following the steps of jesus

Following The Steps Of Jesus

1 Pet 2:20-23 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it

patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is

commendable before God. {21} For to this you were called, because Christ also

suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: {22} "Who

committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth"; {23} who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered,

He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;

FOLLOWING JESUS’ STEPSA. Jesus left us an example that we should

follow in His steps.B. In the context of 1 Pet 2:20-23 it is talking

about His suffering.C. We are to follow Jesus in other areas too.D. We are to walk as Jesus walked - 1 John 2:5-6

But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

E. Let’s look at some ways we should follow in Jesus’ steps.

I. FOLLOW JESUS' STEPS IN GROWTH

A. (Luke 2:52) And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

B. GROW IN WISDOM - (James 3:17-18) But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. {18} Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.


C. GROW IN STATURE - (Eph 4:11-16) And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, {12} for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, {13} till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; {14} that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, {15} but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head; Christ; {16} from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.


D. GROW IN FAVOR WITH GOD - (1 Th 4:1-2) Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; {2} for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

I. FOLLOW JESUS' STEPS IN GROWTHE. GROW IN FAVOR WITH MAN - (Rom 14:12-19) So then each

of us shall give account of himself to God. {13} Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way. {14} I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. {15} Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. {16} Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; {17} for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. {18} For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. {19} Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

II. FOLLOW JESUS' STEPS IN BAPTISM

A. (Mark 1:9-11) It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. {10} And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. {11} Then a voice came from heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”


B. REQUIRED FOR JESUS EVEN THOUGH HE WAS SINLESS - (Mat 3:13-15) Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. {14} And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?" {15} But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him.


C. REQUIRED FOR US BECAUSE WE ARE SINFUL - (Acts 2:38) Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

III. FOLLOW JESUS' STEPS IN HANDLING TEMPTATION

A. (Mat 4:1-11) Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. {2} And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. {3} Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." {4} But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'" {5} Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, {6} and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: 'He shall give His angels charge over you,' and, 'In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone >>>


{7} Jesus said to him, "It is written again, 'You shall not tempt the LORD your God.'" {8} Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. {9} And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me." {10} Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.'" {11} Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

B. JESUS ANSWERED EACH TEMPTATION WITH "IT IS WRITTEN”


C. GOD'S WORD IS ONE OF OUR GREATEST WEAPONS AGAINST SATAN - (Eph 6:13-18) Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. {14} Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth. having put on the breastplate of righteousness, {15} and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace, {16} above all, taking the shield of faithwith which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. {17} And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, {18} praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints;

IV. FOLLOW JESUS' STEPS TO WORSHIP GOD

A. (Luke 4:16) So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.

B. JESUS TOOK AN ACTIVE ROLL IN THE ORGANIZED WORSHIP OF GOD

C. WE ALSO ARE TO BE ACTIVE IN THE ASSEMBLIES OF THE CHURCH - (Heb 10:25) not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

V. FOLLOW JESUS' STEPS INTO THE FIELD OF SERVICE

A. (Acts 10:38) "how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

B. JESUS SERVED BY HELPING1. HEALING THE SICK AND INFIRMED - (Mat 8:16-

17) When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, {17} that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: "He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.”


2. FEEDING THE HUNGRY - (Mat 15:32-37) Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, "I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way." {33} Then His disciples said to Him, "Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?“>>>


{34} Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?" And they said, "Seven, and a few little fish." {35} So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. {36} And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude. {37} So they all ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left.


3. SEEKING THE LOST - (Luke 19:10) "for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

C. WE ARE TO SERVE BY HELPING…1. THE SICK - (James 5:14-15) Is anyone

among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. {15} And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.


2. THE HUNGRY - (James 2:15-17) If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, {16} and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? {17} Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

3. THE LOST - (James 5:19-20) Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, {20} let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.


D. WE SERVE CHRIST BY SERVING OTHERS - (Mat 25:34-40) "Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: {35} 'for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; {36} 'I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' {37} "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? {38} 'When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? {39} 'Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' {40} "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

ARE YOU FOLLOWING IN THE STEPS OF JESUS?

A. In His growth?

B. In His baptism?

C. In His handling temptation?D. In His worship?

E. In his serving?

TONIGHT’S SERMONFIRST OF ALL (4)

following the steps of jesus

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