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Finding Role Models for the Kingdom of God

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Finding Role Models for the Kingdom of God

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Finding Role Models for the Kingdom of God

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We should look for good examples around us and hold fast to what is good. Shine a light on righteous behavior whenever we see it and share it with others. Lift one another up and be an encourager to one another as we see the day approaching.

Sermon Notes

Here we are, back from the Feast.  The rest of the world would be hard-pressed to understand the importance of this festival in our lives.   People around the world in every religion or culture places different things as high or highest importance in their lives, where we in the Church of God place such a high value on the annual Holy Days.  They are so important to us because they are the vehicle that God uses to teach His wonderful plan of reconciliation of mankind broken since the Garden of Eden.
The fall feasts are the culmination of that plan and remind us of our future and the future of this world.  We get such a spiritual recharge from keeping them that we use to light our path through the dark days of winter when we can begin again in the spring to remember the plan of God that is being worked out on earth.
Sometimes my wife reads me negative statements from people we once sat in church with long ago, but now are bitter.  I wonder what their level of understanding was when we spent year after year with them keeping the Holy Days together.  Did they just not get it?  How can someone be so negative toward celebrations of God’s mercy for this world or His promise to send His Son to fix everything?
We should pray for these people as we should for this whole world to finally know that God has not abandoned them.  He has a plan for them to be a part of His family.  Especially now as we are recharged after the feast we need to have a razor-sharp focus on the mission ahead of us.  To succeed in this we need role models to help us along the way.  The Title of the Sermon is:
Finding role models for the Kingdom of God
Now you know that the only true role model of those that have walked the earth is Jesus Christ.   All others have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God.   But the Bible does tell us to imitate others as well.
Now an imitation can be used in all sorts of ways both positive and negative.  Someone might imitate those they admire, and you might say something is not authentic but merely and imitation.  It is the positive sense that we find written about by Paul where he instructs the church in Corinth.
• 1 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore I urge you, imitate me.
• 1 Corinthians 11:1  Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ
I never thought about it the many times I have read these passages that Paul (for these people) was not a biblical figure.  For them, he was just this minister they knew and Paul knew that the closer you are to someone the easier it is to copy them.  When we were in Texas in College we found ourselves copying the culture and accents of the people there.  But over time we found other things about them to copy. 
For the Feast in Big Sandy, the entire campus was one giant campground.  About a third of the Campus were rows and rows of campsites built decades ago for the purpose of camping for the feast.  As a student, I have special affiliation to the term Feast of Booths because I lived in Booth City at college.   My two years there was living in a temporary dwelling and I kept the Feast with thousands of people from the south that lived in temporary dwellings in the Piney Woods campsites. 
Few would go to restaurants because they were all camping and feasting right there in camp.  That was eight days of Joy I can tell you.  I don’t remember strife, only happiness.  It is among my best memories of keeping the feast in my lifetime.  In those people, there was a lot to imitate.  You found yourself talking like them, acting like them, and trying to imitate the Joy that each of them had for coming to such an important place and to keep the feast in such an authentic way.  They felt they were following in the footsteps of the pioneers of feast keeping in the days of Moses.
Role models good and bad
Role models are often talked about in this world.  Growing up in the church I remember many sermons warning us of bad role models; telling me as a young person to avoid all of the evils of the age and giving sermons on the prodigal son and the dangers of thinking that happiness can be found in this world.
It was difficult for me sometimes because we live in this world and see both good and bad.  I would pick and choose things that I felt were good and disregard the rest.  Sometimes I felt guilty going against some of those sermons but I felt that I could tell the difference. What is amazing to me now is I have shown movies that I saw at my kid’s age and was totally embarrassed by language and other themes that I did not remember.  When I was a kid I ignored language and thought it was no big deal. 
We can sit here and name bad examples of role models for a half hour and site how many people love them anyway.  Rebellion is a form of self-expression and for some it seems like the only way to find their identity. 
As adults, we often see individuality as a form of rebellion that we saw in small children when we give them direction and they say no.  But often times, what we see is a form of rebellion is simply a desire to be recognized.  It is interesting when I see someone try to be unique so they imitate others who are rebelling against something.  Whether that is in clothes, music, language, or attitude, they change one culture for another. To fight conformity they conform to something else that angers the former to please the latter. If they really wanted to be different, they should try being exceptional.
Turn to Hebrews 6.  Since the book of Hebrews is not signed but most believe it was written by Paul.  I just finished the reading the bible in a year that I started with many others Nov 1rst of last year.  After reading all of Paul’s writings together and then reading Hebrews, I can think of no other that could have written it.  Since we are talking about role models and imitating others it is interesting to read chapter 6:10-12 on this subject.
 
Hebrews 6:10-12   10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.  11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end,  12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Hebrews 11: gives a whole list of role models from Abel to Rehab and everyone in Between.
Here we read to Imitate those through faith inherit the promises.  Now Paul is someone to whom this passage would apply.  There are many you know that you admire traits of and who this would also apply.  We should look at the good traits we see in the brethren and try to imitate those traits just as I did back in my college days during the feast.
As I have grown I have begun to see what is truly important to focus on in life and what is not. 
Sometimes we look at the pursuits of others and wonder what’s the point.  While older people see a world falling apart, it seems at though the Youth in the world spend all their time on clothes, music, entertainment, and often times don’t seem to see all the evil in this world.  But I have found that our young people spend a great deal of time focusing on how the world should be from their point of view.  They see evil but no role models to overcome them.  It is the older adults that can appear cynical to the youth and that’s why there is often a disconnect. 
There are many people in our history as well as in our present that have stood up to evil and at great personal risk. 
Role models in this world can be good or bad.  You should not forsake everyone and only focus on the bible characters.  Our youth are looking for role models to follow toward solutions.
You can have role models in this age.  Just as Paul was a real guy that walked and lived among them, we can have role models if they have godly traits worth copying.
Today we live in the Facebook Generation
The world today is obsessed with sharing on Facebook and other social media.  You see so much posted and shared there and sometimes it is shared so much it goes viral.  Sometimes these things are funny, sometimes inspiring, and other times, I have no idea what makes them popular.  When you see something you like you click the Like button similar to YouTube that when you watch a video that you enjoy can hit a thumbs up or thumbs down button.  While the concept of liking something may sound to some as a cheap way to compliment someone, it is a very effective way to gauge the impact of something on others and give you guidance of what to and what not to share.
Our youth have become masters of sharing.  They are so interconnected to one another that I can’t always wrap my mind around the concept as I enjoy a certain level of privacy which is not possible when you are telling everyone what you are doing at this moment, what you are thinking of this moment, what you ate for your last meal.  I know not everyone on Facebook does this and usually when I say that someone always comes up to me and tells me they only share things that are special or unique. 
To the Facebook generation, limiting their “likes” and “thumbs up” to only church members would be in the words of one important philosopher “INCONCEIVABLE”.  Just Like I felt when I was growing up, they know they can discern what is good and what is not and share things that are hopeful, and inspiring.  I remember hearing sermons about how terrible the music I listened to was and I didn’t listen to hard rock.  One time I was given the job of picking music for a teen dance and I carefully picked music that teens would like but would not be offensive to adults.  My Pastor rejected most of the songs.  If we were going to have a dance it would have to be with music that most teens didn’t listen to.
The church has come a long way since I was a teen and one thing that social media has taught the world is how important staying connected is to our youth.  They look for ways to share ideas and find themselves in their interactions with each other.  When I was younger there was no social media.  We connected with each other through the music we shared and the activities that connected us.  We had role models that we felt were relevant to us.  And just like today, our young people find those things in their peers that they can relate to, inspire and be inspired by. 
