Become like Jesus!

[0:00] Keep on asking and you'll receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking and you will find. Keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you.

[0:13] For everyone who asks, receives. This is what Jesus said. This isn't someone's opinion. This is the Word of God. Everyone who seeks, finds.

[0:24] And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Parents, if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead?

[0:37] Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not. There's a few parents who have to change their plans with their kids, don't they? Maybe you've been doing that for a while. Anyway, so if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him?

[1:00] Now, do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence, Jesus says, of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.

[1:13] You can enter God's kingdom only through the narrow gate. Can we just say that again? Only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad and its gate is wide.

[1:27] For the many who choose that way, the gate is wide. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult.

[1:37] So don't be surprised. And only a few sadly ever find it. Next slide, please. Josh. My slides always have something to do with motorcycling because we are part of the Christian Motorcyclists Association.

[1:51] But I think this one particularly stands out for me. If you look very carefully, you're seeing it from the perspective of a rider on a motocross enduro bike, which normally means that they're in mud and rocks and life is difficult.

[2:05] If you look to the top of the picture, you can just see the dark arm of one of the riders. And the other rider is helping. He's not taking his helmet off.

[2:16] He's moved it up because he wants to get on quickly to make sure this guy can move forward. He's tied a rope on and they're just pulling him out of a difficult situation. With enduro, they're often on a very steep, almost sheer cliff, if you like.

[2:30] But they've got to work together. They will be exhausted, but they still work together. Everything we do in the kingdom of God is not on our own, but communally as a church.

[2:42] It's great to be part of a church. It's great to have particular friends that you can confide in in church. Because you can share your heart. You can share your ups and your downs.

[2:52] And you can be there together and support each other and pull them on. But Elizabeth Elliot, a great missionary, if you haven't read the book Through Gates of Splendor, Go get it secondhand on Amazon today.

[3:05] It's an amazing story of God's provision and people who set out to reach a tribe that no one had ever been to. They'd never seen white faces.

[3:16] And all the men who went in on the first day were murdered. But all the wives, a few days later, walked into the same location. And told these people that they could forgive them because of the love of Christ in their hearts.

[3:29] And it made all the difference. And that Alka Indian tribe came to Christ and put their hearts in God's hands. But Elizabeth Elliot in her book said this.

[3:40] And I'm sure John's said this many times. I have at other places. But I just want us to reflect on it again. That God is good, she says. Even though her husband was slaughtered by this group.

[3:53] If he is... Sorry, God is God. Not God is good. I do apologize. He is as well. But you know what I mean. God is God. If he is God, he is worthy of my worship and my service.

[4:07] I will find rest nowhere but in his will. And that will is infinitely, immeasurably and unspeakably beyond my largest notion or imagination of what he's actually up to in my life.

[4:25] I love that phrase. Because so often we are trying to find a place of rest. But we look in the wrong place. And we try to...

[4:39] Well, know God in advance, don't we almost? We're in a bit of a place and we're expecting God to come to our help. And we almost want to... Well, we always tell him how best to do that.

[4:51] And God has a plan that's infinitely more than we could ever ask or imagine. Particularly where these ladies were concerned. Not one of them expected that they would be killed on that first day.

[5:02] But God knew that that was the way in which they could then come to know and put their trust in God. The living God. And as John said to us the other day.

[5:15] When we live as followers of Jesus. And we're in his will. As a church in particular. His moving in this church will be effortless.

[5:26] That doesn't mean to say we sit back and just let God do it. But we do stand in awe of what he does. But we also have a great involvement. A task that we have to do.

[5:38] And there are so many aspects of our lives that must be in place. And we must be walking in the direction of. Which I'll speak about later. But God will bring his purpose to its conclusion in this church.

[5:53] And in us as individuals and our families. So irrespective, bearing in mind what Elizabeth wrote there. Irrespective of our opinion.

