The Value of Role Models

"SPIRITUAL GROWTH" 

The Value Of Role Models

 II. THE VALUE OF ROLE MODELS

A. GOOD ROLE MODELS CAN HELP...

 how "uneducated and untrained men" can boldly proclaim

the gospel of Christ

Acts 4:13

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.”

            By example, they teach us how to reach the same goals

a. E.g., to enjoy a wonderful relationship with God

Philippians 4:9

“Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”

b. E.g., to remain steadfast despite trials

 2Corinthians 4:16-18

“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet with inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

B. BAD ROLE MODELS CAN HINDER...

1. By example, they fail to show us what is possible

a. Perhaps preventing us from learning of our potential

b. Certainly not encouraging us to strive for excellence

2. By example, we can pick up their bad habits and dispositions

a. As indicated earlier, we are naturally imitators

b. It is not long before our conduct is similar to our role

models

[If we desire to grow spiritually, we need to have good role models.

Where are they?  We are blessed with many...]

III. ROLE MODELS WORTHY OF EMULATION

A. WE HAVE DEITY...

1. As Christ encouraged us to do, in showing kindness to our

enemies

 Matthew 5:43-48

“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? Do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”

2. As Paul instructed the Ephesians to walk in love

 Ephesians 5:1-2

“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”

3. What better example do we have, than that of God and Jesus

Christ?

4. Indeed, some of the very titles we wear imply such imitation:

a. Children of God

b. Disciples of Jesus Christ

-- Do we seek to learn as much about God and Jesus as we do other

role models?

 Yet we should be careful, for not all who profess to be

Christians behave as they should - cf. Php 3:18-19

 It is important, therefore, that we know the Scriptures well

enough to know when someone is worthy of our emulation

-- Yet there are many Christians who can teach and encourage us by

their own example, if we will but let them!

CONCLUSION

1. If you seek to grow spiritually, take advantage of role models...

a. Let them show you what is possible!

b. Let them teach you how to obtain the goals you are striving for!

c. Let them encourage you to persevere, knowing that others have

traveled the same path before you!

2. Since we are natural born imitators, let us make the choice to

imitate the good

 3John 11

“Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.”

a. Only then do we have the hope of being "of God"

b. The only alternative is to imitate the evil, which prevents us

from ever "seeing God"

We conclude this lesson with the following words of Scripture:

 Hebrews 6:11-12

“And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

Are we imitating those who through faith and patience inherit the

promises?

The Act of Worship

The Act of Worship

Matthew 15:8

“This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their hearts is far from me.”

It is hard to worship when our eyes are on the world, on other people, on making money, being successful, or on ourselves. To worship in spirit and in truth we have to take our eyes off everything else and focus on Jesus, our Lord. Worship is an action we take. It is something we do. In living a lifestyle of worship there are many ways to demonstrate our worship. Worship is expressing our love and adoration to God, His Son and the Holy Spirit. How often do you say, “I love you”? Can we every say it enough? When we realize how much God loves us we will love Him all the more. He knows our faults, our failures, and yet He loves us still. We are His children. He loves us so much He gave His only Son to die for us.

John 3:16

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

1 John 4:9-10

“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

1 John 4:19

“We love him, because he first loved us.”

His love is already there. We don’t have to earn it. We do not have to bribe Him to love us.

You are valuable to God. If He had a refrigerator your picture would be on it. If he had a wallet, your picture would be in it. He doesn’t need a refrigerator or a wallet. He has your picture embedded in His mind. He knows your name. He knows where you live. He loves you! Can you love Him back?

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

“For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”

God must get all the glory. As our lifestyle, our very beings, begin to worship Him and please Him in everything we do, we will experience different emotions. Sometimes we cry and cry and cry. This is an act of worship.

Psalms 34:18

“The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”

God can use our brokenness to minister to someone else. We may not feel completely healed ourselves when He leads us to reach out to someone else. We feel their pain, we cry with them. We offer them the littlest ray of hope that we can find and in doing so we have worshipped God.

2 Corinthians 4:17

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”

It seems our trials last more than a moment to us. Sometimes we have to have afflictions to turn our focus back to God. He wants us to lean on Him, depend on Him and to trust Him. When everything is doing good we tend to draw away from Him. Afflictions and trials draw us back to Him. Did you realize that when we ask for God’s help we are worshipping Him?

Matthew 8:2

“And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.”

God wants us to need Him. He wants us to ask for His help. When we express our need to Him we are expressing trust in Him to meet that need and that is worship to Him.

Paul's Thorn in the Flesh

Paul's Thorn In The Flesh (12:7-10)

 

INTRODUCTION

2Corinthians 12:7-10

“And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

 

1.   Paul tells of "a thorn in the flesh" which greatly

bothered him...

a. It was something for which he prayed the Lord to remove from him

b. The Lord did not do so, but gave Paul an answer that greatly

encouraged him

2. We might not be able to know exactly what the "thorn" was, but there

are some valuable lessons to be gleaned as we consider...

a. Why this "thorn" was given to Paul

b. Paul's initial reaction to the "thorn"

c. His reaction to the answer given him by the Lord

 

I. WHY WAS THE "THORN" GIVEN?

 

A.  LEST PAUL BE "EXALTED ABOVE MEASURE"

(2Corinthians 12:7)

“And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.”

1. Paul had been blessed to receive many revelations (A few of them listed below)...

a. On the road to Damascus

Acts 9:3-6

“And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven. And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.”

 The vision of Paradise

 2Corinthians 12:1-6

“It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (Whether in the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such as one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (Whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.”

2. It would have been quite easy...

a. For Paul to be filled with pride over these revelations

b. For the church to exalt him too highly

 

 THERE IS A PRACTICAL LESSON RELATED TO HUMILITY...

1.  Humility is a necessary trait for God's people

1Peter 5:5-6

“Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed wit humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:”

 

II. PAUL'S REACTION TO THE "THORN"

 

A.  BEING HUMAN, HE WANTED TO GET RID OF IT!

(2Corinthians 12:8)

“For this thing I besought the lord thrice, that it might depart from me.”

 He pleaded with the Lord three times to remove it

 

B. THIS SHOULD REMIND US OF CERTAIN PRINCIPLES OF PRAYER...

1. We are to pray with persistence

1 Thessalonians 5:7

“Pray without ceasing.”

2.  We are to pray in earnest

Matthew 7:7

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”

3. We are to pray specifically (as Paul did)

-- Yet God knows what is best for us, so the answer may not be

what we wish

 

III. PAUL'S REACTION TO THE LORD'S ANSWER

 

A.  TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE LORD'S ANSWER

(2Corinthians 12:9)

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly there will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

1. "My grace is sufficient for you"

a. The Lord would give Paul what he "needed"

b. But not necessarily what he "wanted"!

2. "My strength is made perfect in weakness"

a. I.e., it is in times of weakness and hardship that the

Lord's strength can be experienced most completely!

b. For in such times we really come to depend upon the Lord,

and not upon our own strength or wisdom!

 

B. NOW CONSIDER PAUL'S REACTION...

1. "I will boast in my infirmities"

a. Rather than bemoan his trying circumstances, he will glory

in them!

b. For it is in such infirmities that he has the opportunity

to experience the power of Christ in his life as He helps

him deal with them!

2. "I take pleasure in infirmities...for Christ's sake.  For when

I am weak, then I am strong."

 2Corinthians 12:10

“Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

a.  Infirmities can be a time for rejoicing!

b. For that can be a time in which to experience the strength

Christ gives, and the development of character that pleases

Him!

 Romans 5:3-5

“And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

Why i Believe In God

Why I Believe in God

Psalms 14:1

“The fool said in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.”

-A fool is not someone who is stupid or uneducated, but a person who rejects God. By rejecting God, the fool rejects the one who made the moral and spiritual laws that make life just and good. A fool is indeed corrupt, because to deny God’s existence allows wickedness to prevail. The wise however, not only believe there is a God, but also strive to please him. To believe there is a God but refuse to please him is also foolish. Don’t be a fool of either sort.

**Such Faith in Him is a source of great comfort**

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort, who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”

**It is necessary to have Faith; for it pleases God**

Hebrews 11:6

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

I.            The evidence of Design in the Universe

a.       Orderly movement of heavenly bodies, making space travel possible

b.      Animal Instinct, such as the migration patterns of birds, eels, and salmon

c.       The human body itself

*Contemplating on the universe and the human body rightfully produces awe, and points man to his creator. *

Romans 1:19-20

“Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”

II.          The Universal Sense of ought

a.       Everywhere people have a sense of ought

b.      That in certain circumstances, certain things should be done

c.       People are concerned…

1.      That people should act a certain way

2.      That people do not often act the way they should

d.      Even Atheists and Agnostics have a sense of justice, and are angered when it is violated (as in the case of rape and murder)

*This moral nature in man suggests a moral Being as the original cause. If there is no God, there is no right or wrong, good or evil. If there is no God, no atheist can object on moral grounds if someone was to go up to them in the intention of killing them. *

 

III.   The Universal Religious Instinct and Belief in God

a.       For every deepest longing in man, there is something that satisfies it…

1.      Food satisfies the Hunger

2.       Water satisfies the Thirst

b.      There must be a reality that complements and meets the universal craving for a Supreme Being

c.       Paul says this longing for God was placed in man by God Himself.

Acts 17:26-27

“And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from everyone of us:”

 

Another Scripture to add to this is one that explains that because the Lord puts in man a longing to seek Him, He expresses how much He is not far from saving them; what separates man from God is the Sin, which can be washed away in Jesus’ blood by accepting Him into your heart.….

 

Isaiah 59:1-2

1Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:2But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

** Other Arguments can be offered to support the existence of God…

1.      Fulfilled prophecies in the Scriptures

2.      Scientific foreknowledge of the Scriptures

3.      Uniformity of the Scriptures

4.      Evidences for the resurrection of Jesus from the Dead