FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST
This month we are going to be studying the example of Jesus Christ. What’s powerful about Jesus life is that he is an example of perfection in every area so there will be no shortage of areas to look at. Motives are always good for us to look at. The question of why are you doing what you are doing? Why do you want what you want? In the area of motives Jesus was pure. He had the perfect motives for everything. Not one impure, selfish, unrighteous motive did Jesus ever have. What was at the center of Jesus heart and how can we imitate Him?
Look at the following scripture:
John 17:1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. John 17:2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. John 17:3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. John 17:4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. John 17:5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
I have brought you glory. That was the motive for why Jesus did what he did and lived the way he lived. He wanted to bring God glory. Glory is the greek word doxazo meaning to magnify, to extol, to praise.
Jesus wanted God to magnified. Magnified in the greek is the word megaluno meaning to make great. Magnifying glasses make small things look great. Boy this ant is quite small, whoa now it’s not. God is quite small. Jesus steps in the picture and whoa God is magnificent! Let me give you the correct picture says Jesus. Jesus is the magnifying glass of God. We are to look at Him and look to Him because God is working through Him! Why is this so important?
(John 1:3 NIV) Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
(John 1:7 NIV) He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe.
(Acts 2:22 NIV) "Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.
(Acts 3:16 NIV) By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.
(Acts 13:39 NIV) Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.
(Rom 1:5 NIV) Through him and for his name’s sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.
(Rom 5:9 NIV) Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!
(Rom 8:37 NIV) No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
(Rom 11:36 NIV) For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.
(2 Cor 1:20 NIV) For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God.
(Eph 2:18 NIV) For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
(Phil 4:13 NIV) I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
(Col 1:20 NIV) and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
(Col 3:17 NIV) And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
(Heb 7:25 NIV) Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
(1 Pet 1:21 NIV) Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
(1 John 4:9 NIV) This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
Jesus life was so surrendered to God that God was doing everything through Him that people might see God, give praise to God, glorify God.
John 14:9 Jesus answered: "Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ’Show us the Father’? John 14:10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.
What did Jesus want? He wanted God to be magnified. Jesus wanted God to extolled. Jesus wanted God to be praised.
Jesus brought God glory by surrendering and allowing God to work through Him. He wanted God to be glorified. Not himself, but God. That was His motive. He wanted His Father to be glorified.
We honor and glorifiy God by wanting and following that example.
Why do we want great marriages? So that God will be glorified.
Why do we want our kids to do well in everything. So that God will be glorified.
Why do we want a great music ministry, childrens ministry, singles ministry. So that God will be glorified!
Dating relationships should glorify God.
Engagements should glorify God.
On the job, make him look great.
At school make him look great.
What comes out of our mouth? Does it glorify Him? The more we surrender, the more God is magnified by working through us.
The beauty of what was taking place in their relationship is that the Son was bringing glory to the Father and the Father was glorifying the Son. It was a circle of glorification.
I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Now that you know these things you will be blessed if you do them. And to God be the glory! Amen.