[6:05] My opinion. My understanding. Or my perception of what God is doing in anybody's life. Let alone mine. He's worthy of our worship and service.

[6:17] And it takes us time and discipline. And a degree of effort. Where John said it's effortless. That doesn't mean to say we have to make an effort to do what we do.

[6:28] Next slide please. God simply calls us to do as Jesus said in this passage. To keep on. Keep on pushing forward.

[6:38] Keep on as we follow him. Keep on crying out to heaven. And one thing certainly I have known for myself. And I'm sure you probably understand it as well.

[6:49] Is we need to know a deeper perfect intimacy with Jesus. If you had been a disciple. And you'd been one of that small band that walked with Jesus so often.

[7:03] You would have had times where you sat around a campfire. Or in someone's home. Or on the side of a mountain. And Jesus taught. But there would be times. Because I know in my case I would want to just say. Jesus can I have a precious word with you.

[7:15] Can I just have a moment. And Jesus would have spoken into that person's life. With an intimacy. And it's an intimacy that God wants us to know.

[7:27] To have that deeper understanding. And when I thought of that. I felt like it was a perfect mix of total surrender to his will. And an insatiable hunger.

[7:38] To be Christ like. Or like Christ. In this broken world. And like that. So that our lives draw broken people.

[7:52] Lost people. To Jesus. And Jesus said keep on. Surrendering. Keep on. Desiring that hunger. To be Christ like.

[8:02] And to know Christ more. Now this picture I've put up there again is. Motorcross. It's a wonderful exciting world if you go there. But each one of those people who are riding those bikes.

[8:14] Will have probably started riding from a very young age. And now because they're older. They know what they're doing. But they're desperate to win that race. But if you look. They're contested with not only.

[8:25] I mean this is just as the bike race has started. There's so many other people. Trying to get to be first. But they're relying on. Their hunger to win.

[8:37] And the desire. To do the best they can do. Based on the bike they're riding. Their experience and so on. And in some ways. God wants us to have.

[8:48] A similar approach to life like that. A deeper intimacy. And a desire. To be Christ like. Like Christ in this broken world. Lord. So as Jesus says.

[8:59] Keep on. He says. Keep on asking. And you will receive. Keep on seeking. And you will find. Keep knocking. And the door will be open to you. All too often. When we speak to folks like that. Or we reflect perhaps on some prayer.

[9:10] We've come up with. Over and over again. And it hasn't worked out the way we want. We kind of stop. But yet Jesus says. No don't stop. Keep praying. Keep asking. Keep seeking.

[9:21] Keep knocking. Be persistent. In our desire. To become like Jesus. Don't ever rest on your laurel. Of where you are as a Christian today. There's so much more to know.

[9:33] Such a greater depth. Of where we should be. And growing him. To get into his word. As John said last week. To pray. To find that time out. I wonder if we've ever knocked so often.

[9:46] Or asked. Or sought so often. That heaven now considers us a nuisance. I think it's highly unlikely. Don't give up. Don't give up on those you've prayed for.

[9:57] Even though some people have prayed for a long time. It's taken a long time. For heaven to open. In regards to that particular thing. Some of you who know. The valleys of the North Yorkshire Moors.

[10:08] Around here. There's. Just some very small little. Hamlets. Between Lelome and Damby. And one of them. I found out many years ago. One house. A man lived there.

[10:18] Who was a Christian. And he prayed for 30 years. That there would be an evangelistic outreach. In the valley of the S valley. 30 years. And he died.

[10:29] Before he saw that come to fruition. But he kept on praying. And as we know. With people who have prayed. For revivals. And so on. That's never been an issue.

[10:39] They've had to pray. On and on and on. Next slide please Josh. So we continue this. Theme that we're going through. To be like Jesus. To become like Jesus.

[10:50] Which we're covering. As much as I can today. And to do what Jesus did. But to be. And to achieve all these things. Are a life on earth process. It's not just.

