“Image without essence is hypocrisy ”
“Essence without image seldom accomplishes much”
Most cannot live without hope, Faith yes, love yes
Vision is a way of providing Hope….we are a people who need hope
Lack of Vision is a problem
too many visions is a problem
Incomplete vision – we need a complete vision of who Jesus is.
Luke 17:1 After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you.
If you don’t like large churches you are saying you don’t want to go to heaven
God answered Jesus request in verse 1
God also answered request in verse 5
Luke 17:5 Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.
God shared Jesus as his image so that we could relate…Jesus is the Icon of God.
The images of Jesus as human are incomplete
The True image is found in Revelation 1:12-16 (NLT)
12 When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold lampstands. 13 And standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man.* He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest. 14 His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were like flames of fire. 15 His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. 16 He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was like the sun in all its brilliance.
The image of Jesus is within the ring of candlesticks that represent the churches. He says to John that the candles will be blown out if the people will not do as he commands.
The Church is dying in the areas where the protestant reformation had its impact..Europe, North America and Australia/New Zealand
Christ is blowing out candles/churches because most believers believe that their church was made for them.
We don’t follow just the crucified Jesus…we need that image, but we also follow the glorified Christ.
If you’re not making disciples for Jesus…you are being disobedient!!!