haul, not over a good argument.
- Know the difference between minor issues and deal breakers.
Quotes: (From John Maxwell’s “Leadership Wired” e-mag.)
"Exercising leadership generates resistance—and pain."
- Ronald Heifetz, director of the Leadership Education Project at Harvard’s JFK School of Government
"The first lesson I learned as a leader was that I must be willing to let people be mad at me."
- Bobbi Silten, president, US Dockers and Slates, Levi Strauss & Co.
Question:
What is the difference between a strong and a weak Christian?
Romans 14:1-3
1Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. 2One man’s faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him.
- A weak Christian is one who has strong convictions about secondary issues.
- The problem is the weak have been running the church through condemnation.
Have you faced condemnation for:
- Working on Sunday
- Playing Sports on Sunday?
- Going to the cabin in the summer?
- Watching a movie you enjoyed?
- Listening to the wrong musician?
- Reading the wrong book?
- Dressing in the wrong length dress?
- Enjoying a glass of wine with dinner?
The weak are in charge.
4. Bold in dealing with false religion.
John 8: 42-58
42Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. 43Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."
48The Jews answered him, "Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?"
49"I am not possessed by a demon," said Jesus, "but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death."
52At this the Jews exclaimed, "Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that if anyone keeps your word, he will never taste death. 53Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?"
54Jesus replied, "If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. 55Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word. 56Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad."
57"You are not yet fifty years old," the Jews said to him, "and you have seen Abraham!"
58"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" 59At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.
- Jesus wouldn’t keep their rules.
- He wouldn’t fit into their moulds.
- He wouldn’t honor their traditions. He was to busy loving God and loving people.
5. Bold in facing death and destiny.
John 10:14-18
14"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me-- 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again. 18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."
Matthew 26:47-54
47While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him." 49Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him.
50Jesus replied, "Friend, do what you came for."
51Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
52"Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?"
Hugh Lattimer once preached before King Henry VIII. Henry was greatly displeased by the boldness in the sermon and ordered Lattimer to preach again on the following Sunday and apologize for the offence he had given. The next Sunday, after reading his text, he thus began his sermon: "Hugh Lattimer, do you know before whom you are this day to speak? To the high and mighty monarch, the king’s most excellent majesty, who can take away your life, if you offend Him. Therefore, take heed that you speak not a word that may displease. But then consider well, Hugh, do you not know from whence you came--upon whose message you are sent? Even by the great and mighty God, Who is all present and who beholds all your ways and who is able to cast your soul into hell! Therefore, take care that you deliver the message faithfully." He then preached the same sermon he had preached the preceding Sunday--and with considerably more energy.
