The Original (imago Dei) by Apostle Emmanuel Iren: MP3 Download & Sermon Notes

God Gave You a Brain — Use It

Bishop once said, "God gave you a brain so you can give him rest." Looking at what human minds have produced is inspiring, because it takes a certain kind of curiosity to even imagine — why does it have to take 30 days to walk from here to there? What if something could fly?

600 people enter an airplane and fly for 6, 8 hours and it doesn't fall. Gravity is defied. That is the image of God — creativity, problem solving.

Some prayers are an insult to God. He gave dominion for a reason. Problems can be solved right now. By the middle of the month the money is finished — what will be done with the mind and creativity God has given? Someone made in the image of God should be able to sit down, assess their gifts, assess what is in their environment, and make something out of it. That is what God expected when he put man in the garden.

God knew how to make a chair. He wouldn't make a chair for Adam — he gave him trees.

That is why if someone is not serious with their work, there are people who don't share their religious convictions, but just out of sheer determination get better out of life — because when it was their turn, they deployed their gifts instead of burying them. Gifts must be deployed. The extra mile must be walked. The midnight oil must be burned.

The Subject of Purpose Is a Compulsory Course

In university there are two different types of courses. Some courses — if failed, the class is repeated. Not all courses carry the same weight. Some carry one unit, some two, some three, some five. There are exams where one question carries 70 marks. If that isn't known — see you next year.

Purpose is that kind of course. It is not an elective.

The Rich Man and Lazarus — A True Story

Luke 16:19-31

Many Bible scholars believe the account in this text was not a parable. The difference between a parable and a real historical event is significant. In parables, Jesus does not give names. But here he names a man — Lazarus. The conversation the rich man had with Abraham after death is not invented.

The rich man begged for someone to be sent to warn his brothers. Abraham's response was direct: they have the prophets; if they would not listen to them, they wouldn't listen to anybody sent from the other side.

This is likely a true story. And it presents a man who, from a social standpoint, was a non-entity — he had nothing. To survive, he had to stay under the table of another man, feeding on the crumbs while competing with dogs. He had sores all over his body, possibly from malnutrition or compounded medical conditions.

When both men died, the roles were switched. The one who was enjoying is now suffering. The one who was suffering is now enjoying. The man who lived in stupendous wealth all his life is literally begging for a drop of water.

The Eternal Multiplier

To be a believer in Christ Jesus is to believe the radical idea that if someone gained the whole world and did not have Christ, it still amounts to zero.

In mathematics:

• 1 × 0 = 0
• 10 × 0 = 0
• 1,000 × 0 = 0
• 1 billion × 0 = 0

The gospel is the multiplier that determines the significance of every other achievement in life. Purpose is that one thing for which a person was created and at which they must succeed — otherwise nothing else they succeed at will count.

From this side of eternity, a lifetime seems long. But compared to eternity, even 100 years is not long.

Francis Chan once brought a very long white rope and painted just a dot — a small red tip at the beginning. He said: that painted part is your whole lifespan. No matter how long — 85, 90, 100 years — it is just a dot. And the quality of the entire stretch of eternal life will be determined by how that dot is spent.

Every time purpose is discussed, this truth must be returned to. Life is enticing. People do not really know their own convictions until they are about to die. Anyone who has been on a plane experiencing serious turbulence knows what everyone else believes. And it is people on their deathbed who begin to think — what if what the pastor said is true?

Some have nursed the childish idea of living life however they choose, then surrendering in the final moments. The problem is this: it is not known how wicked the enemy is. Some people never get the chance. Some only find out what killed them on the other side of eternity. That is how fast it happens.

What Can a Man Give in Exchange for His Soul?

Mark 8:36-37

In kingdom commerce, that transaction exists. There are people so deluded they do not know the worth of their soul — and exchange it for nothing. There are two ways people lose their souls:

1. Deliberately selling it to Satan
2. Being deceived into pursuing things that are not remotely close in value

The subject of purpose is the subject of priority. God wants believers to have a great life — a good job, a good family. All of those are the will of God. But if it ever came down to it, there are good things that should be jettisoned for something higher, something better.

• Money is good — but not at any cost
• Marriage is good — but not at any cost

Value must be understood well enough to forgo alternatives when it comes to that. Even at the expense of life itself. As the three Hebrew men said to Nebuchadnezzar: we are not careful to answer you on this matter.

And so in life decisions and priority, this must be reflected.

