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Dr. Joseph Ozawa SSMC: “Following Christ, Becoming Like Christ”: As therefore ye received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him Col 2:6 (ASV)
Dr. Joseph Ozawa
SSMC: “Following Christ, Becoming Like
Christ”: As therefore ye received Christ Jesus
the Lord, so walk in him Col 2:6 (ASV)
In the present quadrennium (2013-2016), we are still guided by the following 4 essentials for purposeful growth:
• Lifelong Discipleship
Following Christ,
Becoming Like Christ
WALKING with Jesus:
Following Christ,
Becoming Like Christ
“But what about you?” he asked.
“Who do you say I am?” Mt 16:15
The reason the
Son of God appeared was
to destroy the devil’s work. I Jn 3:8
Who do you say Jesus is?Who do you say you are
if you are a follower of Jesus?
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO HAVE HAPPEN IN YOUR LIFETIME?
DO YOU WANT TO HEAR GOD’SVOICE TONIGHT?
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” Mt
21:10
At first his disciples did not understand all this. Jn 12:16
Then Jesus… said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Mt 28:18-20THE GREAT COMMISSION
Painting by Akiane Kramarik
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus
replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first
and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments”
Mt 22:36-40
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Jn 13:34-35
THE GREAT COMMANDMENT
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it. Mark 16:15-20
The“signs”
ofpower?
“As you go, proclaim this message:
‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons.”
Mt 10:7ff
"I came to seek and save the lost"
(Luke 19:9-10)
KEYS TO “FOLLOWING CHRIST”
1. ASK -- INQUIRE OF THE LORD! 2. LISTEN -- LISTEN TO HIS VOICE. 3. OBEY -- FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (NOT OF OUROWN REASONING / FLESH / SOUL). 4. CHECK -- INSURE OUR ACTIONS ARECONSISTENT WITH THE WORD OF GOD(NOT THE WORDS / TRADITIONS OF MAN / WOMAN)
Follow the cloud,the pillar of fire
“…. Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does…. Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. John 5: 16-23
Jesus answered, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” John 3:5-8
Noah hears God’s voice
NOAH HEARS GOD’S VOICE --
MAKES NO SENSE?
The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.”
Gen 12:1
“So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” Rev 3:16
“Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.” Rev 3: 19-20
FOLLOWING CHRIST MUST BE “WHOLEHEARTEDLY”(Josh 14:8)
WE DECIDE NOT TO REMAINLUKEWARM….COMPLACENT COMFORTABLE, SELF-SATSIFIED AND SECURE….
John Wimber once said,“FAITH” is spelled “R-I-S-K”
March 4, 1984 11:35 a.m.
TOUCHED BY THE
LOVE OF
THE FATHER
Jesus said:
“You know the commandments: `Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.' "
"All these I have kept since I was a boy," he (the rich young ruler) said.
Luke 18:20-21
When Jesus heard this, he said to
him, “You still lack one
thing. Sell everything
you have and give to
the poor…” When he heard
this, he became very sad, because
he was very wealthy……….
Lk 18:23
In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.
Lk 14:33
Lk 14:33
PRAY… AND
LOVE…
And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. 2 Jn 1:6
Freely you have received,
freely give.
Mt 10:8
1992 - Papa says,
“Go to the poor…”
New Heart Community Church
USA
Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” He said to another man, “Follow me.” …… Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”Luke 9:57-62
Becoming like Christ
takes us to
the “poor”(Mt 25:40; Mother Teresa’s
“distressing disguise of the poor”)
“What you’ve done to the least of these, you’ve done unto me” Mt 24
For I was hungry and you gave me and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me...(for) whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.."
Jesus in Matthew 25:34-40
"Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or ……. Mt 25:37-39
New Heart Community Church
USA
“The Odd Angel”
"small things with much love" Mother Teresa
Becoming like Christ
takes us to
the “children” &
youth(Mt 18:3-5)
Tawau video
Jesus is in
the “poor”
in prisoners,
strangers
Did you love?
I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. Mt 25:35 - 36
DO NOT BE DECEIVED, DO NOT THINK:
不要被欺，不要以为
"I will be safe, even though I persist in
going my own way." For….This will bring
disaster….
『我虽然行事心里顽梗，连累众人，却还是平安。』 （英译：灾祸必因此临到）
申Dt 29:19
In those days Israel had no king;
everyone did as he saw fit.
Jdg 21:25
We all, like sheep, have gone
astray, each of us has turned
to his own way, and the LORD
has laid on him the iniquity of
us all. Is 63:6
They are dogs with mighty appetites; they never have enough….
they all turn to their own way, each seeks his own gain.
Isa 56:11
Go to the gang members…
ex-Changi prisoner released,
says, “Life is hopeless…I cannot get a job…”
Woman convicted of theft..
Given a chance…
She has “eating disorder”
Drunken husband punches wife..
She is hospitalized w/ injuries for 1 month
When children hit their parents
Schizophrenic commits violence
towards innocent HDB neighbour
depressed women commit crimes
homeless man steals to eat
Man steals idol
“I thought I
could get
away with it,
but it caught
up to me!”(Gal. 6:7)
The
strangers
2012-2014 The Father says, return
to California to…. care for mother…
2012-2014 Return to California, USA to….
2012-2014 Return to California, USA to…. Disciple Japan and China?
THESICK
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted… ..to comfort all who mourn… to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.”
Is 61:1-3
FORGIVENESS
“.. God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.”
2 Cor 5:19
“As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn't leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I'd still be in prison.”
Nelson Mandela
Unforgiveness is like
taking poison and
waiting for the
other person to die
forgiveness
“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Mt 6:14-15
“…that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.”
2 Cor 5:19
FORGIVENESS VERSUS ACCUSATION
“the accuser….” (is satan) Rev 12:10
Saint Andrew’s Cathedral
Singapore
“…not those who were righteous but the sinners... not those who are healthy but the sick ones, the ones who need a doctor” (Mark 2:15-17)
“He was miraculously healed, but
he really didn’t want to live any
more.”
“Heal the sick, raise the dead…drive out demons…” (Mt 10:8)
Peter: “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.” Ac 10:38
o“the thief (i.e. the devil) comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (or abundantly). John 10:10
o“The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work” I John 3:8
Walking victoriouslywith Christ
“this calls for PAITENT ENDURANCE.. and
remain faithful to Jesus…” Rev 14:12
“ All of them were filled with
the Holy Spirit and
began to speak in other
tongues as the Spirit
enabled them. Act 2:3-4
They devoted themselves to the apostles'
teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking
of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with
awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs
were done by the apostles. All the believers
were together and
had everything in
common. Ac 2:42-44
The counter-attack on
God’s people….
Acts : 44-54Stephen
“Jesus wept” Jn 11:35
“Jesus…had compassion on them”Mt 14:14; 15:32
“…. we felt we had received the sentence of death. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers.
. 2 Cor 1:8-11
OURDESTINY
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.Mt 13:44
They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”
Rev 17:14