[11:01] Let's do it this month. Or next year. Or whatever. It's continuous. And it's a joy to do it. Because we see. God moving in our lives. And in this church.

[11:11] And in our communities. And up the valleys. In a way that we've never seen before. So the way to become like Jesus. And this is only one of many. I can't cover all this in one day.

[11:22] Believe me. Or one half an hour. But it's just a way to begin. That the way to become like Jesus. Takes direction. Determination. And declaration. Ephesians chapter 4.

[11:36] Verse 1 to 2. Is a passage of no doubt. Many of you have heard before. But let me break it down. Into 11 points. Just very quickly. Paul says to the Ephesians church.

[11:48] I urge you to walk in a manner. Worthy. Now I would imagine. For many of the Ephesians church. That meant a change of direction. The implication of this is.

[12:01] They're not. And Paul says. This is important. The change of direction. Is such that when you make the change. Keep on the same trajectory.

[12:12] From here on. Don't fall back into your old ways. And turn around again. But walk in a manner. Worthy. Of the calling. To which you've been called. And he says to them.

[12:26] Do it with all humility. And gentleness. Which maybe implies. They haven't always been. Doing it. That way. Have you ever come across somebody. Who is a Christian. But does not have humility.

[12:37] And gentleness. They are the sort of people. That push. The lost away. From Christ. And do it with patience. Bearing with one another.

[12:48] In love. In many relationships. Irrespective of whether it's. Marriage. Or friendship. Or whatever it is. Even in churches. There's often a lot of tension.

[12:59] And irritation. Because people are not loving each other. Or bearing with one another. And doing it in love. Love. And Paul says.

[13:10] Incidentally. Sandy and I never argue. We always. Have discussions. But you can't get around this. You still have to.

[13:21] Do that in love. Eager to maintain. The unity. Of the spirit. And the bond. Of peace. And when it says maintain. That's a set.

[13:33] Direction. Plan. It's a delight. To change. It's so easy for us. Isn't it? When God says. Be obedient. That we resist that sense.

[13:43] Of being obedient. But that was our old life. And it's a delight. To be able to. Submit. And surrender. To God's purpose. Then he finishes off this.

[13:56] By saying. In love. Eager to maintain. The unity. Of the spirit. In the bond. Of peace. It's a wonderful phrase. And has such a lot.

[14:07] For us to learn by. If we are a unified church. If the church you. Visit. From wherever you've come from. Has that sense. Of love. And understanding. And care.

[14:17] That directional change. Will make all the difference. And this direction. That God wants us to be in. To be like Jesus. Is one way. It's one truth.

[14:28] And it's one life. There is no. Boundary. No space. As it were. To have anything else. In your walk with God. To proclaim.

[14:39] That he is the way. The truth. And the life. As he said. Jesus said. Follow me. And I love it. Because the fishermen. Didn't say. Where are we going?

[14:50] How are we going to do it? Who's going to pay for this? Do you have a strategy. And a plan. For what's going to happen next? Jesus says. Just said. Follow me. And even when he said.

[15:02] Follow me. He didn't tell them. How to follow. He just said. Follow me. And the wonderful thing. The Bible says. Is the fishermen. Dropped what they were doing. And followed.

[15:13] They left behind. Their old life. And I love their. Desire to follow. Because they saw something. In Jesus. That nobody else. Had up to that point. Because he hadn't.

[15:25] Revealed it to them. But they kind of. Must have known. That this. Is something. I have never. Experienced before. And it's worthy of me. Letting go of my boat.

[15:35] My nets. My plan. My everyday. Ambitions. And so on. To embark on a new life. In Christ. And they also. Learned. There would be no looking back.

[15:47] Total. Surrender. But in that total surrender. They were completely focused. On what was to come. As they followed Jesus.

[15:59] And when we follow Jesus. He didn't say it specifically. But. It was implied. In so many ways. I'm sure. That there wasn't to be any. Wondering. As you follow. Not that moment.