If the devil is able to convince someone to pursue mundane things with their life — there are good things that should not become the best things. Some people, in pursuing money, lose their family. Some people, in pursuing family, lose their souls. As a believer, there must be a proper assessment of value, a proper assessment of priority. Decisions must be taken intentionally and from a divine perspective.

Everything Jesus did on the earth was with the perspective of eternity in mind — and that is how life should be lived.

Imago Dei — The Image of God

The Latin expression Imago Dei simply means "image of God." It feeds into the purpose narrative because it tells us why God created humanity.

Genesis 1:26

God said: "Let us make man in our image and according to our likeness and let him have dominion." This speaks of purpose. Imago Dei is a job description — not a physical description.

In ancient times, when a king conquered a new territory, an image — the visage of the king — would be erected in that place. The thinking was: even if the king is not physically present, as long as that image is there, the king is there. Everyone in that territory was supposed to act with that consciousness.

Now imagine if the image was animated — came alive by some supernatural force and was able to do everything the king would do if he were present. That is what Imago Dei is.

When speaking of the image of God, it is not about physical features — God is spirit. How do you physically resemble a spirit? It is deeper than that. It is a divine assignment. It is a job description. It is a living perspective.

Psalm 115:16

The heavens belong to the Lord; the earth he has given to the children of men. When God put humanity on the earth, he wanted a physical demonstration of his supernatural dominion — people who would image his dominion, so that when they are observed, his kingship and rulership in the world can be discerned.

Three Dimensions of Imago Dei

1. The Natural Dimension

   This applies whether a person is born again or not. There is a fundamental sense in which every human being — born again or not — is made in the image of God. This is why a hungry person can catch a chicken, slaughter it, and eat. But no matter how desperate things become, a person cannot go into the neighborhood, catch another human being, slaughter them and eat. It becomes an abomination. Every human being is made in the image of God.

   A lot of people only think they are fulfilling purpose when they are in church. That is because they do not truly know God. God loves his people, and when they are doing well in a natural, simplistic sense, it makes him happy — just as a biological father is proud when a child is healthy, has a good job, or has a good marriage.

   Deuteronomy 14:22-26

   There is a third tithe in the Bible that is rarely emphasized. The instruction was to bring the tithe, come into the presence of God — and eat it. God mandated it. He said: buy food, come into my presence, eat. That is God looking out for his people.

   God also mandated rest — the Sabbath. A person is not permitted to work seven days a week. In resting, God is being praised. When some of the salary is taken, good food is bought, and it is eaten — God is happy.

   God blessed his people so that they can do well.

   Invest. Do business. Take yourself out. Enroll in a gym. Take care of the body — it is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

   Rest, eat well — these are practical ways to trust God and to live a life of purpose. Just by being human, doing good work, having a good job, and as much as possible doing something enjoyed — that is imaging God in the natural.

2. The Spiritual Dimension — Born Again

   Physical creation was designed to be a metaphor of spiritual realities. When God created the sun, it was meant to be a visual representation of who he is to us. In the new Jerusalem, there will be no sun — because God will be its light. 2 Corinthians 4:6 says God who commanded light to shine out of darkness has shone in hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus. That light in the beginning was a prophetic metaphor of the light of Christ shining in hearts.

   The man God created in his image fell. What Christ did in redemption was not merely a restoration — it was an upgrade.

   Romans 8:29

   He predestined believers to be conformed to the image of his Son, that his Son may be firstborn amongst many brethren. "Firstborn" here is like a mold. Every item poured from the same mold takes the same pattern. Believers take their pattern after Christ.

   In all of getting, being born again is essential. You must be born again. Imaging God through good work, good business, taking care of the body — all of that is the natural level. But being born again unlocks the deeper spiritual level. And you cannot image someone you do not know. How can an errand be run for someone with no relationship?

   Imagine claiming someone sent you when you have never met them, never worked for them, and no one who represents them authorized you. That is a lie. You cannot image a God you do not know. He must be known — intimately. Worshipped on a daily basis. Allowed to speak. Life lived to glorify him not just in a natural sense but in a spiritual sense as well.

3. Stewardship and Influence — The Highest Dimension

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   To whom much is given, much is expected. Everything God gives, he expects to be used in his honor. The world was not made by those living in it — somebody made it. And so in living in this world, it must be used for his honor.

   Saul's story: Saul was going on errands for his father, looking for a lost donkey. God picked him from that place and made him king. Then God gave a simple instruction: go to the region of the Amalekites — no negotiations, total destruction.

