Introduction
When a person comes to church, they hear a lot about how a person should be like Christ, how they should have God-like characteristics.
How do we obtain these God-like characteristics when our lives can be filled with unknowns, disappointments, and hurts, which leads us to as the question what, am I doing wrong?
What can you do different in your life that will make a difference?
This important question leads us to this morning’s message “Imitators of God.”
I would challenge you this morning to consider our text this morning!
As we start in chapter 5 of Ephesians, we find these words, “be imitators of God.”
Let’s examine these words and see how we might become “imitators of God.”
Please stand with me as we honor the Word of God and read from Ephesians 5:1-2.
Scripture
"Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma." Ephesians 5:1-2
Prayer
I. To imitate God, one must have evidence that
displays God-like characteristics in their daily life:
Consider these characteristics about God and how they apply to your life:
1. Universal treatment:
"…for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust."
Matthew 5:45
We should look at others as God does and remember that when bad things happen to good people, it is not God punishing them.
2. Universal compassion:
"The Lord is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."
2 Peter 3:9
We should look at others as God does and remember, that does not want anyone to perish, but that all should come to repentance.
3. Universal Forgiveness:
"For Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and abundant in mercy unto all those who call upon Thee." Psalms 86:5
We should look at others as God does and remember that God is good, and ready to forgive.
4. Universal Reward:
"But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly." Matthew 6:3-4.
We should look at others as God does and remember, you should not seek recognition for those good things that you do. God see what you have done and he will reward you.
II. In imitating God, we become examples to other
believers:
"…be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity." 1 Timothy 4:12
1. In word:
"Buy truth, and do not sell it." Proverbs 23:23
Imitating God requires us to see the value of truth.
2. In conduct:
"That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God." Colossians 1:10
Imitating God requires us to walk worthy and pleasing God in all that we do.
3. In love:
"…and walk in love as Christ also has loved us…" Ephesians 5:1-2
Imitating God requires us to have Christ-like love.
4. In spirit:
"And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spoke." Acts 6:10
Imitating God requires us to be guided by the Holy Spirit.
5. In faith:
"We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other." 2 Thessalonians 1:3
Imitating God requires us to grow in our faith that it might build up others.
6. In purity:
"Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart." 1 Peter 1:22.
Imitating God requires us to obey the truth and loving others with a pure heart.
III. By imitating God, we position ourselves for great
blessings, consider the great blessings that are
promised to us as we live in accordance to God’s
will for our lives.
“Blessed is the man who walks
not in the counsel of the ungodly,
nor stands in the path of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,
that brings forth its fruit in its season,
whose leaf also shall not wither;
and whatever he does shall prosper.” Psalms 1:1-3 (NKJV)
Invitation
Our lives can be filled with unknowns, disappointments, and hurts, which leads us to as the question what am I doing wrong?
Do you imitate God?
Is there evidence that Displays God-like characteristics in your life?
Are you an example to others?
Are you receiving the great blessings that are promised to you in accordance to God’s will in your life?