[16:11] Of to and fro. Well actually. Yeah. We've got to follow. Wholeheartedly. There was to be no. Slouching. In the way we follow.

[16:23] Which means. That. No slouching. Means that we're serious. And we're purposeful. In following Christ. And being like Christ. And no dragging our feet.

[16:36] If you drag your feet. About something. You're not engaged. And it reminds me. Of when I was six years old. With my family. We'd gone to North Wales. To a farm. Which we spent a lot of our lives on. Great place.

[16:47] But one day. We decided. Or dad decided. We were going to climb. A mountain. Now bearing in mind. I went on to become a mountaineer. This wasn't a good start. For a mountaineer. One of these mountains.

[16:58] It wasn't very big. But to a six year old. It was pretty big. And I was kind of. Not committed to this plan. To walk to the top of this mountain. And I can't imagine it. But I think I moaned.

[17:09] Endlessly. About. I don't want to go there. I don't want to do this. And my dad said. Well in that case. You sit on this rock. And don't move. I did. But he didn't really know. And then they walked on ahead.

[17:21] To the top of the mountain. And they came back down. And I missed the view. And I missed the fun. But I was so grumpy as a kid. That's not how God wants us to be.

[17:33] You know. See we're easy for us as Christians. In a church. In a fellowship. In a Christian organization. Or just on our own. To mumble and groan. And be grumpy. And sit on a rock.

[17:44] And say. And I'm going no further. And miss out on so much. So the second point. Becoming like Jesus. Takes determination. Determination is required to succeed.

[17:56] And whatever it takes. To endure willingly. To the end. If you want to be like Jesus. Which is what Jesus wants us to be. Then we must. Be determined.

[18:08] And not just determined. On certain good days of the week. Or however we feel like it. But wake up each day. And say. This day. I'm going to follow you Lord. In fact. Jesus made it so.

[18:18] Clear in Luke 9. 23. And I've written right. Reading it from the amplified version. Just adds a little bit more. Which I think helps. Jesus said. If anyone wishes to follow me. As my disciple.

[18:29] He must deny himself. And set aside. Selfish interests. And take up his or her. Cross. Daily. Not just on the days you feel like it.

[18:40] Or on the good days. And express a willingness. To endure whatever may come. And follow me. Believing in me. Conforming to my example.

[18:51] In living. Becoming like Jesus. And if need be. Suffering or perhaps dying. Because of faith in me. Now the end of that verse. Is quite scary. But one day.

[19:02] Even in the UK. We may have to stand up. In our faith and belief. And suffer and die for the faith. That we believe in Christ. Many, many people. In many countries at the moment.

[19:14] Do that as an everyday. Life style. And to follow with determination. Means to choose. This daily. To take up.

[19:25] Our cross. Not just talk about it. Determined. And refusing to be. Distracted. And denying ourselves. We are blinkered to the worthless.

[19:37] Treasures. The world offers. Because all too often. That's what detracts. From our walk with God. And it may even be. The opinion of others.

[19:48] Or the reputation. That we want to have. In the world. Just put that aside. That's not what. Taking up. Our cross. And following him.

[19:59] Means. Matthew 6. 20. Jesus said. Store your treasures up in heaven. Where moths and rust. Can't destroy. And thieves don't break in and steal. But here's a test.

[20:10] Of whether we're doing that. In our walk with God. Are we. Hanging on to things of this world. Or are we truly. Storing up treasures in heaven. Randy O'Connor. Christian author said. Each day brings us closer to death.

[20:23] And if your treasures here on earth. That mean. If your treasures. Sorry. Are on earth. That means. Each day. Brings you closer to losing your treasures.

[20:35] Or are we. Looking forward to heaven. In a whole different way. Dwight L. Moody said. If Jesus bore the cross. And died on it for me.

[20:46] Ought I to be willing. To take it up for him. To conform to his likeness. And live a life that counts. Of course. And the narrow road.

[20:56] That Jesus speaks of. Has boundaries on either side. It's narrow. And if we ignore the boundaries of grace. For our benefit.

[21:07] We'll always involve consequences. That end badly. Don't ever walk. In such a manner. You can see how close to the edge of a cliff you can walk. Walk well away from it.

[21:19] For that's the place of safety. But equally. In this. Desire and determination. Determined to keep going. Despite any obstacles. We may find on the path.

[21:31] We may find at our feet. On that road. That there are things. The enemy has put in our position. That would detract from what we're doing. And also be aware.

[21:41] I think that despite. Anyone. Inviting us. To take a path. That's beyond the boundary. God has set. When young people go off to university. Or they leave home.

[21:52] And do things. They may have lived. Their life up to that point. In a certain way. That was so honorable to God. But then. They're surrounded often by people. Who want to just draw them away.

[22:03] Even say. These folks may say. I'm a Christian. It'll be alright. Just come and join me. Do this. Do that. And it detracts from church. It detracts from their. Walk with God. From their see you. We're so overwhelmed with joy.

[22:14] To see Sophie. Standing up. The day she arrived. For who she is in Christ. And people have said. That they won't. Ask her to compromise. They're compromising their own life.

[22:25] To come with her to church. Well done Sophie. Keep going kiddo. That's when she needs our prayers. And then the third point here. Is welcoming. Becoming like Jesus. Takes declaration.

[22:36] And this to me. Is probably one of the most important. That I've had to learn. See Jesus declared who he was. And the words he spoke. He proclaimed truth.

[22:46] And he did what his father. Directed him to do. Mark 10 45 says. That Jesus said. For even the son of man. Didn't come to be served. But to serve. And to give his life.

[22:58] As a ransom for many. In John 10 30 says. I. Jesus said. I and the father are one. If you've seen me. You've seen the father. He was declaring. He was the Messiah.

[23:09] He was declaring. He's the savior of the world. And in his declaration. He also led by his example. And these are just. Five brief points. He prayed.

[23:19] He prayed in a quiet place. While carrying out his ministry. Because to him. It was. And should be to us. Such. An important. Aspect. Of everyday life.

[23:30] A crucial part. Of his life. He performed miracles. As God gave him. Enabled him. To do so. He faced. He was one. Who faced. Challenges.

[23:41] And trials. And he wouldn't let people. Confront him. With evil. And hypocrisy. And be put down. But he challenged them. And he was willing to pay. Even for our sin.

[23:51] On Calvary's cross. He declared who he was. And then by his example. He lived. That lifestyle. As it were. That followed with.

[24:02] That declaration. Now I found. When I declare. To the world. I'm a Christian. A follower of Jesus. My direction. And my determination. Are now set.

[24:14] In other words. If I went somewhere. Maybe for a holiday. In a hotel. And I never told anybody. I was a Christian. When I got there. It gives me a few. Escape routes. It gives me the opportunity.

[24:25] Because nobody knows. Who I am. And what I am. I am a Christian. I can live my life. However I want. But if during that week's holiday. I suddenly. Let people know. I was a Christian. They'd stand back and say.

[24:36] Well. You haven't lived the life. For the last few days. The way you've been. I think it's far better. For us to declare. Right from the word go.

[24:47] To our neighbours. To our workplace. To wherever we are. That we are. A Christian. A follower of Jesus. And then we're set. On a route. And we can't take that back. Next slide please.

[24:58] But when I've declared. That I'm a Christian. I become aware. That people are watching me. That the world watches me. And incidentally. Expects me to live.

[25:09] How they think Jesus lived. And the sad thing of all. I think is. The world expects. A higher standard of us. Than sadly we do. For ourselves. Sometimes.

[25:20] We don't aspire. To be. As. Deep in commitment. To God. As they would expect. Or necessarily. God would ask us. It's not a bad motivation.

