1 00:00:09,880 --> 00:00:12,880 Welcome to the podcast of the White Church in Adelaide, South 2 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:14,960 Australia. Thank you, Leon. 3 00:00:15,120 --> 00:00:16,520 For praying. Thanks, Stan. 4 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:18,480 For those who are new. Yeah, my name is. 5 00:00:18,920 --> 00:00:22,040 Justin, we've actually been here for a year now, which is pretty 6 00:00:22,040 --> 00:00:26,960 phenomenal, which is super cool. It is a testimony to God's grace 7 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:29,640 and His goodness. Obviously we have our four young 8 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:31,880 children. One of them was born into. 9 00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:35,200 The church, which is very. Cool and our three that love 10 00:00:35,200 --> 00:00:37,480 this house. They pray continually whenever 11 00:00:37,480 --> 00:00:39,320 we ask. And what are you going to pray 12 00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:40,240 for? And they're like, we're going to 13 00:00:40,240 --> 00:00:41,840 pray for church. We're going to pray for Dave and 14 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:42,880 Hillary. We're going to pray for the 15 00:00:42,880 --> 00:00:44,560 people they call you guys by name. 16 00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:48,360 When we're praying, even in our community group, they'll be 17 00:00:48,360 --> 00:00:49,280 like, we're going to pray for the. 18 00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:51,280 When we take them to bed, they're like, we're going to 19 00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:52,520 pray for Karen. And we're going to pray for 20 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:54,120 Michael. We're going to pray for Colin 21 00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:57,040 and for Pete and for Karen and the other Karen. 22 00:00:57,200 --> 00:00:58,440 Yeah. There's too many Karens in our 23 00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:00,720 community group. But they love this. 24 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:03,680 And so we have the privilege of being. 25 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:07,560 I guess what I would term a double time elder otherwise 26 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:09,880 other people I call it bivocation world or whatever. 27 00:01:10,360 --> 00:01:12,000 Effectively we. Have two full time jobs. 28 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:15,160 I work. For local government in IT. 29 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:19,240 And we serve full time here as elders as well. 30 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:22,440 Which is an absolute privilege I was sharing at the pre service. 31 00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:24,320 Prayer meeting just the the. Privilege of being. 32 00:01:24,320 --> 00:01:27,680 Called into God's house, and to serve him, we. 33 00:01:27,840 --> 00:01:29,760 Have been preaching out of Ephesians 310. 34 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:32,040 You know his. Intent is through the church and 35 00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:35,000 there's nothing. More I consider there's nothing 36 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:37,720 more worth. My time and my effort than to 37 00:01:37,720 --> 00:01:42,440 give to what he is building and Paul writes in one Timothy 112. 38 00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:45,000 He says I thank him who has given me strength. 39 00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:48,280 Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, 40 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:52,800 appointing me to his service and I just that's one of my life 41 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:56,000 verses kind of going man. I mean, I don't think I consider 42 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:58,280 myself that faithful, but for some reason he does. 43 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:00,320 And he called me into his service. 44 00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:03,600 And I, I marvel at that every time we stand up here, every 45 00:02:03,600 --> 00:02:06,640 time we rock up here, every time we we read his word, I'm like, 46 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:08,120 you've called me into your service. 47 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:09,880 I probably. Wouldn't choose me. 48 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:13,880 I know my faults and He knows more of my faults than I know, 49 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:17,520 and yet He called me into his service and it's by His grace. 50 00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:19,760 Isn't that amazing? Aren't you glad that you're 51 00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:20,160 here? This. 52 00:02:20,160 --> 00:02:23,440 Morning part of his service. Not part of any man's service, 53 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:26,320 any man's organization or building or structure. 54 00:02:26,320 --> 00:02:28,920 We're part of what he's doing and what a. 55 00:02:28,920 --> 00:02:31,680 Privilege that the. Almighty God of all creation 56 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:35,200 would look down and say I choose you to be part of what I'm doing 57 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:37,680 in the earth. I choose you to be a Co labourer 58 00:02:37,920 --> 00:02:39,840 with me. Not just to walk. 59 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:42,800 With me, but to work with me in what I'm doing in the earth. 60 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:44,920 What a privilege. Hey, what a privilege. 61 00:02:44,920 --> 00:02:47,720 And we received a message yesterday from the church that 62 00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:50,400 released us to come here and and partner with you guys. 63 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:52,520 And as I say, it was. One year didn't. 64 00:02:52,520 --> 00:02:55,320 Realize that at the time, but she messaged you said, man, I'm 65 00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:56,960 praying for your community this morning. 66 00:02:56,960 --> 00:02:59,400 I'm praying for what God is doing here for the fruitfulness 67 00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:03,120 of God over this house a year after we've left and she's kind 68 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:05,480 of I'm still praying that God would bless what he what you 69 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:07,840 guys have put your hands to. He would bless his community 70 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:10,120 here. She's this fruitfulness coming 71 00:03:10,120 --> 00:03:11,840 to us that's. Awesome. 72 00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:15,120 Hey, like the Church of God praying across our city. 73 00:03:15,280 --> 00:03:18,440 For what he's doing in different areas, which is awesome. 74 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:20,920 So. Why don't you open your Bibles 75 00:03:20,920 --> 00:03:24,760 with me to Ephesians 5 verse one? 76 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:28,000 We're going to put them up on the screen as well. 77 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:31,560 I'm reading going to be reading out of the English standard 78 00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:33,920 version, but your. Versions might be slightly 79 00:03:33,920 --> 00:03:36,200 different as we go along, but yeah, if we can have that 80 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:41,280 scripture up, brilliant. Therefore, if you want to know 81 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:43,800 what the therefore is, therefore go back and read Ephesians. 