Imitate Whom?

God's word gives us the instructions on everyday living pertaining to life. How to act, and react.

In the beginning man looked at nature to learn how to do things. Lets look at the swallow, a bird that builds with mud to make there home. Man used mud to build a adobe and to make brick. Man imitates and learns by imitation, but the one that we are to follow is our Father, God. 

Isaiah 46:1Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to the weary beast.

These made so many idols it wore them out carrying them around. They carried a load with them wherever they go. With truth you don't have to carry a load = hang-ups. 

Isaiah 46:2 They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity.
These were not pleasing our Father, so they will be going into captivity. 

Isaiah 46:3 Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb:

“House of Jacob” = All tribes. They carry junk but God says, “I carry you”. “I take care of you, even before you where born.” He is our God, not some bunch of sticks or junk they carry around. When we follow Him, He takes care of us. But if you want to mix up with the junk of the world, have at it, you have free will. 

Isaiah 46:4And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.

Even when you’re gray haired He will take care of you. Why would you worry when He takes care of you? 

 Isaiah 46:5 To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?

You would be foolish if you thought you could be equal to God. He is our Father and takes care of us. Thick or thin! 

Isaiah 46:6 They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship.

Keep God in all you do, if you put things before Him it’s a Idol, such as a home or car, etc. 

Isaiah 46:7They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.

Don’t ever replace God!

Isaiah 46:8 Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors.

Stand as a child of The living God. Stop wavering and grow up remembering God each day you wake. When we show our love for Him, believe me He shows it for us. No one is perfect but when you do your best, He stamps it as perfect. He knows our hearts. He loves you and loves it when you follow Him. He is telling us to grow up. No one will help you the way He will. 

When it comes to imitating, head in the direction of God, but you know we can’t be equal to Him.

 Ephesians 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
“Followers” here means Mimetes, mim-ay-tace’; From the Greek in the Strongs Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible, #3402 & 3401; an imitator: - Follower.
Ephesians 5:2 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.
He gave Himself!
Ephesians 5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
“Saints” = Set aside ones.
Ephesians 5:4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

This doesn’t mean not to have a sense of humor.  God has a sense of humor.  To many take this to far. If you tease some are jesting = kidding around, or being playful. To many get upset. That is a shame as we should be able to kid around, or jest. That isn’t what this is talking about though. When we are giving thanks to our Father isn’t the time to be jesting. 

Ephesians 5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

You don’t want to follow these. You want to follow God. You where a soul before you where born from your mothers womb.  You were with Him, before this life in the flesh. (Eph. 1:4) He is the closest relative you have.  

Ephesians 5:6-7 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 
 7Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

Stand up and be a child of God!

Ephesians 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

Walk as Children of truth. Many in this world today say, “There are many truths or paths to truth. Well they are mislead by the evil one. Truth is truth or it has NO meaning. 

Ephesians 5:9-10 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 
 10Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
Test the fruits as it is discernment. 

Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
Expose them for what they are. Many use the word “judging” as a cop out.  We must use God word to know who and what is evil. We are not to condemn. Our Father is going to put whom ever in what place they deserve to be in, Heaven or hell. Use our Fathers word to use discernment of there darkness. 
     
Ephesians 5:12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
Some use the name of God to murder others, and we have some that say, “We should go easy on them” or “We should always take care of our enemy”. We should love our enemy and let them know the truth. Other than that you better love your family more and take care of them as the enemy will murder you. 
Ephesians 5:13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

Spiritual Discernment! 

Ephesians 5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

This is the spiritually dead, not literal dead, or those that are lost. We have a lot of dead people walking around today. Walk up to someone and ask them a question about God.  They will usually say “Well I read it one time” or “My mother read it.” One I have heard, “ I read it in jail”.  Ask them if they ever read the book of Saul. They will say , “Yes” or my mom did. They don’t know there is no book. 

Ephesians 5:15-16 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 
 16Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Be careful and watch yourself!

Ephesians 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

Always pray Father if it’s your will. He wants what is best for us. His will always be done.

Philippians 3:1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.

We are told who to imitate.

