Follower of Christ

First Corinthians please. First Corinthians and chapter 10. Now last night we heard a word of ministry on making much of Christ.

A few thoughts that I've been enjoying about the Lord Jesus that we see in the life of the Apostle Paul. So we'll hope that this will follow. So 1st Corinthians chapter 10 and look at verse number 32.

I'm reading this because I want verse 1 of chapter 11 that fits with the context of chapter 10. 1st Corinthians chapter 10 and verse number 32. Give none offense neither to the Jews nor to the Gentiles nor to the Church of God even as I please all men in all things.

Here it is. Not seeking mine own profit but the profit of many that they may be saved. Now verse 1 of chapter 11.

Be ye followers, and that's the word for imitators, be ye followers of me even as I also am of Christ. Now that is a that's a tremendous statement said by the Apostle Paul and you can't help but wonder as you read that would I be able to say that? Would I be able to look at somebody and say the way that I'm acting I want you to imitate me because I am following Christ. That's quite a lofty statement isn't it when you stop and just think about it for a minute.

We get a little tiny bit of it a little hint of it that this man was Christlike because I wanted that expression the end of chapter 10. Not seeking mine own profit. So you stop and you kind of analyze your life for a minute and you ask yourself just how much do I do for self? How much effort is spent, time, resources on me? Here's the Apostle Paul and he says listen I want you to imitate me.

Now the understanding of verse 1 there chapter 11. Be ye followers of me even as I also am of Christ. It's not the idea that you have Christ and then you got Paul following Christ and then Paul says now I want you to come behind me.

That's not the idea. Paul says I want you at my side and the same person I'm looking at is the very same person I want you to look at and together we're going to be imitators of Christ. So then recently I've been doing a study on the life of Paul and I've been noticing the number of places the Spirit of God gives us a little insight into this man the Apostle Paul because some might think that Paul is being quite boastful here in saying follow me be like me because I'm following Christ.

So we're going to go through the the New Testament and we're going to look at a few places where the Spirit of God gives us a little glimpse of the Christlike character of this man the Apostle Paul. So let's go now over to 2nd Corinthians most of these are found in 2nd Corinthians actually 2nd Corinthians and chapter 12 and this is why this man can say these tremendous things. This is probably where it all starts because we go right to the inward the very recesses of his heart and as you know the background of 1st Corinthians Paul was brought there by the Spirit of God to bring the gospel and he was there for a number of months and he saw an assembly planted and souls saved and and there was a tremendous relationship and then there was there was these false teachers that came into Corinth and they started to turn some of their heart from the Apostle Paul.

So then a letter is written 1st Corinthians and so on and so forth and then he's waiting to see how they respond to that letter and then 2nd Corinthians is written. So look at this little statement here in verse 15 2nd Corinthians 12 and verse 15 so just try to imagine the situation and read and listen to this these words 2nd Corinthians 12 verse 15 and I will very gladly spend and be spent for you though the more abundantly I love you the less I be loved and that's some statement. I don't know about you but I can tell you that my love is reciprocal.

If I feel love coming from you it's generally coming out of me. I'm just being honest with you and the minute I sense your your output is drying up the natural thing that I want to do is just just kind of recoil. Do you know what Paul said? The more I love you the less I be loved.

So I challenged myself. We heard much last night our brother Alex gave a word on making much of Christ and sometimes you you hear many people pray Lord help us to be like Christ. Help us to act like Christ and think like Christ and talk like Christ and sometimes we almost think being like Christ is oh you're a missionary and you're going off to some foreign land wow that's that's like Christ but I believe there there are very practical simple things that we can be like Christ in our daily life and it starts with the heart.

So challenge yourself today. Do you want to be like Christ? Well ask yourself how's your love toward the believers? How's your love to one another? Oh well you didn't you don't realize what they said to me. You missed the point.

You don't know the evils that they've done to me. Thank God Christ never thought like that. See this is why this man could say be imitators of me as I also am following Christ.

It wasn't a proudful thing that he was stating for us in 1st Corinthians 11. This was the this was the this was just the response of his heart to Lordship. So I challenge you I challenge myself.

Let's read the verse again and I will very gladly and I will very gladly spent spend and be spent. Now those are two different words in the Greek language. Spent, spend and spent.

Do you know what the first one is? I'm willing to incur a cost. You know what the next one is? Spent, I'm willing to go to bankruptcy. That's quite a that that is quite a mental outlook toward God's people.

Sometimes you ever heard somebody say I'll do it one more time but if they I'm done. That wasn't Paul. Paul didn't put he didn't put these lines down on the sand and say well as long as they keep back from the line I'll love them but I tell you if they step over that line I'm that's it I'm done I'm out of here.

That wasn't Paul's attitude. He says listen he had such a love for Christ. Doesn't that remind you of the Lord Jesus? When the Lord Jesus came from heaven did he put a line in the sand and say all right if they don't receive me in Nazareth I'm going back home I'm done.

No. All right if they if they don't come and worship me I... Do you know what the Lord Jesus? He was willing to spend and he's willing to be totally spent for mankind. Isn't that lovely? What can you imagine the impact that we could have on society? Just look at the people here today if unitedly not that we were all behind one another but we were all side by side looking at the very same person and we all had this attitude the more you love me doesn't matter what you do to me doesn't even matter if you don't even love me I'm still gonna love you.

Well I think you realize that we need the Spirit of God don't we? We couldn't do that on our own energies. So that's the first thing I noticed just the desire of his heart. Let's go back to 1st Corinthians chapter 8. 1st Corinthians chapter 8 and you're gonna see these are just gonna flow naturally out of this inward attitude.

This is where it all starts. 1st Corinthians chapter 8 and there's a little expression said here that I think is dropped by the Spirit of God to give us an insight once again into this man's life. Look at what he says.

It's interesting to read the context but I just don't want to spend too much time on that but verse number nine but take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours so it's it has the context to do of liberties what I feel and God's presence I can do. Look at verse 13 wherefore if meat make my brother to offend I will eat no flesh while the world standeth lest I make my brother to offend. How are you in relation to your liberties and others? You ever hear a Christian say this? I don't care what they think.

I want to do it anyway. You ever heard that? I have. I got the right to do it and they can't tell me I can't do it and I got scripture to prove it and I'm gonna do it.

You ever heard that? You're not like Christ. If there's not a tenderness in that conscience, that heart of yours, if there's not a carefulness how this is going to appear, who could be offended? Just who is in my audience? You're not. I'm not like Christ.

You ever sometimes stop and wonder what it must have been to have actually been with Christ? You ever been with somebody and you've just been so impressed with their kindness or their care or their gentleness? I mean listen, that's a person that has sinned. Can you imagine walking daily with the Lord Jesus? Someone who knew no sin, who could not sin. Someone's presence who you could be completely at ease in their presence.

You were totally confident that they're not up to something. There's not anything hidden in their words. Wouldn't that have been a wonderful person to be with? Well, sometimes we think that, well, I couldn't be like the Lord, but here's a man, Paul, that was like the Lord Jesus.

This is not something that, in the Word of God, that God hangs out in front of us and, well, you're never going to get it. He has given us the Spirit of God and I believe with the help of the Spirit of God and keeping our eyes on Christ, I believe, dear child God, that we can be like our Savior. But it's going to hurt.

There's going to have to be things that I realize. I know I have right to do that, but I'm not going to do it because it might offend. Just a carefulness.

It doesn't mean that you walk around in a straitjacket, afraid to open your mouth. No, no. But just an awareness, a carefulness.

So there's what I learned from the Apostle Paul. He says those tremendous words, lest I make my brother to offend. I don't want to do anything to harm fellow believers.

So there's another thing that he would like us to imitate. Let's go to chapter 6 now for another little expression. Chapter 6, 1 Corinthians chapter 6. Another insight into the character of this man.

Of course, the context is taking a brother or sister to court. And look what it says in chapter 6. Chapter 6 and verse 6, 1 Corinthians. But brother goeth to law with brother and that before the unbelievers.

Now, therefore, there is utterly a fault among you because ye go to law one with another. Listen, why do ye not rather take wrong? Why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? That's something. You've heard that idea like I want to get my pound of flesh.

You've heard that. So and so has done something to you. They have wronged you.

Even if they're 100% wrong. Do you know what Paul is saying here? He says, I'll just be defrauded. I'll just suffer the wrong.

You know why I think that man took that approach? Because he had a firm grasp of just who God is. God is able to work it out. And I don't have to go about trying to get my pound of flesh to get even.

I think it's tremendous as a Christian that when I come into situations and circumstances and people and they're difficult, I can just back off and I can just say, Lord, just look after it. With those, vengeance is mine, saith the Lord. Now it's not the idea that you sit back going, okay Lord, just give it to them.

Oh yeah. And you're going to sit back and watch the judgment fall. That's not the idea at all.

But here was the apostle Paul and he said, listen, just suffer the wrong. Just suffer the wrong. Give God an opportunity to work and to reward you.

I was thinking of an example in the Old Testament, Amaziah. He was one of the kings of Judah. And you can go back and read this in 2 Chronicles.

And of course, one day he hired the 10 tribes in the north to go to war. And it cost him a hundred thousand talents of silver. That's a lot of money.

So a prophet, a prophet of the Lord comes to him and he says to him, he says, uh, no, send the army back. Send the 10 tribes back. God is, God is not with you in this effort.

And you know what Amaziah said? Oh, well, what about the hundred thousand talents of silver? Do you know what the prophet said to him? I'm going to read the words to you. It's in second, don't turn to it, but second Chronicles 25 verse nine. Here's what, here's what the prophet said.

And the man of God answered, the Lord is able to give thee much more than this. Much more, not just a hundred thousand of silver, not just a hundred thousand talents of silver. God is able to give much more.

And that's something. So if I'm speaking to someone here today and you have a desire to be like Christ and there's a little thing happening in your life, you know what it is? It's a test. That's all it is.

Just a simple test. Maybe you're owed something. Maybe something has been wronged you and you're maybe sitting there.

What should I do? Should I, should I push for my rights? Should I get my pound of flesh? Do you know what the word of God would encourage you to do? Suffer the wrong. Don't get bitter. Just step back.

Suffer the wrong. Leave it with the Lord. And my Bible tells me this, the Lord is able to give you much more than what you've lost.

I'll tell you where that'll lead to. That'll lead to a victorious Christian life. You know, sometimes what we're really good at, here's a wrong and we're trying to help or fix the wrong.

And you know what we end up doing? We end up producing a wrong ourself. We're just as wrong as the wrong we're trying to correct. And that's what the flesh loves.

The flesh loves that, that inward bitterness and criticism and you're just as wrong as what you're trying to fix. God give us wisdom to be able to just let it go and pray for them. Isn't that something? Recently, I was talking to some people, not here, not anywhere near here, and they were pretty critical on somebody.

And I said to them, I said, why don't we pray for them right now? Criticism stopped. Boy, it's awful hard to pray for somebody when you're critical, isn't it? You just can't do it. But that's what we need to do.

We need to stop one another when the criticism's there. Let's just stop right now and just pray for them. Commend them to God.

Well, there is what it is to be Christ-like. Let's go to chapter 16 of Romans. Romans chapter 16.

Here's another little insight that, although Paul, I think this is tremendous. I should maybe just give you a little bit of the lead up to chapter 16. We'll just have a quick look at chapter 14 of Romans.

We were on this Wednesday night here in Stout, the Bible study, which was a very enjoyable Bible study. And there's a particular Greek word that pops up in chapter 14 and chapter 15. It's the same, and then there's a little slightly different word used in 16, but just to look at it in chapter 14 for a second.

Romans 14 and verse number 1. This has to do with individuals that are already in assembly fellowship, okay? Romans 14 and verse 1. And Paul is encouraging the believers. He says in verse 1, he says him that is weak in the faith, receive ye. Now in the original language, that's a command.

This is not something that is, well, if I feel like it, this is a command. Receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. That's doubting in the mind.

For one believeth that he may eat all things. And he goes on to explain that. And then he gives the reason, the end of verse 3. For God hath received him.

So in the context of the chapter, it all has to do with meats. Here's a Gentile that is eating meat. Here's a Jew.

They're both saved. They're both in assembly fellowship. And here's a Jew, and he's abstaining from meats.

And he's the weaker. Doesn't quite know what the word of God teaches on it. So here's Paul encouraging him.

He says, listen, you are obligated because God has received you. God received him. You are commanded to receive your brother, your sister, and don't be always questioning.

Oh, they're awful weak. They're awful. So that's what happens in chapter 14.

Then he comes over to chapter 15 and he widens it out a little bit. Look at verse number 1. He kind of widens it out from meats and it goes to other liberties. Verse 1 of chapter 15.

We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak and not to please ourselves. And then the reason is given. Look at verse number 7. Wherefore, receive ye one another as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

So once a thing, once again, the very same thing is emphasized. Chapter 14. God has received him.

Chapter 15. Christ has received him. We are therefore obligated within the assembly context to receive one another.

Get rid of all of these social groups and educational groups. And one person has a liberty and you don't quite see it that way. And then no, no, you're obligated by the word of God to receive them without questioning and doubting that is within the assembly.

Then he comes over to chapter 16. Here's where I want to get to chapter 16. You're going to get a similar expression.

Look at what he says in verse number one, Romans 16, verse one. I commend unto you, Phoebe, our sister, which is a servant of the church, which is that sensoria verse two, that ye receive her in the Lord as become a saints and that he assist her in whatsoever business she at need of you. For she had been a sucker of many and of myself also.

Now, if you did a little study in grammar, you're going to make, you're going to notice an amazing thing here. Chapter 14, a command context in the, within the assembly. Chapter 15 receiving a command.

It's within the assembly. Chapter 16, you have a sister traveling from one assembly to another assembly and Paul doesn't make it a command. It's actually what's called the subjunctive, which is something that is in the future and it could happen.

Do you know what Paul, the spirit of God is teaching us here. Paul, as the mighty apostle is telling us that he has no authority over the elders of the receiving assembly. He's not telling them what to do.

He is recognizing the assembly that she's going to. Those oversight, those elders raised up with the spirit of God. They have the authority within that realm and all Paul is doing is suggesting, here is a letter given to this sister.

I am commending her and I'm asking you to receive her, but he's not ordering them. Do you know what I learned from the apostle Paul here? As preachers, we need to keep our noses out of assembly reception. We need to allow elders to function with the God given authority that God has given them.

I think brother and sister, that would solve a lot of assembly issues. If he had preachers off the phone, not interfering with eldership, their job. That's what I learned from Paul.

You want to be Christ-like? Allow elders to function. Now if they ask you for your advice, fine, that's fine, but use wisdom from God to know just where to stop and just leave it to them. I was actually with Murray.

I thought it was very, very sad. I thought it was sad not being with him, but the situation happened. Don't misunderstand me.

We were in this place. I don't want you to laugh at this because this is pathetic. A request was made by Murray.

Could we just change the meeting by half an hour to keep more people here? Do you know what the comment was made? Just a minute, I have to call a preacher a thousand miles away and ask if it's okay. Just to change a meeting by 30 minutes? Do you know what can happen when a group of elders become too dependent on a preacher? The preacher becomes the crutch. Do you know what would have happened to your child if every time it stood up to walk you, you grabbed it? It would still be falling today.

The child's got to develop its legs. It's got to develop strength. I think it's tremendous when oversight, they work together with the Spirit of God and they're able to function.

That is what I learned from the Apostle Paul. Let's come now over to Chapter 5. Here's another thing. Just recently I was going through this and just the pronoun change is tremendous.

Another little lesson that we can learn from the Apostle Paul. Showing us his quality of being like Christ. If Chapter 16 had to do with reception, Chapter 5 has to do with discipline.

1 Corinthians 5, look what it says. We can start a little earlier in the chapter because I think it's tremendous what we read here. Verse number 3, for verily, Chapter 5, 1 Corinthians 5 verse 3, for I verily as absent in body but present in spirit have judged already as though I were present concerning him that has so done this deed.