1:00 82 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:45,560 to 4:00. We've just finished that in our 83 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:49,760 community group. But those up in my community 84 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:51,720 group. This is your next verse for next 85 00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:57,280 Friday. Therefore be imitators of God as 86 00:03:57,280 --> 00:04:01,520 beloved. Children be imitators of God as 87 00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:03,360 beloved children. We'll leave that up there for 88 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:06,800 now. One of the callings of a 89 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:08,440 Christian. One of the callings. 90 00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:12,520 Of a believer is that we would be imitators of him. 91 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:18,200 Jesus said in John 14. 9. If you've seen me. 92 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:22,440 You've seen the Father and. Paul's writing to us. 93 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:24,360 Here, he's saying. That should be your. 94 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:28,560 Heart's cry as well. If you've seen me, you've seen 95 00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:31,120 him. I, I hope that as you look at 96 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:34,680 me, you kind of go if I've seen, if I've seen Justin or I've seen 97 00:04:34,680 --> 00:04:36,960 his family like. I've seen something of the 98 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:41,160 Father, I've seen something of what God is like and. 99 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:44,320 You know, in Acts 1126, it says that the the Christians were, 100 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:46,280 they were first called Christians in Antioch. 101 00:04:46,280 --> 00:04:51,160 In other words, they were so associated and like Christ. 102 00:04:51,520 --> 00:04:54,280 The best way that we could describe this was you're 103 00:04:54,280 --> 00:04:57,080 Christians, you're like Christ, you're associated with Christ. 104 00:04:57,080 --> 00:05:00,480 We've got no other word for you. Then you're of these people 105 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:01,160 that. Belong. 106 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:05,520 To Christ and Paul in Philippians 3/8. 107 00:05:05,880 --> 00:05:07,640 To 11. We won't put this up because 108 00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:11,760 it's a big passage. But Paul speaks of what it means 109 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:13,640 to gain. Christ, he's going. 110 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:15,640 I consider everything else rubbish, but I want to gain 111 00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:17,360 Christ and he gives. Us three things and he says. 112 00:05:17,360 --> 00:05:21,960 I want to know Christ. I want to be found in Christ, it 113 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:23,320 goes. And lastly, I want to become 114 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:26,200 like Christ, because that's. What it means to gain? 115 00:05:26,200 --> 00:05:30,960 Christ is that I would know him, that I would be found in Him, 116 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:34,480 but that I would also become like Him. 117 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:37,240 And so I want to encourage you one of your calls. 118 00:05:37,240 --> 00:05:40,240 As a Christian, we have. Specific calls of God over our 119 00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:43,680 lives for this season, we've got a calling to be elders in this 120 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:47,600 house, but there's also the broad general calls of God and 121 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:50,680 one of those broad. General calls over us as every 122 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:52,440 believer. Is that we would be. 123 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:57,000 Imitators of him that we would be imitators of God, that our 124 00:05:57,000 --> 00:06:00,200 lives would represent Him elsewhere It calls us 125 00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:03,280 ambassadors in Second Second Corinthians. 126 00:06:03,280 --> 00:06:06,240 It calls us that you are an ambassador of Christ, as though 127 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:07,760 He were making his appeal through you. 128 00:06:09,280 --> 00:06:11,360 Secondly though, there's there's another calling that we. 129 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:12,640 See that happens. That's very. 130 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:15,240 Closely linked to this idea. That we are called to imitate 131 00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:17,400 Christ. And this can be found in One 132 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:22,880 Corinthians 11/1. And this is Paul writing to the 133 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:26,080 Corinthian church. It says be imitators of me. 134 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:30,160 As I imitate Christ. And so we see there's two 135 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:31,680 callings. There's one that I'm called to 136 00:06:31,680 --> 00:06:37,880 imitate Christ myself, but then I'm also called to imitate those 137 00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:41,480 who example Christ to me. Does that make sense? 138 00:06:41,640 --> 00:06:42,840 Like it's kind of the best kind of. 139 00:06:42,840 --> 00:06:44,800 Role model you can find. Right. 140 00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:46,880 I don't know if you've got role models movie. 141 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:52,280 Stars or Friends or Family or whoever that you might appeal. 142 00:06:52,280 --> 00:06:57,560 To be like, right, But Paul's saying actually like, there's a 143 00:06:57,560 --> 00:06:59,520 really good kind of role. Model and that is. 144 00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:03,040 Those who example. Christ to you, He's going to go 145 00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:07,000 and find those people. Find those people who example. 146 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:09,200 Christ to you, and imitate them in. 147 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:16,000 Hebrews 13 seven it says to tells us to remember your 148 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:19,520 leaders, those who speak the word of God to. 149 00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:22,080 You. Consider the outcome of their 150 00:07:22,080 --> 00:07:24,360 way of. Life and imitate their faith. 151 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:27,960 So again, Paul or we, we think it might be Paul, it could be 152 00:07:27,960 --> 00:07:30,400 somebody else who wrote the book of Hebrews, but. 153 00:07:30,400 --> 00:07:33,320 It's kind of going back. Find people who example Christ. 154 00:07:33,640 --> 00:07:37,080 And imitate them. And so there's, there's kind of 155 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:40,040 these two things that we're to do as believers, as a general 156 00:07:40,240 --> 00:07:43,040 people of God. It's #1 imitate him directly. 157 00:07:44,240 --> 00:07:46,080 Look read the. Word and kind of say. 158 00:07:46,080 --> 00:07:47,880 What do you? Like and I want to be like you. 159 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:52,400 But he's also saying find. People, I hope. 160 00:07:52,440 --> 00:07:56,560 I hope I'm one of those. People maybe find those people 161 00:07:56,560 --> 00:07:58,320 that example. Christ to you. 162 00:07:59,280 --> 00:08:02,760 And imitate them in the way that they live. 163 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:05,440 Find aspects of going. To go, I'm going to copy what 164 00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:07,680 you do because I see something of Jesus in that. 165 00:08:08,200 --> 00:08:09,440 And I'm going to become like that and. 166 00:08:11,080 --> 00:08:15,040 What's amazing is I want us to turn, we're going to turn to 1 167 00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:17,240 Thessalonians. If you want to flick there just 168 00:08:17,240 --> 00:08:18,440 in the 1st chapter, but I'll give you some. 169 00:08:18,440 --> 00:08:22,120 Background we're. Going to look at a church, the 170 00:08:22,120 --> 00:08:25,920 Church of the Thessalonians and. They are a church that did this. 171 00:08:26,320 --> 00:08:28,920 They're a church that both imitated God and they imitated 172 00:08:29,360 --> 00:08:31,600 Paul. And when we see something quite. 