Sermon Central
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Be Transformed! Know The Will Of God!
Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Jul 19, 2013 (message contributor)
Summary: It is impossible to know the will of God without being transformed from conformity to this world. Have you been transformed?
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Let’s take the first phrase of that verse -
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world …”
We are born into this world conformed to this world
This world reinforces this conformity
#6 Pop song 2013 - Just Give Me A Reason
Now you've been talking in your sleep, oh, oh
Things you never say to me, oh, oh
Tell me that you've had enough
Of our love, our love
Conformed to this world - broken relationships, implied infidelity
#6 pop song 2003 - Unwell - about someone who is on the edge of a nervous breakdown - no solution
#6 country song 2013 - Little Red Rodeo - a woman leaves the guy she’s living with
#6 country song 2003 - I Love This Bar - hanging out at a bar and drinking with an odd collection of people
#6 country song 1993 - Easy Come Easy Go
Says she's had enough of me, I've had enough of her too.
I might as well go on and set her free,
she's already turned me loose.
No fault, no blame, nobody done no wrong-
That's just the way it sometimes goes.
Sometimes two people just don't get along, it's time to hit the road.
#6 Rap song 2013 - The Jig is Up - can’t quote two lines without cursing or saying something brutal or offensive
#6 R&B song 2013 - Thrift Shop - vulgar and sexually explicit
“It’s Now or Never” - perhaps the most blatant expression of “give me sex or I’m out of here” ever put to music!
Conformity to the world - But what about that next phrase of today’s Scripture - “but be transformed by the renewing of your mind?”
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#7 Southern Gospel song 2013 - Voice in the Desert (Freemans)
People need to hear a voice in the desert (witnessing)
#7 Southern Gospel song 2003 - I Can, I Have, I Will (Perrys)
God helping us through struggles
#7 Christian Pop song 2013 - Whom Shall I Fear (Tomlin)
My strength is in Your name - For You alone can save
You will deliver me - Yours is the victory
Whom shall I fear - Whom shall I fear
#7 Christian Pop song 2003 - You Are a Child of Mine (Schultz)
No matter where you go, Oh, you will always know
You have been made free in Christ. You are a child of Mine
#7 Christian Rock song 2013 - Darkness Disappears (Awaken)
Difficult to understand but is generally about God delivering a person from suicidal depression although God is only referred to as an Embrace and the Light.
#7 Christian Rock song 2003 - Sleeping Awake (POD)
Seems to be about day-dreaming about Heaven
#7 Christian Hip Hop song 2013 - We Can Be More - (Sho Baraka)
Seems to be about “we can be more” than what modern relationships are implying marriage
Transformation
Saying - Garbage in, garbage out
Conformed - Garbage in, garbage in
Transformation - Christ in - new creation
- Truth in, transformation
Have you ever heard someone say to a new believer, “OK, now that you have come to Christ for salvation just continue doing what you’ve been doing, listen to the same music, watch the same shows, hang out with the people who caused you to sin in the first place. You don’t really need to change anything.” Have you ever heard someone say that? Of course not!
Have you even ever been around when someone got saved?
I mean really close and in there with them?
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.”
“Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”
So, what do we have if we are saved but still living mostly with a mindset that is conformed to the ways of this world?
Saved and attending church once a week
Not reading the Bible or praying
Listening to music promoting sin
Watching TV that glorifies sinful behavior
We will have a muddied, ineffective life and witness
We need to be transformed!
Are you conformed or transformed???
What are the benefits of this transformation?
“Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will.”
“Then.” That’s a HUGE word! “Then you will be able to …”
If you practice the piano THEN you will be able to play well …
