Introduction

Welcome, dear friends! I am so glad you are here with us today. You are not here by accident. God has a purpose for you being here. He has a message He wants to whisper into your heart.

We are gathered here today, not as strangers, but as a family, bound by the love of Christ. We are here to seek God's face, to listen to His Word, and to be transformed by His truth.

We find ourselves in the book of Ezekiel today, specifically in chapter 36, verse 26. The Word of God tells us: "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." Isn't that a powerful promise? God Himself promises to renew us, to change us from the inside out.

Pleasing God through Transformation

When we consider the promise given to us in Ezekiel 36:26, we are confronted with the reality of a divine transformation. This transformation is not a superficial change, but a deep, profound alteration of our very being. It's a change that begins in the heart, the core of who we are. God promises to remove our heart of stone, a heart hardened by sin and rebellion, and replace it with a heart of flesh, a heart that is soft, responsive, and alive to God.

This transformation is a work of God, a work of His grace. He is the one who gives us a new heart. He is the one who puts a new spirit in us. It's all about His power, His work, His grace. It's about changing our desires, our motivations, our attitudes. It's about becoming a new creation in Christ. It's about having a new identity, a new purpose, a new direction in life.

This transformation is a journey we walk with God, a journey marked by growth, learning, and maturing. It's a journey that involves both joys and trials, victories and failures, strengths and weaknesses. It's a journey that requires patience, perseverance, and faith.

Now, let's consider the first aspect of this transformation: the removal of our heart of stone. This is a picture of our natural state, our condition without God. A heart of stone is unresponsive to God. It's hard, cold, and dead. It's a heart that is resistant to God's Word, God's love, God's grace. But God promises to remove this heart of stone. He promises to break through our hardness, our resistance, our rebellion. He promises to give us a heart that is soft, responsive, and alive to Him.

The second aspect of this transformation is the giving of a new heart. This is not just a repaired heart or an improved heart. It's a new heart, a heart that is radically different from our old heart. It's a heart that loves God, that desires God, that seeks God. It's a heart that is filled with the Spirit of God, that is guided by the Word of God, that is shaped by the love of God.

The third aspect of this transformation is the putting of a new spirit in us. This is not just a change of attitude or a change of mindset. It's a change of our very spirit, our very being. It's a change that is brought about by the Spirit of God, who comes to live in us, who comes to empower us, who comes to transform us. It's a change that enables us to live a life that is pleasing to God, a life that is in line with His will, His ways, His purposes.

The fourth aspect of this transformation is the promise of God. This is not just a wish or a hope. It's a promise, a guarantee from God. It's a promise that is based on the character of God, the faithfulness of God, the power of God.

Pursuing Christ-like Character

As we continue to reflect on the transformative power of God's love, we find ourselves drawn to the pursuit of Christ-like character ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO