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Transformed not Conformed
“For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 2:5” “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
Romans 12:1-8 NASB
1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
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.
3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.
4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function,
5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;
7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
The living sacrifice. In the oldest records that can be found of the various nations of the earth, sacrifice is always found to have formed part of their religious services. But it is only when we come to faith in Christ that we find the idea of sacrifice having any influence upon our life. Very plainly the psalmist recognizes that it is the sacrifice of a broken and contrite heart that is most acceptable to God. But Jesus came to teach men true faith. The worship that he demands is a worship in spirit and in truth. The sacrifice that he requires is a sacrifice of our life. He wants the activities and energies of body, soul, and spirit to be consecrated to his service. This is what the apostle means when he speaks of presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice.
The whole heart must be given up to God, so that whatever is right may be strengthened, and that whatever is wrong may be taken away. Many Christians render to Christ an imperfect sacrifice in this respect. They keep back part of their life from him. They allow themselves to be dominated by feelings which are inconsistent with his spirit and precepts. They will excuse themselves for some besetting sin by saying, “That is my nature; I can’t help it.” The evil nature is still with us, it is true; but it is our duty to strive against it, to overcome it. Moses appears to have been a man of hasty and violent temper. Yet his obedience to the Divine will, produced such a change in his character that it is afterwards recorded of him, “Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men who were upon the face of the earth.”
The love of God should ever be the chief affection of our heart. The love of home—how can there be anything wrong in that? Yet there is wrong in it when it interferes with the call of duty. “He that loves father or mother more than me,” says Christ, “is not worthy of me; and he that loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” Of such complete self-denial Christ himself has given us the best example. “He pleased not himself.” Not merely in his death, but in his life, he gave himself a living sacrifice. When we think of how much we owe to Christ, any sacrifice that we can make will seem but a poor and feeble effort to show our gratitude and our love.
The two likenesses. The exhortation contained in this verse regards the human mind as impressionable, pliable, susceptible. It is especially addressed to Christians. There are two forms which seek to impress themselves upon Christians. The one is likeness to the world; the other is likeness to God.Against this the apostle warns the Christian: “Be not conformed to this world.”
If I am to choose, let me have high moral standards rather than having a conscience that sees no harm in anything.
When the Jewish people came in contact with the heathen nations, they began to imitate them, to conform to their customs. The result was disastrous to the spiritual life, and ultimately to the temporal prosperity of Israel. So it was with the Churches of Asia, Their worldliness proved their ruin. Sardis had a name to live, but it was dead. Laodicea was lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot. We may try as Christians to please the world by conforming to it, but in doing so we are unfaithful to our Lord. “The friendship of this world is enmity against God.”
The conformity of Christians to the world is harmful to the world. Some Christians imagine that they will have more influence on the world by becoming more like it. Christians are living epistles, known and read of all men. What kind of example are we setting to the world? Let us not bear the world’s likeness. “Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate;” “Be not conformed to this world.”
“But be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.”Likeness to God will exclude likeness to the world. The more desire we have for God, the less we shall have for the world.We cannot renew our own minds. “Except a man be born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” It is to pass from death to life. Old things pass away; all things become new. There is a new way of looking at things.
Things which we once took pleasure in have no attraction for us now; duties which we once thought tiresome now become our delight. This is the result of the Holy Spirit working in us, producing in us likeness to God, transforming us into his image, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Jesus Christ.
This transformation is to be developed by living near to God. Prayer, and the study of God’s Word, are the means of obtaining this likeness to God. It is noteworthy that the same Greek word which is here translated “transformed” is the word which is used to describe the transfiguration of Christ. And when did Christ’s transfiguration come to him? When he was on the mountain-top in prayer. Prayer is the true transformation, the true transfiguration, of the soul. Thus here on earth we shall reflect in some measure the image of God until we reach that land where “we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. The apostle is teaching diversity and unity in the Church.
“We have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office”. There we have diversity. There is one body. One life lives in all the parts.
“So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another”. There we have diversity. There is room for diversity in the Church. So, too, in individual congregations, there is room for varied gifts and activities. There, also, we have unity. “One body, and every one members one of another.” There is the unity of the Spirit, the unity that arises from the common bond of faith in Christ and love to him, of obedience to the same Divine law, and of the inspiring hope of the same heaven.
TWO PRACTICAL LESSONS.
A lesson of humility. “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly. All the members of the body have need of one another. There is a place for the humble and unlearned workers in the Church , just as much as for the wealthy and the cultured and the learned.
A lesson of concentration. Division of labor and concentration of individuals upon particular jobs is one of the great principles of modern manufacturing and commerce. St. Paul applies the same principle to Christian work. “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministering; or he that teaches, on teaching; or he that exhorts, on exhortation; he that gives, let him do it with liberality; he that rules, with diligence; he that shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
“In conclusion, we must present ourselves to God. It is our service to offer ourselves in worship to God. We must be transformed by changing our mind. It is never about us, it is always about Him in us. You each have a gift, use it in His service. Encourage one another in faith.”
