Sermons
January 19th, 2023 by Pastor Solley111322AM Footsteps of Jesus #7
Sub. Jesus
Theme: Example of Jesus.
Text: 1 Pet 2:21 ; 1 Tim 3:16
“Footsteps of Jesus” #7 1 Pet 2:21 ; 1 Tim 3:16
Introduction
We continue this morning looking at the footsteps of Jesus. Although not the primary purpose for Jesus coming into this world He did leave the born again believer in Christ an example to follow. – 1 Peter 2:21 – The word should in this verse tells me what is expected of me as a born again believer in Christ, I should follow His example, I should walk in His steps. – 1 Peter 2:21 – Those footsteps go from manger to the grave and beyond. Over six messages we have looked at nine of the footsteps of Jesus, nine examples Jesus left us to follow. We are not going to review them now but I know I should follow in His steps. – 1 Peter 2:21
I. This morning I want to look at footsteps leading up to glory: As has been said those footsteps lead from manger to the cross and to the grave. But they also lead beyond the grave for the tomb that held Jesus is an empty tomb. Christ arose to a newness of life as we noted last week and there are to be changes in the life of the Christian after we meet Jesus Christ at the cross.
A. Those footsteps of Jesus also lead up to glory: 1 Tim 3:16 In this one verse we have the beginning of the footsteps of Jesus in this world and the ending of the footsteps of Jesus in this world. – 1 Tim 3:16
1. Jesus Christ the promised Son given into this world: 1 Tim 3:16 The beginning of the footsteps of Jesus and those footsteps took many directions as Jesus walked among men, as Jesus Christ was manifested in the flesh.
2. Those footsteps in this world end as Jesus was received up into glory: 1 Tim 3:16 Those footsteps will resume one day soon we hope and pray, but for that time they ended as Jesus Christ was caught up into glory.
B. And Jesus my friend was ready for that day He was called up, when He was caught up in the clouds: The march toward that day began as Jesus came into this world on that star filled night in the little town of Bethlehem.
II. Let me ask you this morning before we begin the message, are you ready to be called out of this world, are you ready today for your footsteps in this world to end? There will be no more important question placed before us than that one. Are you ready to be called out of this world, are you ready for your footsteps in this world to end? Saved or lost, man or woman, boy or girl, there will be no more important question placed before us than that one. Are you ready to be called out of this world, are you ready for your footsteps in this world to end?
A. All of us that are able to understand life and death know that our footsteps in this world will end one day: We do not what day that will be but we do know that our footsteps in this world will end one day, that our lives will end one day.
1. The youngest one able to understand give that day little thought: No time to spend thinking about death.
2. Those a little older think they will have plenty of time: Even thinking of death they see it as very far off.
3. Us who are older know the day has drawn near: But we still do not know when that day will be, when our footsteps will end.
B. But this question is ever before us this morning: Are you ready to be called out of this world, are you ready for your footsteps in this world to end?
PROP: How do you answer that question today? TS. Are you ready to be called out of this world, are you ready for your footsteps in this world to end?
Body
I. Jesus Christ was prepared for the day that His footsteps in this world would end: 1 Tim 3:16 Remember that we are to follow His steps. 1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: And Jesus did leave us footsteps of preparation to follow.
A. The first footsteps of Jesus in this world are recorded for us in this verse and from that very day Jesus began a march to the last footsteps He would take in this world: 1 Tim 3:16 Here we have manger to the day Jesus was caught up into glory. – 1 Tim 3:16 – At what age in His humanity Jesus began to understand His purpose in life, the work the Father gave Him to do we do not know. I do know that in His Deity Jesus knew from the foundation of the world are we are told in Acts 2:23 and that means before this world was every created.
1. By the age of twelve we are told that Jesus was about His Father’s business: Luke 2:48-49 Jesus in preparation for the day His footsteps in this world would end at the age of twelve. – Luke 2:49 – That preparation began I believe long before Jesus was twelve years of age. From His coming into this world Jesus began to prepare for the day He would leave this world.
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2. Footsteps of worship, praise, devotion and service for the Father were footsteps of preparation: Those footsteps began early.
3. Footsteps of many trials and temptations as Satan attacked Jesus over and over again: They were footsteps of preparation.
4. Footsteps being filled with and led of the Holy Spirit: They were footsteps of preparation.
5. Footsteps of a servant: They were footsteps of preparation.
6. Footsteps of suffering: They were footsteps of preparation.
7. Footsteps of pure speech: They were footsteps of preparation.
8. Footsteps of a changed life: They were footsteps of preparation.
9. From His coming into this world Jesus began to prepare for the day He would leave this world:
B. And Jesus was prepared for the day He would be caught out of this world, for the day He would be received up into glory:
II. So are each and everyone that is in this building this morning on a march: That march began the day we were born into this world, even from the moment we were conceived in the womb, and it ends the day our hearts stop beating or the day when the trump of God sounds and this present age of grace ends. We stand this morning, all of us, in a preparation time.
