REBUILT NOT REMODELED
You can take a hog and wash him up, put ribbons on his tail and sprinkle perfume on his body; but you still have a hog, and in short order, he will be wallowing again in the smelly mud and muck.
IL.: A young boy was standing on the porch, trying to reach the doorbell. The new pastor in town happened to be passing by. He thought that he would help this young fellow. So he goes up the steps and lifts the boy to reach the doorbell. The youth rings the doorbell and as the pastor puts him down, he takes off running. Then he turns around and says, "you better run, mister, here comes the lady."
2 Co. 5:17
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. {he is: or, let him be} (KJV)
17 De modo que si alguno está en Cristo, nueva criatura es; las cosas viejas pasaron; he aquí todas son hechas nuevas. (SRVA)
IL.: A realtor was showing some real estate to a prospective buyer. The place was deteriorated, with broken windows and some rotten boards here and there. There was even some doors falling off of the hinges. The realtor was careful to express time after time that they could bring in a crew to repair many of these defects. Finally, the client stated, "I am not interested in this building, it is the site that I am considering. This place can be razed and a new structure built in its place.
We want to believe that we can correct our errors, take a "time out", attend a seminar, or go to rehab, and then we are all fixed up. Hogwash. It just does not work.
The old man does not need cleaned up, he needs to be sacrificed. It is not a process of remodeling the person you used to be; God wants to demolish the old you and start from scratch.
Adam was FORMED in the image of God (perfect)
Sin entered and man became DEFORMED
By the grace of God, we can be CONFORMED into His likeness
One day, we will be TRANSFORMED
There is a scientific term; Metamorphosis. It relates to a caterpillar as it changes from its ugly wormlike state and becomes a beautiful butterfly.
Mt 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
41 Velad y orad, para que no entréis en tentación. El espíritu, a la verdad, está dispuesto; pero la carne es débil. (SRVA)
Ro 6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
19 Os hablo en términos humanos, a causa de la debilidad de vuestra carne. Porque así como presentasteis vuestros miembros como esclavos a la impureza y a la iniquidad cada vez mayor, así presentad ahora vuestros miembros como esclavos a la justicia para la santidad. (SRVA)
God says that the life controlled by the flesh is sick.
Release control of your life to God, He will make you anew.
Ro 7:5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. (motions: passions)
5 Porque mientras vivíamos en la carne, las pasiones pecaminosas despertadas por medio de la ley actuaban en nuestros miembros, a fin de llevar fruto para muerte. (SRVA)
The flesh driven life produces death.
Ro 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Do NOT confide in your flesh (carnal man); it will do you wrong every time.
Ro 8:1 ¶ There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Ro 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Ro 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
Ro 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
There is a choice to be made: even though we live in a body of flesh, we do not have to follow carnality.
Ro 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
The KEY: "the Spirit of God dwell" - Remember, His spirit will not dwell in an unclean vessel.
Ro 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
I. The Flesh is Weak
The flesh nature has been corrupted.
Its value has been lost.
It is full of flaws and corruption.
,
II. The Flesh is Wild
It is lustful, greedy, deceitful, and unrestrained.
III. The Flesh is Wayward
It does not want to adhere to a certain course. It is prone to follow enticement, sudden impulses, manipulations, and easy-outs.
IV. Flush the Flesh and Serve in Spirit
Romans 6:6
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. (KJV)
6 Y sabemos que nuestro viejo hombre fue crucificado juntamente con él, para que el cuerpo del pecado sea destruido, a fin de que ya no seamos esclavos del pecado; (SRVA)
A. Look to Jesus
2 Co. 3:17,18
17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (KJV)
17 Porque el Señor es el Espíritu; y donde está el Espíritu del Señor, allí hay libertad. (SRVA)
18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. {by the...: or, of the Lord the Spirit} (KJV)
18 Por tanto, todos nosotros, mirando a cara descubierta como en un espejo la gloria del Señor, somos transformados de gloria en gloria en la misma imagen, como por el Espíritu del Señor. (SRVA)
B. Dive into the Word
Ro. 12:2
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (KJV)
2 No os conforméis a este mundo; más bien, transformaos por la renovación de vuestro entendimiento, de modo que comprobéis cuál sea la voluntad de Dios, buena, agradable y perfecta. (SRVA)
One renews his mind by meditating on the Word of God. Make up your mind that you will discipline yourself to do it.
3. Take Quality Time with Christ
John 15:4,5---Ye abide in me and I in you.
New Creature Test
Ga. 5:22,23
Spirit led Flesh led
Love unforgiving, selfish
Joy depressed, discouraged
Peace stressed out, agravated
Patient frustrated, impatient
Kind rude, uncaring
Good bad
Faithful unreliable, wishy-washy
Gentle harsh, resentful
Self controlled unleashed, unbridled
How do you rate?
Are you really a new creature? Have you buried the flesh driven life and taken on the Spirit led life? Or have you simply endeavored to "remodel" your old life.
If you are truly in Christ, then all of the OLD has been voluntarily and purposely cast away and you have accepted the NEW. It does not mean you are perfect, but you have changed your allegiance and your goals. More than that, you have handed the reins of your life over to God.
