Imitation of Life

6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, (1 Th 1:6).

One of the legendary movies I remember was the imitation of life. This movie about a girl who passes for white. It was originally made in 1934. It was remade in 1959. I sure many of our seasoned saints have seen one of the version. I chose that title for today’s sermon because in those movies the you mixed lighter skin girl yearned to be seen as white. She tapped into the privilege of being a white girl and even grew up imitating a white women. You might remember the 1959 version because that’s the version where Mahalia Jackson sings “Sooner Will be done with the trouble of the world”.

What life are we imitating? What life are you following? Paul encourages us to follow him and the Lord. Which means follow Christ! Imitate Christ.

I wonder if we can see the benefit of imitating the life of Christ. Being seen as a Christian . A follower of Christ. We know that a life imitating the life of Christ with lead to true life. For we know that Jesus came to give us life and life more abundantly. Now our focal verse reminds us that following Christ is not easy but it produces something in our lives that cant be copied from anything else. Imitating Christ produces a joy through the Holy Spirit.

Phil 3:17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. (Php 3:17–21).

Paul urged something similar to the church at Corinth. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16 I urge you, then, be imitators of me. (1 Co 4:15–16).

Paul was encouraging the Thessalonians by first reminding them that he sees their effort. He mentions three honorable mentions in their efforts:

Their work of Faith

Their labor of Love

Their Steadfast Hope

This is yet another reminder of what we should be embodying as saints. Even the Lord said in Revelation 2:19 to the Church of Thyatira: “ ‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. (Re 2:19). Since the Lord knows our works we should strive for the works that are pleasing to the Lord. Their work of Faith

what the work of faith? true belief if our saviour Jesus Christ. It all starts here. This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”. (Jn 6:29). We must first believe! Faith is necessary. You cant please God without faith. I believe that many saint struggle in this area. When we cant see and feel God do we still trust him? Think about it? The enemy attacks us in the area of our faith.

Their labor of Love

That faith causes you to labor with love in the church. Have you ever wondered why some folks are workers in the Church. They go out to evangelize, they are here to work. Its a labor of love. The understand the scripture i must do the work of the one who sent me for when night comes no man can work. See after we close our eyes on this side of the Jordan we go from labor to reward!

Their Steadfast Hope

Hope is important to the Christian. We can never give up on hope. 4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Ro 15:4). Hope allows us to know things will get better. Weeping may endure for a night but joy comes early in the morning. Bad doctor’s report? I have hope that God can heal me. Paul said earlier in Rom 8 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (Ro 8:24–25). I learned through Hope I can wait on the Lord!

So how do we become imitators.

Look at verses 4 and 5

4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. (1 Th 1:4–6).

We are first chosen

As chosen people we should take on qualities of Christ. Peter said we should make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. (2 Pe 1:5–7).

Will Smith incident

Secondly The Gospel did not come in word only. Yes it is so we first hear by the preaching or teaching of the word but the word comes with POWER and in the HOLY SPIRIT. I am a firm believer you can hear the word of God all day long but unless you allow the HOLY SPIRIT to fully convict you its just words. Paul reminded them how they demonstrated the word of God through actions. They has church leaders walk the walk as well as talk the talk!

This transforming Word allowed them to change! They turned from IDOLS to THE true and living GOD! We were once slaves to sin!