   Saul disobeyed. He brought back the king and the best of the cattle. When the prophet confronted him, Saul said he had kept the livestock to sacrifice to God. The prophet's response was: to obey is better than sacrifice.

   A lot of believers operate from a sacrifice standpoint — coming to church regularly, giving, fasting. But God is saying that living a life committed to doing his will, a life of purpose — that is better than sacrifice.

   Part of what made God angry with Saul was the audacity. God said through the prophet: you were from a humble background — I picked you up, gave you all that you have — and now you are doing what you like with the resources I gave you. This feeds directly into stewardship.

   Mordecai's word to Esther: God cannot put someone in the palace for nothing. If this opportunity is not used, salvation will come from another place — but this person was put here for such a time as this.

   Esther 4:14

   Even without a direct prophetic word, the conclusion must be drawn: to whom much is given, much is required. Someone from a humble background, given intellect and the will to work hard, who came out with a good grade and got a good job — ought to know that in that job, God is to be glorified.

   David's story: David saw that the ark of God was outside under a shed while he lived in a fine house. He wanted to build a temple. Even the prophet agreed. But God sent the prophet back with a correction: "Did I ask you for a house? I picked you up. Once upon a time you were a musician whose only audience was livestock. The reason you are experiencing this platform is because of me."

   When God was done speaking to David, David's response was: "Who am I and what is my father's house?" That is how to pray from a posture of stewardship.

   With influence and resources, the assignment is to do the bidding of God.

   Even as a slave girl in the house of a leprous soldier, it was an opportunity to say: "I know a God who can heal you." The simple things are the things that count in eternity.

Saving Your Life Versus Losing It

Mark 8:35

"They that save their life shall lose it. But they that lose their life for my sake and for the gospel's shall find it."

Every time a choice arises to either preserve position and comfort, or to risk it for the sake of the gospel — choosing always to play it safe, never disturbing anyone, never wanting to be seen as somehow — that is saving the life. And those who have never preached with conviction are telling people, through their half-heartedness, that they don't actually believe what they claim.

People have discernment. They can tell when someone doesn't believe what they're saying. If the belief isn't strong enough — it shows.

The Ecclesia — A Policy-Making Consortium

Matthew 16:18

When Jesus said "upon this rock I will build my ecclesia," he did not mean a gathering that meets once a week to sing songs. Ecclesia was a policy-making consortium. The gates of hell is also an ecclesia. When someone is born again, they are called out of one kingdom into another — they change ecclesia.

There are people deliberately strategizing and funding ungodly agendas. Research shows that in the past four years, $4 billion has been spent funding ideas — going to filmmakers, media producers, offering money to insert specific messaging — ideas that every believer would unanimously call ungodly. They are planning for the next generation.

Many ideas seen in culture today are not organic. They are engineered. Believers are being manipulated — politically, spiritually.

But if there are still Esthers who recognize they are in position for such a time as this — there is a chance. If there are still Daniels — there is a chance. The Lord's prayer is not merely a devotional script — it is a declaration and an insistence:

Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

This cannot be lived out by people who are too bothered about what others think. Jesus knew who would betray him at the table — and said, "You know what you have to do. Do it quickly." Men will be men. Divine purpose moves forward with or without anyone's cooperation.

That is how to change the world.

The Bible says a table is prepared in the presence of enemies. The head is anointed. The cup runs over. Surely — in spite of the enemies — goodness and mercy follow.

There are children being deliberately targeted by ungodly agendas in schools. And believers are still soft-pedaling, still playing it safe, not wanting to seem out of place.

The Assignment

There must be people to whom the gospel is preached this week. Anyone who evangelizes regularly knows there are people who seem impossible to reach — but the moment the message is shared, they respond instantly. Some people just need boldness. They need to hear it said like it is meant.

There should be people who one day say: "I know Jesus today because you didn't let me be. You were stubborn. I hated it at the time — but thank you."

Saying "okay, I won't disturb you" — that is not how to live a purposeful life.

A prophet anointed David as king — and went home. The events then unfolded naturally: a chance to fight Goliath, a victory, the beginning of the kingship journey. But it all started with the anointing.

Intelligence played a part in getting to where things are. But it was not intelligence alone. God placed each person where they are. Understanding this produces a stewardship mindset — not laziness, not comfort-seeking, but accountability.

Light has come. Let everyone around feel the heat of it — because it is both a burning and a shining light.

One day the King will return and demand accountability for every talent given. The education, the exposure, the platform, the connections — what was done with it? Who was loved? Who was told? Who was influenced?