Transformational power of God
2 Corinthians 5:17
Introduction-
We have been in a series looking at practical ways of experiencing God.
During our time of prayer.
During our times of worship.
Knowing what we believe and why we believe it.
And this morning the transforming power of God -Acknowledging that we need to change and we do not have the power in ourselves to make that change. We can be good old boys and girls but we cannot change the way God intends without God doing it.
If we are to truly experience God, we need to change.
Transformation or change has to come from the Lord.
It is supernatural and is much needed if we are going to live the life that God calls the “abundant life”.
Go down and say hi to Ceci and Craig Thomas, thank them for coming. Go to Fred and Amanda Brungart and tell them that I am glad for their friendship. Go over to Karen and Lennard Knorr, 35 year friends that seem to follow me wherever I go. It is not that I am that good a preacher, it must be that they feel sorry for me and then tell them that they are precious to Becky and I.
My point for this is that you by choice decided that you were coming to church this morning. I could not have told you how I feel if you were not here today, and you would not have heard how I feel if you were not here. It would of got lost in should a could a would a of life.
You got up, put on church clothes instead of yard work clothes and came to church.
You came this morning, not because you had nothing else to do. We are all busy and we can always find something to do. You came because it was important and the rest could wait until later.
Some this morning, got up with good intentions, but decided that they would not be here this morning. They will miss what God intended to tell them through the Word and they will miss the fellowship with like-minded believers.
Take vacations, take time away but otherwise determine that you will be in the house of the Lord.
I am saying that we have to look at our lives and ask ourselves if we are becoming more like Christ or more like the world?
God changes us and we can change the world, not allowing the world changing us.
The text this morning is one verse 2 Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come, the old has gone, the new is here.”(NIV)
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”(KJV)
Like the KJV better here
Apostle Paul love the term “In Christ”, He uses it often and it means united with Christ through faith in Him.
Redemption is the restoration and fulfillment of God’s purpose for those things that He created.
In Christ, those things He wants to make new because of man’s fallen nature. Humanity fallen under Adam and in Christ resurrected because of Christ.
The words transform, transformation are thrown around carelessly.
Change is always a key word of a speech.
Every politician says that we need change and yet gets vague on how he/she is going to do it.
We get excited to hear about change, but we are not excited when it comes to changing.
3 thoughts for you to consider
1. What is the biblical definition of transformation?
2. What does a transformed person of God look like and do?
3. Do you want to be that transformed person?
Let’s begin with what does the Bible say about transformation?
Transformation means change or renewal.
From a biblical definition it would be a life that no longer conforms to the ways of the world and desires to please God instead of yourself and others.
The verse we looked at last week would fit here.
Romans 12:1-
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God- this is your true and proper worship.” Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
A renewing of our mind-Thinking different, pleasing God instead of self. (That goes over well)
Empowered by the Holy Spirit instead of doing things in our own strength. (Pride)
We see that biblical transformation comes from one source- Holy Spirit of God.
“ For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18)
Illustration-
I wish I had a dollar for every time that I have been told off- They call it getting things off their chest or venting. They have a need to correct my way of thinking, to verbally disagree with me and my God. If I don’t stand there and take it, I am being mean, narrow minded, and not a Christian. The fact that they had brought certain things on themselves that I had nothing to do with is irrelevant. They have trouble taking responsibility and not blaming it on someone else…just plain looking for a whipping boy. Holy Spirit tells you to be quiet.
I also know times that that same power of God has convicted me to remind me that some things are instantly transformed and other things are a process. About two weeks ago, during a Bountiful Blessing session, a few had gotten under my skin, don’t look at me like that, you know what I am talking about. They had pushed the limits and I said enough is enough, it had gotten a little heated and I went back to my office and the Lord convicted me about what happen. What they did was wrong, but the way I handled it was also wrong. When it came time to begin the Bountiful blessing session, I had to begin by apologizing for letting it get out of control, you could of heard a pin drop, and then God began to do something amazing, the other people involved stood and apologized back. God had done a work. Transformation was happening, but it took several people to repent of their actions.
Biblical transformation begins with the gospel message of Christ.
“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes; first for the Jew; then for the gentiles. For in the gospel a righteousness of God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written; the righteous will live by faith.”
The gospel message is about Christ, what Christ did for us. Transformation is the changing of our lives by Christ being in us. Christ in us, done through us, in spite of us, it is His total working in our lives.
We have to understand the biblical concept of transformation.
II. What does a transformed person look like?
Are they perfect? No, on this side of heaven, there are no perfect people. No perfect churches. No perfect pastors.
Through Christ, we put off the old nature, that nature we are born with because of the fall of man.
The nature that is against the things of God and the nature of being selfish and sinful. Those cute babies are born sinners, the ones that figure they are a good people, they are sinners and needing Jesus Christ to change them, to redeem them.
Jesus cannot be our redeemer until we realize that we need a savior.
That nature that belongs to the former manner of your life and is corrupt and sinful. It is renewed by the Spirit of God first in our minds.
We have a change of attitude.
We have a change of desires.
We have a change of allegiance.
We throw off the old and desire God to renew us and put on the new.
One created in the likeness of God. One that is holy, not because we are perfect, but because Christ is perfect in us.
“For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”
I have some facts for you. I don’t think it will surprise you, but it should alarm you a little.
Over 91 % of all homes have several Bibles, but only 30% read from them at least once a week besides during church services.
In the last decade moral standards have dropped as well as church attendance.
Inside the church universal, there is no difference in the divorce rate, in fact in some findings, they say there is more.
Only 20% of all believers have read the whole Bible in their lifetime.
Only 1/3 believers believe that the Bible is without error.
These facts alarm me!
There is only one reason that would account for the decline.
The fact that there is no transformation in people lives. They have been brain-washed into believing that they can live like the world, and that God will understand.
I am not ashamed of the gospel! Paul says to us.
Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come, the old has gone, the new is here.”
I believe that is pretty direct that God desires and demands that as believers there be a change in our lives.
You don’t have to change to go to God, in fact He will clean you up in spite of yourself. The reality is that you cannot change until you go to God. But when you come, He wants change.
Before you go running out the door this morning, hear what I am about to say.
Transformation begins in the mind. You decide, you determine, you are persuaded that you not only need change, but that you are willing to let the Lord change you.
The work that God desires to do is nothing short of a miracle.
The metamorphosis of a butterfly. Changing from one thing to another. From a caterpillar to a butterfly.
Why would a creator God want to leave something he created broken because of the fall? He wants to fix something that we cannot fix ourselves. He takes the old and does His miracle, He makes it new.
You listen to the news and we see how far as a society we have moved away from God. The political candidates present themselves as saviors. There is only one savior and His name is Jesus Christ. He is the only one that will help us in our time of need. He is the only one that can take brokenness and make a person whole again.
All we see at times is the fog. The circumstances before us. The weakness of our ability to fix what is wrong with us and wrong in our families. He is the only one that can transform! It is time to stop faking it. It is time to decide you will be all in.
The last thing, very quickly,
III. Do you want that transformation? You can answer me yes this morning, but if nothing changes, it is only words.
“All scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong, and teaches us to do right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
The best translation of the Bible is the one that translates into your life and changes it forever.
God wants his words to translate into our lives.
I battled with this message this morning.
I knew that a good portion of people are away this week. Keep the message of transformation for when more will hear it. And He would not let me do that- it is for you and I this morning.
Do you realize what God can do with a transformed life?
Do you realize the impact you could make in the people that God brings around you. We can set this community on its heels if we would go out of here and let God do what he wants to do in our lives.
My question for you is will you let Him?
