Untitled Sermon

Developing a lifestyle which resembles the life of Jesus Christ

Eric Khorombi

21 January 2024

Read Mark 15:29-39

Good questions to ask ourselves?

1.       Why did Jesus say My God, why have you forsaken me. He did not cry my father my father, but my God.

2.       Why did Jesus feel forsaken?

3.       Was he really forsaken

4.       Did God really abandon him, leaving him to his own ability?

5.       Did he allow this difficult time to make him turn away from the father?

6.       Did Jesus forget that he was sent to this world to fulfil a purpose because of struggles, tribulations, fear of death?

7.       Why did Jesus find it necessary to forgive those who scorned him and were determined to killing him?

The passage we read shows that:

•          God expected Christ to be able to carry the cross, also to drink the cup of sorrows and pain ahead of him.

•          God expected Christ to surrender to the will of God and abandon his own will and desires.

•          Jesus was expected to be mature and humble because of the things he endured from the hostility of men.

•          It was not bitterness, anger, disobedience, unforgiveness that God expected from Jesus Christ.

Developing a right Habit

For Jesus to continue as Son of God and Son of man who pleases God he had to have certain qualities, attitude concerning life and behaviour. I mean good habits that cultivated a good relationship he had with the father.

Habit is cultivated by a good understating of why we are saved by grace, born again or reconciled to God and by first developing correct discipline.

Developing the right habit is important for growing up and become responsible

A kingdom has been given to us (Luke 12:32) and we are expected to produce the fruits that pleases God (Matthew 16:19).

What is habit?

It is a pattern of behaviour, lifestyle, practices, mannerisms, or a regular tendency that is hard to give up.

The Cultivated habits of Jesus Christ

A. Jesus was accustomed to going to the synagogue and reading the scriptures. – Mark 1:21, Mark 1:39, Matthew 9:35

B. Jesus was used to going up to the mountain to pray even by himself. – Matthew 14:23, Luke 6:12, Luke 9:28

C. It was not his habit to go places because other people are going or doing things because other people are doing them. To Jesus, God’s time mattered. - John 7:6, Acts 1:7, Luke 21:8

D. He was not a man pleaser. Yet was compassionate about people’s needs. Mark 12:14, John 3:2, Luke 20:21

Conclusion

Let us start small habits that will help us draw closer to Jesus, closer to God through his Holy Spirit.

Doing this is called seeking God with all our hearts and souls.

Note: we are not doing this to seek righteousness, or acceptance because we have been qualified for these already, but only to get closer to hear God and shut the world out. We are not under the law but grace, walking and living by faith.

Examples of good habits like,

•          Reading bible daily (set time, a place)

•          Keep journal for daily reflection. Keep it on bedside,

•          Try to have time to meditate daily or occasionally every week.

•          Pray in your heart at all times. Giving thanks to God ceaselessly.

Jesus said to his disciples, how long shall I be with you? (Luke 9:41) Even now you still don’t have understanding? (John 14:9) Then again he prayed to God saying father I thank you that this have now believed that you sent me and I came from you. (John 17:8) Also he said, you have now revealed this to babes. (Matthew 11:25)

All of these show there was a level of growth, maturity, responsibility, belief expected from the followers of Jesus after spending time with him and learning from him. We are not expected to remain as babes but grow to responsible stewards, ministers of the new covenant, priests and a holy people who are reigning on earth. (Revelations 5:10) We are able ministers and his workmanship created for good works (Ephesians 2:10) which were written in us through Christ from the foundations of the earth.