For [as a believer] you have been called for this purpose, since Christ
suffered for you,
leaving you an example, so that you may follow in His footsteps. 1 Peter 2:21
Rainbow Pastor David
05-24-2019
_______________________________________________________________________________
The more we concentrate our lives on living more like Jesus the less we
will concern ourselves about the people of this world who seem to have
everything while living it up, because we know they will have to pay a horrible
price for all this worldly stuff. Today I will share with you 14 ways to help
us be more like Jesus Christ as we journey through this life.
As believers {Christians} who carry the name of the One who
died for our sins; we should strive every day to be more like Him. After all,
Christian means to be Christ-like. In today’s world it is becoming increasingly
impossible to differentiate between “Christians” and the people of the world.
Walk into any Mega Church Ministry and Ministries with multiple locations and
you will experience “worship” services that more resemble worldly concerts than
houses of prayer were the people of God go to worship Him. The sermons have
turned into self help series and how to live your best life now instead
of learning the meaning of being a TRUE follower of the God Most High. You will
also find these “Mega Churches” were designed to make the “Minister” whether
FAKE or NOT very wealthy at the expense of the church goers.
Jesus NEVER said to make being a minister
a money making vocation {Luke
9}. We will discuss this in greater depth at a later date.
With all the chaos of loud music, light
shows and fog machines it is any wonder anyone is able to truly give God the
reverence He requires of those who chose to follow Him. The Scriptures warn of
a time in history when mankind would no longer want to hear the TRUTH; they
would however surround themselves with worldly views and ministers who would
deliver those types of messages. In 2
Timothy 4 we read the charge given to those who chose to be ministers to be
TRUTHFUL because of the fading away of mankind.
I solemnly charge you in the presence of
God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His
appearing and His kingdom: preach the word [as an official messenger]; be ready
when the time is right and even when it is not [keep your sense of urgency,
whether the opportunity seems favorable or unfavorable, whether convenient or
inconvenient, whether welcome or unwelcome]; correct [those who err in doctrine
or behavior], warn [those who sin], exhort and encourage [those who are growing
toward spiritual maturity], with inexhaustible patience and [faithful]
teaching. For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine and
accurate instruction [that challenges them with God’s truth]; but wanting to
have their ears tickled [with something pleasing], they will accumulate for
themselves [many] teachers [one after another, chosen] to satisfy their own
desires and to support the errors they hold, and will turn their ears away from
the truth and will wander off into myths and man-made fictions [and will accept
the unacceptable]. But as for you, be clear-headed in every situation [stay
calm and cool and steady], endure every hardship [without flinching], do the
work of an evangelist, fulfill [the duties of] your ministry. 2
Timothy 4:1-5
Be wary of false preachers who smile a
lot, dripping with practiced sincerity. Chances are they are out to rip you off
some way or other. Don’t be impressed with charisma; look for character. Who
preachers are is the main thing, not what they say. A genuine leader will never
exploit your emotions or your pocketbook. These diseased trees with their bad
apples are going to be chopped down and burned. Matthew
7:15-20
As I have journey through this life as a
minister of the Gospel I have heard many Christians complaining about how
“UNFAIR” it is that wicked men and women seem to have it all while they are
struggling just to make ends meet. I can understand there dilemma because even
I have wondered why this happens at times. When this happens the Holy Spirit
reminds me that Satan will give people all the worldly possessions they can
handle and more but it will cost them their souls in the end. It is much better
to go through this life with only what you need while storing up treasures in
Heaven that will last forever like Jesus told us to do. Treasures here on earth
will fade while leading you down a dark pathway to hell. Even King Solomon, who
was the wisest man to ever live considered this paradox about Christian living.
I have seen everything during my [fleeting] days of futility; there is a righteous man who perishes in [spite of] his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who lives a long life in [spite of] his wickedness. Do not be excessively righteous [like those given to self-conceit], and do not be overly wise (pretentious)—why should you bring yourself to ruin? Do not be excessively or willfully wicked and do not be a fool. Why should you die before your time? Ecclesiastes 7:15-17
Do not store up for yourselves [material] treasures
on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But
store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust
destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal; for where your treasure
is, there your heart [your wishes, your desires; that on which your life
centers] will be also. Matthew
6:19-21
14
Ways We Are To Be Like Jesus Christ
1 - In Righteousness & Holiness
1 Peter 1:14-16 [Live] as obedient children [of God]; do not be
conformed to the evil desires which
governed you in your ignorance [before you knew the requirements and
transforming power of the good news regarding salvation]. But like the Holy One
who called you, be holy yourselves in all your conduct [be set apart from the world by your godly character
and moral courage]; because it is written, “You shall be holy (set apart), for I am holy.”
1 John 3:7 Little children (believers, dear ones), do not let anyone lead you
astray. The one who practices righteousness [the one who strives to live a
consistently honorable life—in private as well as in public—and to conform to
God’s precepts] is righteous, just as He is righteous.
John 15:10-14 If you keep My commandments and obey My teaching, you will remain in My love, just as I have
kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. I have told you these things so that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy may be made full and complete and overflowing. This is My commandment that you love and unselfishly seek the best for one
another, just as I have loved you. No one has greater love [nor stronger
commitment] than to lay down his own life for his
friends. You are my friends if you keep on doing what I command
you.
1 Corinthians 1:30-31 But it is from Him that
you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God [revealing His plan
of salvation], and righteousness [making us acceptable to God], and
sanctification [making us holy and setting us apart for God], and redemption
[providing our ransom from the penalty for sin], so then, as it is written [in
Scripture], “He
who boasts and glories, let him boast and glory in the Lord.”
Ephesians 1:3-6 Blessed and
worthy of praise be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has
blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ, just
as [in His love] He chose us in Christ [actually selected us for Himself as His
own] before the foundation of the world, so that we would be holy [that is,
consecrated, set apart for Him, purpose-driven] and blameless in His sight. In
love He predestined and
lovingly planned for us to be adopted to Himself as [His own] children through
Jesus Christ, in accordance with the kind intention and good pleasure of His will— to the praise of His glorious
grace and favor, which He so
freely bestowed on us in the Beloved [His Son, Jesus Christ].
Ephesians 5:25-27 …just as Christ also
loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify the
church, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word [of God], so
that [in turn] He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor,
without spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy [set
apart for God] and blameless.
2 - In Freedom from This World
John 17:14-16 I have given to them Your word
[the message You gave Me]; and the world has hated them
because they are not of the world and
do not belong to the world, just as I am not of the world and do not belong to it. I do not ask You to take them out of the
world, but that You keep them and
protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just
as I am not of the world.
Romans 12:1-2 Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the
mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set
apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical,
intelligent) act of worship. And do not be conformed to this world [any longer
with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you
mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and
ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God
is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for
you].
James 4:1-10 What leads to [the unending] quarrels and conflicts
among you? Do they not come from your [hedonistic] desires that wage war in
your [bodily] members [fighting for control over you]? You are
jealous and covet [what others
have] and your lust goes unfulfilled; so you murder. You are envious and cannot
obtain [the object of your envy]; so you fight and battle. You do not have
because you do not ask [it of God]. You ask [God for something] and do not
receive it, because you ask with wrong motives [out of selfishness or with an
unrighteous agenda], so that [when you get what you want] you may spend it on
your [hedonistic] desires. You adulteresses [disloyal sinners—flirting with the
world and breaking your vow to God]! Do you not know that being the world’s
friend [that is, loving the things of the world] is being God’s enemy? So
whoever chooses to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or
do you think that the Scripture says to no purpose that the [human] spirit
which He has made to dwell in us lusts with envy? But He gives us more and more
grace [through the power of the Holy Spirit to defy sin and live an obedient
life that reflects both our faith and our gratitude for our salvation].
Therefore, it says, “God is opposed to the proud and haughty, but
[continually] gives [the gift of] grace to the humble [who turn away
from self-righteousness].” So submit to [the authority of] God.
Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will flee from you. Come close
to God [with a contrite heart] and He will come close to you. Wash your hands,
you sinners; and purify your [unfaithful] hearts, you double-minded [people].
Be miserable and grieve and weep [over your sin]. Let your [foolish] laughter
be turned to mourning and your [reckless] joy to gloom. Humble yourselves [with
an attitude of repentance and insignificance] in the presence of the Lord, and
He will exalt you [He will lift you up, He will give you purpose].
1 John 2:15-24 Do
not love the world [of sin that opposes God and His precepts], nor the things
that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not
in him. For all that is in the world—the lust and sensual craving of the flesh and the lust and longing of the eyes and the
boastful pride of life [pretentious confidence in one’s resources or in the
stability of earthly things]—these do not come from the Father, but are from
the world. The world is passing away, and with it its lusts [the shameful
pursuits and ungodly longings]; but the one who does the will of God and carries out His purposes lives forever. Children,
it is the last hour [the end of this age]; and just as you heard that the
antichrist is coming [the one who will oppose Christ and attempt to replace
Him], even now many antichrists (false teachers) have appeared, which confirms
our belief that it is the last hour. They went out from us
[seeming at first to be Christians], but they were not really of us [because they were not truly born again and
spiritually transformed]; for if they had been of us, they would have remained
with us; but they went out
[teaching false doctrine], so that it would be clearly shown that none of them
are of us. But you have an anointing from the Holy One [you
have been set apart, specially gifted and prepared by the Holy Spirit], and all
of you know [the truth because He teaches us, illuminates our minds, and guards
us from error]. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth,
but because you do know it, and because no lie [nothing false, no deception] is
of the truth. Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus
is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed)? This is the antichrist [the enemy
and antagonist of Christ], the one who denies and consistently refuses to acknowledge the Father and the Son.
Whoever denies and repudiates
the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses and acknowledges the Son has the Father also. As for you, let
that remain in you [keeping in your hearts that message of salvation] which you
heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you,
you too will remain in the Son and in the Father [forever].
3 - In Self-Crucifixion
Romans 6:1-23 What
shall we say [to all this]? Should we continue in sin and practice sin as a habit so that [God’s gift of] grace may
increase and overflow?