173 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:35,280 Remarkable that took place, and for some. 174 00:08:35,320 --> 00:08:37,919 Historical context or some context of where this church 175 00:08:37,919 --> 00:08:41,159 kind of came from? Acts chapter 16. 176 00:08:41,480 --> 00:08:43,919 Paul and Silas are in a place called Philippi. 177 00:08:44,440 --> 00:08:48,400 They receive some persecution, they get thrown in prison. 178 00:08:48,400 --> 00:08:51,120 This is the great chapter where they're praising. 179 00:08:51,120 --> 00:08:53,560 God at midnight and the. Chains fall off and they're 180 00:08:53,560 --> 00:08:55,640 delivered and the jailer gets saved. 181 00:08:55,640 --> 00:08:59,720 His whole family remarkable story, and then they leave 182 00:08:59,720 --> 00:09:04,440 Philippi and they go to a place Thessalonica, like the church 183 00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:09,000 and the Church of the. Thessalonians starts and Paul 184 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:11,760 comes and he preaches. And if you read the book of 1 185 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:14,960 Thessalonians, what you'll find out is that these people, when 186 00:09:14,960 --> 00:09:18,520 they heard Paul's word, they received it as the word. 187 00:09:18,520 --> 00:09:22,720 Of God. I hope that's how we respond 188 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:25,960 when people stand up here and they preach to us and they share 189 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:29,200 the Word of God, that we don't just hear man's word, but we 190 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:30,840 actually receive. The word of God. 191 00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:33,360 And that that's what this church did. 192 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:35,680 They kind of went well. Paul's preaching and Paul writes 193 00:09:35,680 --> 00:09:37,960 in One Thessalonians. I think it's chapter 2:00-ish 194 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:41,640 where he says you received my words, not just as my words, but 195 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:46,240 actually directly as the words of God, and you took hold of 196 00:09:46,240 --> 00:09:47,960 that. And you changed your life. 197 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:50,280 You. You turned away from darkness, 198 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:53,480 and you turned to serve. The living God and. 199 00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:56,920 It's it's incredible. And he's basically, he's saying 200 00:09:56,920 --> 00:10:00,360 you're a church that gets it. You know those, you know when 201 00:10:00,360 --> 00:10:03,360 you say something and you're like, do you just get it? 202 00:10:03,560 --> 00:10:05,560 And they're like, yeah, I get it, right. 203 00:10:05,560 --> 00:10:07,240 You're trying to explain something, and you're like, you 204 00:10:07,240 --> 00:10:10,200 know, you just got to get it. And Paul's basically saying of 205 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:11,840 this. Church, you guys got it. 206 00:10:12,720 --> 00:10:13,560 He's going you. Guys, got it. 207 00:10:13,560 --> 00:10:15,960 I came to you later on in One Thessalonians. 208 00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:18,920 It's like I want to write to you about brotherly love, but you're 209 00:10:18,920 --> 00:10:21,120 already doing it. He's going. 210 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:23,040 I want to write to you about this other thing over here, but 211 00:10:23,040 --> 00:10:26,000 you're already doing it. Because you guys just got it. 212 00:10:27,040 --> 00:10:29,760 The minute I shared something. You're like, yeah, exactly. 213 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:32,360 We're going to do this. And so this church, we're going 214 00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:36,440 to read kind of Paul's. Accolade of them in one 215 00:10:36,440 --> 00:10:42,160 Thessalonians, one verse six to seven, Yeah. 216 00:10:43,840 --> 00:10:46,080 Brilliant, he goes. You became imitators of us, 217 00:10:46,080 --> 00:10:50,200 remember imitators of Paul and of the Lord. 218 00:10:50,960 --> 00:10:53,680 So our two kind of callings there we imitate God and we 219 00:10:53,680 --> 00:10:55,320 imitate. Those who example Christ. 220 00:10:55,320 --> 00:11:00,280 You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you receive. 221 00:11:00,280 --> 00:11:03,040 The Word in much affliction with the joy of the Holy Spirit 222 00:11:03,040 --> 00:11:05,400 you've received. This by conviction you've let it 223 00:11:05,400 --> 00:11:12,440 change your life verse 7 so that you became an example to all the 224 00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:15,280 believers. In Macedonia and into ACHA. 225 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:17,240 We'll leave that up there if we can, Pete. 226 00:11:17,760 --> 00:11:19,960 So that you became an. Example. 227 00:11:19,960 --> 00:11:24,600 This morning I want to talk to you about becoming an example 228 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:27,840 Christian or becoming a model Christian. 229 00:11:27,840 --> 00:11:30,160 Other versions might say, so you became a model. 230 00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:35,080 In other words, this church in the Church of the Thessalonians, 231 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:38,440 Paul's saying you. Became a model to everyone else 232 00:11:38,680 --> 00:11:40,320 about how to walk this thing out. 233 00:11:41,040 --> 00:11:44,640 So I can imagine Paul's in Macedonia or ACHA and he's there 234 00:11:44,640 --> 00:11:47,240 and he's teaching. And these people are like, Paul, 235 00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:52,200 we hear what you're saying, but can you show us what how to live 236 00:11:52,200 --> 00:11:55,600 this out practically? You know when some sometimes 237 00:11:55,600 --> 00:11:57,880 when somebody speaks, you kind of go, I kind of get it, but 238 00:11:58,680 --> 00:11:59,880 I've got to see it. As well. 239 00:11:59,880 --> 00:12:04,720 All right. And I can imagine Paul, he's 240 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:07,560 he's in Macedonia or at China, he's kind of going, oh, you want 241 00:12:07,560 --> 00:12:10,000 to know what this looks like, go look at the Church of the. 242 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:14,040 Thessalonians, go look. At what the church in 243 00:12:14,040 --> 00:12:18,000 Thessalonica are doing. Because they're a model church, 244 00:12:18,760 --> 00:12:21,000 they're an example of what this thing looks like. 245 00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:24,520 And so he's kind of going, you've, you've imitated us, 246 00:12:24,520 --> 00:12:27,520 you've imitated God to the point that you have now become an. 247 00:12:27,520 --> 00:12:31,600 Example for everyone else. I hope that's part of the. 248 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:35,400 Desire of your heart it's. Certainly the the desire of my 249 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:39,960 heart, desire of Maya Bianca's and our family is that people 250 00:12:39,960 --> 00:12:43,920 would be able to say the same thing of us that if somebody was 251 00:12:43,920 --> 00:12:47,120 going to go man. What is God like? 252 00:12:48,120 --> 00:12:49,360 The people would be able to say, you know what? 253 00:12:49,360 --> 00:12:51,120 Go. Spend some time with Justin and 254 00:12:51,120 --> 00:12:51,880 Bianca. Why? 255 00:12:51,880 --> 00:12:54,080 Because they're an example Christian. 