In His Image

 

Text:

Genesis 1:26 & 27  "Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."

 

Revelation 4:11  "You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created."

 

Romans 8:29  "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethern."

 

Romans 3:23  "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"

 

2 Corinthians 3:18  "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."

 

We are to be Christ-like.  That is what the word "Christian" means. In the four gospels we find sinners flocking to Jesus by the thousands, and religious people hating Him.  In todays church we find religious people flocking to its doors while sinners won't come near.  What has happened in nearly 2000 years?  I believe we have (the church that is) become modern day Pharisees, more interested in people doing things our way and keeping our rules thatn teaching by work and deed that we all must become like Jesus.  In Luke 6:40 the scripture tells us that when a student is fully trained they will be like their teacher.  Ephesians 5:1 & 2 tells us that we must be imitators of God and live a life of love as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us. 

 

Christianity must get back to Christ and acting like He did.  We have been given the imperative as ministers and leaders of churches to equip and prepare God's people until we all be come mature attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.  Ephesians 4:9-16 tells us, As Christ prepared to ascend to heaven leaving His disciples to build His kingdom and establish His church, He told them to make disciples of all nations, teaching them to observe and obey all He had commanded them. 

 

I submit to you today, that we have not heeded God's imperative to act like Jesus and to lead others to do so by making disciples. Today we have people saying the sinners prayer and signing a decision care and become a member of our organizations we tell them to try Jesus.  They have tried drugs, sex, alcohol, gambling, eating whatever is in sight, exercise, politics, and the like, so why not try Jesus.  We invite them to church instead of inviting them to have a fully committed relationship with Jesus Christ.  We tell them of health and wealth and all the blessing of abundant life without telling them to count the cost of a totally devoted life to Christ. Our imperative should be spreading the 'good news' concerning the Savior, as the angels announced to the shepherds.  Our imperative should be sharing and showing God's love, mercy and grace as demonstrated in Ephesians 2:1-10.  Jesus modeled these traits in the incident concerning the woman caught in the act of adultery.  The teachers of the law and Pharisees wanted the letter of the law upheld.  Jesus said to them "He that is without sin cast the first stone."  They left in silence.  Jesus then said to the woman, "neither do I condemn you go and sin no more."  He didn't condone her sin, He extened grace and forgiveness.  If we are to be His disciples we must do the same.  The imperative is about relationships.  Love God.  Love your neighbor.  We want rules, thou shalt, thou shalt not.  Jesus said the letter kills but the Spirit gives life.  Paul learned the rules as a Pharisee.  He learned to live as a follower and imitator of Christ through relationship.  It is not about us and our individual rights.  It is about Christ and community (fellowship).  We have the only means to living life properly and successfully, yet we keep it a secret from most everyone we meet.  In His image is a series of teachings God has given to me as a means of carrying our His imperative.  Harvest Worship Center has been given very specific imperatives by God to carry out.  I ask your forgiveness for being lax and not forceful enough as God's leader here to make sure we implement His imperatives.  Here is what God has spoken clearly to us through His servants.

        1.  We must seek His face and become a 'house of prayer.'

        2.  We must receive vision and discerning from God regarding the harvest of souls.

        3.  We must become a place of freedom, where hurting, broken people are made whole through Christ.

        4.  We must become fully devoted disciples of Jesus, and then become disciples of Jesus.

 

From now on this will be our vision and our goal. 

 

Paul said follow me as I follow Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1).  I am asking Harvest Worship Center to become what God has destined us to be!!  Are we doing to continue to struggle along in the tides of life or are we going to be like Jesus?  Joshua said, "As for me and my house we will serve the Lord!"  (Joshua 24:15)