Bible Message/Preaching : Transformation

Transformation is not automatic – we must choose to change!  We need to change our way of thinking.

How do we transform?  By cooperating with the Spirit of the Lord
We need to know what we must change or from what we must be transformed.
God's part & Our part – God reveals us & we need to accept and comply to what the Lord is telling us!

Transformed by truth
31Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (Jn 8: 31-32)

Reading & meditating on the Scriptures – accepting the authority of the Scriptures & understanding & applying it in our life

14But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Tim 3:14-17)

Acts 24:14 "But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.

1 Tim 4:15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.

The parable of the sower - Doer of the word!
Mk 4:14-20 14"The sower sows the word. 15"And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16"These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17"and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they stumble. 18"Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, 19"and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 20"But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred."

21Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. (Jas 1:21-25)


Tree that bears good fruit:
17"Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 "Therefore by their fruits you will know them. 21 "Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 "Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' 24 "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." (Mt 7:17-27)

Transformed by troubles
God's ultimate goal for us on earth is not our comfort – but character development – our growth towards Christ!
May be we might complain “why this happens to me?”  - we may have forgotten that earth is not heaven. Many interpret Jn 10:10 , the abundant life Jesus taught as perfect health, comfortable life style, constant happiness, complete realisation of dreams, instant relief from problems through faith/prayer. But we forget that this makes God a  'genie in a bottle' – to pursue our selfish pursuit of personal fulfillment/gratification.
Our life is not about us – but its about HIM!

 28And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Rom 8:28-29)

Transformed through temptation – already done detailed on this.
2 Cor 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
4:18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

2My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (Jas 1:2-5)

1Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. (Heb 12:1-3)

Growth requires time – we must not give up, be persevering! 
3And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Rom 5:3-5)

2 Cor 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

13Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. 17Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. 18For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame; who set their mind on earthly things. 20For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. (Phil 3:13-21)

Transformation takes time!
Phil 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
We're slow leaners 
We've to “un-learn”  a lot!  (renewing of our minds) - Habits takes time to develop.
We're afraid to humbly face the truth about ourselves
Growth/ transformation is often painful & scary

Believe that God is at work even when we can't feel or see!
Keep a log to track things
Don't loose heart/ be disappointed!
Be patient – with self and for God's time!
Hab 2:3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.

What are some troubles that we've transformed our life? 
What transformation/growth is most needed right-now in my life?

(to be continued...)

Delivered 23 Oct 2011

to top