[25:31] Is it? I think I've spoken. Once before. About this. But there was a gang member. I heard of in America. Who became a Christian. And his lifestyle. As a Christian. When he got saved.

[25:41] Was so completely. The opposite. To what the gang. He was part of. Would expect of him. And he went. To the leader of the gang. And said. Look. I've become a Christian.

[25:52] And the gang. Lifestyle. Is no longer for me. I can't live like this. And he said. I want to leave. And the gang member. Said. Okay. If you leave. We'll take you out.

[26:02] Into the desert now. And shoot you. And bury you. Or. If you'd prefer. I'll give you another option. And the other option. Was. That he would assign. Two. Members of the gang.

[26:13] To follow him. Every single day. For a year. Go everywhere he goes. To see. If he's serious. About this new.

[26:23] Life in Christ. Follower of Jesus. That he says he is. And he then said. If you don't turn up. At the Bible study. The prayer meeting. The church. Whatever it is.

[26:34] Or you falter in your walk. That you say you now have. Then we'll shoot you. And bury you in the desert. He chose the second option. And two people were assigned. To be with him.

[26:45] This is a true story. But I can't tell you. What gang it was. But within the year. The two people. Who came with him. To church. Bible study. Prayer meeting. Became Christians.

[26:58] So three of them had to leave. And the leader of the gang. Did not assign anybody else. To the two new Christians. But wonderful. Just shows. Just shows. How when our life.

[27:09] Is completely. Dedicated. To the lifestyle. Of Christ. How that can make. Such a difference. So the world. As I said. Expects me to live like Jesus.

[27:19] And you as well. Incidentally. And I just wanted to break this down. Into five points. Just to round this off. That the. Lifestyle. My conversation. My choices.

[27:29] My reaction to things. And my compassion. The world expects me. In all these regards. And so many more. To live. And be. How.

[27:41] They anticipate. Jesus. Would have been. I wonder if any of you. Have worn that badge. With the letters. That represent. What would Jesus do. It became such a big.

[27:51] Kind of. Almost movement. Didn't it. At one time. But it was a good. Reminder. That. In every situation. If you look at this. What would Jesus do now.

[28:02] And I'm sure. Many people. Sort of. Hit it under. Their sleeve. Because they didn't. Necessarily. Want to. React. Or have a lifestyle. And everything else. Exactly as Jesus would.

[28:12] But it was a good way to go. There was another one. Incidentally. Called. Prayer until something happens. Push. I've never forgotten. Meeting. A young guy.

[28:23] I think he was about. 11 or 12 years old. He was a pastor's. Son. A lovely. Young man. And he was on one of the camps. I ran. When I was a youth leader. Many years ago. And.

[28:33] I hadn't seen. Push before. And I said to him. What's that all about? And he said. When I go to school. I get bullied. Because I'm a pastor's kid. But also. I get bullied. Because I'm a Christian.

[28:45] But he said. I want to love. The people. Who are bullying me. This is an 11 year old kid. And he said. Push means. Pray until something happens. And he said.

[28:56] Every day. When they bully me. I pray for them. I pray for them. I pray for them. Just Jesus says. Keep on doing it. Keep knocking. Keep asking. Keep seeking. I pray for them. And he said.

[29:06] It helps me. To know that Jesus. Is going through this with me. And he prayed. For those kids. I was in tears. By the end of this young man's life. Story.

[29:17] That he shared with me. It was wonderful. We can learn. We can learn so much more. Can't we? From younger people. And how they react. They just take. What the Bible says. So often. And do it.

[29:27] So the world expects us to. Be like Jesus. In our lifestyle. In our interests. Is there anything. That jars.

[29:38] With our walk with God. In our opinions. And we share them. Don't we? In our behavior. In general. Is there anything. Anything about our conduct.

[29:49] That in any circumstance. That we need to change. Because the world sees it. And I've said before. And I say it so often. To everybody in CMA. That whatever our lifestyle is.

