Be imitators of God, walk in love Part 2

[0:00] Hallelujah. Thank you for tuning in to this powerful message by David Entry at Karis Phase 2,! Our Christ Centred Youth Services. You can never find Christ outside of the open Word of God.

[0:13] May Jesus Christ reveal Himself to you as you listen. In Ephesians 5, verse 1, it says, Be imitators of God as beloved children.

[0:27] Then it proceeds to say, And walk in love. Let's all say, And walk in love. Please say it again. And walk in love as Christ also, my goodness.

[0:46] Thank you, Jesus. So this is how, when you are studying the Bible, first of all, you need the Holy Spirit. Secondly, you need to respect the laws of grammar or the laws of comprehension.

[1:03] Okay, so whatever you are trying to imply from Scripture, you must make sure it's historically accurate, theologically accurate, grammatically accurate. So what you are saying, if you are trying to explain it, it must agree with grammar. Grammatically makes sense. It says that, walk in love. Ephesians 5, 25.

[1:43] Love your wife. You mention love. It gives us the criteria or the standard of love. So it says, Even as Christ loved the church.

[1:57] Christ's love for the church was an example for us. Those of us who are husbands, there is a way to love a wife.

[2:10] And it's not necessarily based on amorous or erotic approach. It's based on an example Christ has set.

[2:22] So it said, As Christ loved the church and gave himself up for the church.

[2:35] Now, we haven't gotten to verse 25, but you see, it appeared very early in verse 2. It says, Be imitators as children of God.

[2:47] Then it says that, verse 2 said, And walk in love. So, verse 1. Therefore, be imitators of God.

[2:57] You are imitating God, copying God. Those of you who are a little bit, I believe everybody here is a little bit mature, probably have seen this before.

[3:08] When you see toddlers, they start walking. Or, 3-year-old, 2-year-old. They like copying what adults do.

[3:21] Children imitate adults. Most of us, I don't think you are aware of how much your father has influenced you.

[3:32] I don't think you are aware of how much your mother has influenced you. Children are usually not too remote. Their behavior is not far removed from the adults they grew up around.

[3:49] You know what Jacob did? When he was about to leave Laban, in Genesis chapter 30, 31, 32, and he said, I've worked for you. And I don't have anything.

[4:04] Now, I want to take my wife and children. Laban said, I don't want you to go because I've learned by experience that God has blessed me because of you. So, I don't want you to go. And he said, but he said, I have to go.

[4:15] So, he said, okay, then let's come to a deal. You work for me seven years. And then, afterwards, you go. And they divided the sheep. And Jacob said, just give me the speckled sheep.

[4:29] Because the speckled ones were rare. You hardly find them among the bunch of the flock. They are just, and he says that after the end of that season, the period, I will just take the speckled ones, and then you will take the non-speckled ones.

[4:46] And Laban, who was a businessman, a Jewish businessman, thought that's a good idea. Because I know this guy won't get anything. He's likely to get, not, something, percentage, or 0.3% of, or even 0.01%.

[5:09] So, he was happy. It's a good deal. But Jacob, what Jacob did was, when the sheep were pregnant, where he would drink the water, it's in your Bible, anytime the sheep were coming to graze, or drink water, he took, I think, a tree trunk, and make it like, make it like speckled, so that, as they were eating, they kept watching.

[5:35] Let's go to verse 37. Now, Jacob took for himself, rods of green, poplar, and of the almond, and chestnut tree, peeled white strips in them, and exposed the white, which was in the rods.

[5:56] And the rods, which he had peeled, he set before the flock, in the gathers, in the watering, throws, where the flocks came to drink, so that they should conceive, they should conceive, when they came to drink.

[6:14] And then when, so, the next verse says that, and so when the flock conceived, before the rods, and the flocks brought forth, streaks, speckled, and spotted. You see, the things they kept seeing, became a reality.

[6:29] So, Jacob knew that principle, and even the sheep, before they conceived, they were looking at the speckle, speckle, speckle, and then they conceived, based on speckle, and then by the end of the period, almost all the sheep are speckled.

[6:47] And Jacob said, that's the agreement. That's the agreement. We agreed. We signed a contract, speckle. The thing you can't, I'll tweet me, I knew how to make life, move in a certain direction.

