IT’S TRANSFORMATION TIME!
INTRO TO TOPIC:
Are you tired of the usual? Do you want to get up out of the ruts of your life and see some major changes? If so, it’s time for TRANSFORMATION! Someone said once, “If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll have what you’ve always had.” If you’re ready to try something new, I believe God’s word gives us some keys to experiencing a transformed life!
OPENING TEXT: Great Bible verse to memorize!
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2).
What does it mean: “Therefore… by the mercies of God?”
• Whenever you see the word ‘therefore’ in your Bible study, ask: “What’s it there for?”
• “When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?” (NLT).
• The first eleven chapters of Romans have talked about how much God loves us:
• “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8).
• This call is a response to God’s love, not something we do to try to earn it!
THE BIG IDEA: It’s time to make a change! We need to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, to not be conformed to the world, and to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.
1. PRESENT YOUR BODIES AS A LIVING SACRIFICE:
What does it mean to be a living sacrifice?
• Paul says it is your “reasonable service.” Also: “Your spiritual act of worship.”
• Worship isn’t just about the songs we sing; it is a lifestyle of worship!
Jesus said, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Mark 8:34).
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20).
• Jesus died for you – will you live for Him?
• “Take your everyday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life - and place it before God as an offering.” (Romans 12:1, MSG).
ILLUSTRATION: (Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopedia of 7,700 Illustrations).
“There is a story told about a pig and a chicken walking down the road together. As they walked along they read a sign advertising a breakfast to benefit the poor. The chicken said to the pig, “You and I should donate a ham and egg breakfast.” The pig replied, “Not so fast. For you it would just be a contribution, but for me it would be a total commitment.”
2. DO NOT BE CONFORMED TO THE WORLD’S SCHEMATIC:
What does it mean to be conformed to the world? Greek word saschematizo = schematic/plans.
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world.” (NLT).
“Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking.” (MSG).
What is the world’s schematic?
“With the Lord’s authority let me say this: Live no longer as the ungodly do:
1. for they are hopelessly confused.
2. Their closed minds are full of darkness;
3. they are far away from the life of God because
4. they have shut their minds and hardened their hearts against him.
5. They don’t care anymore about right and wrong,
6. and they have given themselves over to immoral ways.
7. Their lives are filled with all kinds of impurity and greed.
But that isn’t what you were taught when you learned about Christ. Since you have heard all about him and have learned the truth that is in Jesus, throw off your old evil nature and your former way of life, which is rotten through and through, full of lust and deception.”
(Ephesians 4:17-22, NLT).
• God doesn’t want us to live that way any longer! He wants us to change!
“Instead, there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes. You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God’s likeness – righteous, holy, and true.” (Ephesians 4:23-24, NLT).
3. BE TRANSFORMED INTO THE IMAGE OF JESUS:
“Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” (NLT).
• Transformed = metamorphoo = where we get the word metamorphosis – change from inside out. This is something that the Holy Spirit does on the inside of us!
“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.” (Romans 8:29).
• God’s desire is that we would be transformed into the image of Jesus!
“Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.” (Colossians 3:9-10).
• Romans, Ephesians and Colossians all say the same thing:
• Put off the old nature (world’s schematic) and put on the new nature (image of Jesus).
“25 So put away all falsehood and "tell your neighbor the truth" because we belong to each other. 26 And "don’t sin by letting anger gain control over you." Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a mighty foothold to the Devil. 28 If you are a thief, stop stealing. Begin using your hands for honest work, and then give generously to others in need. 29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. 30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he is the one who has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:25-32, NLT).
What time is it? It’s time to make a change. It’s transformation time!
THE WORLD’S SCHEMATIC:
Falsehood & lying
Getting angry
Stealing
Using foul or abusive language
Bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, slander
THE IMAGE OF JESUS:
tell the truth
walk in peace
do honest work and be generous
speak good, helpful and encouraging words
be kind, tenderhearted and forgiving.
“Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you.” (Ephesians 5:18).
THE WORLD’S SCHEMATIC:
Gives the devil a mighty foothold, and brings sorrow to the Holy Spirit.
THE IMAGE OF JESUS:
“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” (Ephesians 5:1-2). Pleases God.
THE WORLD’S SCHEMATIC:
“When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” (Galatians 6:19-21, NLT).
THE IMAGE OF JESUS:
“But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Gal. 6:22-23).
What time is it? It’s time to make a change. It’s transformation time!
• You say you’re saved – what are you saved from? It’s transformation time!
• We’re not just forgiven, but God has empowered us to CHANGE!
CLOSING CHALLENGE: HOW ARE WE TRANSFORMED INTO THE IMAGE OF JESUS?
1. By renewing our minds by the Word.
“If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32).
2. By spending time with Jesus in prayer.
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” (John 15:4).
“But we all…beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Cor. 3:18).
THE CHALLENGE:
Are you tired of the usual? Do you want to get up out of the ruts of your life and see some major changes? If so, it’s time for TRANSFORMATION!
They say it takes 30 days to make or break a habit. For the next 30 days:
• Commit to praying and reading your Bible every day.
• Guard your heart against the world’s schematic… the devil’s schemes!
Beausejour Community Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://thelandofpromise.blogspot.com/
