We Are to Live Like That

Human beings are created in God’s image.

God created humanity in God’s image, in the divine image God created them, male and female God created them. Genesis 1:27 (CEB)

Sin corrupted the image.

God desires to recreate the image.

We know this because God knew them in advance, and He decided in advance that they would be conformed to the image of His Son. That way His Son would be the first of many brothers and sisters.

Romans 8:29 (CEB)
God sent Jesus, His Son, to provide salvation. That means we are being transformed into the image of Jesus.

So our faces are not covered. They show the bright glory of the Lord, as the Lord’s Spirit makes us more and more like our glorious Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (CEV)

Being transformed into image of Jesus means we are to live differently than the people around us.

Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. Colossians 1:10 (NLT)

So the life that Jesus wants us to live is His life. Jesus’ life was an authentic life.

We are to live with authentic knowledge.

Accept My words as being more valuable than your prized possession, authentic knowledge more valuable than pure gold. Proverbs 8:10 (The Voice)

We are to live producing authentic fruit.

Don’t just talk of turning to God; you’d better bear the authentic fruit of a changed life. Don’t take pride in your religious heritage, saying, “We have Abraham for our father!” Listen - God could turn these rocks into children of Abraham! Luke 3:8 (The Voice)

We are to live showing authentic love.

Love others well, and don’t hide behind a mask; love authentically. Despise evil; pursue what is good as if your life depends on it.  Romans 12:9 (The Voice)

We are to live in authentic faith.

I’m reminded of the authentic faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice. I’m sure that faith is also inside you. 2 Timothy 1:5 (CEB)

What will that life look like in real everyday living? I believe it will look like the life of Joseph.

Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers because they were jealous of his relationship with their father. And because Joseph didn’t know enough not to share his dreams with them, which indicated that Joseph felt he was superior to them. Joseph’s dreams were just the reality of what was to come, but the brothers were not spiritually focused enough to understand that and Joseph might have been a little cocky in sharing them.

Joseph was bought by Potiphar. Genesis 39:2-5 tells us that Joseph was very committed to do his work and that Potiphar put him in charge of all his household. God blessed Potiphar and his household because of Joseph.

Joseph shared the blessing with Potiphar.

What God blesses us with is meant to be shared.

Praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! The Father is a merciful God, who always gives us comfort. He comforts us when we are in trouble, so that we can share that same comfort with others in trouble. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (CEV)

Potiphar’s wife took a liking to Joseph. Oh, ok, let’s call what it was: she lusted after Joseph. Joseph in Genesis 39:6-12 says no. In fact in said no many, many times.

Joseph overcame great temptation.

We are going to be tempted. Temptation is not wrong. Temptation is not sin. Temptation is a pain.

God gives us a great promise in 1 Corinthians 10:13.
There isn’t any temptation that you have experienced which is unusual for humans. God, who is faithful keeps His promises, will not allow you to be tempted beyond your power to resist. But when you are tempted, He will also give you the ability to endure the temptation as your way of escape.

God will supernaturally give us the ability to endure and not give in to the temptation.

Potiphar’s wife was hurt and embarrassed so she accused Joseph of raping her. Potiphar believed her and in Genesis 39:20-23 Joseph is thrown into prison.

Joseph endured a great injustice. And he didn’t whine about it.

We are going to face injustices and persecution.

In Acts chapter four Peter and John get arrested for sharing the gospel. They are released but threatened and told not to teach about Jesus to anyone. Peter and John go back to the church and share with them all that they were told. In verse 29 the church prays this prayer: “And now, Lord, take notice of the threats they have made, and allow us, Your servants, to speak Your message with all boldness.”

They didn’t whine, file a lawsuit or petition the government for help. They prayed to God for boldness, not protection or safety.

Joseph didn’t sulk or get bitter in prison. He showed such spiritual power that the warden put him in charge of everything.

Joseph is eventually brought to the attention of Pharaoh because God helped him interpret the dreams of two of Pharaoh’s servants who were in prison.

Joseph is brought before Pharaoh and Pharaoh tells Joseph that he understands that Joseph can interpret dreams.

I love Joseph’s answer in Genesis 41:16. He says, “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”

Joseph admits that he cannot interpret dreams, but God can.

Notice Joseph doesn’t say God might or he hopes God will give Pharaoh the answer. He says God WILL give Pharaoh the answer.

Joseph expected God to work.

We must trust God and believe that He will fulfill His Word.

James 1:6 reminds us of the essential need to really believe when we pray. It says, “But when you ask God, you must believe and not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like a wave in the sea, blown up and down by the wind.”

After Joseph had been put in charge of all of Egypt he had two sons. What Joseph names his sons shows another truth about living a life that is authentic. He names the first son, Manasseh which means forget. Joseph says it was because God had made him forget all his troubles. He names the second son Ephraim which means fruitful. It was because God had made him fruitful in the land of his suffering.

Joseph forgave and forgot.

He forgave his brothers for what they did to do him. That is verified in Genesis 50 when after their father had dies Joseph tells them he had forgiven them.

Joseph also forgets. He doesn’t forget his family or his God. He forgets the hurts, the injustices, the persecution that he endured.

We are commanded to forgive. We are commanded to forgive as God forgave us through Jesus.

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 (ESV)

We are to forget what is behind us.

No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Jesus Christ, is calling us.  Philippians 3:13-14 (NLT)

Sidewalk Prophets have a song called Live Like That. The chorus says:
I want to live like that
And give it all I have
So that everything I say and do
Points to You

We are to live as people who have been changed by God, transformed by His Spirit. We are to live like Jesus.

Jesus lives authentically.

Authentic living is:
Admitting when we are fearful and have doubts.
When we sin, suffering, admitting it, and learning from it.
When we pray, pray as desperate broken people and believe that God will answer.

Philippians 4:8 tells us what our mind such be focused on.
Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentically, compelling, gracious - the best, not the worst, the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. (The Message)

Jesus is authentic and we can focus on what is authentic and thus become authentic ourselves when we surrender our lives (good and bad) to Him.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about living like Jesus.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about living authentic.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about letting God remove all barriers to Him and all barriers to showing Him to the world.

Surrendering yourself to Jesus allows Him to make you like Him.

Authentically Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe