A Royal Identity Series

“A Royal Identity”

Lessons from Prince Caspian

FCC – May 4, 2008

Text: Various

Reference: C. S. Lewis’ Prince Caspian

Introduction: This morning we begin a short sermon series entitled “Lessons from Prince Caspian.” There are 7 books in the Narnia series and they have sold over 100 million copies. Prince Caspian is book two in the series and is a classic book by C. S. Lewis, and will be one of the biggest movies of the summer…to be released May 16. In November of 2005, I preached three sermons from “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.” That was so much fun for me, and I have been such a big fan of the Narnia series, that I’ve read and re-read Prince Caspian and I’m ready to share spiritual lessons from this story.

In “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” you may remember 4 children, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy entered the world of Narnia through a wardrobe and began an incredible journey in the land of Aslan. Narnia represents the kingdom of God and Aslan represents Jesus. We discover that the land is under the control of the White Witch and in Narnia it is always winter, but never Christmas. Edmund falls under the witch’s spell because of his uncontrollable desire for a special candy, Turkish delight. The only way for Edmund to be saved and the land to be free of the witch’s magic is for Aslan to volunteer to die in Edmund’s place. Aslan dies at the hand of the witch, is resurrected and destroys the witch’s power. That was the basis of the blockbuster movie in 2005.

This summer, Prince Caspian hits the big screen, and many in this room will see it…it’s message is not as obvious as the message in “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” but it is a powerful message none the less. “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” describes the gospel message as the Christ figure, Aslan dies for sin and is resurrected to give new life. Prince Caspian takes us back to Narnia...the same four children return. It’s a year later for them…but it’s 1300 hundred years later for Narnia. They find the ruins of their castle, Cair Paravel, and a world that shuns the “old stories” of Aslan. It’s up to Caspian and the children to fight to restore the Kingdom of Aslan to its previous glory.

How do we fit into the story? The NT talks about our royalty. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Pet. 2: 9 As a born again believer you are a chosen to live in a different Kingdom. The child-ren in Prince Caspian lived in the Kingdom of Alsan…we live in the Kingdom of God.

Romans 8: 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Wow. We are heirs of God. We are royalty. You are a prince or princess of the Kingdom of God. What would a prince or princess of God look like? This morning we want to look at four things that identify royalty in the Kingdom of God. A prince or princess’s identity is found in his or her…

1. Pedigree – In the story Prince Caspian, we discover that he is in line for the throne, but the current king is really not his father. His father was killed by King Miraz when he was a baby and was raised by King Miraz to forget the old stories of Aslan. You see to be a prince…to be royalty…you have to have the right pedigree. King Miraz took his royal position by power and murder and he was not the rightful King of Narnia. When Caspian discovers that the King is expecting a new heir to be born, he learns the truth of his pedigree and what happened to his father. He runs from King Miraz to learn more about the old stories and to find help to restore the Kingdom to its rightful heir.

What about us? Do you know that to be a prince or princess in God’s Kingdom you have to have the right pedigree? We have to be blood related to the King. "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." 2 Corinthians 6: 18 Jesus paid the price with His blood that we would have the right pedigree…heirs of the Kingdom of God.

There is another prince in the world and the Scriptures indicate that we have to choose which Kingdom we are going to live in. As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. Ephesians 2: 1-2 Just as Caspian had to reject the usurper, the false king of Narnia, Miraz, we have to reject the prince of this world and follow the true King…and the Good News is that the King has chosen us!!