My Authority
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.
He gave us His Blood:
Matthew 26:28 - for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Mark 14:24 - And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.
Luke 22:20 - And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
John 6:54 - Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
He gave us His Spirit:
Matthew 3:11 - “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Mark 1:8 - I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
John 14:26 - But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
John 20:22 - And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:4 - And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
He gave us His power:
Acts 1:8 - But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Matthew 9:8 - When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
Matthew 10:1 - 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.
Luke 9:1 - And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases,
John 1:12 - But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
He gave us His Life:
Matthew 20:28 - even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
John 1:4 - In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
John 3:15 - that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 6:48 - I am that bread of life.
How then can it be that with all that has been given to us that we so poorly imitate Christ our Lord? Remember from above? How close are you to Him? How is your practice going? Are you really using all that He gave to you? Examine yourself in light of this message and aspire to be less like you, and more like Jesus.