Chico Alliance Church
David Welch
“CPR for a Healthy Walk" Part 3
INTRODUCTION
Paul identifies an internal war between the flesh and the spirit for control of the soul. We only have the strength to wage this war when we have a strong heart. We must focus attention on four areas of the daily walk if we are to restore a spiritual focus in a fleshly, sensual culture. In order to live according to how God created us to live, we must return to a spirit based life and not a flesh based life. The flesh wars and against the spirit and the spirit wars against the flesh.
I. Continually cultivate Relationship with Christ
A. Humbly Connect to Christ
B. Gratefully consecrate (present) your members to His service.
• Paul maintained a deep desire to glorify God even in his body.
• He viewed his body as a vessel that housed and displayed Christ.
• Paul kept his body in subjection in order to be the best possible servant.
• Paul realized that reward would be granted or withheld according to the things done while living in these bodies.
• Paul warned the Corinthians about improper use of the body.
• Paul exhorts us to glorify God in our body.
• Paul maintained an awareness that these bodies were a temple of the Holy Spirit.
• Paul taught that ownership of our bodies transferred to God through great cost.
• Paul declared that these bodies were made for the Lord and the Lord for the body.
• Paul exhorted the Thessalonians to maintain their vessel in sanctification and honor not in lustful passion as the Gentiles who did not know God. (1 Thess 4)
• James warned about the difficulty of controlling the tongue that affects the whole body.
• Paul also held out the promise of future glorification of these bodies into the image of Christ.
For now we grown inwardly as does all creation awaiting our full adoption and redemption the full redemption of these bodies. (Rom 8), As a demonstration of our gratitude for God’s grace and mercy, we are urged to not only offer our core self but our bodies and soul as well. We offer our bodies a living sacrifice, set apart for special use and well pleasing to God. Is the life of Christ reflected through our very bodies?
Paul calls for a point in time action commitment. Do it now and do it whole heartedly and completely. It is like a marriage commitment. We selflessly commit to give all that we are and have to another. When we fail to live that commitment we do not get remarried. On the basis of that commitment we go back to living that commitment. As opposed to giving our bodies to be burned, Christ calls for a living sacrifice, one that will go on living for Him. The problem with a living sacrifice however, is that it keeps crawling off the altar. Paul calls for a very serious commitment. Until such a commitment is made, we cannot go any further in cultivating our relationship with Christ. Like making a commitment to your spouse and then refuse to give of your body to his or her service. That refusal to totally give of yourself and your body stands in the way of intimacy. If you have at one time made such a commitment to Christ, but have fallen back into a self-focused life, you need not do it again. If you fall, go back to the original commitment. Admit your unfaithfulness and cry out for mercy and the grace to live in faithful obedience and a life of a selfless living sacrifice to him.
This is the gateway to fruitfulness.
This is the gateway to abundant life.
This is the gateway to meaningful life.
C. Continually renew the thinking
This is another element urged by Paul in Romans 12
Present your bodies as those who have already presented yourself to God and experienced new life.
The goal of connection is life and much fruit
The goal of consecration of our bodies is God’s pleasure
The goal of renewing the thinking is transformation and demonstration of God’s perfect will.
1. Renewed thinking brings transformed living
“transformation”
In contrast to being “conformed to this world” by the distortion of our thinking, Paul urges us to be “transformed to Christ’s likeness” by the renewing of our thinking. This is the Greek word “metamorphosis” to be changed from the inside out. To experience an external change based on inward character. To be “conformed” is to experience external change based on external pressure. Paul pictures a continual transformation through the use of a present tense verb. By using a passive form of the verb, Paul also indicates that this is something that happens to us by reason of something action upon us. This same word is used to describe what happened to Jesus on the Mount of “metamorphosis”. He was “transformed” before them. The glory of the divine nature of Jesus broke through the veil of flesh to radiate to the outside to be seen by the disciples. We too are to allow the glory that is ours by reason of the new creation to radiate through our very bodies (previously dedicated as a living sacrifice) to become visible to those around us. Present your members and renew your thinking and experience transformation into His image.
The means of transformation is the renewing of the thinking.
“renewal”
The word for renewal means “New, new in nature, new as in something unexpected, unfamiliar, wonderful.”
Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 2 Cor. 4:16
“mind”
The word for “mind” in this passage has to do with our perception or understanding.
the verb means “to understand, perceive, know, think”
The noun as used refers to “the power of perception, sensation, understanding, judgment, mind, insight, comprehension”. The word most often translated repentance comes from this root word attached to the preposition “after or against” To repent is to think after God or think against the lie or to change one’s perception. We need renewed thinking that brings about transformed living. Transformation of our soul comes about through the “renewal” of our perception. Paul calls for us to continually be transformed by the continual renewal of our thinking.
Perception inspires belief which produces behavior.
When our perception about God, ourselves, and the world are renewed to correspond to God’s way of seeing things, our belief ignites godly behavior. Godly perception stimulates godly belief which results in godly behavior.
