04.27.2014 How to be Transformed in Your Spiritual Health

4-27-2014 Transformed Pt. 1 from Grace Summit on Vimeo.

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We are beginning Transformed – 50 days of Transformation over the next seven Sundays.
Lord, thank You that You are present with us and that You love us. Thank You for the worship – and those who led us into Your presence. Thank You for Your word. What matters is that we see Jesus – You are alive – and as a result, we can live forever. As we go through this series, we pray it wouldn’t just be 50 days of transformation – but that our lives would be changed and that You would give us freedom.
The Theme verse for this is Romans 12: 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
What we are looking at – and what this tells us, we are either being, on a regular continual basis – in the ongoing process of our lives, we are either being transformed into the person God wants us to be or we are conforming to our surroundings. In one sense, there really isn’t a middle ground. You are either going one way or another.
We are all created unique – you hear about every fingerprint being unique, but God has created each of us for a unique purpose for His kingdom. Often, we end up being carbon copies of those around us, rather than being the person God wants us to be. “This series is about becoming a non-conformist”.
Some of you may have been that in the sixties – but you really weren’t because everyone was being non-conformist.
This starts in the mind. When you think of the mind, think of inner-being – your will, your passion, your heart: That which makes you who you are.
Transformation begins by getting control of your thinking processes. When you change the way you think, you can then change your feelings and actions – this starts with having our minds renewed. This is really about how to think differently about God – how to transform our views.
Spiritual, Physical, Mental, Emotional, Relational, Financial, and Vocational transformation.
We will look at what the Bible says – and what our attitude should be toward each of these.
Oftentimes, when we talk in church, we can focus on our struggles and how to work through them – and our current circumstances. This series will focus almost entirely on the future – potential and possibilities that God has for each of us. This is appropriate after Easter – Easter is all about starting anew. We should look at our Christian lives – it all begins anew today. You look at the church calendar – the dates bring us to places of renewal. The whole lens into Easter brings us to starting anew.
Transformation takes time – and sometimes, it takes a lot of time. USUALLY – no, ALWAYS takes a lot of time. It takes work – hard work – but most importantly, it takes the power of God.
Phil. 2: Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in you.
We have our part and God has His. A key to all of this – to be transformed requires setting goals.
For each of the seven areas – I’d like each of us to set a goal for each area – and in your small group – I’d like for you to have one goal that would transform your relationship with God.
Philippians 3: 12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

