Lion

ROAR Katty Perry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CevxZvSJLk8

Lion

Father’s Day 2018

Christ followers have a unique identity. Identity is the word we use to encompass the whole concept of who we are. When we allow our mistakes, our guilt and shame to define who we are we set ourselves up to live a life that was never intended for us to live. Today we are going to discover Jesus imprints his identity within us, transforming us into His image and likeness, and He is known as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.

One of the highest grossing animated films is the Lion King.  It’s a classic tale of how evil attempts to gain mastery over life. The young lion cub Simba, is the heir of his father, Mufasa, the King.  Simba's wicked uncle, Scar, plots to usurp Mufasa's throne by luring father and son into a stampede of wildebeests. But Simba escapes, and only Mufasa is killed.  Scar blames the death of Mufasa on Simba who then runs from his false guilt and shame  Scar’s henchmen chase after the cub to kill him. Simba escapes. The kingdom suffers under Scar’s rule. Simba returns as an adult to take back his homeland from Scar with the help of his friends Timon and Pumbaa.

In the early part of the film there are 8 things Mufasa does with Simba that exemplify what great dads do for their kids.

1. Mufasa wakes up at the crack of dawn to hang out with his son.

2. Mufasa patiently and lovingly explains how the world works to Simba.

3. Mufasa gives Simba a pouncing lesson.

4. Mufasa saves Simba and Nala from the hyenas.

5. Mufasa delivers discipline thoughtfully and honestly.

6. Mufasa makes sure Simba knows he’s still loved even though he made a

          mistake.

7. Mufasa teaches Simba about the great kings of the past.

8. When Simba loses his way, Mufasa is there to help him find it, just like he

          promised.

I want to be a dad like Mufasa except I don’t want to get killed in a stampede.

Do you know that there is a Lion in you?

In Genesis, Jacob is pouncing prophet blessings on his sons.

Genesis 49:1 (MSG) Gen 49:8-10 (MSG)

Jacob called his sons and said, "Gather around. I want to tell you what you can expect in the days to come." … You, Judah, your brothers will praise you: Your fingers on your enemies' throat, while your brothers honor you. You're a lion's cub, Judah, home fresh from the kill, my son. Look at him, crouched like a lion, king of beasts; who dares mess with him?  The scepter shall not leave Judah; he'll keep a firm grip on the command staff Until the ultimate ruler comes and the nations obey him.

Jacob places an identity in the minds of his sons, and to Judah, that image is of a lion. Judah’s offspring will include King David. King David’s lineage includes Yeshua Bar Josef of Nazareth. Who we know as Jesus.

Turn from the first book in your Bible, Genesis, to the last, Revelation, we read of Jesus’ arrival in the throne room of God. In God’s hand is the scroll that represents the consummation of God’s kingdom. The restoration of righteousness upon the earth.

Revelation 5:1-5 (MSG)

I saw a scroll in the right hand of the One Seated on the Throne. It was written on both sides, fastened with seven seals.  I also saw a powerful Angel, calling out in a voice like thunder, "Is there anyone who can open the scroll, who can break its seals?" There was no one—no one in Heaven, no one on earth, no one from the underworld—able to break open the scroll and read it. I wept and wept and wept that no one was found able to open the scroll, able to read it. One of the Elders said,  "Don't weep. Look—the Lion from Tribe Judah, the Root of David's Tree, has conquered. He can open the scroll, can rip through the seven seals."

The Lion from the tribe of Judah, the root of David, is Jesus. Jesus through His obedience to the Father, obedience even at the cost of death, makes it possible to bring the Kingdom and all its fullness, back to the earth. He has won the Lion’s share of the victory.

In C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia, Aslan the Lion represents God. In this word picture, we see that the heart of God is good, true, and beautiful, compassionate full of forgiveness and grace.

As followers of Jesus, you may consider yourself to be a lion cub. When you acknowledge that you have a broken relationship with God. Then with the knowledge believe that Jesus can restore a right relationship with God. You commit yourself to following Jesus. You ask God to accept your faith. Then this scripture becomes true in you:

John 1:12 (MSG)

But whoever did want him, who believed he was who he claimed and would do what he said, He made to be their true selves, their child-of-God selves.

Believers are members of the Lion’s pride.

Your true self, contains a Lion heritage. You have a Lion identity that infuses you with courage, with stamina, with strength, with a prophetic witness and a voice for our Kingdom, and a task in carrying out our mission of bringing the Kingdom to others. We are the sons and daughters of the Lion. Jesus is the Lion of Judah! We are his cubs, created in his image. Growing up, becoming mature, becoming dangerous, good, but dangerous. Your true identity, your real self, is like Jesus, you also are strong, courageous, and fearless in the face of evil and godlessness. Those qualities are in you right now.

In the Lion King, Simba believes the lies that Scar tells him. Satan does the exact same thing to us. Jesus called Satan, the Father of lies, a liar from the beginning, (John 8:44) Look at the lies thrust at us growing up. In your story, you may have faced lies of rejection, abandonment, of not good enough, of a diagnosed label, of poverty, racism--Oh, sticks and stones can break bones, but those words, the feelings they create, can erode the soul. Living with guilt and shame causes anxiety and depression. Failed relationships are self-fulfilling confirmations that there is something terribly wrong with you.

Like Simba, we believe the lie. Off we go into hiding, unable to forgive ourselves,

Stuck with the self-image of being broken goods. We live stunted unfilled lives. We come prisoners of the lie. Simba begins to act very un-lion like. Eating insects, hanging out with guys he’s supposed to eat. He’s doing things that lions don’t do.

He feels deep within that things are not right.

Then a teacher comes, Rafiki, and creates an opportunity for Simba to have a spiritual experience in which he hears his Father say:

"You have forgotten who you are and so have forgotten me. Look inside yourself, Simba. You are more than what you have become. You must take your place in the Circle of Life."

"Remember who you are.  You are my son and the one true king.

Remember who you are."

My friends, when we committed ourselves to be Christ followers, to be His disciples, it meant that we would live out what the Father worked in, the image of His son, the image of the Lion. We abide in Him, and He in us. Jesus said:

John 8:31-32 (MSG)

"If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you."

Remember who God declared you to be when you first believed. Live that out. You will escape the lies as you live out your God-given identity.

What do you see in yourself? What do you see when you look into the mirror of life?  What do you most see about yourself?

Allow me to be your Rifiki today. Do not allow your mistakes to become your identity. Do not allow what others have said against your to become your identity.

Listen, close your eyes and listen, To the voice of your heavenly Father. Allow Him to wake your inner lion. Allow Him to remind you of who you are.

He Knows My Name  Francesca Battistelli

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnmnEc6gF3E

Do not allow lies to become your identity. Remembrance of who you are relieves the need for self-flagellation. In remembering you stop the harboring of guilt and shame. Instead of stuckness that keeps you muddling in doubt, you rise in spirit like the lion who rises up.  Jesus unbinds our hearts to reveal our true nature. He reveals the strength you’ve forgotten you have, the resilience you forgot you had,

and the beautiful image of who you are in Christ.

Lion up! God gives you the courage and strength to be the person God created you to be.

Lion up! Stand tall and go forth with lion-hearts and lion-boldness in faith and in hope.

Lion up! The lion’s voice is that powerful and creative voice of God that brings

Healing, forgiveness, restoration, and hope.

Lion up! Yours in the Lion’s voice of salvation.

Go Be who you really are.

Hello, My Name Is  Matthew West

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuJWQzjfU3o