For the things we see are temporal but the things that are not seen are eternal
We walk by faith not sight
Genuine Fake
“Imitation or Imitators?”
” Now when you think of imitation I am sure all kinds of cheap replicas come to mind…
Imitation Wood Grain
Imitation Leather
Imitation Orange Juice
We buy imitation because of the price it costs us, and so at first glance people might be sold on the idea that it is real.
But if you hang around imitation long you find that it is simply a cheap replica of something greater.
God is calling each one of us to be greater than this.
God is calling us not to be cheap replicas of plastic and particle board but an Authentic Representations of the Son of God.
Illus:
Pastor Mark Thompson of Faribault, Minnesota, suffered terrible knife wounds from an assailant in his home, in October 1988. One of the many consequences of his difficult recovery was being forced to miss watching his son Chris run in the state cross-country championship meet. Pastor Thompson commissioned his brother Merv to go in his stead.
According to the account in the St. Paul Pioneer Press & Dispatch, Mark told his brother, “I can’t be there to see Chris run. So I want you there at the beginning of the race. Holler a lot. … Then at the end, I want you to really cheer loudly. And I want you to make your voice sound like mine.”
Merv heeded the advice, and Chris ran a strong race, finishing second. Merv, also a pastor, discerned the theological truth in the story. “That’s what Jesus wants us to do.” he said. “Make your voice sound like mine.”
Ephesians 5… Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Jesus’ Disciples were commanded to be imitators of Christ…
Matt 10:5-15
Verse :40 received you received me
He asked them to do several things
1) Preach the message: “The Kingdom of Heaven is Near”
2) Heal the sick
3) Raise the dead
4) Cleanse those who have leprosy
5) Drive out demons.
6) Freely you have received, freely give.
7) Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; 10take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.
Then Jesus gives them an incredible promise in
John 14:11-15 if they are faith to be imitators of Him.
We cannot be imitators of God in our own power. In our own strength at best we can only be a cheap replica that might fool people at first glance. Jesus goes on to say in John 14 that they way in which we truly will be imitators of Him is have the Holy Spirit at work within us.
John 14:15-17
It is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that we can truly be an authentic representation of the power of God.
Now notice I did not say substitute.
We never were called to substitute for Christ.Those who substitute themselves for God in peoples lives prove themselves to be cheap replicas. How many ministries have fallen over into this trap. Taking credit for what God has done instead of simply representing the power of God.
God allows us to share “partakers” in many things with him…
- Grace: Phil 1:7
- Kingdom: Col 1:12
- Holiness: Heb 12 :10
- Glory: 2 Thes 2:14
- Sufferings: Rom 8:17
Many things that He shares with us…but one thing he will not share and that is his Majesty and Lordship.
He demands that we point people to Him and not to us.
He demands that we build His kingdom and not our own.
He demands that we be an authentic representation and not a cheap replica.
He demands that we be imitators and not imitation.
So how do we do this…I believe the Bible gives us some help on this.
1) Pursue God
Eph 5:1,2
- a) Live as dearly loved children
- b) Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
2) Flee the World
Eph 5:3-14
vv7 “Do not partner with the world”
Close
Our world is filled with cheap replicas…imitations of something greater.
Imitations come into being because there is a market for something that looks like the truth, but a lack of desire to pay the price for
authenticity.
2 Tim 3:1-5
“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.”
God is calling each one of us to be greater than this.
God is calling us not to be cheap replicas of plastic and particle board but an Authentic Representation of the Son of God. What are you made of this morning?
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POV
Anahahm and Isaac
You don’t know the future like God does. You have to understand the difference between temptation and a trial.
A trial is for the purpose of purifying us and strengthening us
-a test
Your family maybe experiencing a trial or a temptation. You need to be spiritual enough to discern.
Temptation is for the purpose of enticing us to sin to pollute us and weaken us
Your faith is on trial!
God gives instructions when He gives direction contrary to your belief system.
Starting this assembly.
3 Perspectives or POV
1 father
- Mother
- Child
Tested
Trial
Temptations
Your lack understanding of what God wants you to do is not an acceptable excuse to not do it.
Hebrews 11:19
When Abraham heard the voice of the angel – I’m sure he shouted and danced
It was not his voice
It was not Sarah’s voice
It was not Isaac’s voice
Look at the blessing!
We never loose when we obey God!
Sometimes we get in a hurry
“If I don’t marry her I’ll never get married”
God has already thought ahead of time of what we will gain or loose in the future.
