Jesus, our perfect example, learned from his sufferings. There in Gethsemane, as he prayed in agony–“Father let this cup pass from me, nevertheless not my will, but Thine be done. This prayer he prayed three times before he submitted fully to the Father’s will. 

As Christians, we are admonished to have the same mindset; “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus; who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 

To be a Christian is to be like Christ or Christ-like. Far too many have the desire to be a Christian but yet walk in their own ways. Jesus humbled himself, took on the attitude of a servant, and became obedient. Likewise, as it is written in 1 Peter 4: “Forasmuch as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin.” 

Furthermore, it was Mary, the mother of Jesus, at the wedding feast in Cana of Galilee who said to the servants, “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.”

But, “Naughty by nature,” we are prone to rebellion, stubbornness, disobedience, fear, and the like. Hence Jesus said, “You must be born again.” for that which is born of the flesh is flesh, and nothing better is to be expected. But that which is born of the spirit is teachable, easily entreated, gentle, pure, and peaceable.

Here at the Wisdom Centre, our emphasis is on hearing the word and, most importantly, doing it. For years we’ve been going to church, hearing sermon after sermon, but we make so little application of what we hear. In the closing remarks of His first public sermon  recorded in Matthew 5,6,7, Jesus said, in Matthew 7:26, “Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them not is like a foolish man building his house on the sand.” 

We, however, are determined to be doers of the word and not hearers only (James 1:22).

I’m convinced that if we would heed these sayings of Jesus… “Let your light so shine…” Blessed are the peacemakers …” “Blessed are the merciful…”. “Love your enemies…” Be Holy…” We, the church, can indeed make a greater impact on our generation today. 

But if we will not heed the lessons from Jesus’ sermons, then all other preaching is in vain.

Therefore, I will continue to echo the word of this sermon that Christians everywhere may know how to build spiritual houses for an habitation of God by the Spirit.