Certainly not! How can we, the very ones who died to sin, continue to live in it any longer? Or
are you ignorant of the fact that all of us who have been baptized into Christ
Jesus were baptized into His death? We have therefore been buried with Him
through baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead
through the glory and power of
the Father, we too might walk habitually
in newness of life [abandoning our old ways]. For if we have become one with
Him [permanently united] in the likeness of His death, we will also certainly
be [one with Him and share fully] in
the likeness of His resurrection. We know that our old self [our human
nature without the Holy Spirit] was nailed to the cross with Him, in order that our body of sin
might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin. The
person who has died [with Christ] has been freed from [the power of] sin. Now
if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live [together] with
Him, because we know [the self-evident truth] that Christ,
having been raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has
power over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin [ending its power
and paying the sinner’s debt] once and for all; and the life that He lives, He
lives to [glorify] God [in unbroken fellowship with Him]. Even so, consider
yourselves to be dead to sin [and your relationship to it broken], but alive to
God [in unbroken fellowship with Him] in Christ Jesus. Therefore
do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts and passions. Do not
go on offering members of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness. But
offer yourselves to God [in a decisive act] as those alive [raised] from the
dead [to a new life], and your members [all of your abilities—sanctified, set
apart] as instruments of righteousness [yielded] to God. Sin will no longer be
a master over you, since you are not under Law [as slaves], but under
[unmerited] grace [as recipients of God’s favor and mercy]. What
then [are we to conclude]? Shall we sin because we are not under Law, but under
[God’s] grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that when you continually offer yourselves to
someone to do his will, you are the slaves of the one whom you obey, either
[slaves] of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to
righteousness (right standing with God)? But thank God that though you were
slaves of sin, you became obedient with all your heart to the standard of
teaching in which you were instructed and
to which you were committed. And having been set free from sin, you have become
the slaves of righteousness [of conformity to God’s will and purpose]. I am
speaking in [familiar] human terms because of your natural limitations [your
spiritual immaturity]. For just as you presented your bodily members as slaves
to impurity and to [moral] lawlessness, leading to further lawlessness, so now
offer your members [your abilities, your talents] as slaves to righteousness,
leading to sanctification [that is, being set apart for God’s purpose]. When
you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness [you had no
desire to conform to God’s will]. So what benefit did you get at that time from
the things of which you are now ashamed? [None!] For the outcome of those
things is death! But now since you have been set free from sin and have become
[willing] slaves to God, you have your benefit, resulting in sanctification
[being made holy and set apart for God’s purpose], and the outcome [of this] is
eternal life. The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God [that is, His
remarkable, overwhelming gift of grace to believers] is eternal life in Christ
Jesus our Lord.
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him I
have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in
me. The life I now live in the
body I live by faith [by adhering to, relying on, and completely trusting] in
the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Luke 9:23-27 And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My
disciple], he must deny himself
[set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross
daily [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may
come] and follow Me [believing
in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps
dying because of faith in Me]. For whoever wishes to
save his life [in this world] will [eventually] lose it
[through death], but whoever loses his life [in this world] for My sake, he is the one
who will save it [from the consequences of sin and
separation from God]. For what does it
profit a man if he gains the whole world [wealth, fame,
success], and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed [here and now] of Me and My words, the Son
of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and the glory of the [heavenly] Father and of the holy angels. But I tell you truthfully, there are some
among those standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom
of God.”
4 - In Walking in Newness of Life
Galatians 5:16-26 But I say, walk habitually
in the [Holy] Spirit [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance], and then you
will certainly not carry out the desire of the sinful nature [which responds
impulsively without regard for God and His precepts]. For the sinful nature has
its desire which is opposed to the Spirit, and the [desire of the] Spirit
opposes the sinful nature; for these [two, the sinful nature and the Spirit]
are in direct opposition to each other [continually in conflict], so that you
[as believers] do not [always] do whatever [good things] you want to do. But if
you are guided and led by the
Spirit, you are not subject to the Law. Now the practices of the sinful nature
are clearly evident: they are
sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of
self-control), idolatry, sorcery, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger,
disputes, dissensions, factions [that promote heresies], envy, drunkenness,
riotous behavior, and other
things like these. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those
who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But
the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love
[unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability
to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. And those who
belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature together with its
passions and appetites.
If
we [claim to] live by the [Holy] Spirit, we must also walk by the Spirit [with
personal integrity, godly character, and moral courage—our conduct empowered by
the Holy Spirit]. We must not become conceited, challenging or provoking one another, envying one
another.
Ephesians 4:14-24 So that we are no
longer children [spiritually immature], tossed back and forth [like ships on a
stormy sea] and carried about by every wind of [shifting] doctrine, by the
cunning and trickery of
[unscrupulous] men, by the deceitful scheming of people ready to do anything
[for personal profit]. But speaking the truth in love [in all things—both our
speech and our lives expressing His truth], let us grow up in all things into Him [following His
example] who is the Head—Christ. From Him the whole body [the church, in all
its various parts], joined and knitted firmly
together by what every joint supplies, when each part is working properly,
causes the body to grow and
mature, building itself up in [unselfish] love. So this I say,
and solemnly affirm together with the Lord [as in His presence], that you must
no longer live as the [unbelieving] Gentiles live, in the futility of their
minds [and in the foolishness and emptiness of their souls], for their [moral]
understanding is darkened and
their reasoning is clouded; [they are] alienated and self-banished from the life of God [with no share in it;
this is] because of the [willful] ignorance and spiritual blindness that is [deep-seated] within them,
because of the hardness and
insensitivity of their heart. And they, [the ungodly in their spiritual
apathy], having become callous and
unfeeling, have given themselves over [as prey] to unbridled sensuality, eagerly
craving the practice of every kind of impurity [that their desires may demand].
