The Transformed life in Christ
Romans 12:1-2
Intro- Good morning to our online people, we are glad that you have joined us.
I was on vacation last week and watched people at the airport while I raced around, I am convinced that many struggle with their identity. Who they are inside and out and who they want to be inside and out. It is amazing that people come in a lot of different packages.
Do you believe society spends a lot of time trying to find themselves?
Awhile ago, Madonna that well known theologian was on TV telling the world why Alex Rodriguez (A-rod) to sports fans, one of the richest man in baseball is doing a cleansing in the religion of Kabbalah to find his identity and self worth.
Kabbalah is a religion that believes that you cannot know God. You can only know what God doesn’t do. It is a negative theology of God.
A Rod is not the only one- in a day and age of everything fast, microwave, you can have anything you want, everything right now, you deserve it, you deserve a break today, have it your own way, just do it, people are searching to find themselves..
In Matthew 16:13-17
Jesus is walking with his disciples and he asks them a question.
“Who do people say that I am”? They say that you are John the Baptist, Elijah, some say Jeremiah. then Jesus said direct to Peter..” Who do you say that I am”- Peter stands up and says that “You are the Christ, the son of the living God”
That was profound! That wasn’t revealed by man, but God himself showed him that revelation
Apostle Paul acts chapter 9- The Damascus road experience
After persecuting the church,
After destroying anyone who belonged to “the way”.
Paul has a personal encounter with God! He met Jesus Christ.
I was asked while I was away in a group that was believers and non-believers if I had a chance to have lunch with three people who would they be? Jesus was at the top of the list but they wanted 3 human people-
I choose after much thought Apostle Paul and Peter and a baseball player. Apostle Paul because Jesus used him mightily to spend the gospel and put into place the things that Jesus showed him. The word of God says that Jesus showed him the mystery things that most did not understand.
The second person was Peter- Peter is more like me than I want to admit to most people- Jesus tells him that he will betray Him three times. Peter swears that he won’t and is upset that Jesus would even think that he would do such a thing. Peter fails and Jesus uses him mightily for the kingdom- I got questions at lunch Peter!
How did you pick yourself up after letting Jesus down so badly?
How did you allow the Lord to redeem you and give you a new identity because the old one stumbled so much.
Maybe you’re here this morning asking the same questions.
Wanting to get more answers.
How can I have a life changing encounter with God?
How can I change my life for the good?
Why does it seem to come easy for some, but not me?
Romans 12:1-2 read our text this morning
Paul urges us (begs us) in view of what God has done for us, the mercy that he has shown us, we are to offer our bodies as living sacrifices.
Have you wished that a certain part of your life you could change?
Is there an area of your life you aren’t satisfied with and you know that God is not pleased or satisfied with it either?
That you could be transformed…Changed by the power of God!
Transformed into a strong person when you were afraid.
Transformed into a patient person when your around a person who really irritates you.
Transformed so you can say no to a temptation when it comes up.
Jesus talks about a transformation.
He talks about how we can get from where we are in life to where God desires us to be.
He promises to help us get there.
“I beg you to give your bodies to God”
Paraphrased-
“Don’t copy the behavior of the world, but let God transform you in to a new person by Changing the way that you think.”
Paul is talking about a real transformation. Real changes to your life.
Permanent life altering change
Not like the transformer robots, they quickly change from one thing to another, and back again. two shapes, two lives.
God talks about a permanent transformation and you will be brand new.
The word transform here is the same word that we get the word metamorphosis from. Caterpillar goes into a cocoon, and come out a butterfly. It will never be a cocoon again.
Some of us will grab this and some of us won’t.
The reason some won’t is because they don’t like change. It is uncomfortable. It takes us out of our comfort zone.
Here are some reasons we won’t get it.
They don’t think they need to change
We all have things that God wants to work at:
Were not the perfect parent
Were not the perfect co-worker
You are not the perfect boss or employee
I’m not the perfect pastor
When we look in the mirror and we allow God to change that person in the mirror instead of blaming others, there will be transformation. (Hold up the mirror)
When I know more/ I will change
I need more information
Knowledge is good/ advocate of education.
Knowledge alone never get’s applied to your life.
15 minutes a day- give God 15 minutes a day to pray and read his word. Your life will be changed. Guaranteed!
We know what to do, but will we do it.
It is hard to apply biblical truths to your life.
You become stale if knowledge is not applied to your life.
I know a lot of people bible smart/ life challenged.
Just because there is a Rev. in front of someone’s name does not mean they act like it.
I can change myself
I’ll just bear down and change. Work hard.
I’m not going to get angry anymore, not be impatient with this person.
The truth is we fail, over and over again.
Apostle Paul says:
What a miserable person I am because I don’t do the things that I want to do, and the things that I don’t want to do, I do.
Why can’t he do it alone? Why can’t you?
Because we are not strong enough in ourselves to overcome.
We cannot change ourselves.
Paul couldn’t do it- you have to understand why you can’t either.
I want to change overnight
This will bring frustration and anger
That you think you are no better in that area of your life.
We begin to doubt ourselves, begin to doubt God, lose faith in God’s ability to change us.
When you decide (chose) to fellow Jesus, salvation comes in a instant.
You say yes to Jesus, you are instantly a child of God, as long you allow Jesus to be your savior, eternity is secure, heaven will be your home.
There are some things in your life that is a process and will take time for you and God to work out.
Philippians 1:6-
“Be confident in this, that he (God) who began a good work in you will carry it onto completion until the day of Jesus Christ.”
Isn’t that great news!
God makes the changes and he promises to be there with you through the process.
Sanctification is a very dear word to a Nazarene,
we believe that it is an act of God, after we have had a born again regeneration experience by which believers are made free from original sin (sin nature we are born with) and brought into a pure devotion to God by his cleansing.
We believe that after an encounter with God, that it will be your desire to grow in God’s grace allowing God to work these changes in your life.
That you will allow God to spiritually develop you and that is a process. It can be instant, but most times it is a process.
What can God do in your professional life?
How about in a marriage? Dating relationship?
What addictions am I struggling with?
God is working on us to make the changes in our life so that we can have a transformation.
God is the potter, we are the clay. The clay does not tell the potter what to make and how to do it.
A life that is not shaped by God is lacking a purpose, but when touched by God it is transformed.
It is God who sees the finished product before it is done.
Closing:
If you are not listening to God’s voice, and you keep putting him off, his voice is getting weaker and weaker until one day you realize that you cannot hear him anymore.
That is why I push for small groups. Sunday school and bible study.
We need to be plugged in, why? So we continue t grow!
God would rather you experience pain, and to use that to shape you to the person he wants you to be.
He cares about your character more than he cares for your comfort.
Turn it over to him this morning.
I give you my thoughts this morning
I give you my life to transform
Change the way that I think
God I surrender to you this morning
I surrender my life
I surrender my finances
I surrender my marriage
I surrender my career
I want to be transformed by the power of God and not by what I can do alone.
Apostle Paul makes application that Jesus is to be Lord of every area of our lives. By allowing the Lord to transform our lives we can become encouragers instead of discouragers.
Ephesians 4:29- “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit who listens.”
Colossians 4:6- “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
You know that there are over 2000 phobia’s- things that we fear.
Phobophobia- the fear of getting a phobia
There are two fears that Psychiatrist say we are born with. Anyone know?
The fear of falling
The fear of loud noises
The rest are learned. Which means we can unlearn them if we let the Lord transform and renew our minds.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
“When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hold on.”
When you feel like giving up, remember why you held on for so long in the first place.
Prayer-
Altar Call
