Monday November 29, 2010
Do Not Deny His Image
Read Galatians 4:1; Genesis 1:26-28; I Corinthians 15:49
A man or a woman will never rise above their self-image. The image that you have of yourself will cause you to succeed or fail in life. The image you have of yourself will carry you to the height of success or plunge you into the depths of defeat. It’s not who you are, it’s who you believe you are.
As Christians, it is vital that we see ourselves as God sees us. Some believers struggle with their own image, and fail, for they do not see themselves as God sees them. The Bible says that even though a man is an heir, he is no different than a servant as long as he remains a child and doesn’t recognize who he is. We must grow up spiritually and recognize who we are, and who is our Father. Many believers have a wrong image of themselves. They are living in the past, bound by some negative things others have said about them. Perhaps there have been difficulties in their life that have scarred them emotionally. Because of this, they have not realized who they are in God.
In Genesis 1: 26-28, we read how God created man in His own image and likeness. The word “likeness” refers to God’s nature - in essence, all that He is. When Adam sinned, spiritual death crushed the glory God had originally deposited. For years it lay dormant until Jesus came to provide the way for spiritual rebirth so that the image of God could once again be revealed. Your restoration into God’s image begins at salvation- that’s where the process starts. The Bible declares in I CORINTHIANS 15: 49 - “And as we have born the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.”
The image of Adam was in you because of sin. But after salvation, God began to restore His image and likeness in you. And all you must do is cooperate with God and believe what His Word says about you.
Tuesday November 30, 2010
No Denying
Read Ephesians 1:11-14
We can’t be what we deny. God says that we were saved to be conformed to the image of His Son. God wants us to have our image back and that image is found in a person. If God says we are the image of his Son Jesus and we are being conformed to that likeness then why does the religious world teach us that no one can every be like Him? When we were born again God placed the seal of the Holy Spirit on us to approve of what was and is being done in us. If God says we are conformed to that image let’s believe what He has said.
Chris Vallotton in his book “The Supernatural Ways of Royalty” said in his book when people complement you on your Godliness. They are like someone who compliments a great painting they are complementing the artist and the model. We look at Jesus and we see the perfect image of who we are. If people complement us they are complementing the artist and the model. When people complement us they are giving glory to God and the model Jesus Christ. They are saying you look like Him. God intended us to look like Him. When will we believe that what He says He will do?
The Holy Spirit causes us to look like Him. The Spirit cries out daddy in us. He tells us who we are and who we belong too. He causes us to see the likeness of who we are. We are the Sons of God. The Holy Spirit restores our identity (image).
Wednesday December 01, 2010
Seeing Who You Are
Read Romans 8:14-17; 2 Corinthians 3:18
When we walk like Adam as He did in the garden with God we take on his image. His image in us reflects His likeness to the world around us. We look more like Him as we continue to walk with Him. The Holy Spirit seals the Spirit of the Son in us. When Paul found believers in the city of Ephesus and they did not look like Jesus, His first question was have you received the Holy Spirit sense you believed. If people can’t see His Spirit in you maybe we need to ask for that Spirit. We have been given His Spirit so we can see His likeness. The Holy Spirit reveals Him to us and then reveals Him through us.
The Holy Spirit reveals who you are through the Word of God: In Old Testament times, God commanded that a basin called a “Laver” be placed outside the door to the Tabernacle. The laver was made of reflective material so that each time someone washed in it they saw themselves. The laver is symbolic of the Word of God. As we look into God’s Word and let it cleanse us, we are changed so that the image of God can be reflected through our lives. 2 Corinthians 3: 18 - “But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Each time you read the Bible, it becomes a spiritual looking glass where God reveals Himself to you as well as revealing your own spiritual condition. As you act upon the Word, you are progressively changing into that same image.
Thursday December 02, 2010
Who Do You Look Like?
Read John 1:10-13
Baptism is the picture and sign of who God says you are and what He has created you to look like. It speaks to the church and the world of a new image in Christ.
The gospel writers tell us that identity was confirmed from heaven when Jesus was baptized. The only other time that we hear the words “behold my son” is in. This is when the disciples wanted to put Holy men in the same category as the Son of God. We are not to look to men for our image but to Jesus. No matter who the men are they are not the perfect image of God. We are not to be made in the image of men but the image of God. When we set men as those we identify with we deny His image in us. We are created to be like Him and no one else.
Baptism is our identification with Him not to a church, denomination, man or movement. We
are to get our image from Him. God pre-determined before time – begin that we would take on
His Image. As He is in this world so are we.
Friday December 03, 2010
Our Reflection Revealed
Read Colossians 3:10; 2 Peter 1:3
We are revealed by the knowledge of God: Colossians 3: 10 tells us that we are renewed in knowledge after God. Your spirit man is continually renewed as you gain more knowledge about God. In 2 Peter 1: 3 “As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.” Here we learn that everything you need in this life comes through knowing God. He is the source. He is the focus. As you come to know Him, you will realize that His image and likeness dwell within you - the essence of His divine nature.
We are revealed by confessing the Word of God: Confession works only if the Word of God is bubbling out of your soul. Many people have a problem with confession because they are trying to confess from the outside in But even when spiritual babies have God’s Word bubbling in them, that Word halts the enemy in his track: PSALM 8: 1 -2 declares: “O LORD our Lord, haw excellent is Your Name in all the earth! Who has set Your glory above the heavens.
The Weekender December 04, 2010
A Message from Father God
“When I was hungry you gave me meat, when you did my image reflected in you. When I was thirsty you gave me a drink. My image reflected in you. When I was a stranger, you took me in. My image reflected in you. When I was naked, you clothed me. My image reflected in you. When I was sick, you visited me, encouraged me, prayed for my healing and gave me hope. My image reflected in you. When I was in prison you came to me sharing God’s love with me. My image was reflected in you. When I fell by the wayside and didn’t want to live, you told me of God’s great love for me and about His forgiveness and I forgave myself. God’s image reflected in you. Many times I came to you in different colors and sizes. When you walked in love toward the least of these you walked in love toward me. My image reflected in you. When my children are fearful, share faith with them. Shed my light and love on them. Give a smile, give a hug, and give a loving word of encouragement. When discouragement has overcome one of my children, give him the light of hope and the promise of my love and a better tomorrow, for my image reflects in you.
Take care of my little ones as I care for you. See them through my eyes as my image reflects in you. Love doesn’t even know when it has been done wrong when my image reflects in you. Give a cup of cold water in my name, as my image reflects in you. Speak peace to storms and chaos as it reflects in you. Be of good cheer and pass it on. Let the world see my reflection in you. Don’t be weary in doing well for the joy of the Lord is your strength. Be courageous and bold in overcoming for I have overcome the world. Rejoice in the Lord and greet each new day letting my image reflect in you. Do everything as unto the Lord and keep a grateful heart. My image will continually radiate from you.”
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