Dr. James Tan | November 28, 2021

Recap:
During this past week, we were treated to a four-part message from Dr. James Tan entitled “The Image of the Son.” He reminded us that we are sons and daughters of the Most High God. We don’t have to act like we are servants. Our purpose on this earth is to be conformed to the image of the Son. From that place, we can stand up and declare the plans of purposes of God for this earth. Everything we do, we do with this intent: we live our lives and pursue our dreams knowing that as we do, we proclaim the image of the Son through it all!

Dive Deeper:
Every wrong can be made right because of the image of the Son. In fact, God reconciles the world to himself through the image of the Son. That’s one reason why we are the representation of the Son all over this earth. We don’t just represent Him by how we live, but we represent His power by how we prophecy change where needed.

Watch the words of your mouth, for you speak on behalf of God. When you pray, don’t simply run through your prayer list and leave. Take time to find out what God needs you to speak on His behalf. Declare the plans and purposes of God to be in the situations that He directs you to pray over.

Every time there is darkness, God’s plan is not to destroy darkness but to send light. God replaces darkness with light, and in order to turn the lights on within a situation, the image of the Son has to be there. Practically speaking, we learn to project the image of the Son through being led by the Spirit of God. As we mature in Him, we learn to reflect His image more and more into the world that needs Him.

So many people see things through the lens of what the enemy is doing. Stop doing that! Instead, view life through the lens of what God is doing. Remember, if you don’t look for your identity in sonship, you will find your identity through serving. Servants and sons have different rewards. Servants receive paychecks; sons receive an inheritance!

Read More:
Romans 8:29 NKJV
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Galatians 4:1-2 NKJV
Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father.

Romans 8:14 NKJV
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Romans 8:26-28 NKJV
Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession [g]for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

1 Corinthians 14:2 NKJV
For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.

Discussion Questions:
1. How do you view your relationship to God: are you a servant, son/daughter, or heir?
2. Today, could you take a few moments longer when you pray and ask God for what He wants you to declare on this earth?
3. What’s the difference between knowing that you are a son of God rather than a servant of God?
4. What’s the difference between living knowing that you are God’s child and knowing that you are God’s heir?

Rewatch or catch up on the full sermon with the link below!

Recent Sermon Notes

FOCUS FOR EFFECT: Love | Mac Hammond

Pastor Mac taught the third installment of his series entitled, “Focus on Effect,” based upon 2nd Corinthians 4:17, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” The apostle Paul said the hardships in our lives can be light and momentary. It all depends on what we place our focus upon. Paul says we are to focus our attention on what is eternal, rather than what is temporal. There are three things that are eternal: faith, hope, and love. We are to focus on that.

FOCUS FOR EFFECT: Hope | Mac Hammond

This series is all about focus, meaning where do you give your attention. This is important because whatever you give your attention to will determine how hard or difficult your life will be. And conversely, it will determine how easy and carefree it will be. Teaching on 1st Corinthians 13:13, Pastor Mac says you can gain the clarity you need to succeed in your life by focusing on matters of faith, hope, and love.

Focus on Effect | Mac Hammond

Pastor Mac began a new series entitled, “Focus on Effect.” He started off by telling us the topic of the new series is something we probably think we already know about, but in fact, we don’t know enough about it as we probably should. The scriptural reference was 2nd Corinthians 4:17–18: “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” Though Pastor Mac has taught on this passage before, he said he’s “gotten a glimpse of a different side of this mountain. And I’m seeing it from a perspective that has really impacted me in a positive way.” He added, “And I want it to be that way for you all as well.”

Are We in the Days of Noah? | Jim Hammond

Jesus’ disciples asked Him what the signs will be of His coming. Jesus said it will be like it was in the days of Noah: “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” Fellow believers, we are in the days of Noah. All they thought about in the days of Noah was eating and drinking and the like. They were not thinking about the flood that was coming. So it is today!

A Deception of Palestine | Jim Hammond

This past weekend, Pastor Jim ministered a special God-directed message for the congregation entitled, “A Deception of Palestine.” He talked about how there is a division in the body of Christ worldwide, where believers are allowing themselves to become deceived when it comes to the present and ongoing deception regarding the Jewish people and Israel. It’s important that Christians do not allow themselves to be persuaded by worldly and ungodly leaders and news systems. It’s important they know what the Word of God says and exalt it as God’s truth.