[7:00] So, it is easy, to look like, the people you grow up with. It is easy, to look like, what you keep looking at.

[7:15] It is easy, to be influenced, to start thinking, like the people, you are listening to. Are you getting what I'm saying?

[7:29] This is very important. So, that's why you have to be intentional, with who you listen to, and what you watch. That is why he said, Proverbs chapter 4, verse 20, my son, give attention.

[7:44] He said, my son, give attention to my ways. Incline your ears to my things. Therein lies your safety in life. Attention.

[7:55] Everybody say attention. Attention. So, it is important. Now, back to, imitators of God. So, it says that, as dearly beloved children, as children, imitate God.

[8:08] Ooh, I like that. If you are a child, you will always imitate somebody. Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children.

[8:20] Children are imitators. That's why children of God, must also be imitators. But who do we imitate? God. How do I imitate God?

[8:30] By keeping the word of God, on your mind. Giving attention, to his word. Give attention, to his word. Give attention, Proverbs chapter 4, verse 20.

[8:42] Give attention, to his word. Give attention. Did you realize how he put it? He said, my son. It's like a father talking to a child. My son. Give attention, to my word.

[8:54] Give attention, to my word. When something's going on, in your life, it's also prudent, and advisable, and wise, to know, what God's word, is saying.

[9:06] So, what has God, got to say, concerning this situation? As, beloved children, imitate God, and, walk in love.

[9:21] Wow. Did you see that? Give us a different translation. And, and, let's all say, and walk in love.

[9:32] And walk in love. English standard, and then, amplified. It says, you see, let's start from verse one. English standard. Verse one, please.

[9:45] Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children, and, walk in love, as Christ loved us, and gave himself, for us, a fragrant offering, and sacrifice to God.

[9:59] So, it says that, imitate God, and walk in love. Imitate God, and walk in love.

[10:11] You have to start imitating God, and, walk in love. Walk in love, means that, love, must guide, your approach to life, in dealing with others.

[10:25] Love, must, govern, what you do, as a child of God. So, it said, imitate God, and walk in love. Imitate God, and walk in love.

[10:36] Ha ha. I'm going somewhere. Let's look at verse two again. Let's go. Let's go. And walk in love, as Christ loved us, and gave himself up for us, and a fragrant offering, and sacrifice to God.

[10:50] Verse 25. Husbands.! As Christ loved the church, and gave himself up for us. Watch this.

[11:02] Verse two. As Christ. Verse 25. As Christ loved. And when he loved, he did something. The love made him do something. So, he said, walk in love.

[11:15] Husbands, love your wives. As Christ loved the church, and gave himself. Verse two. And walk in love, as Christ loved us, and gave himself up for us.

[11:37] So, the kind of love we are talking about is the Christ type of love that makes a person give himself for others. Greater love has no man than this, that a man should lay down his life, John chapter 15, verse 13.

[11:55] That a man should lay down his life for his friends. Yes. There's no greater love than this. This.

[12:06] He said, that's the greatest of all loves, to lay down your life for your friend. You see, you see why marriage, husbands are called to this agape.

[12:19] Because greatest love, if you are genuine, greatest love is not about what you get from your wife, but how much you are willing to lay down your life. That's there.

[12:30] He said, as Christ loved the church and gave himself, and now he's telling us, greater love, the greatest expression of love is to give yourself for somebody. That's why he said, husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself.

[12:47] is a leader's type of love. Give himself for the church and love, walk in love as Christ loved us.

[13:01] Now, before I continue, watch this. How are we supposed to walk in love? As Christ loved us. But look at chapter 4, verse 32, Ephesians 4, 32.

[13:11] And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as Christ when he came to being kind, being tenderhearted, forgiving, he said, God is the model.

[13:38] He said, as God, as God, God is the model. God is your role model. God forgave us. God is kind. Last week, I spoke about the kindness of God and display.

[13:50] God is kind. God is tenderhearted. He forgives. And he says that, forgive, be kind, tenderhearted, forgiving one another.

[14:05] That's even interesting. He didn't say forgiving people. He said one another. One another means amongst ourselves. How many of you have ever been offended by somebody in church? If you are in church, somebody offend you.

