~ To model oneself after the behavior, actions, speech and / or likeness of another ~
Biblically, it is an ethical concept: It is a call to reproduce in our own way of life those Godly qualities that results from Salvation;
In 3rd John 1:11 we read, "Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God."
The Apostle John instructs the Saints in the importance of fashioning their daily lives according to the Written Word of God “YHWH.” There are some Scriptures that says in essence, that the Saints are not to learn the way of the wicked. Proverbs 4:14, Isaiah 8:11 & Jeremiah 10:2
We read in Hosea 6:1-3, "Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. *After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. *Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth."
Listen to what the Word of the Lord said unto His Children, thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: “In returning and rest you shall be saved;"
Isaiah 30:15
We all like sheep have gone astray, Isaiah 53:6 & Palms 119:176, and we need to return unto the Lord with our whole heart while there is still time to repent and be saved.
Knowing that we still have time to get it right is Good News and that in its self should give us reason to shout for joy ~
After three days and three nights Jesus arose from the grave thus signifying that He is our Salvation. Therefore, let’s come unto Him with words of repentance, confess our sins unto Him then, He will Abundantly Pardon our sins.
The Apostle Paul in Ephesians 5:1-9 wrote, "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; *And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. *But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; *Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. *For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. *Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. *Be not ye therefore partakers with them. *For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: *(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)"
If the Saints would follow just these instructions given here by the Apostle Paul to the Ephesians then, their lives would more perfectly imitate the way Jesus lived and they would be walking, talking and living in True Holiness.
In Romans 14:19 we read," Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things where with one may edify another."
When a person is known as person of peace they are welcome most anywhere they go. People are generally glad to see a person that brings with them a message of peace.
In 2nd Timothy 2:21-22, the Apostle Paul wrote, "If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. *Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart."
When a person washes their self in the Water of the Word of the Lord the Bible, they will be clean from sin and all unrighteousness, they will have purged their soul with Truth.
If you are a person of Truth and True Holiness you will be a person that the Lord can use for His Glory and Praise.
We need therefore to be a person that puts off the Lust of the Flesh, the Lust of the Eyes and the Pride of Life so that we can have the ability to put on Righteousness as a Cloak, to put on the New Man which is Renewed after the Knowledge of Him “YHWH” that Created Him “Jesus” and to put on the Mind of Christ.
The Apostle Peter in 1st Peter 3:10-12 wrote, "For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: *Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. *For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil."
One Scripture says that the Fear of the Lord is to hate evil. Proverbs 8:13
It is written of Lot, the nephew of Abraham, in essence that his righteous soul
was vexed because of the wickedness of the inhabitants of Sodom. 2nd Peter 2:7
In that Lot did not find pleasure in the sins of the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah God “YHWH” sent two of His angels to deliver Lot and his family from the Wrath of the Lord that was going to come upon all the inhabitants of that land.
In Hebrews 6:10-12 we read, "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. *And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: *That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises."
God “YHWH” is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6
One that diligently seeks the Lord is one that spends time daily reading and studying His Holy Written Word the Bible and applying that Word into their daily life.
We read in 1st Corinthians 11:1, "Be ye followers of me, even as I am of Christ."
I think it would be an excellent idea that every Saint practice these instructions of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians to follow others as they follow Jesus, that which is Written in His Holy Word the Bible.
In 1st Timothy 6:11-14, the Apostle Paul wrote, "But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. *Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. *I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; *That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:"
The Saints have been given their marching orders; they are to emulate Jesus who said that He did nothing of Himself but what He had seen and heart from His Father “YHWH.”
I remember as a child playing a game called “follow the leader;” by the rules of this game if a person did not do exactly as the leader did, they were out of the game.
When it comes to serving God “YHWH,” the Saints have a Leader to follow and His name is Jesus; if we don’t fully and freely follow Him, we will lose out n Eternal Life.
I have heard many preachers say that Christians need to get their act together. But I say, “we need to stop acting and get serious about serving the Lord as Saints of the Most High God “YHWH.”
The Apostle Paul in 2nd Thessalonians 3:3-16 wrote, "But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. *And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you. *And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. *Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. *For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; *Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: *Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. *For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. *For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. *Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. *But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. *And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. *Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. *Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all."
After the death of the Apostles there arose many self-appointed souls that claimed to have the authority to change the Written Word of God “YHWH” but the One and Only True God “YHWH” said that He is not a man that is given to change. Malachi 3:6
The Kings of the Meds and Persians must have thought this was a good method of establishing laws because they adopted this manner of “not altering or changing” into the making of their laws.
This manner of dealing with making and establishing laws does not leave any excuse for violations.
The Apostles like King David advise the Saints that they are not to stand or walk in the way of the wicked. Psalms 1:1
If a person sets their endorsement by any manner “by not saying anything against it or by going along with it” they are standing in the way of the wicked, sinners.
The Saints of today need to be like the Apostles and Prophets of Old and set a Godly / Righteous example for others to see, hear and follow - “Imitate.”
Derwood A. Stewart, Minister House of Prayer Sabbath Ministries Comments? Email Us: hope@preachersteacher.org
