{"id":5320,"date":"2014-04-03T15:46:57","date_gmt":"2014-04-03T19:46:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.faithlafayette.org\/church\/?p=5320"},"modified":"2014-07-21T10:04:48","modified_gmt":"2014-07-21T14:04:48","slug":"imitators-of-christ","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.faithlafayette.org\/church\/imitators-of-christ\/","title":{"rendered":"Imitators of Christ"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Tuesday night, our college bible study meets, and we have been studying the book of Ephesians together. The passage we were studying was Ephesians 5:1-21. We were discussing the implications to our lives of being imitators of Christ<\/strong>, and specifically, we were trying to understand how we ought to be living as those who are filled with the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n

“18\u00a0Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit<\/strong>,\u00a019\u00a0speaking<\/em><\/span> to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit.\u00a0Sing<\/em><\/span> and make music from your heart to the Lord,\u00a020\u00a0always giving thanks<\/em><\/span>\u00a0to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.\u00a021\u00a0Submit<\/em><\/span> to one another\u00a0out of reverence for Christ.”\u00a0(NIV)<\/p>\n

In verse 18, we find an imperative “Be filled with the Spirit” and this is in contrast to the way that people fill themselves with wine and get drunk. So, being filled with the Spirit does not look like someone who fills themselves with wine, but instead looks like the following:<\/p>\n

1. Speaking<\/strong> to one another with Psalms, hymns, and songs<\/p>\n

2. Singing<\/strong> and Making<\/strong>\u00a0songs from your heart to the Lord<\/p>\n

3. Giving<\/strong>\u00a0thanks to God the Father for everything<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0Submitting\u00a0<\/strong>to one another out of a reverence for Christ<\/p>\n

When we were faced with these truths, we were challenged by the fact of how little we do this in a daily, practical way to the Lord or to one another. Speaking psalms and singing songs, especially, were actions we saw ourselves only doing on Sunday, instead of throughout the week.<\/p>\n

So, in order to apply what the Lord was encouraging us to do last night, below is a devotional poem (this has been a song of my heart recently) that I pray the Lord would use to encourage you.<\/p>\n

In so many times
\nIn so many ways
\nYou have revealed
\nYour power to save<\/p>\n

Joseph nearly died
\nBy his brothers\u2019 hate
\nYou had better plans
\nYour hand proved great<\/p>\n

Ruthlessly worked
\nIn Egypt they died
\nYou heard their groans
\nYou answered their cries<\/p>\n

Driving them out
\nBy your mighty hand
\nYou split the waters
\nYou showed dry land!<\/p>\n

In thunder and light
\nIn thick cloud covered
\nYou spoke your Law
\nYour people shuddered<\/p>\n

You gave them land
\nAbundant provision
\nYour holy nation
\nYour perfect vision<\/p>\n

But they worshipped
\nThese lifeless idols
\nYou even told them
\nYahweh your title<\/p>\n

Wanting a king
\nAgainst your word
\nYou gave them one
\nYour holy wrath stirred<\/p>\n

Choosing David
\nA plan so smart
\nYou ignored looks
\nYou noticed his heart<\/p>\n

Facing a giant
\nWielding a blade
\nYou blessed David
\nYour power unswayed<\/p>\n

Building a house
\nFor Your own Name
\nYou built his throne
\nYour Kingdom proclaimed<\/p>\n

But David died
\nAnd Solomon too
\nYour Prince to reign
\nIsaiah knew<\/p>\n

The world waiting
\nAs nations fell
\nYou even brought low
\nYour Israel<\/p>\n

For years and years
\nThe prophets told
\nYour plan of plans
\nGenesis old<\/p>\n

That was THOSE days
\nTODAY has come
\nGod has revealed
\nHis Promised Son<\/p>\n

Radiant rays
\nGlorious glory
\nThe Son ties up
\nAll HIS-tory<\/p>\n

Exact likeness
\nSustaining all
\nWhich of the angels
\nDid God ever call?<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cYou are my Son\u201d
\nThe King of Kings
\nThe one to whom
\nAll creation sings<\/p>\n

Conquering sin
\nFreeing all debtors
\nThose whose hearts\u2019 cry
\n\u201cJesus is better!\u201d<\/p>\n

God\u2019s right hand seated
\nA Superior Name
\nThe Earth will perish
\nHis Kingdom remains<\/p>\n

Served by angels
\nHe made Himself low
\nSuffering death
\nHis glory to show<\/p>\n

Commanding now
\nOff with fetters!
\nThose being tempted
\nJesus is better<\/p>\n

Jesus made like
\nUs in every way
\nTo be our High-
\nPriest whom we pray<\/p>\n

On our hearts now
\nHe writes His letter
\n\u201cRedeemed Brother\u201d
\nJesus is better<\/p>\n

Jesus is now
\nServed by many hosts
\nLORD of all Heaven
\nYour Name we boast<\/p>\n

Moses was a
\nGreat faith setter
\nBut servant vs. SON
\nJesus is better<\/p>\n

Joshua led
\nThe people to rest
\nBut even the land
\nMade them distressed<\/p>\n

The Son of God
\nFix your eyes, See!
\nApproach Him and
\nFind mercy you need<\/p>\n

He is our Hope
\nFaithful High Priest
\nGiving grace to all
\nEven the least<\/p>\n

So run to Him
\nContinue the race
\nThat great reward
\nOf seeing His Face<\/p>\n

There remains still
\nA better rest
\nFilling your soul
\nJESUS IS BEST.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On Tuesday night, our college bible study meets, and we have been studying the book of Ephesians together. The passage we were studying was Ephesians 5:1-21. We were discussing the implications to our lives of being imitators of Christ, and specifically, we were trying to understand how we ought to be living as those who… read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":87,"featured_media":5334,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[97],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nImitators of Christ - Faith Church Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.faithlafayette.org\/church\/imitators-of-christ\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Imitators of Christ - Faith Church Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"On Tuesday night, our college bible study meets, and we have been studying the book of Ephesians together. 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