A. For the younger ones here today we imagine a day far off into the future: For babies in sanctuary and other little ones in the nursery that day is far off. For the little ones in Junior Church that day is far off. For the teenager and the younger people that day we imagine is far off. Even for us who are older and know we are nearing the end that day seems to be far off.
1. But that day seems to come for all without much notice and all too soon: Babies die in the womb, ones newly born die, children die, teenagers die, young people die, people my age die, and those older die everyday.
2. All of us here this morning are on a march that began when we were born into this world and will end when we are caught out:
B. Are you preparing for that day when your life will end, when your footsteps in this world come to an end? Are you preparing?
1. Young people need to prepare to go to college, trade school, for work after they get out of school: Get them prepared.
2. We need to prepare for retirement, put money away, get ready: Get prepared.
3. We do need to get prepared for harder times in this nation: Get prepared.
4. But much of our preparation seems to be aimed at things that end when our footsteps in this world end: That my friends is not the example that Jesus left us, the footsteps Jesus left us to follow.
5. The footsteps of Jesus were footsteps of preparation for the day He would be caught out of this world: Are you getting prepared?
C. Each and everyone that is in this building this morning is on a march: Are you prepared for the march you are on to end?
III. What have you done, what preparation have you made to meet Jesus Christ? Not to follow in His footsteps, but to stand before Jesus Christ and to answer the question of salvation? If you were to stand before Jesus today and hear this question, “why should I let you into my kingdom?” What answer would you give?
A. We all have been given time to prepare an answer to that question, why should I let you into my kingdom? All are given time.
1. Those younger in the Sunday School classes and in Junior Church that are able to comprehend who Jesus is, why He came, able to comprehend that they are sinners and need salvation in Christ: Those able to comprehend have started the clock and are given time.
2. The teenager that thinks he or she will live on and on and on is being given time: You are being given time to prepare.
3. Those a little older and on into middle age you are being given time: Time to preparer to meet Jesus in judgment.
4. Those of us who have begun to enter into our golden years have been give time: Time to preparer to meet Jesus in judgment.
5. And the very senior saints have been given time: Time to preparer to meet Jesus in judgment.
6. But what have you done with the time you have been given? Are you prepared to meet Jesus Christ in judgment?
B. How are you going to answer the question that will be asked, why should I let you into my kingdom? Attach your name to that question because you will be asked and the answers many are prepared to give will not be satisfactory. They will not be satisfactory because they never deal with the sin problem and never lead to the cross. My Bible says Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; – Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: – Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
The answers most people are going to give never deal with sin and never lead to the cross.
1. The waters of baptism never deal with sin in our lives: But many will say that they have been baptized.
2. The communion table does not deal with sin in our lives: But many will say that they have taken Holy Communion.
3. The church we belong to does not deal with sin in our lives: But many will say that they go to church.
4. Our good works do not deal with sin in our lives: But many will say that they have been good all of their life.
5. Most of the answers people will give do not deal with sin or lead to the cross: But they have been given time.
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C. The Bible is very clear that all have sinned, that the wages of sin is death, and that Jesus Christ is the only remedy for sin: No individual here this morning needs to leave here with any doubt about their place in eternity. The Bible tells us we can know if we are saved or lost. 1 John 5:11-13 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. You can know for sure if you are lost and bound for hell or saved and headed for heaven. You can know for sure and you should know for sure today.
1. What are you trusting in for your place in eternity today? If you have doubts you are trusting in the wrong people or things.
2. When did you place your complete hope and trust in Christ? Have you done that, have you trusted Jesus Christ?
D. What have you done, what preparation have you made to meet Jesus Christ?
IV. And then dear Christian what have you done in your preparation to answer Jesus in how you have followed in His steps? We have looked at many of the steps of Jesus over the past month and half. All of us are being given time by God to prepare to give answer in the manner of life we are choosing to live, to walk in the footsteps of Jesus or not. That choice also in ours.
A. Those steps start with a home devoted to the Lord: Jesus was born into a home devoted to Jehovah God. You can say that home was chosen by God, Mary chosen by God, Joseph chosen by God. That is absolutely correct.
1. But who has allowed you to be a parent and given you charge over your children? Eph 6:1-4 Who gave you the home, gave you the marriage, gave you the children and placed you in charge of them?
2. Those first footsteps dad and mom you are in charge of: Prov 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
3. Are you giving the right footsteps to follow because you are following the right footsteps: Ps 127:1 Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
4. Those steps start with a home devoted to the Lord:
B. Those footsteps bring one to worship and devotion to God: Luke 2:49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business? At twelve years of age Jesus was devoted to worship of the Father, Jesus was about the business of His Father. Are you?
1. How concerned are you day unto day about the things of God? Or does the world have such a hold on you as a Christian that you give little to no thought about the things of God six days a week and give God just Sunday?
2. The footsteps of Jesus bring one to worship and devotion of the Father: Are you walking in those footsteps?
C. Those footsteps lead one to open declaration of who and what they are: Jesus was identified with believers. – Matt 3:13-15 – Jesus was willing to be identified.
