Powerhouse Ministry Blog: To Be More Like Jesus

This week we will focus on the subject of being more like Jesus. You may have noticed on our http://link2power.org page, we changed our slogan to reflect our desire to see Christians become more Christlike.

Helping Christians Clean Their Headlights So They Can Shine for Jesus

It is, in fact, our failure to be more like Jesus that often causes people to set their hearts like stone towards other religions, or towards agnostic or atheist beliefs. That, in part, is what inspired us to write the book “Please Don’t Feed the Atheists.”

Years ago, Indian leader Mohandas Gandhi made a very powerful statement:

I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.

The sad truth is that this is a very accurate statement. A glance at your newspaper or a visit to CNN will validate that. And so, as you read and meditate on this week’s blog… may you be inspired to open your heart and receive God’s grace to be more like Jesus.

I know that I will.

Pleasing The Father

by JesusLover Judy

Jesus, You are my example, and I desire to live in the way that will not grieve the Holy Spirit.

In Your name I resist unwholesome language, bitterness, improper use of anger, brawling, slander, and bad attitudes toward others.

I forgive, just as my Father-God has forgiven me.

May my attitudes and actions please God.

I purpose to act in love toward my brothers and sisters in Christ, just as God acted in love by sending His Son to die for my sins. Amen

Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Ephesians 4:28-32 [ESV]

Guide me in Your truth and faithfulness and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You do I wait all the day long.

Walking in Compassion

by Brotha DC

Jesus was motivated by love. His love was manifest as compassion for His people.

One of the most familiar expressions of His compassion in the scripture is meeting people’s needs.

In this study, we will consider the account of Jesus miraculously feeding the multitude.

Jesus introduced the idea of feeding the crowd to the disciples. They saw it as being too big a job. But with God, nothing is impossible.

I recall as a teenager seeing an elder in our church turn away a man who came to the church seeking help. Unfortunately, this desperate man had bad timing. He came to the door of the church during one of the many feasts this church sponsored.

The elder sucked his teeth and said, “I’m eating,” then turned his back and walked away from that poor fellow, leaving his need unmet.

But what did Jesus do when He encountered a person in need?

Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” And the disciples said to him, “Where are we to get enough bread in such a desolate place to feed so great a crowd?” And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” And directing the crowd to sit down on the ground, he took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over. Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.

Matthew 15:32-38 [ESV]

Jesus was often moved with compassion. Even when His own needs were waiting to be met, His compassion caused Him to first minister to others.

May we have His compassion active in our lives as we practice the love walk. May we look for opportunities to bless others and not to look to have our own needs met.

When we do this, seeking first His kingdom and righteousness... then all other things will be freely added to us.

Living in Submission

by JesusLover Judy

Father, You have called me and separated me unto the Gospel. I utterly abandon my dreams and plans to Your Will.

In the name of Jesus, I bind my will, plans and purposes to Your will, Your plans and Your purposes for my life.

I wait for Your Guidance, I listen for Your Voice.

When I lose my life, then I shall find it. Amen.

FROM PAUL, a bond servant of Jesus Christ (the Messiah) called to be an apostle, (a special messenger) set apart to [preach] the Gospel (good news) of and from God,

Romans 1:1 [AMP]

Whoever finds his [lower] life will lose it [the higher life], and whoever loses his [lower] life on My account will find it [the higher life].

Matthew 10:39 [AMP]

My desire Lord is for people to see You in me… may I reflect Your love and grace and mercy… may I be more like You Lord everyday with a heart of compassion… You are the reason I live and breathe.

Serving With Abandon

by JesusLover Judy

Father, I desire to be completely abandoned unto You.

It is so wonderous to be captivated in Your bonds of love, yet completely free from the entanglements of sin.

Completely free from doubt and fear.

Completely free from worry and grief.

You are my God, and I will praise You. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

So if the Son liberates you [makes you free men], then you are really and unquestionably free.

John 8:36 [AMP]

Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then shall I be blameless, and I shall be innocent and clear of great transgression.

Psalm 19:13 [AMP]

IN [this] freedom Christ has made us free [and completely liberated us]; stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery [which you have once put off].

Galatians 5:1 [AMP]

Receiving His Sanctification

by JesusLover Judy

God of peace, I pray that You will sanctify me wholly; and I pray that my whole spirit and soul and body will be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In the name of Jesus, I give thanks to You because You have from the beginning chosen me to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. You called me by the gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, I stand fast, and hold the traditions, which I have been taught in the name of Jesus. Amen.

But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.

2 Thessalonians 2:13-15 [NKJV]

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 [NKJV]

Lifestyle of Humility

by JesusLover Judy

In the name of Jesus, I submit myself to You, my God. Thank You giving me more grace.

I use God’s mighty weapons, not those made by men, to knock down the devil's strongholds of pride and arrogance that would hinder my walk in the Spirit.

Pride goes before a fall. With the help of the Holy Spirit, I will remain humble before You. Then You will lift me up and make my life significant. Amen.

⁶ But He gives us more and more grace (power of the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all others fully). That is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace [continually] to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it).

⁷ So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you.

⁸ Come close to God and He will come close to you. [Recognize that you are] sinners, get your soiled hands clean; [realize that you have been disloyal] wavering individuals with divided interests, and purify your hearts [of your spiritual adultery].

⁹ [As you draw near to God] be deeply penitent and grieve, even weep [over your disloyalty]. Let your laughter be turned to grief and your mirth to dejection and heartfelt shame [for your sins].

¹⁰ Humble yourselves [feeling very insignificant] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up and make your lives significant].

James 4:6-10 [AMP]

³ For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons.

⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds,

⁵ [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One),

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 [AMP]

Guide me in Your truth and faithfulness and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You do I wait all the day long.

Empowered by the Holy Spirit

by JesusLover Judy

Before he ascended into heaven Jesus said: But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth (Acts 1:8).

The Holy Spirit is your divine helper, counselor, advocate, intercessor, strengthener and standby. He will take the things of Jesus and reveal them unto you for He is the spirit of Truth sent to lead you into all truth.

Acknowledge the Holy Spirit in everything you do; He will help you pray when you don't know how, and He will show you things to come.

Father God as a member of Your royal race, I have been made a king and a priest unto You.

I am Your workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do the works You have prepared for me to accomplish. Because I was born for such a time as this, I will make a difference in this generation and influence future generations.

You bestowed upon me Your creativity and ingenuity, and they are expanded through the power of the Holy Spirit, which You sent to be my Helper and my Strength. Amen

And formed us into a kingdom (a royal race), priests to His God and Father--to Him be the glory and the power and the majesty and the dominion throughout the ages and forever and ever. Amen (so be it).

Revelation 1:6 [AMP]

For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].

Ephesians 2:10 [AMP]

For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance shall arise for the Jews from elsewhere, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this and for this very occasion?

Esther 4:14 [AMP]

We have everything we need to live a life that pleases God. It was all given to us by God's own power, when we learned that he had invited us to share in his wonderful goodness. God made great and marvelous promises, so that his nature would become part of us. Then we could escape our evil desires and the corrupt influences of this world.

2 Peter 1:3-4 [CEV]

Follow the Good Shepherd

by JesusLover Judy

My Lord, I acknowledge that You are the Good Shepherd of my soul, and I am the sheep of Your pasture. When I hear Your voice, I come to You because You call my name and You lead me out.

You walk ahead of me; and I follow You because I recognize Your voice. I will not follow a stranger but will run from him, for I don't recognize his voice.

Thank You for giving me a willing and obedient heart. I pray in Your name, Lord Jesus. Amen

To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.

John 10:3-5 [ESV]