Chronicles of Narnia need to be thought of as a parable and, like any parable, it’s the principle characters that we need to give attention to.
The principle characters in the Chronicles of Narnia are:
• White witch – kept Narnia under a spell. Always winter but never Christmas. The wicked white witch symbolizes the devil
• Children: Peter; Edmund; Susan and Lucy. They represent both the disciples of Jesus and us) Edmund = prodigal son
• Aslan: Jesus
o At the name of Aslan each one of the children felt something jump in its inside. Edmund felt a sensation of mysterious horror. Peter felt suddenly brave and adventurous. Susan felt as if some delicious smell or some delightful strain of music had just floated by her. And Lucy got the feeling you have when you wake up in the morning and realize that it is the beginning of the holidays or the beginning of summer
o "Is-is he a man?" asked Lucy. "Aslan a man!" said Mr Beaver sternly. "Certainly not. I tell you he is the King of the wood and the son of the great Emperor-beyond-the-Sea. Don’t you know who is the King of Beasts? Aslan is a lion - the Lion, the great Lion." "Ooh!" said Susan, "I’d thought he was a man. Is he - quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion." "That you will, dearie, and no mistake," said Mrs Beaver; "if there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly." "Then he isn’t safe?" said Lucy. "Safe?" said Mr Beaver; "don’t you hear what Mrs Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ’Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.
But there is another character that I would like us to look at tonight:
On the sledge sat a person whom everyone knew the moment they set eyes on him. He was a huge man. in a bright red robe with a hood that had fur inside it and a great white beard, that fell like a foamy waterfall over his chest. Everyone knew him because, though you see people of his sort only in Narnia, you see pictures of them and hear them talked about even in our world - the world on this side of the wardrobe door. But when you really see them in Narnia it is rather different. Some of the pictures of Father Christmas in our world make him look only funny and jolly. But now that the children actually stood looking at him they didn’t find it quite like that. He was so big, and so glad, and so real, that they all became quite still. They felt very glad, but also solemn. "I’ve come at last," said he. "She has kept me out for a long time, but I have got in at last. Aslan is on the move. The Witch’s magic is weakening." And Lucy felt running through her that deep shiver of gladness which you only get if you are being solemn and still … "And now," said Father Christmas, "for your presents. "Peter, Adam’s Son," said Father Christmas. "These are your presents, and they are tools not toys. The time to use them is perhaps near at hand. Bear them well." With these words he handed to Peter a shield and a sword. The shield was the colour of silver and across it there ramped a red lion, as bright as a ripe strawberry at the moment when you pick it. The hilt of the sword was of gold and it had a sheath and a sword belt and everything it needed, and it was just the right size and weight for Peter to use. Peter was silent and solemn as he received these gifts, for he felt they were a very serious kind of present. "Susan, Eve’s Daughter," said Father Christmas. "These are for you," and he handed her a bow and a quiver full of arrows and a little ivory horn. "You must use the bow only in great need," he said, "for I do not mean you to fight in the battle. It does not easily miss. And when you put this horn to your lips; and blow it, then, wherever you are, I think help of some kind will come to you." Last of all he said, "Lucy, Eve’s Daughter," and Lucy came forward. He gave her a little bottle of what looked like glass (but people said afterwards that it was made of diamond) and a small dagger. "In this bottle," he said, "there is cordial made of the juice of one of the fireflowers that grow in the mountains of the sun. If you or any of your friends is hurt, a few drops of this restore them. And the dagger is to defend yourse at great need. For you also are not to be in battle." "Why, sir?" said Lucy. "I think - I don’t know but I think I could be brave enough." "That is not the point," he said. "But battles are ugly when women fight. And now" - here he suddenly looked less grave - "here is something for the moment for you all!"
Father Christmas represents the Holy Spirit and the presents are spiritual gifts. Notice how he says that they are tools not toys.
Let’s look now at what the Bible says about Spiritual gifts:
1Cor 12:1 (niv) Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.
1) Who has spiritual gifts?