My girls, and I include my wife here as well, spend time on different social media connecting with one another and finding joy in sharing what is truly good with others.  Sometimes they share music, sometimes its and inspiring story or example, and sometimes it’s just something to make them laugh.  Discussing the Bible is often a part of the connections they have with others and overall it has helped them become better Christians. 
Whoever our role models we must judge them with the bible and know if their deeds are worth emulating.  Remember that we often seek things and admire things that everyone desires.  God does not hold these talents as highly as others do.  In fact, Isaiah 66:2 says just the opposite.  It says: 
"But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word.
God does not see through the world’s eyes
James 2:1-5  NKJ My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality.  2 For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes,  3 and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, "You sit here in a good place," and say to the poor man, "You stand there," or, "Sit here at my footstool,"  4 have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?  5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
Everyone has had that moment when you find out someone you admired turned out to be a bad guy.  They start out good but fame gets in the way, greed, desire, life.  They change their ideals and sink down into the mire of the world around them.  I have found History especially helpful her because when You look back at the whole of a person’s life you can weigh the good with the bad.
For me, I find my role models in history.  Social media is not my thing, outside of email which is pretty strange for someone who works in computers as a living.  I love to find examples and inspiring stories from historical figures more than anonymous people on the net.  It’s not that my way is better it just works better for me.  It is also interesting how opinions of people change over time.
Washington
Take the father of our country.  Once upon a time, he was the most revered of all the founding fathers.  While each of these men contributed much to this country, Washington stands first and foremost among them.  Some of you here might remember when the nation observed Washington’s Birthday.  Over time people began to forget the role he played in shaping this nation and is fame began to fade.  Nowadays we call it presidents day and many don’t know why Washington should have his own day. 
He is the only President to have a state named after him, The Nation’s capital is named after him, 30 counties are named after him as well as a host of schools, forts, towns and municipalities, and for good reason.  When you take the time to study who he was and what he did, you find so many attributes to emulate.  This year I got to get a lot closer to one of my heroes.
In the days before the feast this year my family indulged me to go to the nation’s capital so I could connect with some of the people and places that I have read so much about.
But of all of the museums, monuments, sacred, and famous sights we saw, none meant as much to me as visiting the home of our first President and getting a closer look at his remarkable life.  Here is a role model that I have admired for many, many years.   Once upon a time, you could openly admire the founding fathers without objection but nowadays, you will most often get pushback by those that would have to try to balance their achievements with personal faults.  People will talk about their ownership of Slaves, personal ambition or even vanity.
George Washington was not without faults.  He owned slaves as did most major landholders in the south.  Slavery was a pox on much of the country that was just coming to grips with it.  Washington himself struggled with the topic finally freeing his slaves upon his death.
But what made him one of the most remarkable people was not what he is most known for.  If you had to list why he is called the father of the country what comes to mind? 
 