 Philippians 3:2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.

These are the ones that are evil. The false worshipers. 

Philippians 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

Be careful! If you are not spiritually lead, you may be deceived. 

Philippians 3:4-5 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 
 5Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
Paul held strong no matter what.
Philippians 3:6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
Paul was bold and fought the fight. We must all be bold when it comes to the truth. 

Philippians 3:8Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Paul had earthly things but knew they meant nothing. He had ZEAL = Bold or a go-getter

Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Believing – By imitating and knowing God. 

Philippians 3:10-11 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 
 11If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
His focus is where ours should be, on the eternity not the flesh. Flesh might get you 100 yrs. Eternity is forever. 
Philippians 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
“Apprehended” = Captured by Jesus, Yeshua. I pray you are to. I pray you are on track, or you fall away from our Lord Jesus Christ. Take it seriously because He cares that we love and follow Him. 
Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Don’t ever look back and start blaming yourself for things. Ask for forgiveness from our Father and He will do it! Don’t bring it up again! That would be like re-crucifying Christ all over again. Don’t look back and its gone. You are a new creature. 
Philippians 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
He did and it was. 

Philippians 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

Mature minded. Our Father will help us with correction, when we are in need of it. 

Philippians 3:16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

We should be all of one mind in the Lord = yoked together makes things go easier together. The yoke is what keeps us together and moving in the same direction. Denominations = division. There are different levels of understanding, milk to the meat but we have moved so far from the truth it has become sad and evil in some circumstances. 

Philippians 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

We are to do what we are shown to do. He set the ensample for us to imitate. Christian = Christ Like. Do your best and strive, never giving in or giving up to the flesh or the worldly. Be can do people of God, your Father. 

Philippians 3:18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

Many claim to be Christians and He weeps because they are fakes. Many come claiming to be but are not real. Use Christ as the example what a Christian is. Paul set it in this as to what is what. Christ gives counsel in His Word and God used Paul, guiding his hand. He wrote most of the New Test.  

Philippians 3:19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.

People have a time getting their minds out of earthly thinking. Never thinking about the eternity. What is most important, they don’t have time for.  Also when we erase the earthly from out minds, God’s Word becomes so much clearer. 

Philippians 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

He IS coming back and very, very soon. Many say that has been said forever. Little did they know, it is correct. The ones that don’t live earthly can see it clearly. You know He is at the door. 

Philippians 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

The first day He returns every knee is going to bow and in that instant you will be changed into your new body. One that doesn’t get sick or age.  (1 Cor. 15:52-54) If your in this body and there is someone claming to be Christ, you know he is the anti-christ. You not going anywhere so don’t be fooled into satans tricks. Stay in the field  and on the roof top keeping eye out for The true Christ. 

1 Thess. 1:4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.

You didn’t volunteer you where chosen. 

1 Thess. 1:5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

“Assurance” = confidence. Be helpful to others. Plant a seed, if it grows, fine! If not, than leave it alone. Pray for them because most of the time it’s all you can do for them.  Plant and let our Father do the watering. They know where to find you if they have any questions. 

1 Thess. 1:6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost.

“Followers” = Imitators. Mimetes, mim-ay-tace’; From the Greek in the Strongs Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible, #3402 & 3401; an imitator: - Followers of the Lord. This world is very “afflicted” = troubled, but God is always watching over us that follow Him. He has a plan and He carries you.  Go to His counsel. You will be given power.

1 Thess. 1:7-8 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. 
 8For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.
It was taught down the lines of people and now it has overflowed the banks. The Word of God has been spread all over the world. That is the power of the Holy Spirit. 
1 Thess. 1:9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
After you have seen the truth, do not get caught back up in the worldly again. 
1 Thess. 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
This is pass tense “delivered”, we don’t have to worry about a thing. We have been found worthy ( IF ) you follow Him. (IF) you imitate Him. (IF) you have accepted truth and walked in it. Not one hour a week sitting on a pew, but everyday of your life. Live for what to come and not for the earthly.  God bless you all and Love to you all that hunger. In my Fathers service,  Todd Davis