256 00:12:54,320 --> 00:12:57,600 They're a model Christian. We've got a way to go, but I 257 00:12:57,600 --> 00:12:59,760 hope that's that's the same. Desire of your heart. 258 00:13:00,560 --> 00:13:04,200 That is, you imitate him and as you find good positive role 259 00:13:04,200 --> 00:13:07,480 models at example. Christ, you're saying, man, you 260 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:09,080 know what? I want to be an example 261 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:12,200 Christian or a model Christian. That others kind of say. 262 00:13:12,760 --> 00:13:16,680 Hey go see Leon and Pat because they example Christ. 263 00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:19,160 Go spend some time with them. Why? 264 00:13:19,160 --> 00:13:21,360 Because. They're an example of how to 265 00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:24,560 live this thing out in longevity, how to stay true and 266 00:13:24,560 --> 00:13:27,520 faithful to God in multiple countries and multiple nations, 267 00:13:27,520 --> 00:13:29,920 serving multiple churches. Go see what? 268 00:13:30,120 --> 00:13:33,160 Go speak to them. About how to walk this thing out 269 00:13:33,160 --> 00:13:35,120 I. Hope that's part of your. 270 00:13:35,120 --> 00:13:40,880 Desire to be like I want to be a model Christian or an example 271 00:13:40,880 --> 00:13:45,480 Christian to others. And so we're going to be talking 272 00:13:45,480 --> 00:13:46,320 this morning. Around. 273 00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:50,080 What does it mean to? Become a model Christian we're 274 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:52,840 going to look at. A few different things and we'll 275 00:13:52,840 --> 00:13:56,080 see how far we get with time, but we'd see throughout the 276 00:13:56,080 --> 00:13:58,240 scriptures there's several examples for us. 277 00:13:58,640 --> 00:14:00,680 There are several people in in the scriptures. 278 00:14:00,680 --> 00:14:02,920 As well. That give us examples with the 279 00:14:02,920 --> 00:14:04,960 first. One, obviously our greatest role 280 00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:09,080 model is Jesus. So we're going to turn to John 281 00:14:09,080 --> 00:14:11,880 chapter 13. Remember talking about what it 282 00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:16,640 means to be in a model. Christian John, chapter 13. 283 00:14:18,680 --> 00:14:21,160 And it's quite a big passage. So what I'll do is I'll just 284 00:14:21,160 --> 00:14:26,840 kind of summarize it. John 13 one through to. 20 285 00:14:26,840 --> 00:14:27,640 really. Is this bulk? 286 00:14:27,640 --> 00:14:29,560 Passage if you've got a. Bible like mine, it will tell 287 00:14:29,560 --> 00:14:31,960 you that it's Jesus washing the. Disciples feet you. 288 00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:34,720 Know what? We'll start in verse one. 289 00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:38,320 It says now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew 290 00:14:38,320 --> 00:14:43,200 that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, 291 00:14:44,120 --> 00:14:47,120 having loved his own, who in the world he loved them to the end, 292 00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:51,360 and during supper, when the devil had already put into the 293 00:14:51,360 --> 00:14:53,200 heart of. Judas Iscariot, Simon's son to 294 00:14:53,200 --> 00:14:55,080 betray him. Jesus. 295 00:14:55,080 --> 00:14:57,400 Knowing that the father had given all things into his. 296 00:14:57,400 --> 00:14:59,960 Hands and here to come from God, I find this. 297 00:14:59,960 --> 00:15:02,240 Amazing knowing he's got everything. 298 00:15:03,080 --> 00:15:08,000 He's got absolutely everything. All reason to be there, like all 299 00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:12,040 power. Jesus, knowing all of this, rose 300 00:15:12,040 --> 00:15:15,000 from supper. He laid aside his outer garments 301 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:18,480 and taking a towel, tied it around his waist, and then he 302 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:22,560 poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples feet 303 00:15:23,360 --> 00:15:25,720 and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 304 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:30,240 We'll skip down to verse 12. Says when? 305 00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:32,720 He had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and 306 00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:35,760 resumed his place. He said to them, Do you 307 00:15:35,760 --> 00:15:37,160 understand what I've done to you? 308 00:15:39,080 --> 00:15:41,560 You call me teacher of Lord and you're very right. 309 00:15:42,120 --> 00:15:45,960 I am your teacher of Lord. If then your Lord and. 310 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:49,880 Teacher, have washed your feet. You also ought to wash one 311 00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:53,000 another's feet. Verse 15 is our key verse. 312 00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:58,200 For I have given you. An example that you also should 313 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:04,600 do, just as I have done to you. Now here's a here's a question 314 00:16:04,880 --> 00:16:06,840 for you I. Guess I've. 315 00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:09,640 Only ever had one person. Wash my feet. 316 00:16:09,640 --> 00:16:13,640 In the physical, somebody who's. Actually wanted to to 317 00:16:13,640 --> 00:16:17,320 demonstrate that if that's. What Jesus was teaching, that's 318 00:16:17,320 --> 00:16:18,960 very poor that only one person's done that. 319 00:16:18,960 --> 00:16:21,080 But I don't know if Jesus was teaching us that we need to 320 00:16:21,080 --> 00:16:24,800 physically wash people's feet. There's more of a cultural thing 321 00:16:24,800 --> 00:16:27,360 here that the people. They wore sandals. 322 00:16:27,360 --> 00:16:30,000 All the time I wear shoes. My feet don't get that. 323 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:32,080 Dirty. In the time and day of this, 324 00:16:32,080 --> 00:16:33,960 people wore sandals. There it was dusty. 325 00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:36,560 Their feet were so dusty, but the. 326 00:16:36,560 --> 00:16:40,440 Job of washing the feet was. Not the master's job. 327 00:16:41,520 --> 00:16:43,960 The. Job of washing the feet was the 328 00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:47,440 servant's job. And so my first point. 329 00:16:47,440 --> 00:16:51,440 Of how we'd be a model Christian how do we. 330 00:16:51,440 --> 00:16:54,040 Demonstrate what it means to be a model Christian. 331 00:16:54,320 --> 00:16:59,400 We demonstrate it in the way that we serve, in the way that 332 00:16:59,400 --> 00:17:01,240 we serve, Jesus said. I've given you an. 333 00:17:01,240 --> 00:17:04,560 Example Do you know what Jesus example was? 334 00:17:05,720 --> 00:17:08,319 You can't wash feet. Standing up like this. 335 00:17:09,760 --> 00:17:11,760 I wrote down 3 words. Right. 336 00:17:11,920 --> 00:17:14,960 The only way you can wash feet is if you get down low. 337 00:17:16,240 --> 00:17:21,560 If you get down low. A guy called Will Murray, I saw 338 00:17:21,599 --> 00:17:23,079 a quote during the week from him. 339 00:17:23,079 --> 00:17:26,240 He serves in another team around the world and his quote was 340 00:17:26,240 --> 00:17:29,640 this. Aim high, stay low and glorify 341 00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:33,880 Jesus. Aim high, stay low, glorify 342 00:17:33,920 --> 00:17:36,280 Jesus, we are called. In the way that we. 343 00:17:36,280 --> 00:17:45,640 Serve to get down low. In Matthew 2311, Jesus teaches 344 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:47,920 and he says. They say if any of you want to 345 00:17:47,920 --> 00:17:50,680 be greatest. In the Kingdom you must. 346 00:17:50,680 --> 00:17:54,480 Become the servant of all. You must become the. 347 00:17:54,480 --> 00:17:57,000 Servant of all. What does it mean to be a model? 348 00:17:57,000 --> 00:18:02,280 Christian means to serve the way that we serve. 349 00:18:03,120 --> 00:18:07,200 John, 330. 5 John the Baptist people are are. 350 00:18:07,360 --> 00:18:09,880 Running to Jesus. All of John's disciples are 351 00:18:09,880 --> 00:18:12,480 leaving him and going to Jesus. All the people are going to 352 00:18:12,520 --> 00:18:14,000 Jesus. They're like John, aren't you 353 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:17,760 concerned by this? And John goes no, no, no, not 354 00:18:17,760 --> 00:18:20,000 concerned at all. He must become greater. 355 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:24,560 I must become less. That should be the cry of all of 356 00:18:24,560 --> 00:18:26,640 our hearts. He must become greater. 357 00:18:27,120 --> 00:18:32,800 I must become less. How low can you go or you can 358 00:18:32,800 --> 00:18:35,800 keep going low, aim high, stay low. 359 00:18:36,840 --> 00:18:40,120 We are called to serve in the way that we. 360 00:18:40,120 --> 00:18:47,040 Serve Philippians 2-3 to. 11 This is remarkable. 361 00:18:48,160 --> 00:18:54,600 Philippians 2, verse 3. Do nothing from selfish ambition 362 00:18:55,560 --> 00:19:00,280 or conceit, but in humility count others more significant 363 00:19:00,280 --> 00:19:05,240 than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to 364 00:19:05,240 --> 00:19:09,880 his own interests, but. Also to the interests of others, 365 00:19:11,080 --> 00:19:15,000 have this mindset among yourselves, which is yours in 366 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:18,240 Christ Jesus. Who, though he was in the form 367 00:19:18,240 --> 00:19:20,880 of God, did not count equalities. 368 00:19:20,960 --> 00:19:25,360 With God as something to be grasped, but He emptied himself, 369 00:19:26,600 --> 00:19:30,640 taking the very form of a servant being born in the 370 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:36,240 likeness of men and being. Found in the form of a human. 371 00:19:37,080 --> 00:19:42,080 He humbled himself, I mean. Can you just, if we stop here 372 00:19:42,080 --> 00:19:45,880 and we say this is the God of the universe #1 he's made 373 00:19:45,880 --> 00:19:48,600 himself human, but he almost went. 374 00:19:48,600 --> 00:19:52,040 That's not far enough. So far enough that I'm just 375 00:19:52,040 --> 00:19:56,160 human, goes on. He says he humbled himself by 376 00:19:56,160 --> 00:19:58,040 becoming obedient. To the point of death. 377 00:20:00,280 --> 00:20:02,520 You know it wasn't just enough for Jesus to become human. 378 00:20:03,280 --> 00:20:07,640 He was completely submitted to the will of God. 379 00:20:08,720 --> 00:20:13,680 How low can you go get down? Low the example that Jesus 380 00:20:13,680 --> 00:20:18,120 displayed for all of us. Is that we would be found low 381 00:20:18,120 --> 00:20:21,720 and serving. If you want to be great in the 382 00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:27,320 Kingdom, you must serve and the way that we can become a model 383 00:20:27,320 --> 00:20:30,000 Christian, the way that we demonstrate what it. 384 00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:35,320 Means to be a model. Christian is by serving him and 385 00:20:35,320 --> 00:20:39,520 by serving each other. I'll ask you how's your serving? 386 00:20:40,520 --> 00:20:44,600 Because this is the example that Jesus gave us to be a model 387 00:20:44,600 --> 00:20:50,840 Christian is to serve. So our first point serve. 388 00:20:53,280 --> 00:20:56,400 Secondly, 1 Corinthians 10, verse 6. 389 00:20:56,680 --> 00:20:59,480 This is one of those examples, kind of not a. 390 00:20:59,480 --> 00:21:02,920 Very good example, but you can learn from bad examples. 391 00:21:04,080 --> 00:21:07,320 Now these things took place, so 1 Corinthians 10 is talking. 392 00:21:07,320 --> 00:21:09,200 About the Israelites in the desert. 393 00:21:10,360 --> 00:21:14,040 Now these things took. Place as examples for us that we 394 00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:20,720 may not desire evil as they did. My first point is how we serve. 395 00:21:21,480 --> 00:21:27,600 Second thing, how we avoid sin to be a model Christian is 396 00:21:27,600 --> 00:21:30,040 demonstrated by our attitude towards sin. 397 00:21:31,560 --> 00:21:35,520 Yeah, it's quite remarkable. This is it, These things, these 398 00:21:35,520 --> 00:21:37,320 people. They kind of entertained sin. 399 00:21:37,320 --> 00:21:39,480 They they kind of. Let it just kind of. 400 00:21:39,480 --> 00:21:42,520 Stay there. They didn't ruthlessly deal with 401 00:21:42,520 --> 00:21:46,600 sin in. Two Timothy 222 Paul writes Flee 402 00:21:46,600 --> 00:21:48,840 from your youthful. Desires run. 403 00:21:50,160 --> 00:21:53,160 One Corinthians 618 flee. From sexual immorality. 404 00:21:53,840 --> 00:21:56,920 Genesis 3911 to 12, The story of Joseph. 405 00:21:57,440 --> 00:22:01,800 We see him and Potiphar's wife. What happens? 406 00:22:01,800 --> 00:22:04,160 Joseph doesn't stay there and say, well, let's wait for 407 00:22:04,160 --> 00:22:07,920 Potiphar. He runs, he gets out, gets away. 408 00:22:07,920 --> 00:22:16,160 From sin as quickly as he can to become a model Christian is 409 00:22:16,160 --> 00:22:19,960 demonstrated in the way that we avoid sin this can. 410 00:22:19,960 --> 00:22:21,640 Be challenging at times. Because you can kind. 411 00:22:21,640 --> 00:22:24,160 Of go, yeah, yeah. But like, I can resist the 412 00:22:24,160 --> 00:22:26,440 temptation. It's fine. 413 00:22:26,440 --> 00:22:30,000 I can resist. It but the Bible tells us 414 00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:33,400 actually to become a model Christian is to run from sin. 415 00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:38,600 How do you handle sin? Do you kind of stand there? 416 00:22:38,600 --> 00:22:41,880 You say it's. Fine, it's OK, it's OK. 417 00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:43,880 You know, stuff on social media I'm. 418 00:22:43,880 --> 00:22:46,560 Very quick to go. Now that needs to go off. 419 00:22:46,960 --> 00:22:48,360 I can't do that. Why? 420 00:22:48,360 --> 00:22:53,440 Because I got to run from it. I don't trust myself, my, my 421 00:22:53,440 --> 00:22:55,440 flesh. I, I can't trust myself. 422 00:22:56,240 --> 00:22:59,640 And so I run. To be a model Christian is 423 00:22:59,640 --> 00:23:01,520 demonstrated in the way that we avoid sin. 424 00:23:02,520 --> 00:23:08,440 So I would encourage you as people number one, serve #2 run 425 00:23:08,440 --> 00:23:12,240 from sin. To be a model Christian is 426 00:23:12,240 --> 00:23:20,040 demonstrated in service and fleeing from sin and #3 we're 427 00:23:20,040 --> 00:23:21,800 going to look at. We're actually going to look at 428 00:23:21,800 --> 00:23:28,240 1:00. 55 Kind of in one verse in one Timothy 4 verse 12. 429 00:23:29,720 --> 00:23:31,840 Written to a young Apostolic leader. 430 00:23:31,840 --> 00:23:34,120 I think he's an Apostolic. Leader or he's? 431 00:23:34,560 --> 00:23:37,000 Part of the church in Ephesus left by Paul. 432 00:23:37,000 --> 00:23:39,040 Paul's trained him up and said you go back to Ephesus. 433 00:23:39,040 --> 00:23:42,280 Work out of Ephesus. Train people up, release people, 434 00:23:42,280 --> 00:23:45,000 send people. And he writes this at the end of 435 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:48,320 his first letter to Timothy in One Timothy. 4 verse 12. 436 00:23:49,440 --> 00:23:53,760 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an 437 00:23:53,760 --> 00:24:00,000 example. Set an example in speech, in 438 00:24:00,000 --> 00:24:07,160 conduct, in love, in faith and impurity, now, before. 439 00:24:07,160 --> 00:24:09,360 Some of you older people. Switch off and be like well. 440 00:24:09,360 --> 00:24:11,120 That's fine, that's for you young guys. 441 00:24:11,120 --> 00:24:13,000 Then no one despise you for your youth. 442 00:24:13,680 --> 00:24:16,160 The preceding verse Paul says Timothy. 