• He was the first President? 
• He was victorious in battle? 
• He chopped down a cherry tree and then told the truth about it?
• He had wooden teeth?
 
None of these are reasons that made him the remarkable person he was nor was any of these things entirely true.  John Hanson was the first American to serve as President under the articles of confederation that preceded the constitution as did 7 others before George Washington was sworn in as the first President of the new constitution.
And while the US did prevail over the British, the most powerful army in the entire world, George Washington did not win many battles at all.  Most of the engagements ended in defeat with Washington’s genius displayed in saving the army from repeated annihilation by cleverly escaping the British time and time again.   Like the show survivor he outwitted and most importantly outlasted the British until the French army and Navy joined the Cause and forces the last surrender at Yorktown.
The Cherry tree myth was just that and he did not have wooden teeth.  The Cherry tree myth was created as a way to teach children about the virtues they should follow.  And while he did have false teeth, they were actually a combination of human and hippopotamus teeth set in a lead denture.
But none of the more popular myths caused me to view him as a role model.  When you view him in his time with his contemporaries you begin to see why he is and was, so admired.
What made George Washington the greatest American in my view was not because of anything that he did but rather everything that he didn’t do but could have because of who he was.  There are many names associated with the founding of this country besides Washington.  Names like Jefferson, Adams, Hamilton, Madison, and Franklin to name just a few.  But I believe you could remove the achievements of any one of those men, that this country could still have been formed except one, George Washington.  Which tells me God used him in a very powerful and meaningful way.
The reason is only understood when you got to know the man.  He was a towering figure, but he did not have a towering Intellect.  He was not one of the architects of the documents that define this country.  But not one of the men called a founder held the respect and admiration that he did.  (Turn to Matt. 10)
When the country was headed to conflict with Britain, the leaders of that time gathered, many in secret to begin debate on how to proceed.  Some still wanted to hedge their bets in case they reconciled with the crown.  Washington showed up in his military uniform announcing his intention to do whatever it takes.  He knew that he risked not only his life, his fortune, his family, but even his reputation because to fail would be to become a criminal and have your name ruined. 
Matthew 10:26-27.  He lived this passage in the open while others tried to in secret.
Matthew 10:26-27   26 "Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed and hidden that will not be known.  27 " Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.
He did not show up to lead the Army but to serve.  He knew there were more capable men to general the troops but none were trusted with absolute power except Washington.  He did not want the top Job but accepted the post for the good of the country.
At many times during the war the soldiers wanted to quit because of lack of supplies, poor health, and lack of pay but stayed on simply because of Washington.  He was twice approached by officers promising their support if he decided to seize civilian power.  In one famous incident in 1782, Col. Lewis Nicola wrote a letter urging him to overthrow Congress and become America’s king but Washington scolded Nicola the very same day.
In 1783, Washington caught wind of officers wanting to stage a coup against Congress over back pay. The so-called Newburgh Conspirators asked Washington to lead them in this.  Instead, He gathered the men together to read them a letter from Congress.  He asked their forgiveness that he would have to put on spectacles to read since he had lost not only his hair color but have become blind in the service of his country.  The conspirators, many of whom were now in tears, agreed to stay loyal to the cause.
He never sought his own glory and put himself at risk rallying his troops from the front.  And at 6.3 and on horseback, many tried to shoot him down but he knew if he stood before the troops, they would stand before the British.   The war won, he stunned many by surrendering power to a powerless Congress. 
In London, King George III questioned the American-born painter Benjamin West what Washington would do now he had won the war.  "Oh," said West, "they say he will return to his farm." "If he does that," said the king, "he will be the greatest man in the world."
This is how he was viewed in his time, not just by his admirers, but also by his enemies.
And that’s what he did, he gave up power and returned home to be a farmer.  This is foremost what he considered himself.  But that didn’t last long because the Congress got together to amend the articles of confederation but they could agree on little and fought about everything else.  Jefferson considered them demigods. They sought the one man who they could all listen to, but Washington didn’t want to go. 
Finally they persuaded Washington to come to the convention where he was unanimously elected President of the Convention.  His role was to keep the factions working together and that he did.  That summer was especially hot and for those long months Washington presided over them and kept them at their task.  When he saw debate going nowhere he would call for a vote and move on. 
As the new country took shape and a chief executive was being created, it was George Washington and his character that defined the office they created.  They wanted the President to serve for life but he would never do that.  Much of what we have in the office of Presidency is owed to him.  From the Cabinet that serves him, to the limited 2 terms.  To the fact we don’t call the President your highness. 
He remains the only man unanimously elected to be President of the United States.  He did that twice.
Perhaps not better description of the man exists than in a letter written by fellow Virginian Thomas Jefferson 14 years after Washington’s death.  In a letter January 2, 1814, to Dr. Walter Jones who was struggling with a historical project to nail down Washington’s role in this new nation.  he writes:

". . . I think I knew General Washington intimately and thoroughly; and were I called on to delineate his character, it should be in terms like these.