The Word of God illumined by the Spirit of God forms our perception
And the one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And we know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. 1 John 3:24
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. 1 Cor. 2:12-13
And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding, in order that we might know Him who is true, and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. 1 John 5:20
like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. 1 Peter 2:2-3
We encounter the person and purpose and pleasure of God in the word of God. Our perception changes as we encounter truth from the Word as illumined by the Spirit and as seen in creation and taught by God gifted servants. Romans 1 talks about gaining a perception of God through observing creation. Truth is communicated through gifted individuals ministering the word.
Paul continually prayed for believers to experience a renewed perception.
For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you, and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephes. 1:15-19
For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. Col. 1:9-12
2. We need a renewed perception regarding Christ.
Paul considered all fleshly things as garbage that he may come to know Christ better.
Philip 3:10
"And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 17:3
and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. Col. 3:10-11
So how does it work? What does a new perception of Christ do.
but whenever a man turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. 2 Cor. 3:16-18
We are woefully ignorant of God. We think we know Him.
We think we know what Jesus would do. But do we? Paul had a healthy fear of God.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom
The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding
Therefore knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences. 2 Cor. 5:11
Paul prayed for this kind of intuitive and experiential knowledge of Christ.
Eternity will not be enough to learn about our infinite God. No one who truly gets a glimpse of Jesus can remain the same.
• Moses asked to see His glory and barely escaped with his life.
• Isaiah caught just a glimpse of the Holiness of God and fell to his knees crying woe is me.
• Peter saw Him in the boat and fell into the fish in humble adoration and cried depart from me a sinner.
• Peter saw Him in all his glory on the Mount and wanted to build a church there.
We need a renewed perception regarding the God we claim to know. Without a continual renewed perception there is no faith and without faith it is impossible to please him because there is no transformed behavior.
a. A renewed perception of Christ leads to deeper purity of life.
Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. 1 John 3:2-3
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2
We must not fail to understand the power of beholding! Where do we see Jesus? In His word. As He manifests through His body.
Through what He has made. Hopefully in our own life and experience.
b. A renewed perception brings true freedom.
Receive the word of God implanted which is able to save your souls James 1
Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:31-32
c. A renewed perception enables proper response to trials.
Proper response to problems depends on a proper perception of the purpose.
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4
Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:1-5
For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. 2 Tim. 1:12
d. A renewed perception of Christ releases divine power
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith (belief inspired by renewed perception) supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge; and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness; and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.
Therefore, I shall always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you. And I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder, 2 Peter 1:2-13
Comprehension of the full dimensions of Christ’s love for us and through us releases us into His divine fullness. Ephesians 3 prayer.
3. We need a renewed perception of ourselves
a. Our Sin
for they all saw Him and were frightened. But immediately He spoke with them and said to them, "Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid." And He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped; and they
were greatly astonished, for they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their heart was hardened. Mark 6:50-52
'So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. 'Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich, and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see. Rev. 3:16-18
And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. 1 John 1:5-2:2
But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Hebrews 3:13
Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin, once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:2-11
b. Our present standing with God
Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Cor. 5:17
Paul says in Corinthians that we know that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit.
And if you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each man's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay upon earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 1 Peter 1:17-21
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life. 1 John 5:13
c. Our future glorification
For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death works in us, but life in you. But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I BELIEVED, THEREFORE I SPOKE," we also believe, therefore also we speak; knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you. 2 Cor. 4:11-14
Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:13
For you showed sympathy to the prisoners, and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and an abiding one. Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. Hebrews 10:34-36
4. We need a renewed perception of the schemes of the evil one
But whom you forgive anything, I forgive also; for indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes in the presence of Christ, in order that no advantage be taken of us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his schemes. 2 Cor. 2:10-11
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete. 2 Cor. 10:3-6
Put on the belt of truth. Take up the shield of belief and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.
5. We need a renewed perception of this fallen world
Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15-17
Conclusions
Jesus called the churches in Revelation to repentance. He called them to a renewed perception To renew their thinking. He called them to once again hear and embrace truth.
Once we connect to Christ and consecrate our members to his service, we are in a position to hear and respond to truth. We are prepared to look into the face of Jesus that we may not only know Him but become like what we see. Jesus spoke to the woman at the well, woman if you really know who it was that asked a drink you would have asked Him and he would have given living water. “If we really knew who it is we call Jesus, we would be asking for living water.”
Determine to become a student of God’s word. The word of God is the only accurate image of Christ. If you are going to experience the transformation that comes from a renewed perception of Jesus, it will only come through a new appreciation for his word. Our thinking about Jesus, ourselves, our world and Satan is so messes up today that we are experiencing very little transformation. We think that our growth will come through some emotional experience or music or a trip or some fantastic church service or some healing.
The rich man was told clearly that if men will not take to heart God’s written word neither will they really believe even if someone should come back from the dead and tell them.
These things can only inspire us to take His word seriously and renew our perception of God and life so that we believe from the depths of our being and find the grace to live what we truly believe. Satan is the author of lies and faulty perception. Only when we connect to Christ and present our members to his service will are we in a position to submit to a renewed perception which inspires a faith that transforms.
In order to restore a spiritual focus form a fleshly focus, we must experience renewed thinking that produces transformed living. It is that supernatural transformation from the inside out that grabs the attention of a dark world.
Behold the Lamb!
Behold the face of Jesus!
Look to Jesus the author and perfecter of faith!
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face.
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.
