OceanSide church of Christ

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Part of the series: LIVE LIKE JESUS
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I WANT TO LIVE LIKE JESUS (4)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   For the Christian, Jesus is his model, example, or pattern.

1.     We want to think like Christ (Phil. 2:5).

2.    We want to walk in His steps (I Pet. 2:21).

3.     We want to live as He lived (Gal. 2:20).

 

B.   This is a noble undertaking for those who seriously intend to be like Christ.

 

C.   We hope that all who are members of the church at OceanSide are serious in striving to be like Jesus.  We have presented three lessons thus far in an attempt to help us become more like Jesus.

 

D.   Today, we will present the last lesson in our series entitled:  “I Want to Live Like Jesus.”

 

I.          CHRIST WAS A MAN OF FERVENT PRAYER

 

A.   Jesus definitely taught others to pray.

1.     Matthew 6:9

 

After this manner therefore pray ye:  Our Father which are in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

 

2.    Luke 18:1

 

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.

 

3.     He taught the following things about prayer to His disciples:

a.    Where to pray (Matt. 6:5-6)

b.    Who to pray for (Matt. 5:44)

c.    Faith in prayer (Mark 11:24)

d.    When to pray (Luke 21:36)

e.    Attitudes to have in prayer (Luke 18:10-14)

 

B.   Jesus did not just teach about prayer, but he participated in prayer.

1.      Luke 5:16

 

And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

 

2.    Luke 6:12

 

And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

 

3.     Luke 9:18

 

And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him...

 

4.    Luke 9:29

 

And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.

 

5.    He prayed for Peter (Luke 22:31-32).

 

And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:  but I have prayed for thee, that they faith fail not:  and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

 

6.    We have recorded Jesus’ high priestly prayer in John 17 (John 17:1).

 

These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, The hour is come…

 

7.    We are also familiar with Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matt. 26:39, 42, 44; Heb. 5:7).

 

Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him what was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared.

 

C.   We need to become people of fervent prayer if we are going to be like Jesus.

1.     We need to pray constantly (I Thess. 5:17).

2.    We need to pray in faith (James 1:5-8).

3.     We need to pray fervently (James 5:16).

4.    We need to pray with humility (Luke 18:14).

5.    We need to pray with specific requests (Phil 4:6).

 

D.   Let’s turn off the TV, come in from outside, get off the games, quit checking FB, hang up the phone, and enter into our closets and pray (Matt. 6:6).

 

II.        JESUS WAS A MAN OF LOVE

 

A.   There are many things that Jesus loved that we could discuss.

1.     He loved God supremely.

2.    He loved the truth of God’s Word.

3.     He loved others.

a.    The rich young ruler (Mark 10:21)

 

Then Jesus beholding him, loved him…

 

 

b.    Mary, Martha, and Lazarus (John 11:5).

 

Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.

 

c.    The disciple “whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23)

 

Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.

 

d.    All the disciples (John 15:12)

 

This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you.

 

B.   Some of the traits of Jesus’ love:  genuine, kind, firm, faithful, expectant, accountability, discipline, action, and sacrificial.

 

C.   As Jesus loved, so must we.

1.     John 13:34

 

A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

 

2.    Ephesians 5:2

 

And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering an a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

 

3.     I Peter 1:22

 

…see that ye loved one another with a pure heart fervently.

 

III.      JESUS WAS WILLING TO SACRIFICE ALL

 

A.   Philippians 2:5-8

 

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  who, being in the form of God,

thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  but made himself of no reputation, and took

upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  and being found in

fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of

the cross.

 

1.     In Jesus’ pre-existent state, He was just like God.

2.    However, He did not think that this was something to hold on to (thought it not robbery).  In His human state, he was flesh.  He had to learn.  He could be tempted by Satan.

3.     Instead, he took upon Him the form of a servant and was made like man.

4.    One of the purposes of His coming was to humble Himself and die upon the cross of Calvary.

 

5.    Luke 23:49

 

And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit:  and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

 

B.   There are at least 12 verses in the New Testament that used the word “died” in reference to Jesus’ dying for us.

1.     I Corinthians 15:3

 

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures.

 

2.    II Corinthians 5:15

 

And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

 

C.   Death is the ultimate sacrifice.  Would you be willing to sacrifice all as Jesus did?

1.     Two verses:

a.    Revelation 2:10b

 

…be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

 

b.    Revelation 12:11

 

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

 

2.    Are you really willing to sacrifice all?

a.    It is easy to say “yes” when we know death is not really a possibility for us.

b.    If we are truly living for Him with all we have, then the chances are good that we would also die for Him.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   Pray, love, and sacrifice all.  These are actions that Jesus engaged in that we are to follow.  These are high callings.  Each time we do these things, we are walking in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.

 

B.   I John 2:6

 

He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

 

1.     Do you abide in Jesus?

a.    If you are not “in Christ,” you do not abide in Him (Gal. 3:27).

b.    If you are not in His body, the church, you do not abide in Him (I Cor. 12:13).

2.    If you say you are “in Him,” are you really walking as He walked?