In the Likeness Of God

Man is an incredible creation. He has the capability of descending into the lowest possible debauchery or rising to the height of being a temple for Divine revelation. We can talk about man as utterly depraved or we can talk about man as beautifully God-like. Man can be possessed of evil, or he can be possessed of God. One of the greatest facts of man, the created marvel of God, is that in his heart dwells the power of choice. The Creator literally imparted to every soul the right to soar or the right to sour. To deny that right is to reduce this lofty creation to the end of puppetÂ’s strings. The Creator is no puppeteer and man is far too lofty to be a puppet.

The powers of Lucifer and his minions have always labored to master man. There are many different levels of SatanÂ’s influence, from oppression and obsession to possession, and many points in between. The Creator will never possess us without our willful yielding to Him at every point of His activity within our temple. Satan, on the contrary, labors to bring us under his mastery to the place of full possession. He blinds and binds until the captive is utterly helpless and bound forever to destruction. SatanÂ’s final treatment of every soul is to mock its bondage and to figuratively hang trophies on the walls of hell prepared for him and his fallen angels. SatanÂ’s final mockery of God is to possess the created and to make that person a blasphemy of the Creator.

The Gospel story, the mighty Spirit, and the sacrifice of Blood all stand as the barrier between each of us and the destruction of our person. God’s Spirit is His right hand of authority and power, and His business is us, the special human creation. The Holy Spirit possesses everything that was wrought on Calvary; every promise of the Scripture, and He is in the midst of the church representing Jesus Christ to manifest all He is for all we need. Every plan and activity of Satan could be stopped in its tracks if we would learn God’s will for us and God’s plan, by His Spirit, to affect that will. Isaiah’s great revelation included a promise that the Father gave him about His Spirit’s operations. He said, “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.” (Isaiah 59:19b)

The worst specimen of the human family can cease to be a wreck walking down the endless road to destruction and become a temple where God dwells. This is the great truth that has brought revival to every generation. I remember the pastor of the Tabor City Methodist Church in the town where I pastored my first congregation. His name was Rev. Marvin Chambers. His wife had taught my Dad in school, and we became friends. He was near retirement, and he told me of revival when, as a young pastor himself, the town drunks would get saved and every business of ill-repute would be shut down. The churches in that day did not incorporate human schemes of social manipulation but preached anointed sermons that shook hell and men at the same time. ItÂ’s still the only plan God uses. You need to quit asking Him to bless your program because it is not going to happen.

Apostle Paul summed up the responsibility and accountability of every God-called ministry and every lay person involved in ministry. He described the ministry of the church in stark terms, “Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:1-2)

We are equipped with incredible power to see human lives turned around and put on track. The church must renounce all craftiness, every trick of the pulpit or crafty method of inducing people to faith, and depend wholly on the SpiritÂ’s anointing to convict and convert. Our message must be straightforward but full of God. If I use the Word like a hammer, it kills. If the Spirit uses the Word like a hammer, it gives life.

We can actually proclaim to every living soul that they were created to be a temple of God. The Gospel message is good news. Jesus did not come to condemn but to save. “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (St. John 3:17) Nothing is more beautiful than a new convert that just walked away from sin to follow Jesus Christ. Most unconverted people are afraid to make a full surrender lest they cannot live this new life. We must make it clear to them that God is in the business of a total transformation. When the Holy Ghost is allowed to do His business in the human family, the result is so spectacular that the new believer finds serving God many times easier than serving Satan. You already have a spirit that was imparted by God, and He will awaken that divine essence and renew His supernatural presence, and your life will never be the same.