But you did not learn Christ in this way! If in fact you have
[really] heard Him and have been taught by Him, just as truth is in Jesus
[revealed in His life and personified in Him], that, regarding your previous
way of life, you put off your old self [completely discard your former nature],
which is being corrupted through deceitful desires, and be continually renewed in the spirit of
your mind [having a fresh, untarnished mental and spiritual attitude], and
put on the new self [the regenerated and renewed nature], created in God’s
image, [godlike] in the righteousness and holiness of the truth [living in a
way that expresses to God your gratitude for your salvation].
5 - In Enduring Persecutions
Matthew 10:25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher
and the bond-servant like his master. If they have called the head of the house
Beelzebul (Satan), how much more [will they speak evil
of] the members of his household.
John 15:18-20 If the world hates you [and it
does], know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you
belonged to the world, the world would love [you as] its own and would
treat you with affection. But you are not of the world
[you no longer belong to it], but I have chosen you out
of the world. And because of this the world hates you. Remember [and continue to remember] that I told you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they
persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will
keep yours also.
Mark 10:29-30 Jesus said, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, there
is no one who has given up a house or brothers or sisters or mother or father
or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, who will not receive a hundred times as much
now in the present age—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children
and farms—along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.”
Luke 9:59-62 He said to another, “Follow Me [accepting Me as Master and Teacher].” But he said, “Lord, allow me
first to go and bury my father.” But He said to him, “Allow
the [spiritually] dead to bury
their own dead; but as for you, go and spread the news about the kingdom of
God.” Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord [as
Your disciple]; but first let me say goodbye to those at my home.” But
Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow
and looks back [to the things left behind] is fit for the kingdom of God.”
6 – In Works
James 2:14-16 What is the benefit, my fellow believers, if someone
claims to have faith but has no [good] works [as evidence]? Can that [kind of]
faith save him? [No, a mere claim of faith is not sufficient—genuine faith
produces good works.] If a brother or sister is without [adequate] clothing and
lacks [enough] food for each day, and one of you says to them,
“Go in peace [with my blessing], [keep] warm and feed yourselves,” but he does
not give them the necessities for the body, what good does that do?
7 – In
the Fruit of the Spirit
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the
Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for
others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act
while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Against such things there is no law.
John 13:34 I
am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have
loved you, so you too are to love one another.
John 15:11-13 I have told you these things so that My joy and delight may be in you, and that
your joy may be “This is My commandment, that you love and unselfishly seek the best for one
another, just as I have loved you. No one has greater love [nor stronger
commitment] than to lay down his own life for his friends.
8 – In Total Setting Apart for God’s Work
John 17:17-19 Sanctify them in the truth
[set them apart for Your purposes, make them holy]; Your
word is truth. Just as You
commissioned and sent Me into
the world, I also have commissioned and
sent them (believers) into the world. For their sake I sanctify Myself [to do Your
will], so that they also may be sanctified [set apart, dedicated, made holy] in [Your] truth.
John 20:21 Then Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you [as My representatives].”
2 Corinthians 6:17-18 “So come out from among
unbelievers and be separate,” says the Lord,
“And do not touch what is unclean; And I will graciously receive you and welcome you [with favor], And I will be a Father to you, And you will be My sons and daughters,” Says the Lord Almighty.
“And do not touch what is unclean; And I will graciously receive you and welcome you [with favor], And I will be a Father to you, And you will be My sons and daughters,” Says the Lord Almighty.
9 – In Walking in the Light
1 John 1:6-7 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet
walk in the darkness [of sin], we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we
[really] walk in the Light [that is, live each and every day in conformity with
the precepts of God], as He Himself is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken]
fellowship with one another [He with us, and we with Him], and the blood of
Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin [by erasing the stain of sin, keeping us
cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations].
10 – In Unity with God
John 17:11 I am no longer in the world; yet they are still in the
world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, so
that they may be one just as We are.
John 17:20-23 I do not pray for these alone
[it is not for their sake only that I make this request], but also for [all] those
who [will ever] believe and trust in Me through their
message, that they all may be
one; just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in
Us, so that the world may believe [without any doubt] that You sent Me. I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me,
that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in
Me, that they may be perfected and
completed into one, so that the world may know [without
any doubt] that You sent Me, and
[that You] have loved them, just as You have loved Me.
11 – In Suffering for Others
1 Peter 2:21-23 For [as a believer] you have been
called for this purpose, since Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example,
so that you may follow in His footsteps. He committed no sin, nor was deceit ever found
in His mouth. While being reviled and insulted, He did not revile or insult in return; while suffering,
He made no threats [of vengeance], but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges fairly.
1 Peter 3:18-4:2 For indeed Christ died for sins once for
all, the Just and Righteous for
the unjust and unrighteous [the
Innocent for the guilty] so that He might bring us to God, having been put to
death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit; in which He
also went and preached to the spirits now
in prison, who once were disobedient, when the great patience of God was waiting in the days of Noah, during
the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons [Noah’s
family], were brought safely through the water. Corresponding
to that [rescue through the flood], baptism [which is an expression of a
believer’s new life in Christ] now saves you, not by removing dirt from the
body, but by an appeal to God for a good (clear) conscience, [demonstrating
what you believe to be yours] through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who
has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God [that is, the place of
honor and authority], with [all] angels and authorities and powers made
subservient to Him. Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh [and died for
us], arm yourselves [like warriors] with the same purpose [being willing to
suffer for doing what is right and pleasing God], because whoever has suffered
in the flesh [being like-minded with Christ] is done with [intentional] sin
[having stopped pleasing the world], so that he can no longer spend the rest of
his natural life living for human appetites and desires, but [lives] for the will and purpose of God.
Philippians 3:10-11 And this, so that I may know Him [experientially, becoming more
thoroughly acquainted with Him, understanding the remarkable wonders of His
Person more completely] and [in that same way experience] the power of His
resurrection [which overflows and is active in believers], and [that I may
share] the fellowship of His sufferings, by being continually conformed [inwardly into His likeness even] to His
death [dying as He did]; so that I may attain to the resurrection [that will
raise me] from the dead.
12 – In Life and Conduct
1 John 2:1-14 My
little children (believers, dear ones), I am writing you these things so that
you will not sin and violate
God’s law. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate [who will intercede for us]
with the Father: Jesus Christ the righteous [the upright, the just One, who
conforms to the Father’s will in every way—purpose, thought, and action]. And
He [that same Jesus] is the propitiation for our sins [the atoning sacrifice
that holds back the wrath of God that would otherwise be directed at us because
of our sinful nature—our worldliness, our lifestyle]; and not for ours alone,
but also for [the sins of all believers throughout] the whole world. And
this is how we know [daily, by experience] that we have come to know Him [to
understand Him and be more deeply acquainted with Him]: if we habitually keep [focused on His
precepts and obey] His commandments (teachings). Whoever says,
“I have come to know Him,” but does not habitually
keep [focused on His precepts and obey] His commandments (teachings), is a
liar, and the truth [of the divine word] is not in him. But whoever habitually keeps His word and obeys His precepts [and treasures
His message in its entirety], in him the love of God has truly been perfected
[it is completed and has reached maturity]. By this we know [for certain] that
we are in Him: whoever says he lives in Christ [that is,
whoever says he has accepted Him as God and Savior] ought [as a moral
obligation] to walk and conduct
himself just as He walked and
conducted Himself. Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment
to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old
commandment is the message which you have heard [before from us]. On
the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true and realized in Christ and in you,
because the darkness [of moral blindness] is clearing away and the true Light
[the revelation of God in Christ] is already shining. The one who says he is in
the Light [in consistent fellowship with Christ] and yet habitually hates (works against) his
brother [in Christ] is in the darkness until now. The one who loves and unselfishly seeks the best for
his [believing] brother lives in the Light, and in him there is no occasion for
stumbling or offense [he does
not hurt the cause of Christ or lead others to sin]. But the one who habitually hates (works against) his
brother [in Christ] is in [spiritual] darkness and is walking in the darkness,
and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes. I
am writing to you, little children (believers, dear ones), because your sins
have been forgiven for His name’s sake [you have been pardoned and released
from spiritual debt through His name because you have confessed His name,
believing in Him as Savior]. I am writing to you, fathers [those believers who
are spiritually mature], because you know Him who has existed from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men [those believers who are growing in spiritual
maturity], because you have been victorious and have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children
[those who are new believers, those spiritually immature], because you have
come to know the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him
who has existed from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because
you are strong and vigorous,
and the words of God remains [always] in you, and you have been victorious over
the evil one [by accepting Jesus as Savior].
1 John 4:15-17 Whoever confesses and acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in
him, and he in God. We have come to know [by personal observation and
experience], and have believed [with deep, consistent faith] the love which God
has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God
abides continually in him. In
this [union and fellowship with Him], love is completed and perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day
of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him]; because as He is, so are
we in this world.
13 – In Enduring Temptations
Ephesians 6:10-20 In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from
Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His
[boundless] might. Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the
splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier], so that you may be able to
[successfully] stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and
the deceits of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh
and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers,
against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness,
against the spiritual forces of
wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places. Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you
will be able to [successfully] resist and
stand your ground in the evil day [of danger], and having done everything [that
the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place, fully prepared, immovable,
victorious]. So stand firm and
hold your ground, having tightened the wide band of truth (personal integrity, moral courage) around your waist and having put on the breastplate of righteousness (an upright heart),
and having strapped on your
feet the gospel of peace in preparation [to face the enemy with firm-footed
stability and the readiness produced by the good news]. Above all, lift up the
[protective] shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming
arrows of the evil one. And
take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the
Spirit, which is the Word of God. With all prayer and petition
pray [with specific requests] at all times [on every occasion and in every
season] in the Spirit, and with this in view, stay alert with all perseverance
and petition [interceding in prayer] for all God’s people. And pray for me, that words may be given
to me when I open my mouth, to proclaim boldly the mystery of the good news [of
salvation], for which I am an ambassador in chains. And pray that in proclaiming
it I may speak boldly and
courageously, as I should.
Hebrews 2:18 Because He Himself [in His humanity] has suffered in being tempted, He
is able to help and provide
immediate assistance to those who are being tempted and exposed to suffering.
Hebrews 4:14-16 Inasmuch then as we [believers] have a great High Priest who has
[already ascended and] passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us
hold fast our confession [of faith and cling tenaciously to our absolute trust
in Him as Savior]. For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize
and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been
tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any]
sin. Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is,
the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our
failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate
blessing, coming just at the right moment].
James 1:2-3 Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters,
whenever you fall into various trials. Be assured that the testing of your
faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity,
and inner peace].
James 1:12 Blessed [happy, spiritually prosperous, favored by
God] is the man who is steadfast under trial and perseveres when tempted; for when he has passed the test and been approved, he will receive
the [victor’s] crown of life which the
Lord has promised to those who love Him.
14 – Manifesting the Fullness of God
John 3:34 For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God
[proclaiming the Father’s own message]; for God gives the [gift of the] Spirit
without measure [generously and boundlessly]!
John 7:37-39 Now on the last and most important day of the feast, Jesus stood and
called out [in a loud voice], “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink! He who believes in Me [who adheres to, trusts in,
and relies on Me], as the Scripture has said, ‘From his innermost being will flow continually rivers of living water.’” But He was
speaking of the [Holy] Spirit, whom those who believed in Him [as Savior] were
to receive afterward. The
Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified (raised to
honor).
John 14:12 I assure you and most
solemnly say to you, anyone who believes in Me [as Savior] will also do the things that I do; and he
will do even greater things than these [in extent and outreach], because I am going to the
Father.
Ephesians
3:16-19 May He grant you out of the
riches of His glory, to be strengthened and
spiritually energized with power through His Spirit in your inner self, [indwelling
your innermost being and personality], so that Christ may dwell in your hearts
through your faith. And may you, having been [deeply] rooted and [securely]
grounded in love, 18 be fully capable of comprehending with all
the saints (God’s people) the width and length and height and depth of His love
[fully experiencing that amazing, endless love]; and [that you may come] to
know [practically, through personal experience] the love of Christ which far
surpasses [mere] knowledge [without experience], that you may be filled up
[throughout your being] to all the fullness of God [so that you may have the
richest experience of God’s presence in your lives, completely filled and
flooded with God Himself].
I pray you have decided that
following Jesus, even though it will be tough at times, will suite your life
more that living it up on the Devil’s dime and spending an eternity in hell for
it.
Forever in Christ Jesus service,
Rainbow
Pastor David
I assure you and most solemnly say to you, anyone
who believes in Me [as Savior] will also do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things
than these
[in extent and outreach], because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in My name [as My representative], this I will do, so that the
Father may be glorified and
celebrated in the Son. If
you ask Me anything in My name [as My representative], I will do it. “If you [really] love Me, you will keep and obey My commandments. John 14:12-15
My Father is glorified and honored by this, when you bear much fruit, and prove yourselves to be My [true] disciples. John 15:8
But now I am coming
to You; and I say these things [while I am still] in the world so that they may experience My joy made full and complete and perfect within them [filling their hearts with My delight]. I have given to them Your word [the message You gave Me]; and the world has hated them
because they are not of the world and
do not belong to the world, just as I am not of the world and do not belong to it.I
do not ask You to take them out of the world, but that You keep them and protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not
of the world.
Sanctify them
in the truth
[set them apart for Your purposes, make them holy]; Your word is truth. Just as You commissioned and sent Me into the world, I also
have commissioned and sent them
(believers) into the world. For
their sake I sanctify Myself [to do Your will], so that they also may be sanctified [set apart, dedicated, made holy] in [Your] truth.“I do not pray for
these alone
[it is not for their sake only that I make this request], but also for [all] those who [will ever] believe and trust in Me through their
message, that they all may be one; just
as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so
that the world may believe [without any doubt] that You sent Me. John 17:13-21
Scriptures for further study
“A disciple is
not above his teacher, nor is a bond-servant above his master. It
is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the bond-servant like
his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul (Satan), how
much more [will they speak evil of] the members of
his household.“So do not be afraid of them, for nothing is
hidden that will not be revealed [at the
judgment], or kept secret that will not be made known
[at the judgment].What
I say to you in the dark (privately), tell in the light (publicly); and what
you hear whispered in your ear,
proclaim from the housetops [to many
people]. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill
the soul; but rather be afraid of Him who can destroy both soul and body in
hell. Are not two little sparrows sold for a copper coin? And yet
not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.
But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered
[for the Father is sovereign and has complete knowledge]. So
do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.“Therefore,
the one who confesses and
acknowledges Me before men [as Lord and
Savior, affirming a state of oneness with Me], that one I will
also confess and acknowledge
before My Father who is in heaven. But
the one who denies and rejects
Me before men that one I will also deny and
reject before My Father who is in heaven.“Do not think that I
have come to bring peace on the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a
sword [of division between belief and unbelief]. For
I have come to set a man
against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law
against her mother-in-law;and a man’s enemies will be the members of his
[own] household
[when one believes and another does not].“He
who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves
son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
And he who does not take his cross
[expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and
follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if
need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me] is
not worthy of Me. Whoever finds his life [in this world]
will [eventually] lose
it [through death], and whoever
loses his life [in this world] for My sake will
find it [that is, life with Me for all eternity]. Matthew 10:24-39
The one who
loves his life
[eventually] loses
it [through
death], but
the one who hates his life in this world [and is concerned with pleasing God] will keep it for life eternal. If anyone serves Me, he must [continue to faithfully] follow Me [without hesitation, holding
steadfastly to Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be,
suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me]; and wherever I am [in heaven’s glory], there will My servant be also.
If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him. John 12:25-26
My Father is glorified and honored by this, when you bear much fruit, and prove yourselves to be My [true] disciples. John 15:8
“I have told you these things
so that you will not stumble or
be caught off guard and fall
away. They will put you out of the synagogues and make you outcasts. And a time is coming when whoever kills
you will think that he is offering service to God. And they will do these
things because they have not known the Father or Me.I have
told you these things [now], so that when their time comes, you will remember
that I told you about them. I did not say these things to you at the beginning,
because I was with you.“But now I am going to Him who sent Me;
and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ But because I have said these
things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts [and taken complete possession of
them]. But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if
I do not go away, the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor,
Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him (the
Holy Spirit) to you [to be in close fellowship with you]. And He, when He
comes, will convict the world about [the guilt of] sin [and the need for a
Savior], and about righteousness, and about judgment:about sin
[and the true nature of it], because they do not believe in Me [and My
message]; about righteousness [personal integrity and godly character], because
I am going to My Father and you will no longer see Me; about judgment [the
certainty of it], because the ruler of this world (Satan) has been judged and condemned.“I
have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear [to hear] them now.But
when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth [full
and complete truth]. For He will not speak on His own initiative, but He will
speak whatever He hears [from the Father—the message regarding the Son], and He
will disclose to you what is to come [in the future]. He will glorify and honor Me, because He (the Holy
Spirit) will take from what is Mine and will disclose it to you. All things
that the Father has are Mine. Because of this I said that He [the Spirit] will
take from what is Mine and will reveal it to you. John
16:1-15
Then
Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you [as My representatives].” John 20:21
For
those whom He foreknew [and loved and chose beforehand], He also predestined to
be conformed to the image of His Son [and ultimately share in His complete
sanctification], so that He would be the firstborn [the most beloved and
honored] among many believers. Romans 8:29
Therefore
I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies
[dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and
well-pleasing to God, which is
your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. And do not be conformed to
this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be
transformed and progressively
changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on
godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves]
what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His
plan and purpose for you]. Romans 12:1-2
Are
we starting to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some [false
teachers], letters of recommendation to you or from you? [No!] You are our
letter [of recommendation], written in our hearts, recognized and read by
everyone. You show that you are a letter from Christ, delivered by us, written
not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but
on tablets of human hearts. Such is the confidence and steadfast reliance and absolute trust that we have
through Christ toward God.Not that we are sufficiently
qualified in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency and qualifications come from God. He has qualified us [making us
sufficient] as ministers of a new covenant [of salvation through Christ], not
of the letter [of a written code] but of the Spirit; for the letter [of the
Law] kills [by revealing sin and demanding obedience], but the Spirit gives
life.Now if the ministry of death, engraved in letters on
stones [the covenant of the Law which led to death because of sin], came with
such glory and splendor that
the Israelites were not able to look steadily at the face of Moses because of
its glory, [a brilliance] that was fading, how will the ministry of the Spirit
[the new covenant which allows us to be Spirit-filled] fail to be even more
glorious and splendid? For if
the ministry that brings condemnation [the old covenant, the Law] has glory,
how much more does glory overflow in the ministry that brings righteousness
[the new covenant which declares believers free of guilt and sets them apart
for God’s special purpose]! Indeed, what had glory [the Law], in this case no
longer has glory because of the glory that surpasses it [the gospel]. For if
that [Law] which fades away came
with glory, how much more must that [gospel] which remains and is permanent abide in glory and splendor!Since
we have such a [glorious] hope and
confident expectation, we speak with great courage,and we are
not like Moses, who used to put
a veil over his face so that the Israelites would not gaze at the end of the
glory which was fading away. But [in fact] their minds were hardened [for they
had lost the ability to understand]; for until this very day at the reading of
the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed [only]
in Christ. But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil [of blindness] lies
over their heart; but whenever a person turns [in repentance and faith] to the
Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit
of the Lord is, there is
liberty [emancipation from bondage, true freedom]. And we all, with unveiled
face, continually seeing as in
a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively
being transformed into His image from [one degree of] glory to [even more]
glory, which comes from the Lord, [who is] the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3
2 Corinthians 3:16-18 but whenever a person
turns [in repentance and faith] to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the
Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty [emancipation from
bondage, true freedom]. And we all, with unveiled face, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into
His image from [one degree of] glory to [even more] glory, which comes from the
Lord, [who is] the Spirit.
Working
together with Him, we strongly
urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain [by turning away from sound
doctrine and His merciful kindness]. For He says,
“At the acceptable time (the time of grace) I listened to you And I
helped you on the day of salvation.”
Behold,
now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation”— we put no obstruction in anyone’s path, so that the
ministry will not be discredited, but we commend ourselves in every way as
servants of God: in great endurance, in sufferings, in hardships, in
distresses,in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors,
in sleepless nights, in hunger,in purity and sincerity, in knowledge and spiritual insight, in patience,
in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, in [speaking] the word of
truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand
[like holding the sword to attack] and for the left [like holding the shield to
defend], amid glory and dishonor; by evil report and good report; branded as deceivers and yet
[vindicated as] truthful; as unknown [to the world], yet well-known [by God and
His people]; as dying, yet we live; as punished, yet not killed; as sorrowful,
yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet bestowing riches on many; as having nothing,
yet possessing all things.We are speaking freely to you,
Corinthians [we are keeping nothing back], and our heart is opened wide. There
is no limit to our affection for you, but you are limited in your own affection
[for us]. Now in the same way as a fair exchange [for our love toward you]—I am
speaking as [I would] to children—open wide [your hearts] to us also.Do not be
unequally bound together with unbelievers [do not make mismatched alliances
with them, inconsistent with your faith]. For what partnership can
righteousness have with lawlessness? Or what fellowship can light have with
darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and Belial (Satan)? Or what
does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there
between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God;
just as God said:
“I will dwell among them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My
people. So come out from among
unbelievers and be separate,” says the Lord,
“And
do not touch what is unclean; And I will graciously receive you and welcome you [with favor], And I will
be a Father to you, And you will be My sons and
daughters,” Says the Lord Almighty. 2 Corinthians 6
2 Corinthians 6:17-18 “So come out from among unbelievers and be separate,” says the Lord, “And
do not touch what is unclean; And I will graciously receive you and welcome you [with favor],And I will be a Father to you, And you will
be My sons and daughters,” Says the Lord Almighty.
Therefore
become imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved
children [imitate their father]; and walk continually in love [that is, value one another—practice empathy
and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others], just as Christ also
loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God [slain
for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.But sexual
immorality and all [moral] impurity [indecent, offensive behavior] or greed
must not even be hinted at among you, as is proper among saints [for as
believers our way of life, whether in public or in private, reflects the
validity of our faith].Let there be no filthiness and silly
talk, or coarse [obscene or vulgar] joking, because such things are not appropriate [for believers]; but
instead speak of your thankfulness [to God]. For be sure of this: no immoral,
impure, or greedy person—for that one is [in effect] an idolater—has any
inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God [for such a person places a higher
value on something other than God].Let no one deceive you with
empty arguments [that encourage you to sin], for because of these things the
wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience [those who habitually sin].So
do not participate or even
associate with them [in the rebelliousness of sin]. For once you were darkness,
but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of Light [live as those who
are native-born to the Light] (for
the fruit [the effect, the result] of the Light consists in all goodness and
righteousness and truth), trying
to learn [by experience] what is pleasing to the Lord [and letting your
lifestyles be examples of what is most acceptable to Him—your behavior
expressing gratitude to God for your salvation]. Do not participate in the
worthless and unproductive
deeds of darkness, but instead expose them [by exemplifying personal integrity,
moral courage, and godly character]; for it is disgraceful even to mention the
things that such people practice in secret. But all things become visible when
they are exposed by the light [of God’s precepts], for it is light that makes
everything visible. For this reason He says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead,
And Christ will shine [as dawn] upon you and give you light.” Therefore see
that you walk carefully [living life with honor, purpose, and courage; shunning
those who tolerate and enable evil], not as the unwise, but as wise [sensible,
intelligent, discerning people], making the very most of your time [on earth,
recognizing and taking advantage of each opportunity and using it with wisdom
and diligence], because the days are [filled with] evil. Therefore do not be
foolish and thoughtless, but
understand and firmly grasp
what the will of the Lord is. Do not get drunk with wine, for that is
wickedness (corruption, stupidity), but be filled with the [Holy] Spirit and constantly guided by Him. Speak
to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, [offering praise by]
singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;always
giving thanks to God the Father for all things, in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ; being subject to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:1-21
But in your hearts set Christ apart [as
holy—acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives] as Lord. Always
be ready to give a [logical] defense to anyone who asks you to account for the
hope and confident assurance
[elicited by faith] that is within you, yet [do it] with gentleness and
respect. And see to it that your conscience is entirely clear, so that every
time you are slandered or
falsely accused, those who attack or
disparage your good behavior in Christ will be shamed [by their own words]. 1 Peter 3:15-16
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