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800-643-4645 Newsletter #353 - March 2008
Dr. Arnold Murray, DRE @2008 SCN
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[I Imitate I]
Who should we imitate? That is'the question I would No matter how much you worship an idol, it can do
like for you to consider, today. The main example we nothing to help you. God, on the other hand, is able to
should follow is our Heavenly Father. He shows us how carry you through this life and beyond. I can't comprehend
we should behave through examples and instructions in how anyone could choose an idol over our Father.
His Word. Let's begin our study in the Book of Isaiah.
Isaiah 46:8 Remember this, and shew yourselves men:
Isaiah 46:1 Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols bring it again to mind, 0 ye transgressors. i1 Remember
wefflupon~JJeasts.- and upon the catt~,youf.siJI:_ thf!~former things of old: for I am GOD, and there is none
riages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to the else; I am Goa; andlhere isMne "like Me,
weaty beast.
God loves you. And He wants you to return His love
Bel and Nebo are false gods of the heathen. The by following Him, not some idol you made with your hands.
heathen make so many idols that their beasts had a hard Do your best to imitate His example. We all fall short. But
time carrying all of them around. Listen to Father. when you try, He stamps your effort approved.
Isaiah 46:2 They stoop, they bow down together; they Isaiah 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and
could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone from ancient times the things that are not yet done,
into captivity. saying, 'My counsel shalt stand, and I will do alt My
pleasure:'
The heathens weren't pleasing God. He sent Cyrus
to defeat them. If you are burdened down with idols, God God told us of the future through His prophets. Many
isn't pleased with you, either. He'll see that you are in of those prophecies have been fulfilled; many have not.
captivity, as well. They will come to pass, and no one can change that.
Isaiah 46:3 Hearken unto Me, 0 house of Jacob, and Isaiah 46:11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the
alt the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne man that executeth My counsel from a far countty: yea,
by Me from the belly, which are carried from the womb: I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have
purposed it, I will also do it.
Man is often too busy carrying their idols around to
realize that God wants to carry them. He wants to be your Again, God is addressing the worshippers of false
God. But if you want to whittle a god, have at it. You'll gods. The ravenous bird is the eagle which was the stan­
have to carry your god, rather than your God carrying dard for Cyrus king of Persia whom God would utilize to
you. The choice is yours to make. conquer the idol worshippers.
Isaiah 46:4 And even to your old age I am He; and Isaiah 46:12 Hearken unto Me! ye stouthea,!ed, that are
~ en--kJh9aF-hsirs wiU t..caIXJl YOll' I have ma,de~anJL far from nghteousness: 11 I bnng near. My nghteousness;
I will bear: even I will carty and will deliver you. lit shall not be far off, and My salvation--$hall 1"/Ot-l8rry;'
" and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel My gloty.
This is God's promise. What a shame so many like
to burden themselves down with problems and worries, And God has, and does and will provide that salvation
when God wants to carry them? He wants to help you. for His children that follow Him. Strive to imitate Father,
but also realize no one is His equaL Turn with me to
Isaiah 46:5 To whom witt ye liken Me, and make Me Ephesians which is written to God's elect.
equal, and compare Me, that We may be like? §. They
lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the Ephesians 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear
balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: children;
they fait down, yea, they worship.
The word "followers" in this verse is translated from
Anything that comes between you and God is an the Greek word "mimetes" (mim-ay-tace'). It means to imitate.
idoL It may be your home, a car, or your business. Be
carefuL Your idol can't carry you into the eternity. God Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved
will carry you into the eternity, if you do things His way. us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a
sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
Isaiah 46:7 They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry
him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from He gave Himself as the Passover Lamb. He did this
his place shall he not remove: yea, one shalt cty unto for us. He took the sins of the world on Himself.
him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his
trouble. Ephesians 5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or
covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as
becometh saints.
Saints means "set aside ones". They are His elect.
Ephesians 5:4 Neither filthines~, nor foolish talki!1f!, nor
jesting, which are not convement: but rather glvmg of
thanks. 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.
Imitating these characters will earn you a one-way
ticket to hell. Imitate your Father, not Baal worshippers.
Ephesians 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words:
for because of these things cometh the wrath of God
upon the children of disobedience. z Be not ye therefore
partakers with them.
If you imitate the children of disobedience, you can
be expecting the wrath of God to come down on you hard.
Ephesians 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now
are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light,
Darkness is Satan and deception. Light is God and
truth. Once you come into truth, you are children of light.
Ephesians 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all good­
ness and righteousness and truth;) 1Q Proving what is
acceptable unto the Lord:
When you do the best you are able to imitate God,
the Holy Spirit enlightens you as to what is acceptable
unto the Lord. You intuitively know right from wrong.
Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful
works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 11 For it is
a shame even to speak of those things which are done
of them in secret.
Expose the works of darkness and deception with
truth. It is a shame that the works of darkness are de­
ceiving many, today. Tum with me to the Book of Philippians.
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. 2. Beware of dogs, beware
of evil workers, beware of the concision.
Concision is heathenism.
Philippians 3.~3 For we are the circumcision, which wor­
ship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and
have no confidence in the flesh; ­
The flesh usually leads to trouble. Anytime people are
led by the flesh rather than the spirit, trouble will be near.
Philippians 3:4 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:
Paul's credentials in the flesh were noteworthy. He
could match anyone's credentials, but he didn't place his
confidence in his own accomplishments. We shouldn't either.
Philippians 3:5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock
of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the
Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 2 Conceming
zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness
which is in the law, blameless.
Paul had it aU as far as flesh credentials go. Paul's
point is that flesh credentials really don't amount to much.
Philippians 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those
I counted loss for Christ.
Anything we might gain in the flesh is nothing compared
to serving Jesus Christ.
Philippians 3:8 Yea 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 could have written his own ticket with the big
wigs in Jerusalem. He was willing to give up everything
in the flesh to serve Jesus Christ. He knew who to follow.
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: 1Q That I may know Him, and the power
of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings,
being made conformable unto His death;
Our righteousness is but filthy rags compared to the
righteousness of God.
Philippians 3:11 If by any means I might attain unto the
resurrection of the dead.
Eternal life meant more to Paul than anything the
flesh might have to offer. It should to you, as well.
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.
Paul was captured by Jesus Christ. I hope you take
your faith that seriously. I hope that there is nothing that
can draw you away from your love of Christ.
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 look back. Once you have repented, the past
means nothing. You are a new person with a fresh start.
Philippians 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize
of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. ~ Let us
therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and
if any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal
even this unto you.
Perfect means mature. If you aren't mature, God will
help you. Remember, He will carry you.
Philippians 3:16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already
attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the
same thing. 1.l. Brethren, be followers together of me, and
mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
Paul is a good one to imitate. He did some terrible
things in the flesh, before he was struck down on the
road to Damascus. But Paul repented of his sins, and got
down to business serving the Lord. God would utilize
Paul to write most of the New Testament. Do your best
to imitate God and those who serve Him well.
lnH~se~.~.t,./
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Arnold M ay . 7 . . . -- ')