1. There should be no secret Christians: Do people know who you are, what you are. There should be no secret Christians.
2. The footsteps of Jesus lead to open declaration of who and what we are as believers in Jesus Christ:
D. The footsteps of Jesus lead to temptations and trials brought on by our enemy: Matt 4:1 Jesus was in the cross hairs of Satan from His coming into this world, to the cross and then the tomb. Satan tried to destroy Jesus.
1. And so my brothers and sisters in Christ are we in the cross hairs of Satan: 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
2. Don’t think it strange my friend when you come under Satanic attack: 1 Peter 4:12-13
3. The footsteps of Jesus lead us into trial and temptations: But we shall come forth as gold when we remain faithful to Jesus Christ.
E. The footsteps of Jesus lead un to a place of being filled with and led of the Holy Spirit of God: Jesus was both filled with and led of the Holy Spirit of God.
1. So are we commanded to be filled with the Holy Spirit: Eph 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; A filling is different than an indwelling.
a. We are indwelt with the Holy Spirit of God the moment we are born again. There is an immediate indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
b. To be filled we must yield. – Rom 6:16
2. Only when we are yielded can we be filled and only as we are filled can we be led of the Holy Spirit: Rom 8:14
3. The footsteps of Jesus lead to a filling of and a leading of the Holy Spirit of God:
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F. The footsteps of Jesus lead to service: Jesus, one who deserved to be served, made Himself a servant to all.
1. Too many times we think we are above serving the Lord: But we are saved to serve. Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2. If Jesus could serve us we should never think ourselves above serving Him no matter the task:
3. The footsteps of Jesus are footsteps of service:
G. The footsteps of Jesus lead one to speech that is pure: 1 Peter 2:21-22 , 3:10 How many times do we get ourselves in trouble by saying things we should not? Bitter and sweet waters are not to flow from the same fountain.
1. An entire chapter in the book of James is devoted to the dangers of the tongue: Words are powerful weapons. – Prov 25:18
2. Gossip is a terrible thing: It destroys people, families and churches.
3. The footsteps of Jesus lead to speech that is Godly and edifying:
H. The footsteps of Jesus lead to suffering: No one has ever suffered in this world as Jesus has. We also will suffer.
1. At times it is the will of God that we go through things: 1 Peter 4:19 God is not trying to destroy us.
a. We cannot have a testimony without first having a test.
b. If our suffering is able to help others see the glory of God then praise God for that.
2. We need endure suffering as a good soldier in Christ: 2 Tim 2:3
3. The footsteps of Jesus lead to suffering:
I. The footsteps of Jesus lead to a changed life: our lives will change after we meet Jesus at the cross. That is Bible.
1. The life of Jesus changed after the cross: Jesus was different, not in nature, but there was a change.
2. And so are we to change after salvation: 2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
a. When we give our heart to Jesus Christ our lives will change.
b. When we give our minds to Jesus Christ our lives will change.
c. When we give our strength to Jesus Christ our lives will change.
3. The footsteps of Jesus lead to changed lives:
V. All of these footsteps of Jesus, we just named nine, we are commanded to follow: 1 Peter 2:21 If that seems impossible for you to do I want to let you in on a little secret, it is. We cannot do this on our own. But praise God we are not left to do it on our own.
A. Remember the secret of a successful Christian walk, a life pleasing to Jesus Christ: Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. And then remember the flip side if you would. John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
1. We can only walk in the footsteps of Jesus as we are empowered by Jesus and the Holy Spirit of God: We can do nothing without Him and all things with Him.
2. This is a daily decision to be given completely to Christ, to be filled with and led of the Holy Spirit of God:
B. For those who would say they have not lived their Christian life following in the footsteps of Jesus let me say we are still being granted time to do so: How much time we do not know. When will my heart stop? Will the trump of God sound today.
1. What I do know is that I have been given this day:
2. I may even be granted tomorrow:
C. For those who have been trying to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, keep going: Finish well.
Conclusion
Having looked now at the footsteps of Jesus what can we say? We have been given an example to follow.
I. Jesus Christ was prepared for the day that His footsteps in this world would end: 1 Tim 3:16 Remember that we are to follow His steps. 1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: And Jesus did leave us footsteps of preparation to follow.
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II. So are each and everyone that is in this building this morning on a march: That march began the day we were born into this world, even from the moment we were conceived in the womb, and it ends the day our hearts stop beating or the day when the trump of God sounds and this present age of grace ends. We stand this morning, all of us in a preparation time.
III. What have you done, what preparation have you made to meet Jesus Christ? Not to follow in His footsteps, but to stand before Jesus Christ and to answer the question of salvation? If you were to stand before Jesus today and hear this question, “why should I let you into my kingdom?” What answer would you give?
IV. And then dear Christian what have you done in your preparation to answer Jesus in how you have followed in His steps? We have looked at many of the steps of Jesus over the past month and half. All of us are being given time by God to prepare to give answer in the manner of life we are choosing to live, to walk in the footsteps of Jesus or not. That choice also in ours.
V. All of these footsteps of Jesus, we just named nine, we are commanded to follow: 1 Peter 2:21 If that seems impossible for you to do I want to let you in on a little secret, it is. We cannot do this on our own. But praise God we are not left to do it on our own.