Lk 9:23 Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

2. Enduring to the End!
Being Like Jesus!
Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in
wisdom and stature, and in favor
with God and men.

3. Heb 12:1-2 Therefore we also, since we are
surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let
us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so
easily ensnares us, and let us run with
endurance the race that is set before us, looking
unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,
who for the joy that was set before Him endured
the cross, despising the shame, and has sat
down at the right hand of the throne of God.

4. Our Great Example!
● “For to this you have been called,
because Christ also suffered for you,
leaving you an example, so that you might
follow in His steps.” (1 Pet. 2:21)
● “Whoever says he abides in Him ought
to walk in the same way in which He
walked.” (1 Jn. 2:6)

5. Paul would tell us to...
● 1 Cor 11:1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
● Eph 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear
children.
● Php 3:17 Brethren, join in following my example, and
note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.
● 1 Thess 1:6 And you became followers of us and of
the Lord, having received the Word in much affliction,
with joy of the Holy Spirit.

6. I. Growing in Wisdom!
What is wisdom? And how is it difference from
knowledge?
● Pr 1:1-2 The proverbs of Solomon the son of
David, king of Israel: To know wisdom and instruction,
To perceive the words of understanding.
● Lk 2:40 And the Child grew and became strong in
spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was
upon Him.

7. How do we grow in the knowledge and
wisdom of the Lord?
●2 Pet 3:18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory
both now and forever. Amen.
●1 Pet 2:2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of
the Word, that you may grow thereby.
●Php 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound
still more and more in knowledge and all discernment.

8. II. Growing in Stature!
● Each day Jesus continued to grow!
●Physically
●Mentally
●Emotionally
●Spiritually
● I believe this statement implies the “whole of Him!”
● Mk 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all
thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and
with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

9. It is important that no area of our life is
neglected!
● The Bible has a lot to say about the need to keep
growing!
● When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like
a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I
gave up childish ways. (1 Cor. 13:11)
● Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be
infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. (1 Cor.
14:20)

10. III. Growing in Favor with God!
● Mt 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is
my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
● Mt 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud
overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the
cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I
am well pleased; hear ye Him.
● Jesus was always concerned with His Father’s will!

11. ● Lk 2:49 And He said to them, "Why did you seek Me?
Did you not know that I must be about My Father's
business?"
● Jn 5:30 "I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge;
and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek
My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.
● Mt 26:39 He went a little farther and fell on His face,
and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let
this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as
You will."

12. IV. Growing in Favor with Man!
● Jesus was often out among the people!
● He was often criticized for this by the
religious leaders!
– Mt 9:11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they
said to His disciples, "Why does your Teacher
eat with tax collectors and sinners?"
● Is having favor with the people around us
important?
– How can this help or hurt us?

13. Consider the early church!
● Act 2:44-47 Now all who believed were together, and
had all things in common, and sold their possessions
and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had
need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple,
and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their
food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God
and having favor with all the people. And the Lord
added to the church daily those who were being saved.

14. Conclusion:
● How much trouble we would save ourselves if we
would only learn the wisdom of WWJD!
● We must keep learning to become more like Jesus!
● I don’t believe any of us have made it there yet, so
we all have room to grow!
● How have you been doing in your walk with the
Lord?