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    The Shadow of the Substance
    The Shadow of the Substance
    The Shadow of the Substance
    Ebook141 pages1 hour

    The Shadow of the Substance

    By Dr. Martin G Tharp PhD

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    About this ebook

    What's in a shadow? Can you decipher the color of the skin? Do you see a beauty or a beast? Does it divulge an age, health, financial status, or lack of daily supply? Can a shadow display social standing or denominational background? When it comes to a shadow, there is only one common criteria we should concern ourselves with: are we reflecting a true image of the Substance?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDr. Martin G Tharp PhD
    Release dateMar 7, 2013
    ISBN9781301677276
    The Shadow of the Substance
    Author

    Dr. Martin G Tharp PhD

    Dr. Martin Tharp has been an avid student of the Bible for many years and holds a Bachelor, Master and eight Doctorates, one honorary and seven earned, including a Doctor. of Literature and two PhDs. He has been in full time ministry for over fifty-seven years and has authored forty-nine books to date, many of which are being used as curriculum in Bible colleges around the United States and abroad. He has also penned a number of gospel songs and recorded thirty-three albums as well as being actively involved in a school ministry to Northern Ireland in the United Kingdom for the past thirty-eight years, and Dr. Tharp has been honored twice by members of parliament in Ireland for their work in the Protestant and Catholic schools. He and his wife, Sharon, along with Maranda Howells, travel extensively across the USA and the whole of the British Isles holding evangelistic crusades in the churches of both countries.

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      Book preview

      The Shadow of the Substance - Dr. Martin G Tharp PhD

      The Shadow

      Of

      The Substance

      By Martin G. Tharp, Ph.D.

      Copyright 2013 Martin Tharp Ph.D.

      Smashwords edition

      Smashwords Edition, License Notes; This ebook is licensed for your own personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this ebook with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.. Scripture quotations identified KJV are from the Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible, King James Version. Copyright 1984, 1991 by AMG International, INC and the Living Bible Copyright 1971, 1986 by Tyndale House Publishers INC

      Dedication

      I would like to dedicate this book to Dr. Ed Stewart and wife Mary, who are the Pastors of the Community Assembly of God in San Francisco. Theirs is a thriving multi-racial church from which, three of their young people have joined The Tharp Family in our work in the British Isles (others are preparing for that prospect). For nearly thirty years he has been an encouragement to me personally by his friendship as well as his consistent compliments and kind words on the content of my sermons each year, as well as the books which I have written.

      Ed and I are like a pair of yo-yo’s with our weight, a fact for which I have become eternally grateful. His taste in suits is very similar to mine with one exception, the price! However, I look forward to the time of year when his new diet always ensures me a new supply of beautiful suits!

      Acknowledgment

      To the Pastors across America who have for the past five decades, and those throughout the British Isles who have for the past three decades, been a tremendous encouragement to me personally, as I have endeavored to preach that which God has placed in my spirit year after year.

      Although the churches who open their doors to us are as varied in their doctrinal approaches to the gospel is as far removed as the east is from the west, yet they all share a common bond; The Gospel of Jesus Christ!

      Every now and then someone will ask me why we are involved in such a wide spectrum of religious persuasions and backgrounds, the answer is really very simple. I read the first chapter of the book of Philippians!

      "Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel. What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretense, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice" (Philippians 1:16-18).

      Also, I am in total agreement with the statement made by the apostle Paul as he wrote to the church at Corinth; For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! (I Corinthians 9:16)

      In my estimation, preaching is not a vocation to be chosen on the basis of opportunities, preaching is a calling of God which supercedes all other desires in the psychological makeup of the human intellect. No other vocation can match the job description which Jesus articulates, If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you,

      The Apostle Paul reiterates the subject based on his own experiences, The Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. What a benefit program!

      To the various churches and ministries to whom this acknowledgment applies, all of which share with me this common bond; a burning desire to see the building of the Kingdom of God in the earth today! That we all may arrive at the position of being:

      The Shadow of the Substance!

