The Example We Set

Example - noun

1.	one of a number of things, or a part of something, taken to show the character of the whole: This painting is an example of his early work.

2.	a pattern or model, as of something to be imitated or avoided: to set a good example.

3.	an instance serving for illustration; specimen: The case histories gave carefully detailed examples of this disease.

4.	an instance illustrating a rule or method, as a mathematical problem proposed for solution.

5.	an instance, esp. of punishment, serving as a warning to others: Public executions were meant to be examples to the populace.

6.	a precedent; parallel case: an action without example.

–verb (used with object)

7.	Rare. to give or be an example of; exemplify (used in the passive).

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[Origin: 1350–1400; ME exa(u)mple < MF example < L exemplum, akin to eximere to take out (ex- ex-¹ + emere to buy, orig. take); r. ME exemple < L, as above] —Synonyms 1. Example, sample, specimen refer to an individual phenomenon taken as representative of a type, or to a part representative of the whole. Example is used of an object, condition, etc., that is assumed to illustrate a certain principle or standard: a good example of baroque architecture. Sample refers to a small portion of a substance or to a single representative of a group or type that is intended to show what the rest of the substance or the group is like: a sample of yarn. Specimen usually suggests that the “sample” chosen is intended to serve a scientific or technical purpose: a blood specimen;

Greek

deiÛgma

from the base of (1166)

        1.    a thing shown

2.  a specimen of any thing, example, pattern

Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:

• This verse tells us Jesus is exact image of God – He is God that we can see – “if you have seen Me, you have seen God”-Jn 14:6

• Jesus is our example –

Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ

1.     Jesus fulfilled every one of these offices – note the word edify /Word only builds up –

2. That is how God treats His Kids – that is the example He sets for us

3. Every account in Word is there to give us answers, build us up and to set an example.  Mat 17:24-26 shows us is an example of submitting to authority weather we agree or not – that is what God calls doing right “just because”

 Here we see from Mat. 27 Jesus setting an example to His disciples (as well as us) to do right even when we know we are being taken advantage of. In those days a tax collector taxed the individual taxpayer more than was owed. He then payed the government. He kept the difference. The difference was his profit. 

side note: Rome only taxed foreigners - not citizens of Roman Empire

²⁴ After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”

²⁵ “Yes, he does,” he replied.
When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?”
²⁶ “From others,” Peter answered.
“Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him. ²⁷ “But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”

(The right thing to do, doing just because it's right)

Mat 20:28  

Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many

(The right thing to do, doing just because it's right)

     

      Jn 13-17

13"You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.    

(The right thing to do, doing just because it's right)

          

In Paul’s 1^st letter to Timothy he cites The Lord’s mercy and example to us all:

 12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 13Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

 15Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. 17Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Examples to set (set for):

1.    Our children – Godly , do the right thing always (do right just because it’s right) God wants you to do this because good for us – what comes around, goes around.

Eph 6:4

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

            .family

2.    believers and non believers – there watching you.(you may be the ONLY representation of Jesus they see)

1 Tim 4:12 Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an

                             example

a.    Always build up

b.    Don’t do things that are OK but don’t help or non-believers and many believers don’t understand -  remember:

1 Cor 6:12 says - All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

Do the right thing on purpose – just because it is the right thing to do!

Choose Character

• Colossians 3:12   Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering

 A.    Definitions – character

1.  The sum of our traits that we are known by.

2.     Reputation – How you are known

3.     Faithfulness

4.     Character is the total of what makes us up, or the “whole”. Integrity is the parts and pieces that make up the “whole” – We are going to talk about both. Many times the two are used interchangeably, but keep in mind the differences.

           1. The milk of the Word vs. the meat of the Word

A.    The milk is what Jesus or the Kingdom of God will do for you. – (Heb 5:12)

a) salvation

b) hope and comfort in troubled times

      c) healing – physical, emotional

(all are benefits of Jesus’ work at The Cross or Atonement)

2.    The meat of the Word is what you do for The Kingdom

1)   Hebrews 5:12 (NIV)
 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!

a)       baby food

2)     James 2 : 8 (Mess)   I can already hear one of you agreeing by saying, "Sounds good. You take care of the faith department, I'll handle the works department." Not so fast. You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove

Show your faith – God expects it, from ourselves, show to family and friends benefit

a)      an example - practical Christianity / meat of The Word

b)      God does the supernatural – all miracles of past, present, and future – Jesus, conquering Love, re-establishing His Kingdom and making us part of it.

c)      He expects us to do the natural (because of our faith – IN HIM) to show His Love to others – Shows Him to others (family, those around us) – perhaps we are the only God that person will see!

3) Character of God

a)  Isaiah 11:5

            5 Righteousness will be his belt
                   and faithfulness the sash around his waist

note: faithfulness one of the deffs. Of character

b)   1 Thessalonians 5:24

     The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.

         c) Deuteronomy 7:9

9  Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping    his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands

The Word says to “Be like Him” – 1 John 3:2

Kids want to be like their father – they naturally emulate their parents

We are made in His image, since He is of character and it is a trait that we all can and should develop, He expects us to be of character for our own good as well as everyone we come in contact with.

4) Characteristics Traits Of The Saints

            a)   Bible says anyone who is saved is a saint. – We ARE people of character

b)      There are many character traits we can identify

·        Blameless

·         Bold

·         Faithful

·         Just

·         Godly

·         Humble

·         Attentive to Christ’s voice - John 10:3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

·        Prudent - Proverbs 16:21  The wise in heart will be called prudent,
      And sweetness of the lips increases learning.

·        If we are saved The traits are in us – Romans 12:3 – up to us to develop them by exercising and using.

5) God Tells us what Our Choices Are – Then tells Us What To Choose

Deuteronomy 30:19 (New King James Version)

I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before   you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live

           
6) Traits To Be Known By – (what I want people to say about me)

1.     ALWAYS  do what we say we are going to do – if we can’t we make sure the people who are counting on us, know so other arrangements can be made.

2.    ALWAYS be on time. – part of being faithful – trustworthy.

3.    ALWAYS be where you are supposed to be when you are supposed to be.

2 Samuel 11:1 – David supposed to be off at   war

read entire account 2 Sam 11:1-17

• ·        If we always do those things, always being the key, people will know us for those traits. They will cut us slack when we can’t do what we have promised.

• ·        Remember, trust takes a long time to establish but is destroyed in an instant.  (established by your character, the part of you, you are known for). 
• ·        Don’t worry if some people don’t trust in your character right away, just continue to show them you are doing the right things – prove your trustworthiness. 

• There is one way to set yourself apart from the crowd and it will cost you nothing.ALWAYS DO WHAT YOU SAY YOU ARE GOING TO DO!
•  Some never will trust us no matter what we do. But just keep on doing the right thing because it is the right thing to do! – Keep doing what’s right 1 Peter 4:19

REMEMBER, GOD TELLS US WHAT TO CHOOSE, IT’S UP TO US TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE!