Camp22 - Rajiv - In the image of God, representing God

 In the image of God - Representing God

Verse: Genesis 1:26

Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”

While all creation amazes us, no other creation is made in the image of God. Man is the most beautiful of his creation and hence the fight for man's soul

And the weapon used for man's soul is sin. When sin happened, man started hiding. Man lost the authority because of sin.

And Jesus was sent to restore man to the previous glory. That glory is the display of Jesus in us. 

Verse: 2 Corinthians 4:11

Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies.

Is the life of Jesus evident in our lives? The display of Jesus in our lives is so that others will see Jesus

How can we represent Jesus?

  • By employing the divine authority for the divine agenda
  • Carrying your cross in order to carry God's presence
  • Exchanging the robe of position for the towel of a servant
  • Being Fruitful by staying connected
  • We are not saved by good works but for good works

By employing the divine authority for the divine agenda

Verse: Matthew 28:18-19

18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.

19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

There are two aspects.... there is designation of the authority and there is a reaching out. We are to go out to the society.... reach out to our community.... the great commission 

Great commission is based on

  1. Availability not eligibility
  2. Personal witness not a doctorate degree
  3. Start where you are not a preacher's platform
  4. Authority of God not personal confidence

Today we would like to be Christ-like but not involved in commission

Carrying your cross in order to carry God's presence

Verse: Luke 9:23

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.

What does carrying your cross mean? Cross is a symbol of death, shame.... . Are you ready to take on death and shame because of Christ?

Verse: Galatians 2:20

My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Carry your cross also means accepting the situation in your life. Life is hard. But you have Jesus to help you through it

Gods greatest general bears the deepest scars

Exchanging the robe of position for the towel of a servant

Verse: John 13:3‭-‬4

3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 

4So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist,

Jesus took on to serving. This is in spite of the authority you have. 

Authentic Christianity isn't about managing those who you lead, but serving those you lead

Verse: Matthew 20:25

25 But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world Lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them.

28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Being Fruitful by staying connected

The evidence of the branch being connected to the root is Fruitfulness. That connection for us is Jesus

Verse: John 15:16

You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.

The different kind of fruit are lasting fruit or bad fruit. Remember a fruit that will last will have eternal value

The other condition is being fruitless. And Jesus cursed that tree. The tree had the appearance of fruitfulness. Mere appearance of representing Christ is reprehensible 

We are not saved by good works but for good works

Verse: Ephesians 2:10

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

The different words in this verse and how this translates is 

Identity - Workmanship
Purpose - Good Works
Plan - God prepared beforehand
Intention -  that we should walk in them

Verse: John 4:34

Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work.

"Purpose is always greater than success"

What derails you from purpose?

  • Distraction and attractions
  • Comparision and competition
  • Imbalanced Focus
  • Lose sight of the why
  • Validation of others
  • Want to play it safe
  • Waiting for the right time

We represent God when we are purposeful

Conclusion

We should move from being Christians to be Christ-like

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