Jesus: The ULTIMATE Role-Model

by James Moody
(Melbourne, Australia)

Romans 8:29

As Christians, we have a goal which is:

Romans 8:29 - For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

So right now I’m going to preach on some of the many examples Jesus Christ led by and how He showed us how to be a Christ-centered person. This is where God wants us to be!

1. He Wasn’t ‘Me’ Centered.

It seems that you must care only about yourself...Pretty much has become a requirement of this world. We live in a dog eat dog society where you must only watch out for yourself.

Have you noticed when you were in primary school and you say something like - ‘Miss, my friend doesn’t know what to do’ and they reply with a - ‘only worry about yourself!’ I got upset with that, seriously. But you see that’s what this world has become.

The purpose of our lives for this world is to reach our highest dreams, and get rich. But when you get to the top, you still feel empty and you would ask ‘what more could they want?’ The answer is God! They don’t feel blessed because they only watched out for themselves. They also search for selfless faith!

Proverbs 28:20 -A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.

Jesus was the opposite of selfish, he was not ‘me’ centered. He went out of his way to help people. He fed the hungry, clothed the unclothed, and helped the needy.

John 6:35 - Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty."

When we help a person in need, we will always feel blessed after it because that’s the way God intended it to be. When people get fed up of looking out for themselves, they usually start helping others, to feel the blessing!

But, to be able to help others, you need to change your attitude to what Jesus saw others like. He looked at others with compassion, love, and justice...not pity, shame or hatred.

Matthew 14:14 - When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd; he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

Mark 6:34 - When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

Point 1 – We need selfless faith.

2. He Called Himself a Servant.

Matthew 20:28 - For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus did not say ‘come and serve me’, he said ‘come and I will teach you!’ Jesus walked around the world to find people to serve. He taught the first disciples about serving God; he healed people from their diseases; and he helped the fisherman catch fish.

I for one can boldly say he led by his actions. If you say no good man got recognition or rewards for being a servant, I will surely argue and say Jesus was a great man and was a servant and you get recognition and rewards from God! It will never go unseen.

Psalm 62:12 - and that you, O Lord, are loving. Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done.

As a servant we need to change our attitude, our mindset.

Ephesians 4:22:24 - You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

At the same time, we need to put other people’s interests before us. The word I would use is initiative which means - A beginning or introductory step; an opening move. I say a great servant displays great initiative.

Philippians 2:4:5 - Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.

Point 2 – We need to change our mindset to a servant.

3. He Praised and Worshipped God.

Luke 10:21 - At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.

Jesus Christ had such an amazing relationship with God, Jesus praised and worshipped him. Whenever everything was good, he praised God, whenever everything was bad, he worshipped God. Whenever he doubted God’s will, he prayed for his wisdom. If we want to have a great relationship with God, we need to be able to give thanksgiving to God.

Psalm 146:2 - I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

Luke 4:8 - Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.' "

Often Jesus says to worship God only for he is a jealous God. Think of this, you have a wife or a husband, And they start worshipping, and praising another man or woman they’ve met. You are most likely going to want to shut them up because you are feeling jealous.

God is not restricting us, we can go off and worship anyone but it is not the way to strengthen your relationship, in fact, it is not going to get you anywhere! Jesus worshipped God and God only. It was the way and Jesus showed us that.

Point 3 – Praise and Worship God only.

4. He Had a Heart for God’s Will.

The only life Jesus had was as a carpenter and he was a gifted carpenter. But he soon gave up his life for God’s will because he knew himself that it was his purpose for life.

It is ours too, but we all have a different personal will from God which he created himself. Why do you think we have different gifts and talents and personalities? So we can suit God’s will perfectly!

1 Corinthians 7:7 - I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.

Also, whenever Jesus didn’t know what God wanted him to do, he withdrew from the crowds and praised God and asked him. After that he would rest and soon go out refreshed and with a clear mind to do God’s will.

Romans 1:10 - In my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God's will the way may be opened for me to come to you.

He didn’t take a side road and explore something, or get distracted by the worldly things. There are times when God becomes silent, and it’s also when the devil strikes to put us off. I call those moments a test because it always tests our faith.

If we don’t have a strong relationship with God, we will fall, but if we lead a Christ-centered life like Jesus did, we shall stand our ground. If God is giving you a silence, don’t wander off but stay with God and keep being persistent in asking God to talk.

You may not realize it, but you will draw closer to God! That’s what he wants; he will be impressed and proud of you!

Point 4 – We need to prioritize and put God first.

5. Jesus Died to Complete God’s will!

John 3:16 - “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Jesus, before he was crucified, he asked God if he could do something to change what was just about to happen, because he was dreading it. That shows me that Jesus really had a human side too. But then he said if it’s your will, so be it. Can you give me the strength to get through this?

Philippians 4:13 - I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Jesus was willing to give up his life for God. I want to ask each one of you, how much are you willing to sacrifice for God? God sacrificed his only son to earth just to save us all! One major scarifice we can make is by giving God our body and do whatever he asks to complete his will.

God knows what is right for you but that does not mean your life is going to be problem free. In order to share his glory, we need to share his sufferings as well.

Peter 4:12-14 - Dear friends; do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

Point 5 – We need to make sacrifices for God’s Will.

Conclusion:

When Jesus came to this world, he showed us who God is, what God wants, and what we can do about it. He showed us how to live the life God intended it to be. Jesus showed us miraculous things we wouldn’t believe. Jesus set the example of how to live.

Romans 8:29-b - so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

Jesus led by many example and I only presented a few. God showed us what living a Christ-centered life meant. Here's what we need: 1. We need selfless faith, 2. We need to change our mindset to a servant, 3. Praise and Worship God only, 4. We need to prioritize and put God first, 5. We need to make sacrifices for God’s Will.

I pray that God will open up your eyes to many other areas you can be strengthened for God and live a Christ-centered life.

Note from Mark: If only we could be more like Christ! Thanks James for your sermon.