"His mind was great and powerful, without being of the very first order; his penetration strong, though, not so acute as that of a Newton, Bacon, or Locke; and as far as he saw, no judgment was ever sounder. It was slow in operation, being little aided by invention or imagination, but sure in conclusion. Hence the common remark of his officers, of the advantage he derived from councils of war, where hearing all suggestions, he selected whatever was best; and certainly, no general ever planned his battles more judiciously. But if deranged during the course of the action, if any member of his plan was dislocated by sudden circumstance, he was slow in re-adjustment. The consequence was, that he often failed in the field, and rarely against an enemy in station, as at Boston and York. He was incapable of fear, meeting personal dangers with the calmest unconcern. Perhaps the strongest feature in his character was prudence, never acting until every circumstance, every consideration, was maturely weighed; refraining if he saw a doubt, but, when once decided, going through with his purpose, whatever obstacles opposed. His integrity was most pure, his justice the most inflexible I have ever known, no motives of interest or consanguinity (Blood Relation), of friendship or hatred, being able to bias his decision. He was, indeed, in every sense of the words, a wise, a good, and a great man.
"On the whole, his character was, in its mass, perfect, in nothing bad, in few points indifferent; and it may truly be said, that never did nature and fortune combine more perfectly to make a man great, and to place him in the same constellation with whatever worthies have merited from man an everlasting remembrance. For his was the singular destiny and merit, of leading the armies of his country successfully through an arduous war, for the establishment of its independence; of conducting its councils through the birth of a government, new in its forms and principles, until it had settled down into a quiet and orderly train; and of scrupulously obeying the laws through the whole of his career, civil and military, of which the history of the world furnishes no other example. . . .
Many people today deny the role of religion on many of the founding fathers.  But Washington saw the birth of this nation as providence.  God’s will was being worked out below and he was to play whatever part God saw fit for him to play.  His Character was his most looked after attribute.  Even though he saw his star rising, he never sought to elevate his position.  Even at state dinners, he would arrive first so they wouldn’t make a fuss over him when he arrived.  He had an open door policy at his home even when he was President.  He had complete Faith that God’s will would be done and that helped him in his bravery even when, during one battle, he had two horses shot out from under him as they took aim at him and at the end of the battle he counted 4 bullet holes in is clothes. It’s as if he not only understood but lived by the words of 1 John 4:18.
1 John 4:18   18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
Although there are many that would claim that he was not a religious man, no study into this man is complete without seeing that he had a profound belief in God.
In 1776, after having the new Declaration of Independence read to his troops, General Washington ordered chaplains for every regiment with the prescription that “every officer and man, will endeavor so to live, and act, as becomes a Christian Soldier, defending the dearest Rights and Liberties of his country.”
Surviving the harsh winter of Valley Forge in 1778, he insisted,
 “that Divine service be performed every Sunday at 11 o’clock, in each Brigade which has a Chaplain. Those Brigades which have none will attend the places of worship nearest to them. It is expected that officers of all ranks will, by their attendance, set an example for their men. While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest Glory to laud the more distinguished Character of Christian. The signal instances of providential goodness which we have experienced and which have now almost crowned our labors with complete success demand from us in a peculiar manner the warmest returns of gratitude and piety to the Supreme Author of all good.”
Matthew 5:16   16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
If you scour over the writings of George Washington you find this overriding principle.  You character is most important.  The ideals of the revolution cannot be dismissed because of necessity.  They cannot be forgotten in emergency.  When he complained that the there was no food for the army the Congress told him to take from the inhabitants of the land.  He found that to be theft and would not do it.
At the time, Reverend Henry Muhlenberg of a Lutheran church near Valley Forge wrote,
 “I heard a fine example today, namely, that His Excellency General Washington rode around among his army yesterday and admonished each and every one to fear God, to put away the wickedness that has set in and become so general, and to practice the Christian virtues.”
A generation after Washington’s death, the statesman Daniel Webster concluded that "America has furnished to the world the character of Washington, and if our American institutions had done nothing else, that alone would have entitled them to the respect of mankind."
Long after his death the country sought to elevate him and remember.  Before the Civil War, the country sought to restore his house (Mount Vernon) and to build a monument higher than anything in the Capital.  Even during the war when work on both ceased, both sides remained respectful.  In the South, Jefferson Davis’ inauguration was on Washington’s Birthday.  Both the North and South occupied the property in Mount Vernon Virginia but when Soldiers toured the house, they were disarmed and escorted.  Since 1801, Naval ships have given passing honors to his House and Tomb of Mount Vernon as they pass by on the Potomac.  And today, no structure is taller than the Washington monument.
George Washington can best be summed up by love in my view.  Love of country, love of fellow man, love of service no matter what the sacrifice.   This is why this man has been a role model for so many.  We should look to those examples in our bibles and all around us to inspire and shape our future.  John’s admonition on imitating gets to the heart of the matter in 3 John 1:11.
 3 John 1:11   11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.
We should look for good examples around us and hold fast to what is good.  We need to shine a light on righteous behavior whenever we see it and share it with others.  We should constantly try to lift one another up; we need to encourage one another as we see the day approaching. 
Because that day is approaching and we need to strengthen ourselves and ready ourselves for whatever God gives us to bare. 
We need to remember that destiny is on its way, and we can be ready for it or be trampled by it.
Let’s be ready for it.