Untitled Sermon (94)

IMITATORS OF CHRIST

INTRODUCTION:

THERE ARE SOME CHURCHES TODAY THAT IS TAKING ON THE FORM OF THE WORLD INSTEAD OF BEING IMITATORS OF CHRIST.

THE DANGER IS THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THESE CHURCHES WILL NEVER EXPERIENCE THE INTIMACY WITH CHRIST JESUS.

PEOPLE WILL NOT LIVE FOR CHRIST, BUT FOR THE WORLD.

THESE PEOPLE WILL HAVE A FORM OF GODLINESS, BUT WILL DENY THE POWER THERE OF.

THESE PEOPLE WILL PLAY THE PART, BUT WILL NEVER CONFORM TO THE LIFE OF CHRIST.

TODAY I LIKE TO TALK ABOUT

PUT OFF.

PUT ON .

FOCUS ON.

A. PUT OFF

Colossians 3:5–7 “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: for which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: in the which ye also walked sometime, when ye lived in them.”

PAUL HAD ADDRESS THE SAINTS IN COLOSSE , BY SAYING IN ORDER FOR A SAINT TO IMITATE CHRIST, HE MUST PUT TO DEATH THE SELF SATISFYING LIFE.

THE SELF SERVING LIFE LOOKS TO SATISFY IT’S OWN DESIRES. THIS LIFE CONSIST OF GRATIFYING WHAT’S IN THE FLESH.

AND WE KNOW THAT NOTHING GOOD DWELLS IN US , THAT IS, IN OUR FLESH.

PAUL GIVES US A LIST OF THINGS WE NEED TO PUT OFF CONCERNING THE SELF CENTERED LIFE.

FORNICATION- SEX OUTSIDE OF MARRIAGE.

UNCLEANESS- SEXUAL SIN.

INORDINATE AFFECTION- STRONG DESIRES.

EVIL CONCUPISCENCE- DESIRE FOR WHAT IS FORBIDDEN.

COVETOUSNESS- WANTING WHAT BELONGS TO SOMEONE ELSE.

IDOLATRY- JEALOUSY OVER WHAT OTHERS HAVE.

PAUL SAID WE NEED TO MORTIFY THESE MEMBERS WHICH ARE UPON THE EARTH, BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY ETERNAL VALUE.

THE WORD MORTIFY MEANS TO PUT TO DEATH.

THEN WE NEED TO PUT OFF ANGER AND WRATH, WHICH IS HOSTILITY, MEANING TO BRING HARM TO ANOTHER.

MALICE- THE DESIRE THAT OTHERS SUFFER INJURY.

BLASPHEMY- TO DISHONOR THE NAME OF GOD AND ANYTHING THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH HIS NAME.

FILTHY COMMUNICATION OUT OF YOUR MOUTH- SHAMEFUL SPEECH, INSULTS, GOSSIP, THINGS THAT ARE USED TO HURT OTHERS.

LYING- FALSEHOOD, IF WE ARE LIVING THE NEW LIFE, THE ONLY COMMUNICATION SHOULD PROCEED OUT OF OUR MOUTHS IS THE TRUTH.

Romans 8:13 “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”

B. PUT ON

Colossians 3:10–12 “and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;”

WE MUST PUT ON THE NEW MAN NOT ONLY AVOID SINNING, BUT WE MUST CHANGE THE WAY WE THINKS AND THE WAY WE LIVES OUR LIVES. THE NEW MAN PERSPECTIVE IS BASED ON THE WORD OF GOD AND NOT WHAT WE THINK TO BE TRUE.

BEFORE WE WAS SAVED WE BASED OUR THINKING ON OUR OWN UNDERSTANDING, WHICH WAS LIMITED.

PHILIPPIANS CHAPTER 2 :5 SAYS LET THIS MIND BE IN YOU, WHICH WAS ALSO IN CHRIST JESUS:

THE NEW MAN PATTERN HIS LIFE AFTER THE IMAGE OF CHRIST.

THEN WE NEED TO PUT ON A CHANGE OF ATTITUDE AND CHARACTER.

IF WE HAVE BEEN ELECTED BY GOD TO REPRESENT HIS NAME, THERE IS A WAY WE MUST CONDUCT OUR LIVES, SO THAT THE WORLD CAN SEE THAT WE BELONG TO HIM.

IF YOUR LIVES HAS BEEN SEPARATED TO LIVE FOR HIM, YOUR LIVES SHOULD SHOW SOME HUMILITY.

JESUS NEVER LOOK DOWN ON ANYONE, BUT HE TREATED EVERYONE THE SAME.

Ephesians 4:24 “and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

C. FOCUS ON

Colossians 3:17 “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

THE REAL FOCUS HERE IS, LET YOUR WORDS AND ACTIONS BE UNDER THE AUTHORITY AND OBEDIENCE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.

WE MUST ADOPT THE ATTITUDES THAT CHRIST DEMONSTRATED AND APPLY THEM TO OUR LIVES.

BY DOING THIS , THAT’S HOW WE THANK GOD FOR THE WONDERFUL GIFT THAT HE HAS GIVING TO US.

1 Corinthians 10:31 “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”