[14:19] How can you say you love God who you can't see? And the man you can't see, you can't stand. 1 John 4, verse 20. He said, anyone who sees that he loves God who he can't see and does not love his brother, he's a liar.

[14:35] If anyone say, I love God, and hate his brother, he's a liar. People who say, I love God, who Bible say, they are lying, they are lying, they are lying.

[14:47] As it tests to loving God is proven in loving those God loves. Chapter 5, verse 1, the same book, 1 John 5, verse 1.

[14:59] He said, whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. And everyone who loves him who begot, also loves him who is begotten of him who begot.

[15:15] It's automatic. If you love God, you automatically love people who God has given birth to. It's automatic. They don't have to be nice to you. You just, your love for God is expressed through your love for the others.

[15:32] He said, love one another. So, there is this internal love that must exist within the church and it says that we should love one another.

[15:44] Love one another. Forgive one another. People will hurt you because you are sensitive. The next time someone offends you in church, this must be your approach.

[15:58] Well, welcome to church world. Thank you. Thank you. That's why love is necessary to keep a strong move of God on earth within the church.

[16:12] All right, let's get back to the text. Ephesians chapter 4, verse 32. Give me amplified. Be kind and helpful to one another. Wow, I like that. Be kind.

[16:23] Listen, in the next two, three, four, five years, there will be a lot of weddings here. So, be kind and helpful.

[16:33] Someone is going to do their wedding. Ask them, have you bought your shoe yet? Can I contribute? Somebody's graduation is coming up and you know, maybe he will need this, he will need that.

[16:47] Look for little ways to show kindness because kindness in little things is not a little thing. Look for little ways to show kindness especially amongst ourselves.

[17:03] there's something very sweet in this verse, chapter 5. It says that, therefore be imitators of God as beloved children and walk in love as Christ.

[17:14] And then in chapter 4, verse 30, he says that as God. Now here, when it came to walking, watch this, walking in love, he was using Christ as the basis.

[17:26] When it came to walking in kindness and forgiveness, he used God who loved us, was kind to us and forgave us. So in chapter 5, verse 2, he said, walk in love as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us.

[17:46] Listen to this. A fragrant offering and a sacrifice to God. Everybody say offering. Offering.

[17:57] Say sacrifice. Sacrifice. Offering. Offering. Sacrifice. Offering. Offering. Sacrifice. Offerings are for fellowship with God.

[18:08] Sacrifice is for redemption and for forgiveness of our sins. So he gave himself as an offering so he can come into fellowship with God and as a sacrifice, he gave himself as a sacrifice so our sins can be forgiven.

[18:26] offering. Offering. Everybody say offering. Offering. And sacrifice. But then the Bible says that he gave himself up for us a fragrant offering.

[18:43] King James said sweet smelling silver. Watches. and has given himself for us as an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling silver.

[18:57] Give us New American Standard Version please. And walk in love just as Christ also loved you and gave himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

[19:11] Now, when you look at the construction of the text, the grammar, the fragrant aroma is not for us. Who is it for? Who is it for?

[19:24] Every sacrifice God requires must have some fragrance. So in Leviticus chapter 2 verse 2 chapter 2 verse 9 chapter 3 verse 5 and chapter 3 verse 16 Exodus chapter 28 29 verse 18 so here verse 14 and 18 25 there sweet smelling sacrifice now watch this God when Leviticus chapter 9 verse 1 verse 9 let's do that Leviticus 9 verse 1 he said but but the inwards but his inwards and his leg shall be washed in water and the priest shall burn all that's talking about the sacrifice burn all on the altar to be a burnt sacrifice an offering made by fire a sweet saver unto who did you see that so it is God who requires sacrifice that must have a certain saver and he says

[20:27] Christ walk in love as Christ gave himself for who us he gave himself he gave himself so who did he do it's for he's giving himself for us but who was supposed to enjoy the sacrifice God now your love towards others your walk in church and your service to others in Christ is you sacrifice for them but whether they enjoy it or not is not the case it is God who smells it your sacrifice as you sacrifice to people and you make them enjoy Christ and you sacrifice loving them they might not even show how much they are enjoying it but it's not for them to enjoy it's for God to enjoy it God looks at your sacrifice and says I like it in the Philippians chapter 4 Paul was telling the Philippian church that you sent me one and again offering from the 17