[30:00] The way ever we conduct ourselves. The people who are looking. Want our walk with God. To be true. So they can put their own trust in God. As we have. It's one thing to say.

[30:10] You're a Christian. But it's another. To share that truth. With others. So our lifestyle. Our interest. Opinions. Behavior. The way I conduct myself. In all circumstances. Need to be like Christ.

[30:26] Am I the same at home? Work? And in the company of friends? Is my conversation. My behavior. My interests.

[30:37] When I share them with people outside. The same. Brian and Beverly live a mile. Up the road. In a village. Of Rob. Who we shared with you. Passed into glory.

[30:48] Only a week or so back. Great. Great friend of ours. And his wife. Sandra. Always said about Rob. That whoever you see at home. Because I spend. So many times. Staying in their home. Or on. Mission with CMA.

[31:00] Or at his church. Or wherever he was doing. He was exactly. The same man. And I wonder. If we could say that. Of ourselves. When I was a young Christian.

[31:11] I was still. I was a police officer. As you probably know. And. A new guy. Joined our team. And we were. Six of us. We sat around a table. And somebody brought up. The idea of having the Christmas do.

[31:23] And this guy. Who just joined. He came from. A completely different station. He only really. He just was getting to know. I was a Christian. Because he'd only been there. A couple of days. Literally.

[31:33] And he said. So what are we going to do. For the Christmas do? He was all up for. Organizing it. He said. How about we all. Because we're all guys. At that particular time. He said. How about we all go to a strip club. And have a meal.

[31:44] Afterwards. And I sat there. And I just looked. And I didn't say a word. And I'm glad I didn't. Because somebody else said. If you do that. Mike won't come. So that's. Idea scrapped. Let's do.

[31:55] A restaurant. Or something of that nature. Instead. Wonderful. Paul wrote to Titus. In chapter 2.

[32:06] And verse 12. He said. We're instructed to turn. From godless living. And sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world. With wisdom. Righteousness. And devotion to God.

[32:16] Nothing should detract us. From this root. That God has called us to. And nothing in our lifestyle. Ever should. And I'm not saying that's easy. But it does. It is something with God.

[32:27] That we're able to do. And. Whenever. Somebody has come and said. Am I allowed to do this? Should I do this? As a Christian? I think the best. Response to that.

[32:38] Is always to ourselves. Give God the benefit. Of the doubt. Always. Err. On the not. If you're asking the question. Then secondly. Not only our lifestyle.

[32:48] But our conversation. Is my language. Christlike. Am I critical. When I speak to people. Judgmental. And gentle. Engaging. Encouraging. And kind. One extreme.

[33:00] One part of the spectrum. To another. Do I speak truth. Into people's lives. Like Christ did. Do I swear. I'm amazed. How many Christians think. It's almost like. Having a little white lie.

[33:11] Doesn't matter. Some people think. Some swear words. Don't matter. They do. The Bible makes it so clear. About that. And in this passage. That we started with.

[33:22] Jesus said. Do to others. What you would like them. To do to you. So don't judge. Don't be critical. Choose your language. Be Christlike. In everything we do. And say.

[33:34] And if we haven't done this before. Today is the day to start. It's a wonderful thing. And then the next point. The world expects us. To be like Jesus. In our choices. How do we make choices.

[33:45] To do the things we do. Do my choices promote me. Or Jesus. Do we seek to be first. And want others to acknowledge.

[33:55] Our achievements at work. Or in the home. Or wherever it happens to be. And that's so important. To church life. As well as everything else. In our lives. And also the world expects.

[34:08] Me to be like Jesus. In my reactions to things. How do I react to difficulties. Trauma. Or fear that we face. Is Jesus our first thought.

[34:19] Or our last resort. And does our faith. Comfort our fears. And the fears of others. Do we say. When. Or did we say.

[34:30] When a COVID pandemic. Hit the world. That with this. We can. With Jesus. We can get through this. That's going to make the difference. Did we offer to pray. And should we offer to pray.

