“Transformers”
Pt. 3 – The Spirit
We have discussed that we need a transformation in our mind. What we think about, how we think about us, others, and church. Then last week I challenged you to have a transformation in how you use your vessel – your body. Are you silver or Styrofoam? I know you are in the house, but are you a vessel of honor or dishonor. Can God use you? How have you used your feet, your mouth and your hands this week? How you handled your vessel determined how God was able to use you this week! Now this morning I want to look at the final area of transformation that is essential for us become transformers. In order for you to bring transformation into your world, into your home, into your work place, into this community you must have a transformation of spirit.
TEXT: II Timothy 1:7
7For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
In this portion of Scripture, Paul gives us insight into what we type of spirit that we have not been given and then he deals with what spirit we should have in us.
A. We have not been given a spirit of fea.
Paul tells us that we have not been given a spirit of fear. (Slide 4b) Fear is defined as “Faithless, dread”. How many of you have ever felt faithless dread?
If we are controlled by doubt, dread, insecurity, panic, or anxiety then we need a transformation in our spirit. We are not to live in fear of each other or of the enemy.
Too many of us live in fear and doubt. We are faithless.
We think all the promises are for someone else. Fear of failure, fear of success, fear of rejection, fear of ridicule, fear of pain, fear of death, fear of evil. We are controlled by fear. We have not been given this spirit. If we have it is because we have chosen to take it on ourselves.
A legend from India tells about a mouse that was terrified of cats until a magician agreed to transform him into a cat. That resolved his fear until he met a dog, so the magician turned him into a dog. The mouse-turned-cat-turned dog was content until he met a tiger - so, once again, the magician changed him into what he feared. But when the tiger came complaining that he had met a hunter, the magician refused to help. "I will make you into a mouse again, for though you have a body of a tiger, you still have the heart of a mouse."
Too many of who have been promised the spirit of the tiger still walk around with the heart of a mouse.
Come on turn to your neighbor and say are you a man or mouse? Sing to them if you want M-I-C-K-E-Y! We are not called to live in fear.
Take strength in Isaiah 12:2 “2Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for Jehovah, even Jehovah, is my strength and song; and he is become my salvation. “
Grow strong in Psalm 27:1-3 “1Light, space, zest—that’s GOD!
So, with him on my side I’m fearless, afraid of no one and nothing.
2When vandal hordes ride down ready to eat me alive,
Those bullies and toughs fall flat on their faces.
3When besieged, I’m calm as a baby.
When all hell breaks loose, I’m collected and cool.”
B. What we have been given:
Notice the fact that in this portion of Scripture the things we have been given are dealt as a forgone conclusion. It addresses these things with the idea that we already have them. We need to understand that these things are ours. We don’t have to go get them; it isn’t an issue of maybe or might be ours. They belong to us now. We must only begin to operate in this spirit. We must begin to walk in the spirit that we have already been given.
Up until this week the areas of our mind and our body I have told you that emphasis is on us. If a man purge himself, take every thought captive. How many of you have tried to make it on will power alone? It is tough. It is almost impossible. That is why Paul talked about the struggle he had and he said I know to do good and I can’t seem to do it even though I want to do it. That is why this part of the message is so crucial. In fact, it is the crux of the matter. We are to take responsibility, we are to guard our thought life, we are to hand our bodies correctly. However, the good news is that we can win those battles because God gives us the ability to do so by transforming our spirits! He in fact says that He has given us a different spirit. Paul says this:
1. We have a spirit of love.
Not should have a spirit of love. We already have it in us.
Therefore we should be marked and identified by love. The Word teaches us that all men will know that we are followers of Christ not by our program, our t-shirt, our big Bible, lights, music, or our ability to worship. They will know us by our love. A sure fire sign that you have indeed been transformed is when you begin to walk in love.
We will know you have been transformed when you love each other so much that you refuse to hurt one another even when the chance and opportunity is readily available.
We will know we have been transformed when we turn the other cheek.
We will know we have been transformed when love determines what we say and don’t say.
We will know we have been transformed when people who have never been accepted find a place of acceptance here.
We will know we have been transformed when we can do outreach and feel just as home with the down and out as we do with the folks we worship with on Sunday.
2. We have a spirit of power.
This word power means we have given a spirit of (Slide 8b) “Abundance, ability, and meaning.”
He desires to transform your weak, carnal spirit into a spirit of power. Power to walk, talk, and live victoriously. Power to overcome temptation and addictions.
Too many of us are weak, barely making it, unsure of who we are. It is time to be transformed in spirit. It is time to live in abundance, to have ability, and to recognize that we have a meaning and purpose in life.
We have access to power. Ephesians 6 tells us to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might.
Jesus said that he had come to give us life and life more abundant. That abundant life is ours for the taking. Too often we fail to even see life much less abundant life in believers!
We will know you have been transformed when you are no longer wish washy, weak, sometimes up, sometimes down, scrapping by, wimpy but filled with power and authority.
Walking like a person who has ability and meaning in life. Secure in who you are in Christ. We have power.
John 14:12 he said, “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” We are to be doing greater works than He did. He operated in great power and if we are going to do more than He did we must begin to move in greater power.
3. We have a spirit of a sound mind.
A more accurate translation would be a spirit of self-discipline. We shy away from the word discipline. We think of our weakness, our habits, our addictions, our tendencies and think there is no hope. I can never stop. I can never be free. I don’t have enough will power. Good news.
Resident in you from the moment of conversion is a spirit of self-discipline. It is there. The power to rule over your desires and your tendencies is there. The discipline to turn off the music, to walk out of the theater, to break off the relationship, to change friends, to refuse the attitude that prevails around you, the power/discipline is in you.
It is there but we must utilize it. We must listen to the still small voice inside of us that instructs us to stop. We must give in to the direction of the Spirit. He is the internal referee (whistle blower). We must allow this spirit of self-discipline to become active in us because the more we discipline ourselves the easier it becomes to live according to God’s standards.
Our cry must become, “Holiness, holiness is what I long for.” When everyone else gives in and bows down we stand fast and firm.
We need to be transformed in our spirit so that we will become marked by love, power, and a sound mind. However, the key is found in Romans 8:11.
11But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
The biggest word in this verse is the word “if”. Is it there? The word dwell means, “to have a fixed position.” If that spirit is constant in you has a fixed position in you. Doesn’t just show up on Sunday when the music is just right. Not there only in the good times. It is fixed. Then you will be quickened or changed or transformed. You will have no fear, but you will have the spirit of adoption – love, you will have power and you will have discipline.
What does transformation look like?
Ask Simon. He was transformed in mind. Who do you say that I am. His mind changed and he became Peter (a rock) when he thought and saw himself in a different light.
Ask Saul. He used his mouth to attack, his feet to chase defenseless Christians, and his hands to kill them, but he was transformed into Paul and became a vessel of honor.
Ask the demon-possessed man filled with a legion of demons who was so full of fear. When he came into contact with Jesus his spirit became a spirit of love, power, and a sound mind.
We are called to be transformers (in this world but not of it) but in order to transform anyone or anything we must be transformed.
We need a transformation of our mind, our body, and in our spirit.
