Follow Messiah, Not Others

Introduction . . . 1

Ezekiel 37: (27) My tabernacle also shall be with them(Israel); indeed I will be their God, and they shall be My people. (OT)

Deuteronomy 7: (6) “For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. (OT)

1Peter 2: (9) But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; (NT)

1John 2: (2) And He Himself is the propitiation(sacrifice) for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. (NT)

Romans 8: (28) And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (NT)

Revelation 21: (3) And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. (NT)

A Dilemma again. . . 3 a

a common dynamic which many Believers in Jesus Christ face in our world today is as follows:

My pastor, or priest, or church, or denomination, an internet teacher, or a media evangelist, is whom I rely upon as the authority to guide me in understanding questions concerning the Word of God and/or my spiritual life in general.

I am not criticizing anyone who sees themselves in this description. After all, we do listen to sermons, songs, and comments about God as we live our lives in the world in which we are part of?

To recognize that this position (relying upon pastor, or priest, or church, or denomination, an internet teacher, or a media evangelist) has both merits and risks is necessary for us to “hear” helpful and true guidance . . . especially since many of us hold the aforementioned sources in high esteem. When we are critical of such sources this objection can affect immediate and future discussions with those we wish to interact with.

Jesus Christ, the Messiah. . . . 2 a

Matthew 16: (16) Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Matthew 16: (20) Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.

John 4: (25) The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.”
(26) Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”

1John 2: (2) And He Himself is the propitiation(sacrifice) for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. (NT)

Romans 8: (28) And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (NT)

Definitionn . . . 2 b

Follow Messiah, not others.

WHAT DOES MESSIAH MEAN ?

Strongs Definition: מָשִׁיחַ
mâshı̂yach
maw-shee’-akh
From H4886; anointed; usually a consecrated person (as a king, priest, or saint); specifically the Messiah: – anointed, Messiah.

Χριστός
Christos
khris-tos’
From G5548; anointed, that is, the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus: – Christ.

Thayer Definition:

Μεσσίας
Messias
Messias = “anointed”
1) the Greek form of Messiah
2) a name of Christ
Part of Speech: noun masculine
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: of Hebrew origin H4899; see G5547 Christos

Ancient Hebrew Lexicon Messiah – Definition

Translation: SMEARED Definition: Someone or something that has been smeared or annointed with an oil as a medication or a sign of taking an office. An anointed one; a messiah. KJV Translations: anointed, messiah Strong’s Hebrew #: h.4899

Follow Messiah, not others. 3b

The Apostle Paul is our first authoritative quote to provide information to us on this subject. In Paul’s epistle to the church at Corinth, he addresses his concerns over a similar issue which the Corinthians faced.

1 CORINTHIANS 3 –

(5) What is Apollos, really? Or what is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, and each of us in the ministry the Lord gave us.

(6) I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused it to grow.
(7) So neither the one who plants counts for anything, nor the one who waters, but God who causes the growth.
(8) The one who plants and the one who waters work as one, but each will receive his reward according to his work.
(9) We are coworkers belonging to God. You are God’s field, God’s building.

(20) And again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”
(21) So then, no more boasting about mere mortals! For everything belongs to you,
(22) whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future. Everything belongs to you,
(23) and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

Who should we follow? 4a

Matthew 16

(24) Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

Matthew 19

(21) Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

John 10

(27) My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

John 12

(26) If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

John 14

(16) And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever,
(17) the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

John 16

(13) However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

WALK LIKE MESSIAH 4b

1 JOHN 2

(1) My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
(2) And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
(3) Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.
(4) He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
(5) But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.
(6) He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

WHAT ? – Walk like Jesus. What does this mean? We of course are not expected to step physically in the manner that Jesus did, although that might not be such a bad idea.

The intent of walking “just as Jesus walked” is stated in the vein of a son going down the same road as his father or “the footsteps of his dad.”

END

MATTHEW 16

(24) Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

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