443 00:24:16,160 --> 00:24:20,080 Teach these things to all the people in the church he's going 444 00:24:20,080 --> 00:24:22,760 and into Timothy, he says. Go find faithful men and teach 445 00:24:22,760 --> 00:24:26,200 them. So yes, he's writing to Timothy 446 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:27,240 as a young. Man, but he's saying. 447 00:24:27,240 --> 00:24:29,760 Actually, you need to demonstrate these and you need 448 00:24:29,760 --> 00:24:31,880 to teach people how to walk. These things out. 449 00:24:32,800 --> 00:24:36,400 So it's not just we get to kind of say and it's often quoted. 450 00:24:36,720 --> 00:24:38,960 You know, to young people, hey, don't let anyone look down on 451 00:24:38,960 --> 00:24:42,040 you because you were young. But it's not just for young 452 00:24:42,040 --> 00:24:44,560 people. This verse is for all of us. 453 00:24:44,560 --> 00:24:48,720 Set an example. In speech. 454 00:24:48,880 --> 00:24:51,880 In conduct, in love, in faith and impurity. 455 00:24:53,280 --> 00:24:55,960 So I want to we'll just tackle these quickly. 456 00:24:57,200 --> 00:24:58,440 First one is how we. Serve. 457 00:24:58,840 --> 00:25:03,400 Second one is how we avoid sin. Third one from this verse, how 458 00:25:03,400 --> 00:25:06,440 we speak. Ephesians 429 We read this in 459 00:25:06,440 --> 00:25:09,440 our community group Let no unwholesome talk. 460 00:25:10,560 --> 00:25:15,160 How much none. Let no unwholesome talk come out 461 00:25:15,160 --> 00:25:20,280 of your mouth, but only. What is useful for building 462 00:25:20,600 --> 00:25:24,680 others up? And I said that when that is 463 00:25:24,720 --> 00:25:27,600 probably one of the most challenging scriptures I ever 464 00:25:27,600 --> 00:25:32,440 read in my Bible. Let no unwholesome talk come out 465 00:25:32,440 --> 00:25:34,520 of your mouth. But only such is as good for 466 00:25:34,520 --> 00:25:36,600 building up as fits the occasion. 467 00:25:37,960 --> 00:25:40,880 No unwholesome talk. We know that James, the book of 468 00:25:40,880 --> 00:25:44,480 James in chapter 3 one to 12 talks around the power of the 469 00:25:44,480 --> 00:25:49,080 tongue, that it can steer an entire ship and proverbs. 1821 470 00:25:49,080 --> 00:25:51,520 tells us the power of life and. Death is in the tongue. 471 00:25:53,040 --> 00:25:55,440 You know how we demonstrate being a model Christian? 472 00:25:56,040 --> 00:26:00,280 Is the way that we speak. No point in me saying hey look 473 00:26:00,280 --> 00:26:03,760 at the way that I live. But then out of my mouth comes 474 00:26:03,800 --> 00:26:08,440 absolute garbage. Let no unwholesome talk come out 475 00:26:08,440 --> 00:26:12,120 of your mouth. Some of these things can be 476 00:26:12,120 --> 00:26:13,960 challenging for us, but I hope the desire's there. 477 00:26:13,960 --> 00:26:15,320 To be like actually I want to be an. 478 00:26:15,320 --> 00:26:18,800 Example that people can point to and say you want to know what 479 00:26:18,800 --> 00:26:22,400 Christ is like, go look at this person and go. 480 00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:25,480 Hear them speak, because. When they speak, they speak. 481 00:26:25,520 --> 00:26:28,760 Jesus, when they speak, it's encouraging, it's uplifting. 482 00:26:28,920 --> 00:26:30,640 You won't hear anything coming out of their mouth. 483 00:26:30,640 --> 00:26:35,320 That's unhelpful. Let no unwholesome talk come out 484 00:26:35,320 --> 00:26:38,800 of your mouth. Next one that we see is. 485 00:26:38,800 --> 00:26:43,040 The way that we live. He says set the believers an 486 00:26:43,040 --> 00:26:49,480 example in speech and in conduct. 1 Corinthians 10/31 487 00:26:49,480 --> 00:26:52,720 says do everything for the glory of God and Ephesians 31. 488 00:26:53,040 --> 00:26:56,120 Philippians 120. Seven says that we are. 489 00:26:56,120 --> 00:27:00,320 Called to walk or. Live in a manner worthy of the 490 00:27:00,320 --> 00:27:03,400 calling of God. We did again. 491 00:27:03,400 --> 00:27:05,560 We talked about this at our community group on Friday night. 492 00:27:05,560 --> 00:27:09,160 Is the way that I live worthy of the debt price that he paid? 493 00:27:10,800 --> 00:27:13,640 Is the way that I live worthy of the price that he paid? 494 00:27:14,080 --> 00:27:18,760 Some areas, maybe, other areas really not so much, But we are 495 00:27:18,760 --> 00:27:22,440 called as people to. Model. 496 00:27:22,600 --> 00:27:26,480 Jesus, by the way that we live. I hope and that's that's. 497 00:27:26,560 --> 00:27:31,920 Every area for me. Leading or being an elder in a. 498 00:27:31,920 --> 00:27:34,040 Church I study the scriptures and I have to. 499 00:27:34,040 --> 00:27:36,360 Because I have to say, what does a model elder look like? 500 00:27:37,200 --> 00:27:38,800 Because I want people to look at that. 501 00:27:39,440 --> 00:27:42,760 And so that's that's Jesus and I find. 502 00:27:42,760 --> 00:27:45,240 Example good elders out there and I kind of go, I want to I 503 00:27:45,240 --> 00:27:47,800 want to imitate you because I'm called to example. 504 00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:51,040 The way that I live. I'd want to say that people can 505 00:27:51,040 --> 00:27:53,160 look at my bank accounts and then kind of go with the way 506 00:27:53,160 --> 00:27:57,200 that you handle money. Man, that's a good example of 507 00:27:57,200 --> 00:28:02,200 Christian conduct, the way that you handle your money. 508 00:28:02,200 --> 00:28:05,040 The way that you lead your wife and your kids. 509 00:28:06,280 --> 00:28:07,640 Man, that's a. That's a model. 510 00:28:07,760 --> 00:28:10,720 That's an example. I'd love we we do have a model 511 00:28:10,720 --> 00:28:12,360 in our life. It's my younger brother. 512 00:28:12,360 --> 00:28:15,040 We were Bianca and I were talking about this, so about. 513 00:28:15,040 --> 00:28:16,600 Who? Who are the people that we look 514 00:28:16,600 --> 00:28:18,600 up to? It's funny when you say you look 515 00:28:18,600 --> 00:28:19,760 up to. Your younger brother. 516 00:28:20,560 --> 00:28:22,880 But we're just talking about them, and we caught up with 517 00:28:22,880 --> 00:28:24,360 them. Yesterday for breakfast and 518 00:28:24,800 --> 00:28:27,880 again we walked away went man. Just the way that he handles his 519 00:28:27,880 --> 00:28:30,920 business, the way that they. Serve in the church. 520 00:28:31,120 --> 00:28:32,880 The way that they raise their kids. 521 00:28:33,000 --> 00:28:34,480 Like. Man, if we could be more like 522 00:28:34,480 --> 00:28:37,720 them, that would be amazing. But it's because they example 523 00:28:37,760 --> 00:28:41,480 Jesus to us and we say, man, we've got to be people. 524 00:28:41,680 --> 00:28:45,240 Who in the way that we live, people could say, you know, you 525 00:28:45,240 --> 00:28:47,880 want to know how to live, what a good Christian looks like. 526 00:28:48,320 --> 00:28:49,840 Go look at the way that those people live. 527 00:28:50,520 --> 00:28:52,640 I hope that's true as well in us as our. 528 00:28:52,640 --> 00:28:54,280 Togetherness like it's where? There's going to be an 529 00:28:54,280 --> 00:28:56,720 individual thing, but it's also in the body. 530 00:28:56,720 --> 00:29:01,080 Like the Paul writes to the Thessalonian church, it says as 531 00:29:01,120 --> 00:29:05,040 a group of believers, as a church, you've become an example 532 00:29:05,040 --> 00:29:07,080 to other people. And we read in the Scriptures 533 00:29:07,080 --> 00:29:08,760 what it means to be a good church. 534 00:29:09,360 --> 00:29:12,360 We have many examples of what it means to be a good church, what 535 00:29:12,360 --> 00:29:14,560 it means not really to be a good church. 536 00:29:14,960 --> 00:29:17,600 Paul's letter to 1 Corinthians kind of has a bit of correction 537 00:29:17,600 --> 00:29:20,720 in it. But hopefully that's our 538 00:29:20,720 --> 00:29:22,160 collective. Desire as well. 539 00:29:22,160 --> 00:29:24,960 There's a kind of going. The people down the road will 540 00:29:24,960 --> 00:29:28,200 say what's a good church to go to go to the way church. 541 00:29:28,200 --> 00:29:30,440 Why? Because they're a model church. 542 00:29:30,880 --> 00:29:32,960 They're an example to everyone else. 543 00:29:33,320 --> 00:29:35,880 Around what it means. To be a church. 544 00:29:36,160 --> 00:29:37,360 What it? What it looks? 