2) 1 Peter 4:10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
a) 1 Corinthians 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
b) 1 Corinthians 12:18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.
c) Don’t work for a gift
3) What is a spiritual gift?
a) Peter Wagner: “A special attribute given by the Holy Spirit to every member of the body of Christ, according to God’s grace, for the edification of the Body and the extension of God’s Kingdom.”
b) What a spiritual gift is not
i) A natural talent
(1) Non Christians have talents:- manager; sportsman; musician
(2) Talents need to be used to bring glory to God, but they are not spiritual gifts
ii) Fruit of the spirit
(1) Mentioned in Gal 5 love, joy peace, patience kindness, gentleness meekness and self control
(2) Fruit is the natural expected outcome of Christian growth.
(3) Fruit is developed whereas gifts are discovered
(a) Peter’s discovery:
At first Peter thought it was a bear. Then he saw that it looked like an Alsatian, though it was far too big to be a dog. Then he realized that it was a wolf - a wolf standing on its hind legs, with its front paws against the tree-trunk, snapping and snarling. All the hair on its back stood up on end. … Peter did not feel very brave; indeed, he felt he was going to be sick. But that made no difference to what he had to do. He rushed straight up to the monster and aimed a slash of his sword at its side
(4) Fruit will last forever but gifts won’t. In heaven there won’t be any need for prophecy or healing etc. (1 Cor 13:8-10)
(5) Two go hand in hand (fruit and gifts)– every time gifts are mentioned, the next passage is about fruit.
c) The three main passages that refer to gifts:
i) Rom 12; 1 Cor 12 & Eph 4
ii) Not all spiritual gifts are gifts of the Holy Spirit. I know that statement sounds confusing, but let’s look at the three passages and then you’ll understand.
(1) Motivational Gifts: Ro 12:6-8 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
(a) Called ‘motivational gifts’ because these are the gifts that motivate us viz. if you are motivated by giving to people, then give generously
iii) Gifts of the Ascended Christ: Eph 4:11-12 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
iv) Gifts of the Holy Spirit: 1 Co 12:7-11 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
So, motivational gifts and gifts of the ascended Christ are all spiritual gifts, but 1 Cor 12 is the passage that talks about gifts of the Holy Spirit.
4) What is the Purpose of having Spiritual Gifts?
a) Glorify God
b) Build up the body
c) Personal benefits
i) Be a better Christian
(1) Because you know your ‘job description’
I am a better teacher than a host.
ii) Healthy self esteem
(1) Don’t mean that they think too much of themselves, but rather, people who know what their spiritual gifts are, and minister with them, understand that every gift is important to the body of Christ.
d) How Lucy almost misused her gift:
i) He was terribly wounded. We must go and see him." They found Edmund in charge of Mrs Beaver a little way back from the fighting line. He was covered with blood, his mouth was open, and his face a nasty green colour. "Quick, Lucy," said Aslan. And then, almost for the first time, Lucy remembered the precious cordial that had been given her for a Christmas present. Her hands trembled so much that she could hardly undo the stopper, but she managed it in the end and poured a few drops into her brother’s mouth. "There are other people wounded," said Aslan while she was still looking eagerly into Edmund’s pale face and wondering if the cordial would have any result. "Yes, I know," said Lucy crossly. "Wait a minute." "Daughter of Eve," said Aslan in a graver voice, "others also are at the point of death. Must more people die for Edmund?" "I’m sorry, Aslan," said Lucy, getting up and going with him. And for the next half-hour they were busy - she attending to the wounded while he restored those who had been turned into stone. When at last she was free to come back to Edmund she found him standing on his feet and not only healed of his wounds but looking better than she had seen him look
5) I’ve got a Spiritual Gift, so what now?
a) 1 Pet 4:10 says we need to be good stewards of the gifts God has given us.
b) Matt 25:14-30
i) We are going to be held accountable for what we have done with the gifts God has given us.
ii) We can’t use the gifts, if we don’t know what they are.
iii) 1 Co 14:1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
