An Example

The message was brought by Reynolds Frye.

I Thessalonians 1: ¹Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.² We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;³ Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;⁴ Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.⁵ For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.⁶ And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost.⁷ So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.⁸ For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.⁹ For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;¹⁰ And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

There’s a good crowd here today.  Someone is doing some good “exampling”.  We are an example whether we want to be or not.  You are to me.  I love to come here.  Growing up I didn’t want to be at church.  One day a preacher told me what I needed to do and what God would do for me if I trusted him.  This church should be the example to the world for people to know Jesus Christ is true and real.  Once we didn’t even have a Bible in our little house.  My mother-in-law brought one over and laid it on the coffee table and told me I needed it.  It caused me to go to the house of God.  We don’t and won’t get what we need from this world.  Christians get less effective as time goes on.  Many hate us because we serve God, but we must go on.  This church has lots of musicians and singers.  That’s an example as well.  What a blessing to show our God to the world.

Romans 12:1-2 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. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Let the Word have its right of way in your heart and you’ll make it through.  Jesus is the example we need to prove ourselves acceptable to God.  If I ever tell you something that doesn’t come from the Word, don’t follow it.  The Bible is our instruction book and thereby our example to follow.  We’ll know the truth and it will set us free.  Time is short.  We can’t comprehend the closeness of the end.  There is corruption all over the world, but the Word will take us on the right way.

Matthew 5:13-16 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

This church is the light of this community.  We are to let our lights shine to glorify God.  It’s time to get out and serve God whole heartedly.  Tell Satan to get behind you in the name of the Lord.

John 13:5-8, 15 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.  Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.  For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

Washing the disciples’ feet was Jesus’ example of humility to us.  That will show God to others.  Look to Jesus as the example.  He’s the only hope of the world.  He’ll make a way for us to be the examples we need to be.