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together in my spirit with the power, think of that word, with the power, the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. And then he comes down a little further. Look at what he says in verse number 12.

For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? Notice, do not we, no, do not ye judge them that are within. You see what Paul's doing there? Paul is excluding himself from those elders in Christ, from the Lord Jesus Christ. He's not saying that we are judging the one within that has committed sin.

He says, ye. You know what I learned from the Apostle Paul? He kept his nose out of disciplinary issues. He allowed those elders to function with the power of the Lord Jesus Christ.

That's what I learned from the Apostle Paul. So once again, lined up with Chapter 16 reception. Here it is now, discipline, discipline, discipline, discipline, discipline, discipline.

It's just a natural thing to want to stick our noses in. But God help us to be like the Lord Jesus and like the Apostle Paul. Let's go to Chapter 16, 1 Corinthians 16 for another one.

And there's many more. I've even discovered a few more in my readings. You can add to this.

Chapter 16, and look what we read here. And I want you just to think as we're reading about this man, Paul, I mean, I'm not too sure whether he wrote Hebrews or not, but put that aside. He at least gave us 13 epistles.

Okay? Think of the, think of this mighty man, the Apostle Paul, like a tremendous figure. Now just with that in your mind, just read this verse and listen to it for a minute. Look at verse number 12 of Chapter 16.

Here's what we read. As touching our brother Apollos, I greatly desired him to come on to you with the brethren. Listen, but his will was not at all to come at this time, but he will come when he shall have convenient time.

Do you know what I wrote over this little title here? Paul was willing to recognize the will of another person. Their exercise. Isn't that gracious? Now stop and think of it for a second.

Such a mighty man like the Apostle Paul. He could have put so much pressure upon Apollos that Apollos then she would have just broken and went, well, okay, Paul has asked me to do this. I'm going to do it.

But Paul wasn't Apollos' Lord. I think it's tremendous. When you show me a man that is well recognized and appreciated and that man is able to recognize everybody has a separate will and that conscience of yours, that will of yours, that exercise of yours should come from the Lord, not from some great man.

Isn't that lovely? I think that's just allowing you to develop that relationship with your Savior, not me coming alongside and always telling you what to do and how to do it. That is why Paul would say, you follow me as I am following Christ. That is Christ likeness.

Let's come to another one. Just look up at verse 10, just up a couple of verses. This is tremendous.

Coming from the mighty Apostle Paul. Think of it. Chapter 16, verse 10.

Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear. Notice this. For he worketh the work of the Lord as I also do.

What a statement. Here is Paul looking at this young man, Timothy. Now listen.

Let's stay with this one. Paul wrote 15 epistles. Timothy wrote none.

Paul did miracles through the book of Acts, many. Timothy did none that I'm aware of. Think of the travels of the Apostle.

Think of the mighty man, the Apostle Paul. And here he is looking at this young man and you know what he says about him? He's doing the work of the Lord as I also am. What grace! What an enrook! What an appreciation of others that God is using.

Isn't it something, brethren, how quickly we can be lifted up in the work that God has given us? You have that problem? A series and a number of people get saved and you almost go away thinking like, no one could have done it but me. I'm in Bible to God. And I'm, poor Elijah, I'm the only one Lord.

It's in our hearts. Naturally it's right there. And if I'm not looking at Christ and trying to be like Christ, it'll just start coming out and then I start to criticize your activity.

And your activity. Oh, there's no way he's doing the work of the Lord. I'm doing the work of the Lord.

Don't forget I'm doing the work of the Lord, okay? But nobody else is doing the work of the Lord. I thought to myself, what a gracious man Paul was. Not natural ability here.

This is a man that's being led of the Spirit, that's following Christ. God help me to be able to look over all believers. You're doing the work of the Lord.

You're doing the work of the Lord. In your little area, as small as it might be, just try to imagine the work of the Lord that Paul did and the small little circle that Timothy affected. I think what a lovely quality that is.

Let's come over now to 2 Timothy chapter 4. I love this one. I just love this one. There's something so tender about this little glimpse here.