      Table of Contents

      Introduction

      1. Questions and Legacy

      2. Communicating With The Image

      3. Searching For The Face Of God

      4. The Eikon

      5. Dead Ducks In The Darkness

      6. The Mirror Image

      7. Dead Man, Shadow Walking

      Study Questions

      About the Author

      Forward

      Dr. Marty Tharp brought the revelation of the truths contained in this book to Dominion Christian Center in April, 2001. The impact on us as pastors, the congregation, and Bible College students was so profound that we continued to explore their significance for several weeks following.

      He teaches that we have been created in the image and likeness of God and as such we must portray the truth that we are indeed the shadow of His substance; that every thought, word and deed must reflect the true image of God.

      This book gives a prolific expression of truth that is profound yet practical and the precepts he presents are revelatory for the believer and vital for every student of the Word. We highly recommend this book without reservation.

      Dr. Vernon Beavers

      Dr. Helene Beavers

      Introduction

      Inquiring minds want to know, is the trade mark of one our nation’s major magazines. The book that you now hold in your hand is mute testimony to the veracity of that statement.

      The words of Jesus in John seventeen is reason enough to question why it would appear that the prayer He prayed never came to fruition. Our position in the kingdom of God is generally predicated on our adherence to whatever strain of religious persuasion we have been raised in. Yet Jesus cut through all denominational lines when He spoke these momentous words;

      "And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them , as thou hast loved me" (John 17:22-23).

      The question that I have been asking myself is this; If we are suppose to have received the glory, and be one in Christ just as Christ was and is one in God, what happened? I’m sorry, but I just can’t see the modern day church manifesting that magnificent manifesto! For the most part, the Church at large is struggling to maintain status-quo. Of course there are exceptions to the rule, but it is an uncontested fact that over ninety percent of the Churches of all denominations, struggle to reach one hundred every Sunday morning.

      The cry of my heart is this; why do we not understand who we are in Christ? And if we do understand, why do we not manifest it?

      The Shadow of the Substance articulates some of the reasons which I feel have traditionally and effectively blocked our minds from exercising the spiritual tenacity and mental capacity which is required for us to take our rightful places in the Kingdom of God! Then hopefully it will result in challenging the very cornerstones of whatever walls you have erected around your religious safe-havens, and stir within your innermost being the desire to throw caution to the wind and allow our heavenly Father to help us become the ultimate fulfillment to that final prayer of the Lamb of God, slain from the foundation of the world!

      Chapter One

      Questions and Legacy

      From the very beginning of my Christian life I have had a very inquisitive nature, seeking answers to questions which would in no way enhance my spiritual existence. I can assure you, the beginning of the world has no bearing on the situations which we all must come to grips with at one time or another. At about the time I was certain it would be necessary for me to understand everything about God in order to serve Him adequately, I read a Scripture which has totally transformed my thinking process.

      "The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation" (Hebrews 9:8-10).

      How could it be possible for an entire class of people whose lives were dedicated to the sole purpose of ministry behind the veil inside the tabernacle, have no understanding of what they were doing? Actually, they understood perfectly what they were doing in regard to the measure of light which had been provided for them, yet the significance of the prophetic adumbrations encapsulated in each ritual which they performed was never made manifest to them.

      If you could be transported in time back to the wilderness tabernacle, and attempt to convince Aaron and his sons that they had no idea what the significance of these rituals were, then face the Kohathites, the Merarites, and the Gershoniites and inform them of their ignorance in regard to the implication of their particular function and that Aaron’s entrance behind the veil into the presence of a Holy God, where the manifestation of His Shekinah glory between the cherubim’s was only a figure for their present time? My friend, trust me, you would have no success whatsoever in convincing anyone of the veracity of that statement, and yet the Scripture is crystal clear on the subject. Were they wrong? Of course not! They were walking in direct obedience to the ordained order of God which was set before them, serving without question under the leadership of Moses.

      Several times during my forty-one years of serving the Lord I have been thoroughly convinced that there remained no more revelation of who we are in Him! Yet here I am writing another book, based on the revolutionary change this subject has made, and is making in my own life. These are sayings, which bear repeating;

      Youth is wasted on the young!

      Oh to be young again and know what I know now!

      Both of these are lamentations which are generally spoken by someone who has found themselves at a juncture in life when their time on earth is growing ever more precarious and uncertain. I have written a short poem which may express more succinctly my thoughts on the subject of wisdom.

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