[34:40] Even now today. For people who are. Unsure about. What's happening with their. Funds and. Costs and everything. Just looks like the world. Is spiraling downhill. But this is the time.

[34:51] We should be standing up. Even more. Not with arrogance. But with love. And to share. The reality of Christ. And finally. The last point here. In this section. The world expects us.

[35:01] To be like Jesus. In our compassion. More so in our compassion. Than anything else. How do I react. To pain. And suffering. Of others. Matthew 14.

[35:15] 14. Says Jesus looked upon the crowds. And had. Compassion. On them. Then he healed their sick. Where Jesus looked upon the crowd.

[35:28] Who were hungry. And on the side of a mountain. Where they had no resources at all. Jesus had compassion on them. And they miraculously fed them. Next slide. Finish please.

[35:38] Sir Josh. It's so important. That we live a life. Our conversation. Our choices. Our reactions. Our compassion. Are in. A Christ-like manner.

[35:50] To make an impression. On this world. Now a disciple. A disciple. Is simply an apprentice. Of Jesus. And like all apprenticeships.

[36:00] It involves learning. Training. Lots of practice. Making mistakes. And occasional successes. And in many ways. Josh. Josh of all trades. As we call him. He's an apprentice.

[36:10] To his granddad. And I'm sure there's been a lot of learning. A lot of patience needed. From both of you. A lot of training. A lot of practice. I'm sure. Josh has made mistakes. But also grown.

[36:21] Because of what he's done. We've seen that. And there's been many successes. But if Josh or we. Approached our walk with God. Our desire to be more.

[36:32] Christ-like. And said. At the first hurdle that we fell. I can't do this. And never got up again. We'd still be what we were. Rather than what God wants us to be.

[36:44] We're allowed to make mistakes. We're allowed to get up again. We're allowed to practice. We're allowed to learn off one another. We're allowed to be trained.

[36:55] And encouraged. Encouraged more than anything. Because then. Will we succeed. Now 2 Peter 1. 5 and 8. Says this. Jesus says to the disciples.

[37:08] Supplement your faith. With a generous portion. Or provision. Sorry. Of moral excellence. And moral excellence. With knowledge. And knowledge. With self-control.

[37:19] And your self-control. With patient endurance. And patient endurance. With godliness. And godliness. With brotherly affection. And brotherly affection. With love for everyone. And it goes on to say.

[37:32] That the more you grow like this. The more productive. And useful. You will be. In your knowledge. Of our lord Jesus Christ. In other words. As we become. More Christ-like.

[37:43] There can be no deviation. From this direction. This determination. And declaration. And although there are many others. I would say. Put these as headings. For each day of our lives.

[37:54] To learn. That we will keep the direction. God wants us to go. To be determined. And not deterred. And to declare to people. From the word go. That we are a Christian.

[38:05] And we are following Christ. And that we desire. To be Christ-like. I wonder how many of our near neighbors. Actually even know we exist. Than that we are Christian. If we display a fish sign.

[38:19] On our car. Or door. Is our lifestyle. Standing up to that. I get to ride a lot of miles. On my motorcycle.

[38:29] As I am going to various events. And sometimes I come across cars. With the fish sign on the back. And I am riding. And as I come up alongside them. I give them a wave. They can see a big white cross.

[38:40] On my back. So it kind of stands out. And as I do. It becomes apparent. By their reaction. That they bought the car. And it still got a sticker on. But has absolutely nothing to do. With them being a Christian. We are going to declare to the world.

[38:53] We have to live a lifestyle. Completely. A loving lifestyle. That changes people's lives. And to finish. Dallas Willard. Said this. The most important thing.

[39:03] In your life. Is not what you do. It's who we become. We want. I hope to become. More like Christ.

[39:14] To become Christ-like. And then he goes on. To finish with saying. That's. What we will take. Into eternity. And I would add to that. That we will leave. A wonderful legacy behind us.

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