2 Timothy chapter 4. And look at what it says, verse 11. 2 Timothy 4 verse 11. Only Luke is with me.

Take Mark and bring him with thee. Notice, for he is profitable to me for the ministry. If you were to do a little study on Mark, 22 years ago from when Paul made this statement, they were out in the field, the missionary field working, Paul and Barnabas, and they had Mark as their assistant.

And all of a sudden Mark got discouraged. And 22 years from this point here, he went back. And remember the sharp contention between Paul and Barnabas on their second missionary journey? Barnabas wanted to take Mark, and Paul wanted to take Silas.

Remember there was that contention? And it was so sharp that they divided themselves. You know what Paul realized? Failure in a believer's life is not final. And now here's Paul.

He's not bitter at Mark. He could have been. That wouldn't be Christ-like.

He's actually encouraging you take that man. He's now profitable to me for the ministry. You know sometimes what we do, brethren? It doesn't matter how much time is under the bridge.

We're always remembering they did that. They're no good. They're a write-off.

Or we might get this far and say, somebody might come and ask your opinion. You might say this, well, you know, if you take them, you've got to watch out because they might fail again. See the suspicion? Do you know what Paul was willing to do? Forgive and forget.

Forgive and forget. In our Bible study here, Wednesday night in Romans 14, I just forgot about it, but I was thinking of emphasizing it, but there's a lovely expression about the week. God is able to make him stand.

Is there anyone here that you've got a failure in your background? And it's a big one. Can I encourage you with these words? God is able to make you stand. Those of us that have been affected by the failure, can I remind ourselves what Christ-likeness is? Forgive.

Forget. God is able to make them stand. I've heard believers say this, I don't care what they do.

I will never forgive them. Wrong. 100% unlike Christ.

So you want to be like Christ? I know it kind of digs, doesn't it? Well, I'm not up here to entertain you. I want to challenge you. I want us to look at our life and I want us to realize just how we're unfalling short.

So many areas where I can be like Christ. Little, little tiny areas that I can ask help and I can actually be like Christ in them. Here's one more and I'll sit down.

Philemon. The little book of Philemon. And this is once again a lovely little thing.

Look at Philemon. There's just one chapter in Philemon, right after the book of Titus, right before Hebrews. Philemon, and look at verse number 10.

This is of course the background, maybe some don't know, but Onesimus, he was a slave that ran away from Philemon. And he ended up in Rome where Paul was in jail. And he ended up being next to Paul in jail and then the dear man got saved.

And now Paul is sending this man Onesimus back with this letter in his hand. And look at what we have, verse 10. Philemon 10.

I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds, which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me, whom I have sent again. Thou therefore receive him, that is mine own vows, whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel. Notice.

But without thy mind would I do nothing, that thy benefit. Now that's a reference to Onesimus serving Paul in jail. That thy benefit should not be, notice, not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

Do you know what Paul was wanting from Philemon? Let me word it this way. Do you ever try to get someone to do something just based on guilt? You make them feel guilty, so they'll do it. Do you know what Paul wanted? He says, you know, Philemon, I would really like to have this man Onesimus stay with me and serve me.

But he says, listen, I don't want to put pressure on you. I don't want to make you feel guilty. He says, I want you just to be willing, just to do it.

Do you use guilt? I know you all look so angelic, don't you? I do it. Sometimes I want my wife to do something, and I notice she's just not willing to do it. Don't I shoot back? Well, you asked me to do something last week, and I did it.

Do you know what that is? One hundred percent guilt. It's a guilt trip. Why do you serve God? Why did you read this morning? Guilt? Why do I come to meaning? Guilt? I've got a wicked heart that loves guilt, and it'll not only use it on me, it'll try to use it on you.

Guilt. Do you know what Christlikeness is? Don't use guilt. Just serve God.

And if you sense that someone's not willing at the time, realize they've got a will. They've got an exercise. And leave it with God.

And just go on serving Christ. So God help us as we took this little tour of Paul's life. What a lovely person.

You know why he was a lovely person? Because he had his eyes set on Christ. And you can't help but look at him, and end up being like him. So God, give us help.