545 00:29:37,360 --> 00:29:40,960 Like to be a biblical, Apostolic, prophetic church I. 546 00:29:42,240 --> 00:29:45,160 Hope that's your heart. For this house, for this people, 547 00:29:46,640 --> 00:29:49,960 the way that we live. The next one. 548 00:29:50,200 --> 00:29:54,160 It says in speech and conduct, in love the way that we love. 549 00:29:55,800 --> 00:30:01,800 John 1513 Jesus says greater love has no man than this and to 550 00:30:01,800 --> 00:30:03,360 lay down his life for his friends. 551 00:30:04,440 --> 00:30:07,160 No greater love than that we'd obviously it's demonstrated in 552 00:30:07,200 --> 00:30:12,240 Jesus that he would lay down his life for us. 553 00:30:13,560 --> 00:30:16,840 I want to ask you, how's your love for the people in this? 554 00:30:16,840 --> 00:30:21,440 Room, because that's the example. 555 00:30:21,440 --> 00:30:26,080 We have greater love has no man than this, that he would lay 556 00:30:26,080 --> 00:30:30,800 down his life for his friends. How's your love for the people 557 00:30:30,800 --> 00:30:33,160 sitting next to you right now? Can you? 558 00:30:33,200 --> 00:30:34,640 Honestly say in your. Heart. 559 00:30:35,000 --> 00:30:39,240 I would die for you. I would die for you. 560 00:30:39,240 --> 00:30:42,040 Why? It's probably easier if you're 561 00:30:42,040 --> 00:30:44,400 married to say that. What other? 562 00:30:44,400 --> 00:30:46,360 Person next to you you're not married to? 563 00:30:46,800 --> 00:30:50,320 Would you say you know what? I love you so much. 564 00:30:50,760 --> 00:30:54,960 That I would die for you because that's the example Jesus sent 565 00:30:54,960 --> 00:30:58,280 me. And Can you imagine a church? 566 00:30:59,200 --> 00:31:02,600 That is staying so low and so not of themselves. 567 00:31:03,360 --> 00:31:07,040 That is so just prepared to die. For each other, you kind of go, 568 00:31:07,040 --> 00:31:08,120 you know? What you are way more. 569 00:31:08,120 --> 00:31:11,840 Important than I am, I'm getting out of the way and I would I 570 00:31:11,840 --> 00:31:13,160 would die for you. I'm going to put. 571 00:31:13,160 --> 00:31:17,120 My life on the line for you, for your success, for you to know 572 00:31:17,120 --> 00:31:20,960 him. More that's that's the example 573 00:31:20,960 --> 00:31:22,480 of love that we see in the. Scripture. 574 00:31:23,800 --> 00:31:25,520 It's not just friendship, kind of different love. 575 00:31:25,520 --> 00:31:27,720 If you chat to Leon, he'll give you all the different Greek 576 00:31:27,720 --> 00:31:30,080 words around love. And he'll give you the. 577 00:31:30,080 --> 00:31:33,560 Expounded way better than I. Can, but it's this kind of. 578 00:31:33,560 --> 00:31:36,400 It's this word. Agape love this, love that. 579 00:31:37,520 --> 00:31:39,160 Is just not just. Friendship. 580 00:31:39,160 --> 00:31:41,680 It's not just mateship, high fiving, it's not like I love 581 00:31:41,680 --> 00:31:44,520 pizza. It's I love you so much that I'm 582 00:31:44,520 --> 00:31:45,920 going to put my life on the line. 583 00:31:46,720 --> 00:31:51,040 For you, I hope you can say that of the people next to you. 584 00:31:53,160 --> 00:31:58,000 To be a model Christian is to be a group of people that say I. 585 00:31:58,440 --> 00:32:01,800 Love you so much. That I would put my life on the 586 00:32:01,800 --> 00:32:04,320 line for you. Can you imagine a church like 587 00:32:04,320 --> 00:32:07,160 that? That is not just we're high 588 00:32:07,160 --> 00:32:11,320 fiving in the hallway, but we genuinely love, genuinely love 589 00:32:11,320 --> 00:32:13,720 with the love of Christ the same. 590 00:32:13,720 --> 00:32:15,800 Love that he loved. Us with, we're showing to each 591 00:32:15,800 --> 00:32:18,440 other. We're saying, man, I love you so 592 00:32:18,440 --> 00:32:19,840 much. I love you like he loves you 593 00:32:21,040 --> 00:32:22,080 because that's what we're called to. 594 00:32:22,080 --> 00:32:25,800 We've got a couple more and then we'll close. 595 00:32:27,040 --> 00:32:28,680 The next one he says in speech and. 596 00:32:28,680 --> 00:32:34,960 Conduct in love in faith Hebrews 11/6 without faith is impossible 597 00:32:34,960 --> 00:32:39,240 to please God. There's two elements here that I 598 00:32:39,240 --> 00:32:41,960 think there's both Living faith full. 599 00:32:43,000 --> 00:32:47,280 And living faith filled the way that we. 600 00:32:47,280 --> 00:32:52,400 Model what a good Christian is like is number 1 to live 601 00:32:52,400 --> 00:32:57,880 faithful faithful to what God has called us to do you know 602 00:32:58,280 --> 00:33:01,360 Luke 1610 tells us that if you've been faithful with 603 00:33:01,360 --> 00:33:04,160 little. You can be faithful. 604 00:33:04,560 --> 00:33:07,040 With much, but if you're not faithful, if you're dishonest 605 00:33:07,040 --> 00:33:08,840 with little, you'll be dishonest with. 606 00:33:08,840 --> 00:33:11,840 Much. There's an element to be a 607 00:33:11,840 --> 00:33:13,600 model. Christian is to live faithfully. 608 00:33:14,800 --> 00:33:18,080 I love that there are people in here who have been serving Jesus 609 00:33:18,360 --> 00:33:25,720 way more than I've been alive. And living faithfully to God. 610 00:33:26,960 --> 00:33:29,280 We've got nothing else. We'll just keep doing what he's 611 00:33:29,280 --> 00:33:31,840 saying. We'll just keep obeying his 612 00:33:31,840 --> 00:33:34,240 words. Does do we see the fruit for it? 613 00:33:34,240 --> 00:33:36,280 I love like we see in the Scriptures. 614 00:33:36,280 --> 00:33:40,480 People like Abraham, Hebrews of the faith in Hebrews 11 when it 615 00:33:40,480 --> 00:33:44,000 says Abraham, they he didn't see what God had promised him, but 616 00:33:44,000 --> 00:33:48,240 he lived faithful. He just trusted God every every 617 00:33:48,240 --> 00:33:50,080 day. He just trusted God. 618 00:33:50,080 --> 00:33:51,760 He got up and he's just like, I'm trusting God again. 619 00:33:51,760 --> 00:33:54,040 Yeah, but you haven't seen any results. 620 00:33:54,040 --> 00:33:56,360 Doesn't matter. I'm living faithful, I'm living 621 00:33:56,360 --> 00:33:58,120 faithful. I'm living faithful. 622 00:33:58,240 --> 00:33:59,720 I'm living faithful. I'm living. 623 00:33:59,720 --> 00:34:00,800 Faithful. Do I feel like it? 624 00:34:00,800 --> 00:34:03,360 No, but I'm living. Faithful, I'm living faithful 625 00:34:03,480 --> 00:34:06,720 I'm living faithful and. We've got examples in this 626 00:34:06,720 --> 00:34:08,239 church. Of people who have done that for 627 00:34:08,239 --> 00:34:13,239 years and decades living faithful living faithful living 628 00:34:13,239 --> 00:34:16,120 faithful that's a model Christian I live faithful I live 629 00:34:16,120 --> 00:34:19,280 faithful I live faithful but also. 630 00:34:19,280 --> 00:34:21,440 The other element of faith. Is that we don't just live 631 00:34:21,440 --> 00:34:26,480 faithful, but we live faith filled because, you know, I can 632 00:34:26,480 --> 00:34:28,520 live faithful to God. I'm like, yeah, just I'm 633 00:34:28,520 --> 00:34:31,360 following his word. Yeah. 634 00:34:31,360 --> 00:34:35,159 I'm doing the same thing. Yeah, I'm following him. 635 00:34:35,840 --> 00:34:37,960 No, I'm going to go. I'm faith filled. 636 00:34:38,159 --> 00:34:39,639 I've got my eyes fixed on eternity. 637 00:34:39,920 --> 00:34:42,239 There's a reward. I'm doing this for eternity. 638 00:34:42,239 --> 00:34:43,199 I'm doing. This for Him. 639 00:34:43,520 --> 00:34:46,920 I'm not just faithfully obeying His word, but I'm filled with 640 00:34:46,920 --> 00:34:48,719 faith that He will fulfil His word. 641 00:34:48,880 --> 00:34:51,760 He will fulfil His promises whether I see them or not. 642 00:34:51,760 --> 00:34:55,239 I'm faithful because He is faithful and He will. 643 00:34:55,679 --> 00:35:00,640 Do what he has said that's a model Christian that we. 644 00:35:00,640 --> 00:35:04,720 Would both live faithfully, but that we would also live. 645 00:35:04,720 --> 00:35:10,080 Faith filled and so to be a model Christian, we serve it's 646 00:35:10,080 --> 00:35:12,680 the way that we serve it's the way that we. 647 00:35:12,680 --> 00:35:13,640 Avoid sin. It's. 648 00:35:14,440 --> 00:35:17,640 The way that we speak, the way that we live, the way that we 649 00:35:17,640 --> 00:35:20,600 love, the way that we outwork faith. 650 00:35:22,360 --> 00:35:23,800 The last one we're going to land on. 651 00:35:25,560 --> 00:35:27,600 It's purity the way that we think. 652 00:35:28,640 --> 00:35:31,920 This is interesting because this is one that people can't. 653 00:35:31,920 --> 00:35:36,720 See. But it's so important because 654 00:35:36,720 --> 00:35:39,040 you can see or you can hear the way that I speak. 655 00:35:39,120 --> 00:35:40,600 You can see the way that I serve. 656 00:35:41,480 --> 00:35:45,560 You can see the way that I live. You can see the way that I love. 657 00:35:46,480 --> 00:35:52,840 But you can't read my mind. And yet Paul writes to Timothy 658 00:35:53,640 --> 00:35:55,400 and says, set an example in purity. 659 00:35:56,360 --> 00:35:59,040 And I just kind of go, this is the way that we think because 660 00:35:59,120 --> 00:36:03,920 Jesus says in Matthew 5/22, he says if you even think in your 661 00:36:03,920 --> 00:36:07,760 heart lustfully towards another woman, you've committed 662 00:36:07,760 --> 00:36:12,480 adultery. Later on in verse 28 is going if 663 00:36:12,600 --> 00:36:15,520 if you're in your heart, you've said I hate my brother. 664 00:36:16,120 --> 00:36:17,720 You don't even have to say it, but if you. 665 00:36:17,720 --> 00:36:19,800 Think it You've committed murder. 666 00:36:20,960 --> 00:36:26,200 Sure, that's challenging. Hey, to be like to be a model 667 00:36:26,200 --> 00:36:28,880 Christian isn't just in what I can do and what you can. 668 00:36:28,880 --> 00:36:33,480 See, but it's actually in the way that I think and I'm 669 00:36:33,560 --> 00:36:36,880 challenged so often by the Holy Spirit just feel like, hey, is 670 00:36:36,880 --> 00:36:39,440 that is that a thought that's actually modelling who I am? 671 00:36:40,680 --> 00:36:42,760 Is that thought actually in line? 672 00:36:44,160 --> 00:36:45,360 It's. It's in one of the. 673 00:36:45,360 --> 00:36:48,000 Letters of the Corinthians that says Take every thought captive 674 00:36:48,480 --> 00:36:50,600 and make it obedient to Christ. Why? 675 00:36:50,600 --> 00:36:55,280 Because what we think is so important for rights in 676 00:36:55,280 --> 00:36:58,560 Philippians 4. Verse 8. 677 00:36:59,840 --> 00:37:03,200 Finally, brothers. Apartment for my final point. 678 00:37:03,400 --> 00:37:07,720 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true. 679 00:37:09,680 --> 00:37:12,640 Whatever is honourable, whatever is. 680 00:37:12,640 --> 00:37:17,200 Just. Whatever is pure, whatever is 681 00:37:17,200 --> 00:37:23,160 lovely, whatever is commendable. If there is any excellence, if 682 00:37:23,920 --> 00:37:30,360 there's any worthy of praise. Think about these things, think 683 00:37:30,360 --> 00:37:32,440 about these things and say people can see what I can. 684 00:37:32,440 --> 00:37:36,680 Do, but Jesus also calls. Me to be a model in the way that 685 00:37:36,680 --> 00:37:40,640 I think someone encourage you this morning the. 686 00:37:40,720 --> 00:37:42,800 Two things that we started. With is we are called to. 687 00:37:42,840 --> 00:37:47,560 Both imitate Christ and find. People who imitate Christ to us 688 00:37:47,640 --> 00:37:51,680 and imitate them. And I would encourage you as as 689 00:37:51,680 --> 00:37:53,840 people. To take these. 690 00:37:53,840 --> 00:37:57,040 Points and say God help me to model you. 691 00:37:58,320 --> 00:38:03,080 Help me to model you in the way that I serve to show me areas 692 00:38:03,080 --> 00:38:06,080 where. I've got to go lower or I've got 693 00:38:06,080 --> 00:38:08,160 to get down and I've got to wash some people's feet. 694 00:38:09,080 --> 00:38:12,240 The people that I don't. Like help me to serve them. 695 00:38:13,440 --> 00:38:17,760 Help me to run from sin if you are If you are. 696 00:38:17,760 --> 00:38:21,760 Battling with sin, I'd encourage you go to God and say, God help 697 00:38:21,760 --> 00:38:25,560 me to run, help me to flee from sin because I want to. 698 00:38:25,560 --> 00:38:28,240 I want to represent you well. And the way that I do that is I 699 00:38:28,240 --> 00:38:31,480 run from sin. God help help the way that I 700 00:38:31,480 --> 00:38:33,480 speak. Let it be. 701 00:38:33,640 --> 00:38:36,280 Let it be always so anointed. Let it always be upbringing. 702 00:38:36,280 --> 00:38:38,280 Let no unwholesome talk. Come out of my mouth. 703 00:38:39,800 --> 00:38:44,400 Lord, let my life line. Up to your word, Let me love 704 00:38:44,960 --> 00:38:46,960 with a love that puts everything on the line. 705 00:38:48,440 --> 00:38:51,680 Let me live faithfully. And let me live filled with 706 00:38:51,680 --> 00:38:55,080 faith. And God changed the way I think, 707 00:38:55,280 --> 00:38:58,040 so that I think more in line with what you think than what I 708 00:38:58,040 --> 00:39:01,280 want to think. Amen. 709 00:39:03,240 --> 00:39:08,720 Thank you, Justin. There's some challenging things 710 00:39:08,720 --> 00:39:11,080 happening there. Hey, like I'm sitting there 711 00:39:11,080 --> 00:39:15,440 going, Oh yeah, speech, you know, are people hearing Jesus 712 00:39:15,440 --> 00:39:18,960 when I speak in my way, I live my life like, you know, finance 713 00:39:18,960 --> 00:39:20,600 is a big thing. God's really, you know, helping 714 00:39:20,600 --> 00:39:24,880 me work on finances. Can my workers around me see 715 00:39:24,880 --> 00:39:27,120 that? Because they go, well, you get 716 00:39:27,120 --> 00:39:29,120 this much and I keep it up. But a tithe, they're like, 717 00:39:29,120 --> 00:39:32,200 what's that? I'm like, well, I give a 10% to 718 00:39:32,200 --> 00:39:34,200 the church, but ultimately to God. 719 00:39:34,200 --> 00:39:36,080 And they're like, well, that's weird. 720 00:39:37,280 --> 00:39:39,840 So there's these things that we do that people are very much 721 00:39:39,840 --> 00:39:42,160 watching our lives. They're watching our conduct, 722 00:39:42,160 --> 00:39:44,960 they're watching our speech. And I was challenged by that 723 00:39:45,560 --> 00:39:49,640 right there going God, there's more like you said, aim high, 724 00:39:50,800 --> 00:39:53,280 get low. There's always more that the 725 00:39:53,280 --> 00:39:55,200 Holy Spirit is trying to work in and through us. 726 00:39:55,480 --> 00:40:00,640 So let's just stand guys, you're doing your work today. 727 00:40:00,640 --> 00:40:04,600 Holy Spirit in our hearts and we acknowledge that Lord in those 728 00:40:04,600 --> 00:40:09,800 areas of our lives, whether it is serving, fleeing from sin or 729 00:40:09,800 --> 00:40:15,280 the five ways we conduct our lives speech, our love. 730 00:40:16,000 --> 00:40:22,440 Our purity and in our faith, Lord, you're, you're speaking to 731 00:40:22,440 --> 00:40:26,400 our hearts right now. We may be people that want to do 732 00:40:26,440 --> 00:40:28,960 it all at once, Holy Spirit, but you are the 1. 733 00:40:29,040 --> 00:40:32,160 Little by little then we see this transformation in our 734 00:40:32,160 --> 00:40:35,760 lives. So that's why we ask, empower us 735 00:40:35,760 --> 00:40:40,520 in those areas, Holy Spirit, give us what we need each day to 736 00:40:40,520 --> 00:40:46,160 live a little more like Jesus, to live as examples of Jesus in 737 00:40:46,160 --> 00:40:51,160 our homes, in our marriages, in our workplaces, in just our 738 00:40:51,160 --> 00:40:54,560 day-to-day conversations. Whatever we're involved in, 739 00:40:54,560 --> 00:40:57,240 Lord, we want to be imitators of you. 740 00:40:58,040 --> 00:41:03,120 And Lord, help us find people around that imitate you, that we 741 00:41:03,120 --> 00:41:09,640 can learn and clean and grow as they've imitated you, as they've 742 00:41:09,640 --> 00:41:13,880 had people before them. Lord, lead us in that Holy 743 00:41:13,880 --> 00:41:17,200 Spirit today and in every other thing that we do. 744 00:41:17,200 --> 00:41:22,200 Lord, may you be glorified. May we it be exampled that we're 745 00:41:22,200 --> 00:41:25,040 doing this for you. Amen. 746 00:41:26,560 --> 00:41:28,440 Thank you for joining us for today's message. 747 00:41:28,800 --> 00:41:31,320 For more information about The Way Church, please visit 748 00:41:31,320 --> 00:41:34,440 ourwebsite@thewaychurch.com dot AU. 749 00:41:34,800 --> 00:41:35,600 Have a blessed day.