“MADE IN HIS IMAGE”
INTRODUCTION:
How do you see yourself? Do you see yourself in the manner that you should? Do you see yourself in the manner in which you were made?
The other day I woke up and the first thing out of my mouth was this, “I AM MADE IN YOUR IMAGE GOD! I WAS MADE TO BE LIKE YOU!” I said more than that but I’ll get to the rest in a moment!
It set the who day for me to make that statement and declaration to myself and to the enemy of my soul. Folk, I believe that when you speak something out loud you speak to all that is around you, yourself, the Holy Spirit, God, Jesus, friends and to the enemy! I don’t believe that the enemy can read your mind, albeit, he can put things into your mind, but, I don’t think he can read your mind!
The world says, “If you can see it you can be it!” Folk, even some of what the world says is true! How you see yourself is critical to your success in life and in the Kingdom! If you see yourself as a “WINNER” then you will act accordingly, but if you see yourself as less than a winner or more like a “LOSER” then you have spoken through your vision of yourself something in existence that God has not intended for yourself!
GOD DIDN’T MAKE YOU TO BE ANYTHING LESS THAN WHAT HE CREATED YOU TO BE!
Proverbs 18:21 has become one of the lynch pins in my life! There (IS)
“LIFE & DEATH” in the power of the tongue!
How do you see God? Do you see God as anything different than what He says He is? Do you see God as “Infinitely Wise” or “Completely Powerful?” Do you see Him as the “King of Kings” & the “Lord of Lords?” Do you see Him as the “Author & Finisher” of your faith, the “Lover of Your Soul” & your “Savior, Healer, Deliverer & One Closer than a Brother?”
Folk, don’t you think that if we were made in His image then we should have some of the attributes within us just as you children have some of your attributes in you? Because of the fall of man many of these attributes have become dormant till the “Rebirth”. Nicodemus in John 3:4 asked the question...
“How can someone be born when they are old? Surely one cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born?”
So then Jesus began to explain to him of what He was speaking of.
When I woke up the other day the Holy Spirit began to remind me of not only “Whose” I was but “WHO” I was! I am a “CHILD OF THE KING!” I have “ROYAL BLOOD” flowing within my veins!
I don’t have to be “CONQUERED” because I am a “CONQUEROR!” I’m not supposed to be the “BORROWER” but the “LENDER!” That is my one of my goals!
I want to share with you a little bit this morning about who “YOU” are! Nicodemus’ eyes were opened that evening as he spoke and questioned Jesus! I want to share with you and remind you what you have been born into today!
My whole day was full of the presence of God in my life as I spoke those words out loud to myself! Words that set my day, set my gate, set my walk, set my mind & set my Spirit!
Q: How do you see yourself? Answer: How you see yourself is how you experience the Wonders & Blessings of God! What I spoke to myself was how I was seeing myself that day and for the rest of that day as well!
I. I WAS MADE IN HIS IMAGE!
Folk, We were made in the “IMAGE OF GOD!”
Genesis 2:26-28 says
“Then God said, Let us make man in Our image...So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created Him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them...”
Folk, you were wonderfully and powerfully made! You are the crowning achievement of His creation! Scripture says that after He created man then He rested!
I said earlier that if we were made in “HIS IMAGE” then shouldn’t it make sense that we have some of the “ATTRIBUTES” of God as well! Don’t get me wrong, I’m going to be very surprised is God looks like me but I shouldn’t be surprised that I should look something like God!
Please do not misunderstand me! I know that we are born sinners and are made new in Christ by being “REBORN” in Him just as He explained to Nicodemus. It is when we are “REBORN” that those “ATTRIBUTES” of God start to come into play in our lives!
What are the attributes of God? He is the “CREATOR!”
II. I WAS MADE TO BE A CREATOR!
We know Proverbs 18:21 says “Life and Death are in the power of the tongue.” I believe that God made us in His Image in order to “CREATE” as well. In His Image we can “CREATE” life or death.
Folk, when we speak we are to speak with a “FAITH” that brings about change in our lives and the lives of others as well.
Romans 4:17 says that God...
“...gives life to the dead and calls those things which are not as though they were.”
Folk, so many times we “CREATE” our own destiny by the words that we speak! If we speak “LIFE” to ourselves then we “CREATE” life but if we speak “DEATH” to ourselves then we “CREATE” an atmosphere of death about us.
“FAILURE” becomes a part of our lives, patterns and thoughts which produces a type of “DEATH” in our spirits! God didn’t “CREATE” death, He “CREATED LIFE!”
In John 10:10 Jesus said...
“...I am come that they might have life and have it more abundantly!”
III. I WAS MADE TO BE A CONQUEROR!
I spoke to myself the other day that I was an “OVERCOMER”, a “CONQUEROR” more than a “CONQUEROR!”
Romans 8:37 tells us that...
“...we are more than CONQUERORS through Him that loved us.”
By definition a “CONQUEROR” is an “OVERCOMER!” You were not made or created to “FAIL!” But you were made & created to “SUCCEED!” When you “SUCCEED” you bring glory to God who created you!
Romans 12:21 tells us to “...OVERCOME evil with good.”
I John 2:13 says, “Because you are strong and the Word of God abides in you, and you have OVERCOME the wicked one.”
When God said He was going to destroy the Children of Israel Moses stepped up and said to God, in so many words, “You can’t do that! That is not what you created them for! You didn’t create them for “FAILURE” you created them for “SUCCESS!”
God made you and gave you there wherewithal to “SUCCEED” not to “FAIL!” “FAILURE” was never in the equation that God planned! “FAILURE” came into the equation when man disobeyed God & obeyed the deceiver!
Being made in “HIS IMAGE” is the very equivalent of a “SUCCESS STORY” in and of itself!
IV. I WAS MADE TO BE WEALTHY!
Proverbs 13:22 says...
“The wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.”
Deuteronomy 8:18 says...
“And you shall remember your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth... .”
Don’t misunderstand this which I speak of. I don’t mean that you are to be a Donald Trump but I don’t necessarily think that God gets glory out of “POVERTY” either! But financial wealth isn’t the only wealth that God speaks of and refers to!
I John 1:2 speaks to that as well...
“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be health, just as your soul prospers.”
“PROSPERITY” is a result of “GOD’S ABUNDANCE” which is found in “HIS PRESENCE!” As you line up with God’s Word, then “HIS ABUNDANCE” lines up with you as well! I’m learning this more and more every single day of my life! I’m lining myself up with God’s Word more than I ever have in my life and I’m learning some things that I should have learned a long time ago! But thank God I’m still learning!
The key to this passage is not “PROSPERITY” of financial wealth in and of itself but it is all about as “YOUR SOUL PROSPERS!” I’ve known and seen some very unhappy rich folk! Hard to understand sometimes but it’s a fact!
I know that you know, but it bears repeating,
“GIVERS PROSPER WHEREAS TAKERS WITHER!”
CONCLUSION:
I find myself struggling sometimes! When I find myself there I have to remind myself of “WHO” I am & how I’ve been “CREATED!” I have been “CREATED” in “HIS IMAGE!”
A lot of it depends on how I see myself! If I see myself not just as a winner but as “WHO I AM!” a creation in “HIS IMAGE” then I can see what God wants for me a whole easier!
