Shadows of the King

 

This afternoon I received a flyer through my door.

“Shadows of the King”…

…Elvis night at the local Indian restaurant!

Putting to one side the inconsistency of having an Elvis night at an Indian restaurant; Isn’t it curious how people enjoy dressing up as Elvis Presley and, even more surprisingly, people enjoy watching people who are dressed up as Elvis Presley!

My mind boggles at the thought.

I suppose when you listen to and observe an Elvis impersonator, you see something of the original: “Shadows of the King”. And if you were a fan of the original Presley, then, almost by default, you will be a fan of any good-quality impersonator. After all, they are a Shadow of the King.

I don’t know what preparation goes into becoming an Elvis impersonator- I have never tried it- but I imagine a lot of research, practise and listening are involved. Probably the main qualification for the job, however, is to have a real passion for the whole Elvis culture along with his music (I use the term ‘music’ advisedly).

It takes a lot of energy, time and zeal to become ‘like’ Elvis.

The Bible says that God’s son, the Lord Jesus became like sinful men. That doesn’t mean that Jesus impersonated our sins. Certainly not! Jesus Christ was perfect in every way. But because he was perfect, that meant that he could take our sins upon himself. All of us deserve punishment for our disobedience, but Jesus Christ so loved us that he willingly became ‘like’ us and paid the punishment in our place.

But the Bible doesn’t only talk about Jesus becoming ‘like’  us. It also talks about us becoming ‘like’ Jesus. According to the book of Romans, Christians become more holy-  or are ‘sanctified’. This means that we grow to be more and more like Jesus Christ.

We are given a timeline of events in a Christian’s life. This is what God is doing to believers:

Those whom God foreknew…

…he also choose to be conformed to the image of his son…

…those who he choose he also called…

…those who he called he also justified (made perfect in God’s sight)…

…those whom he justified he also glorified.

You see how it all works? Those who have trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation (otherwise called justification) are being ‘conformed to the image of his son’ and will one day be glorified!

How does God conform us to Jesus’ image? Through the Holy Spirit who changes us.

I’ve heard a number of testimonies recently- stories of how God has changed Christian's lives. And all of them have mentioned how vastly different the behaviour and attitude of a true Christian is to that of a non-believer.

Like an apple tree bears fruit, Christian’s are also to ‘bear fruit’. Jesus has borne many a great harvest of fruit! The book of Galatians describes some of these:

• Love
• Joy
• Peace
• Patience
• Kindness
• Goodness
• Faithfulness
• Gentleness
• Self-control

As Christians, we should be becoming more like Jesus every day. These ‘fruits’ should be growing in our lives. We cannot grow fruit simply by trying really really hard! We need the Lord Jesus to be living in us, and we need to be regularly talking to him and reading his word. The Bible is great spiritual fertilizer!

But we aren’t merely impersonators of Jesus! The Bible says that we are also brothers who will share in the blessings of God the Father. Because of this, one day we will see much much more than simply “Shadows of the King”- we will see our King and be able to call him Father!

Hope in a Church Age

Another couple of Milton Jones quotes regarding the Church,

(buy his small book “10 Second Sermons” for more!)

 

Sometimes people think of church…as a Winnie the Pooh pyjama suit.
Safe and warm, but they hope to goodness no one sees them in it…

And to some it’s a baseball bat. For most of the time they play a nice little game with their friends. Then 0nce a year they go out into the High Street and hit someone over the head with it.

 

Perhaps hope is like ordering something on Amazon.
Every so often you get little messages saying ‘It’s on its way.’
Then one day the doorbell will ring!
But if you don’t answer, your hope might disappear to the depot for ever and ever.”

This God- his way is perfect!

   One of my favourite Psalms is #18, which is almost identically recreated in 2 Samuel chapter 22- my reading this morning. King David wrote the Psalm on ‘the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies’.

Have a read of the entire Psalm at your leisure, but here are a few of the extracts I most enjoyed,

        “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
        my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
    my shield, and the horn of my salvation,
        my stronghold and my refuge,
        my saviour; you save me from violence.
    I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised,
        and I am saved from my enemies.
(2 Samuel 22:2-4 ESV)

    For you are my lamp, O LORD,
        and my God lightens my darkness.
    For by you I can run against a troop,
        and by my God I can leap over a wall.
    This God—his way is perfect;
        the word of the LORD proves true;
        he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.
    “For who is God, but the LORD?
        And who is a rock, except our God?
    This God is my strong refuge
        and has made my way blameless.
    He made my feet like the feet of a deer
        and set me secure on the heights.
    He trains my hands for war,
        so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
  (2 Samuel 22:29-35 ESV)

    “The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock,
        and exalted be my God, the rock of my salvation…”
(2 Samuel 22:47 ESV)

a Sabbath Survey

 

“The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”
spoken by Jesus

  Okay, despite yet another poor attempt at alliteration, this post’s title is an apt one. I need your help! I need a answer to the Sabbath Survey Question.

  In under 5 days, my YL team is running the Friday night programme at the youth group.

Our subject: The Sabbath Day

 The scriptures are black and white on this subject (provided you don’t use a red-letter bible): Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.

Why do we keep Sunday’s special?

The obvious answer is ‘Because God told us to’.  Correct.  Full marks.  With distinction.

The theology students among you might add something to do with ‘the promised rest’ etc. etc. Others might suggest physical and mental benefits. Still others might talk about ‘giving God the best hours of the week’. Or what about the example God set during the creation week? Or remembering and celebrating Christ’s resurrection?

All of the above are splendid reasons to keep Sundays holy and for God. But I would like to see some practical, personal, real, living blessings which stir believers on to keep one day in seven aside for the Lord.

   The survey question could be worded in any number of ways:

“What do you gain from keeping Sunday special?”

“How has God blessed your Sundays?”

“What makes your Sundays different from week days?”

Or simply… “Why do you keep the Sabbath?”

Here are a few answers I have received to date:

• Sundays are a great opportunity to meet with other believers- in all shapes, sizes and ages- to worship together and spend time discussing our Christian lives.
• Resting my thoughts upon Jesus for a whole 24 hours helps me to tackle Monday mornings with a fresh mind.
• Sundays are the days when I do all those things I avoid, or don’t have time for, during the rest of the week… like reading my bible!

   I’m making this urgent appeal for more answers! Let me know what makes your Sundays special! And let me know some time soon please! The comments box is simply waiting to be filled!

A Mine of Wealth and a River of Pleasure

 

“This book is the mind of God on the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding; its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveller’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s charter. Here paradise is restored, heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed. Christ is its grand subject, our good is its design, and the glory of god is its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. Follow its precepts and it will lead you to Calvary, to the empty tomb, to a resurrected life in Christ; yes, to glory itself, for eternity.”

Anon.

   What book do you think its talking about?!