“BROTHERS, JOIN IN imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.” Philippians 3:17 The apostle Paul gave us an example of the walk that we should be imitating.
In chapter 3 of Philippians, he lays things out. Follow those who: have a faith in God that displays a life of righteousness and godliness, a walk that displays resurrection power; that is power over Satan, sin and the flesh, a walk in the Spirit and not according to the flesh.
Paul goes on to say, follow those who share in the fellowship of His suffering, those who go outside the camp and separate from the world and its ways, those who separate themselves from evil and stand for the truth. Because these stand for the truth, they will suffer, be afflicted and persecuted for their firm stand for godliness and holiness in a perverse generation. Follow their suffering. Follow the walk of those who are conformed to His death, those who have crucified the old man, die to themselves, die to their selfishness, die to their fleshly wants and desires in order to live wholly for Him.
Follow these who walk by this same rule: they forget their past and press toward the goal for the prize. Follow those that have this same mind: who have no confidence in their flesh, have forsaken their past and the old man, cast him aside and PRESS toward the goal. They don’t merely walk aimlessly, but have one aim: to please Him and be found in Him on that day. Follow those who are pressing toward the goal, nothing can move them, nothing can stop them, these are persecuted and hated by all for His name, they cling to the truth above all and nothing else matters to them but to see Him face to face and hear the words, “Well done good and faithful servant”.
Paul says, follow THIS pattern because there are true enemies of the cross, whose god is their belly and here’s the big key: these enemies set their mind on earthly things. They care more about not offending people more than offending God. They refuse to stand for truth, and so give themselves to the lie. SJW’s and false teachers who warp the Word of God for their own pleasure, desiring to please man above God and so win the approval of the creation instead of pleasing the Creator.
These enemies of the cross are Satan’s ministers transformed as angels of light, having an appearance of goodness and kindness, but it’s not according to the Spirit. Avoid such as this and do not follow their ways. Scripture gives us a well laid pattern of those we can follow- let us walk by this same rule. #runyourrace
To Learn More About Pastor Crystal please visit the Leadership Page
