Steps To Life Transformation

I personally experienced a life transformation primarily through the love of my mother and the love of a high school Sunday School teacher. On a Sunday in October when I was 15 years old my S.S. teacher, who was preparing to be a missionary, gave the morning message and an invitation to receive Jesus. I thought about making a public profession, but I didn’t.

At the end of our Sunday dinner my mother turned to me and with tears in her eyes asked, “Raymond, why didn’t you go forward and accept Jesus this morning.” I told my mother that I wasn’t quite ready. Sunday evening when the invitation was given I was the first one to respond. That following month I gave a public testimony by being baptized by immersion.

In Luke 5:8-11 we see the life of Simon Peter undergo a transformation.

Last Sunday we looked at Luke 5:1-7 and focused on the themes that from a human perspective life is hopeless, but from God’s perspective there are no hopeless situations. When Jesus is near there is always hope.

When Simon Peter reached the shore with his boatload of fish he cried out, “O Jesus, please leave me – I’m too much of a sinner to be around you.” Luke 5:8 - Peter observed the results. He fished all night and caught nothing. At the word of Jesus two boats were filled with fish. Peter was transformed from going his way of fishing for fish to following Jesus and catching people with God’s love.

In the life transformation of Simon Peter we have the steps to life transformation.

1. Conviction. Simon Peter cried out, “Oh Lord, please leave me, I’m to much a sinner to be a round you.” Conviction is realizing that the best in us falls far short of God’s holiness. Conviction is admitting that I’m a sinner. “It’s not my mother, or by brother or my sister, but it’s me O Lord standing in the need of prayer.”

When we get a glimpse of God’s holiness we see our sinful condition. The prophet Isaiah was in the temple praying. Isaiah 6:1, “I saw the Lord.” As Isaiah was worshipping the Lord, he sensed God’s presence and God’s glory. He prayed out, verse 5, “Woe is me, I am ruined. For I am a man of unclean lips.” Isaiah acknowledged that he was a sinful man and a member of a sinful people.

Conviction of sin comes in many different ways. Conviction comes from reading or hearing God’s Word. The Holy Spirit brings conviction that our life is empty and void. Conviction is the realization that I lack peace in my life. I have no joy in living.

On the day of Pentecost, 50 days following the resurrection of Jesus. The disciples were gathered in Jerusalem and Peter stood up and preached to the crowd of people that come together. Acts 2:37-38, “When the people heard this (Good News, Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead) they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers what shall we do?’ Peter replied, repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.”

Conviction of sin is having a sense of guilt and the Holy Spirit convinces us that there is hope and not despair. Jesus alone is our hope.