BE TRANSFORMED
Text: Romans 12:1-2
Romans 12:1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.
Romans 12:2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. NLT
Introduction:
The only thing that is constant in life is change, however you need to watch the type of change you are experiencing, is it Positive or Negative?
I. What is Transformation
II. Why must I be Transformed
III. How does Transformation take place
IV. The Transformation you need
I. WHAT IS TRANSFORMATION?
1. Transformation is from Greek word metamorphoo (met-am-or-fo’-o)
To change into another form
From which comes the word “metamorphosis “
Used to describe a change of form (e.g., when a caterpillar becomes a butterfly.
2. In the NT, this word is used to describe what happened to Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration - Matthew 17:1-2
complete change: a complete change, usually into something with an improved appearance or usefulness transforming.
II. WHY MUST I BE TRANSFORMED
Because you did not enter this world with a godly nature and character. Rather, from our very conception we possessed a sinful nature and with a sinful char-acter. Psalm 51:5; Rom 3:23
The character of heart was “desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9), and “the imaginations of the thoughts” of our hearts was “only evil continually” from our youth up (Genesis 6:5; 8:21).
We entered this world spiritually sense as “the children of disobedience,” being spiritually “dead in trespasses and sins.” (Ephesians 2:1-2)
Our spiritual understanding was darkened, and spiritual blindness filled our hearts. (Ephesians 4:18)
Even so, we “walked according to the course of this world,” giving ourselves to fulfill the desires of our own sinful flesh and mind. (Ephesians 2:2-3) Yea, in utter selfishness we gave ourselves “to work all uncleanness with greed-iness.” (Ephesians 4:19)
You cannot stay in Isolation is either you are transformed or conformed and you are advice not to be conformed 1John 2:15; Rom 12:2
If you are not Transform you cannot please God or do his will
Heb 12:14; 1Pet 1:14-16
If you are not Transformed you cannot get your destination. Gen 35:1-5
If you are not Transformed you cannot fulfill destiny. Acts 2:37-41
III. HOW DOES TRANSFORMATION TAKE PLACE
Is a Process And it requires a “change agent.”
We cannot change ourselves by our own strength or by our works. Romans 7:18-20, 24-25a
A. It begins when we give our life to Christ and get baptized into Christ! John 3:3-8; 2Cor 5:17
For there we experience the working of God:
Colossians 2:9-14
1. Spiritually circumcised as our sins are removed
2. Buried then raised with Christ
3. Made alive with Christ, forgiven of all trespasses
b. For there we experience the renewal of the Spirit
Titus 3:4-7
1. Saved by the mercy of God
2. Involving a washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit
c. For there we rise to walk in newness of life: Romans 6:3-8
B. Renewing the Mind...
1. The process of transformation continues as we renew the mind
a. As indicated in our text Romans 12:2; also”
Ephesians 4:22-24
Unless there is a renewing of the mind, any change in our lives will be superficial
Renewing the mind is made possible by where we set our minds
Setting our minds on things above - Colossians 3:1-2
Setting our minds on the things of the Spirit - Romans 8:5
I.e., feeding our minds with the Word of God, prayer, fellowship, etc.
Acts 2:42 “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
With our minds “renewed” we can experience true transformation!
By putting off the old man and putting on the new man - Colossians 3:1-11
By living according to the Spirit - Romans 8:5, 13
IV. THE TRANSFORMATION YOU NEED
Sinner to Saint. 2Cor 5:17
Poverty to Prosperity. 3John 1:2; 1Chr 4:9-10
Not Enough to More than Enough. Ps 23:5
Sickness to Health. 3Joh n 1:2Matt 15:21-28
Failure to Success. Jos 1:8
Single to Married. Matt 19:5
Barrenness to Fruitfulness. Gen 1:28
Victim to Victor. Ps 23:4
Conclusion
Do you truly need Transformation then come to Jesus for help, if you have not given your life or you are a backslider come now, see to it that Transformation is constant in your life
