The Born Again Trail teaching cont'd...
"Who are you acting like?" Part 1 of 2
I Corinthians 11:1
Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. KJV
Be imitators of me,as I am of Christ. ESV
Ephesians 5:1
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
Walk in Love
Therefore be imitators of God, as dear children.
Have you seen people that can impersonate others? They can speak and act just like i.e. John Wayne or other famous people....Rich Little comes to mind if you are old enough to know who I am talking about!
In order to do that they have to know nuances, mannerisms, speech patterns and so on. In other words you have to be in close proximity to them and study that person. then it becomes a matter of practice, practice, practice. Some people are more difficult to copy than others for various reasons.
For some of you a sports figure has been the person you tried to emulate(success).For others maybe it is a parent or relative that you try to emulate. What you must realize is that you have to get all the traits needed to effectively imitate that person. It requires your time and effort.
Now lets apply this according to our foundation verses. In following Christ, we are to emulate or imitate Him.
The significant difference is that our Lord Jesus has freely given all the "things" needed to copy Him in life, in marriage, in relationships, in work, in play, in ministry.
He gave us his name:
John 14:13 - Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
John 14:14 - If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
John 15:16 - You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, He may give it to you.
John 16:23 - In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, He will give it to you.
He gave us authority:
Matthew 10:1 (The Twelve apostles) And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.
Mark 6:7 - (Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles) And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.
Luke 9:1 - (Jesus sends out the Twelve Apostles) And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases,
Luke 10:19 - Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.