[21:32] Philippians 4 17 when I was in Thessalonica he says that for even in Thessalonica you sent Ada once not once and for all once and again for who who not God's necessity the me me the apostle because I was in need so I can do God's way you sent aid once and again for my necessity the 17 says that not that I seek a gift but I seek a fruit that will abound to your account you have an account you have an account you have an account and I want you to load up the account as you send me aid that's according to apostle Paul as you send me the aid and you commit some of you your sacrifice and your dedication to church is loading up your account with God your dedication to God is loading up your account with God or the dedication in church so as you are serving don't worry who is applauding you just keep loading it

[22:41] Paul said you send aid once and again to my necessity and he says that I'm seeking not that I'm looking for a gift but I seek for fruit that will abound to your account everybody has an account with God and your day of crisis that's where you can draw from in your day of greatest need how healthy is your account with God how healthy is your account with God maybe your background might not be good where you are trying to go in future your background might not be able to sponsor it but your account with God will be able to sponsor it if I were you I'll keep building building building and loading up my account with God he said I'm looking for fruit that will abound to your account look at the next verse indeed I have all and abound I am full having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you what a sweet smelling aroma acceptable sacrifice well pleasing to me they are doing it for him they are doing it in the church but Paul said this thing is

[23:58] God is enjoying it so he said your love for one another should have God as your object not whether how they respond to you some of us our lives the way we treat people we treat them nice because we are using our nice treatment to them as a bait for something we want back from them so they will be indebted to us you know the other time I did it for you I did!

[24:30] when you are doing things for people especially in church and you are serving in church don't be doing it because they will do something back to you you are doing it because you want God to enjoy your service in Romans chapter 12 verse 2 it says that present your bodies as a living sacrifice in the NIV I like the NIV therefore I urge you brothers in view of the mercy of God to offer your bodies as a holy and pleasing to God this is your spiritual act of worship New King James says that this is your this acceptable to God which is your reasonable service reasonable service what you are doing is not for me the sacrifices you are putting in is not for me it's not for the person it's not for leadership God is just looking for reasons why he will back your glory he will back your future with his glory he's looking for reasons because you have given him sacrifices that is sweet smelling he's always looking in your direction when you give

[25:37] God sacrifice that is sweet smelling he will look in your direction that is why listen don't ever forget I said this don't ever forget don't judge somebody in church based on their past you know you might be making a mistake brother A didn't even take school to yours but he so dedicated and sold out to God's work brother B can have all everything correct in his background but doesn't care about God's work the two you will be shocked how God will bless this one and elevate this one yeah because account God works with your account give him something to smell sweet something sweet to smell now so the point is work in love as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us and offering endless sweet smelling sacrifice God could not say no to Christ sacrifice God was forced to look in the direction of

[26:39] Christ why because this sacrifice is too good for him he didn't have to he was innocent he was without sin but he died for sinful people I think Luke chapter 23 verse 14 said unto them you have brought this man unto me as one who misleads the people and indeed I have examined examined him in your presence and I have found no fault in this man concerning those things which you accuse him 1 Peter chapter 2 verse 22 Jesus didn't do anything wrong Hebrew chapter 4 verse 15 Jesus was without sin 2 Corinthians chapter 5 verse 21 he knew no sin John chapter 5 verse 30 what does John chapter 5 verse 30 say John chapter 5 Jesus said I can of myself do nothing as I hear I judge and my judgment is righteous because I do not seek my own will but the will of the father who sent me that's the premise the mindset!

[27:44] the motivation! And his philosophy forgives himself for us no wonder it became a sweet smelling to God and he says that now imitate Christ he says walk in love as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us and offering a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor so he gave himself for us by God who enjoyed it never be tired of loving people and serving them in the name of Christ because don't expect them to reward you they can't they can't sometimes you won't even get a smile back that's okay keep loving keep serving doing it and see how God will beautify your future so Paul calls us imitate God walk in love tell somebody imitate God and walk in love tell another person imitate

[28:45] God and walk in love did you receive something thank you for choosing to listen to this message by David Entry we hope you are blessed by it you can connect with David Entry on all relevant social media platforms including TikTok and threads there's also many more messages to listen to from David Entry on all relevant streaming platforms and on the Karish Church app be blessed in!

[29:14] in