As we think about being transformed – if we don’t have goals – you’ll get nowhere. If you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time!
What does it mean to be like Jesus? To wear sandals? No. Maybe we see that Jesus served – so your goal could be – How could I serve my family better? My goal, when I get home from work each day, is to do this and this… and you become more like Christ.
This passage tells us – we have a ways to go. I have not already obtained it. I have not perfected it. I still have a ways to go. If you don’t believe that – you are lost! There is no hope! – until you get to the point to realize you are not there yet.
2) – Forget your past failures. You cannot move forward in spiritual transformation if you are feeling guilty about all your past failures! Paul simply forgot! How hard is that? Very hard – but it is a starting point – you have to forget your failures – and move forward to the person you are to become. The great PAUL had to do this – so we can also.
3) Press forward – look to the future – this week, this month – what can I do differently?
4) Straining toward – take action – to move in the direction of becoming different people. We will not be changed and transformed unless we believe that something is going to happen and we are going to act. We move – and then we can experience God’s transformation.
Ephesians 3: 20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
I want to challenge all of us to have this attitude – God desires to do a mighty work in your life. When I say mighty – we think of being important or famous – and a lot of times, the God-things in our lives can tend to be me-centered. This is not about you – yes, you are transformed, but it is not about you. To do this – as you set goals – the parameters:
They should be God-focused
They should advance the kingdom
They should relate to being a disciple of Christ and making disciples of Christ. This will work out in our families, careers, and community.
Goals should be unselfish – others oriented.
We need to give God freedom to speak into our goals and allow Him to adjust them.
Do you want to make God laugh? Tell Him your plans!
Ask God – or allow God – to say, This is where I really want you to change…
In the remainder of our time – spiritual transformation. It begins in our minds and thinking – how to change our relationship with God by directing our thoughts toward Him – focusing our attention toward Him – and learning to think about Him during the day.
In order to do this, you will need – and I encourage you, in your goal for spiritual transformation – consider one discipline to focus on and do better in. It might be reading the devotional – or having a quiet time every day. Maybe it is the area of prayer. But you need to have a practical thing that brings you into relationship with God. It cannot grow unless you are practicing the spiritual disciplines – reading the word, prayer, silence, solitude, service – you cannot grow.
As we transform our thoughts – it is about having a deeper relationship with God. Focus on this – you are God’s beloved child and He is well-pleased. You are loved by God.
And a second part – not just understanding his attitude about you – but understanding what your attitude should be – I am but a servant, doing as He asks.
That makes the relationship with God really simple. It is not easy though. That is where God is calling us.
Luke 15 – the story of the prodigal son. We have ten minutes. I am not going into an in-depth study. This is a story about transformation. Actually, it is a story of God and his attitude toward the human race.
Luke 15: 11 And He said, “A man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them. 13 And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. 14 Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished.
First thing – we are all prodigals. That is the point of the prodigal son. Because the older son is a prodigal also. The one who did everything right was just as much a prodigal as the one who squandered his money.
“I want my share”
That is what it means to be a prodigal – one who says, I want it my way. All of us are saying – I want mine! To God. We need to identify that in our own lives. We need to be able to identify where we are saying – I want it my way, God! I want my share.
That is the core of what need to change about us. That gets to the root of what needs to be transformed
Luke 15: 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. 17 But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.”
He has wasted all this money – he has gotten it his way – and now he is experiencing the consequences of getting it his way! We have all done that, haven’t we?
Second part of transformation: We need to become fed up with our current circumstances – to be sick and tired of being sick and tired – in order to change. We need to be dissatisfied with our current condition – it could be being too busy, overworked, depressed – we need to say, ENOUGH! That is where he gets here – and recognizes that this is not good – it is time to move forward. We need to get to the point where the pain of changing is less than the pain of staying the same.
He came to his senses.
He looks to his father. The circumstances are not where he wants them – and he turns to the father. He does not look to himself. We need to look to God first.
Luke 15: ’ 20 So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
We next need to acknowledge and confess our sin – confess our, “I want it my way” to God.
22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; 23 and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.
So the party began. I like that translation. Rick Warren uses unique translations.
In order to be transformed – we must be able to recognize and receive God’s grace in our lives. And sometimes that is really hard to do. God is going to love me and work in my life even when I am like this.
The son is like, I’ll be a servant or slave – but the father doesn’t even acknowledge that – He just says – YOU ARE BACK! LET THE PARTY BEGIN! That is all that matters to me!
I have been trying to learn – when I am praying for someone – I have stopped praying that they would change – but rather that they would recognize God’s grace. The emphasis needs to be that they would be able to recognize and receive God’s grace.
I am going to close by finishing our series on the gospel of John – there is one chapter left with one who is a great example of transformation. There was a disciple who was loud and proud, who was boastful – who denied the Lord after saying he would never leave.
After the resurrection – and one day – the disciples are out fishing – and they are not catching any fish – catch any fish? No – what’s new? And Jesus told them – cast the net out the other side.
Jesus has breakfast for them.
John 21: 15 So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My lambs.” 16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep.
What Jesus does – He revisits Peter’s failure – and this is how he begins the transformation. Peter had said – I will never leave you - and Jesus says – Do you love me more than these?
You KNOW that I love you!
Can we say this – to be confident that God knows our heart – I am human, I have failed miserably, but He knows that I am His and I love Him.
Jesus gives Peter 3 opportunities to profess his love. He is reestablishing him – here are three chances to say I love you.
You know that I love you.
Feed my sheep.
The past is forgiven. He reminds Peter of his calling. Love God. His relationship with God needs to change. And that is changed by the relationship with others. Feed my sheep. Take care of the flock. He wants to begin the transformation process in your relationship with Him – one Goal to focus on this week – for transformation.
You are the one who transforms our lives – and it begins in our relationship with You. That is the first and most important step – putting us on the right path. Help us to focus our attention on that.