This Generation Needs Us
This Generation Needs Us
What a fellowship, what a joy Divine; Leaning on the Everlasting Arms. What a blessedness, what a peace is mine, leaning on the everlasting arms.
This song came to mind when I thought of the journey that I have been on, and also your journeys as well.
We are here today because God has a plan. This moment in time, and the work we do was planned long ago. I am speaking broadly because this is true for every ministry committed to His name. In the name of Jesus we live, move, and have our being.
David said in Psalms 139. “ For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb.”
He went on to say, “17How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You.”
Psalms 71 author is not determined but theologians believe David penned it as a result of growing old.
Psalms 71:17-21
17 O God, You have taught me from my youth, And I still declare Your wondrous deeds.
18 And even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to all who are to come.
19 For Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the heavens, You who have done great things; O God, who is like You?
20 You who have shown me many troubles and distresses Will revive me again, And will bring me up again from the depths of the earth.
21 May You increase my greatness And turn to comfort me.
It seems to me that David is saying that as long as we have breath, we have a purpose. The longer we have followed Christ the more victories we have to share. Our understanding and revelation should be clearer.
If there has ever been a time in our history that needed a clear vision of who Jesus is, it is now. His story has been buried in theological principles that mean nothing to someone who has never heard the message of the cross.
Psalms 119:110-112
110 The wicked have laid a snare for me, Yet I have not gone astray from Your precepts.
“111 I have inherited Your testimonies forever, For they are the joy of my heart.”
112 I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes
Forever, even to the end.
Psalms 119:111 Message
I inherited your book on living; it’s mine forever— what a gift! And how happy it makes me!
The Word of God will change our world.
We have a responsibility. A God given call to share the word with every generation. Passing it on from a firm foundation. Declaring the principles of faith, love repentance, righteousness. On and on. Every promise in the book. Accountability
Daniel 4:3
How great are His signs And how mighty are His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom And His dominion is from generation to generation.
Message
His miracles are staggering, his wonders are surprising. His kingdom lasts and lasts, his sovereign rule goes on forever.
Luke 1:50
And His mercy is upon generation after generation Toward those who fear Him.
Everyone who follows Christ at any level has a story. You may be a fire burning saint who declares Him at every opportunity. You may be a quiet person who shares one on one when God puts you in a position to do so. A quiet person who prays for God to send someone to those who need Him. There are all levels in between.
Yet there is a story to be told.
Psalms 63:5 Amplified
My soul [my life, my very self] is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth offers praises [to You] with joyful lips.
Psalms 145:14-21
14 The Lord sustains all who fall And raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to You, And You give them their food in due time.
16 You open Your hand And satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 The Lord is righteous in all His ways And kind in all His deeds.
18 The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.
19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry and will save them.
20 The Lord keeps all who love Him, But all the wicked He will destroy.
21 My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, And all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever.
Verse 21 Message, “My mouth is filled with God’s praise. Let everything living bless him, bless his holy name from now to eternity!”
We live in a world that expects immediate gratification. Immediate results. Waiting has not been embraced by much of the culture today. “I have never embraced it”
Isaiah 40:31 KJV
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Psalms 17:15 Message
And me? I plan on looking you full in the face. When I get up, I’ll see your full stature and live heaven on earth.
There must, at some point in our lives, come a realization in our heart and mind to pass on what we know. What we have learned by following Christ, and understanding His Word.
“For it to mean any thing, you have to believe it yourself.”
Is the Kingdom Divided?
Is the Kingdom Divided?
Who does not recognize the extreme division in our country today. It is sad to see the separation causing so much damage to our culture. The land of the free, and the home of the brave, has become a boiling pot of anger and division.
I love this country and pray for it, and it’s leaders.
Still I look for the reasons why, and the path to make things better. Because of who I am I first look to myself, and to the church. Jesus shared the way we can make our world better.
Matthew 5:13-16
13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;
15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven
The two operative words in these passages are salt and light.
Jesus used both words metaphorically. The Greek lexicon tells us the message that Jesus was giving His followers.
Salt comes from the Greek word, halas. Metaphorically it means, salt is a symbol of lasting concord. Wisdom and grace exhibited in speech. WOW.
Light comes from the Greek word phos. Used metaphorically to speak of truth and it’s knowledge. That which is exposed to the view of all. The power of understanding moral and spiritual truth.
We are the preservation, and the illumination of the world. So what’s the problem? The problem is that the church is often as divided as the world.
I recently heard a Biblical scholar say that Islam is growing much faster in this country than Christianity. The reason is, people don’t know what we believe. The message has been divided into many different presentations.
By the latest statistics since the Reformation more than 41,000 different Christian denominations and institutions have formed.
The church must return to the unified message of Jesus and the cross.
Those who have never followed Christ don’t know what we believe. Skip the theological principles and share with these people the story of Jesus.
The path to redemption is the story of the cross. The story of Jesus and His love and commitment to restore favor with the Father and forgiveness for our sins.
Maybe we should stop focusing on the sin, and focus on the Savior. Jesus, His birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension is the greatest story ever told.
Remember the old hymn, “Tell me the story of Jesus. Write on my heart every word. Tell me the story of Jesus, sweetest as ever I heard.”
The Consequences of Hate
The Consequences of Hate
Some of my thoughts this week have not always been as positive as I would like. We live in troubling times.
Although small towns are somewhat insulated from some of the stuff going on, it will eventually get to us.
Already the Gideon’s are not allowed to physically hand a student, a Bible in our schools.
Time has passed so fast in my journey. This wonderful country that I love so much has changed. Before I even saw it coming, it has changed.
Some would say we have grown, while others say we have regressed a hundred years. I suspect, depending on the issue, that both statements could be true.
My thoughts today come from brokenness. They may seem out of character for me, but I promise, God will have His way.
In prayer the Lord spoke to me a scripture. I heard Him say, I want you to begin with the end. Here are the words of Christ.
Luke 6:27-28
27 But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.
28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
I come to you this morning, in the name of Jesus, to share some thoughts titled, “The Consequences of Hate”
Definitions of hate. As a verb, “to dislike intensely or passionately; feel extreme aversion for or extreme hostility toward; detest:” As an adjective, “noting or relating to acts that are motivated by hatred, prejudice, or intolerance:”
I am so thankful for God’s tolerance. I love Him so much. Yet my heart breaks because of hate. (Broadly)
There are two very clear examples, among many, of the consequences of hate in the Bible. The first one I want to share is found in 1 Samuel.
Saul had lost the favor of the Lord. God had found a man after His heart, that at the time was still just a young man. Saul began to see the hand of God upon David and he became jealous. At times filled with rage.
1 Samuel 18:29
then Saul was even more afraid of David. Thus Saul was David’s enemy continually.
The word enemy from the Hebrew means, “to be hostile to, to be an enemy to, to treat as an enemy.”
1 Samuel 19:11-17
11 Then Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him, in order to put him to death in the morning. But Michal, David’s wife, told him, saying, “If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be put to death.”
12 So Michal let David down through a window, and he went out and fled and escaped.
13 Michal took the household idol and laid it on the bed, and put a quilt of goats’ hair at its head, and covered it with clothes.
14 When Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, “He is sick.”
15 Then Saul sent messengers to see David, saying, “Bring him up to me on his bed, that I may put him to death.”
16 When the messengers entered, behold, the household idol was on the bed with the quilt of goats’ hair at its head.
17 So Saul said to Michal, “Why have you deceived me like this and let my enemy go, so that he has escaped?” And Michal said to Saul, “He said to me, ‘Let me go! Why should I put you to death?’”
In verse 17 the word enemy is defined the same way, but some translations say, “let the one I hate go.”
Saul’s hatred cost him everything. He was wounded in battle, yet he killed himself. Lost his sons, and his kingdom. While David honored him. David was the hated one, and God gave him the kingdom and our Lord came from the house of David.
Yet in all of this everyone suffered. David ran often and hid himself from Saul. Saul murdered people who helped David, including Priests.
There was no peace in the kingdom. People feared Saul.
The hater lost everything, and the hated one gained it all, and more. Yet everyone suffered from the hatred of Saul.
One of Job’s friends actually shared a good word.
Job 8:20-22
20 “Lo, God will not reject a man of integrity, Nor will He support the evildoers.
21 “He will yet fill your mouth with laughter And your lips with shouting.
22 “Those who hate you will be clothed with shame,
And the tent of the wicked will be no longer.”
In the beginning it is tragic,but in the end you will win.
It is the journey in between that is filled with fear and the unknown. The journey in between finds us dealing with the consequences of hate.
Genesis 37:3-8 NASB
3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a varicolored tunic.
4 His brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers; and so they hated him and could not speak to him on friendly terms.
5 Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more.
6Hesaid to them, “Please listen to this dream which I have had;
7 for behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and lo, my sheaf rose up and also stood erect; and behold, your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to my sheaf.”
8 Then his brothers said to him, “Are you actually going to reign over us? Or are you really going to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.
The word hated from the Hebrew means, “to hate, to be hateful.”
(They made Joseph aware that they hated him.
Remember-It is the journey in between that is filled with fear and the unknown. The journey in between finds us dealing with the consequences of hate.
Hate caused the brothers to plot against Joseph. Reuben spoke to save his life so they through him in a pit with no food or water. Sold as a slave. Imprisoned over false accusations.
In was 13 years from slavery to prime minister. Best Guess by most. It was 20 years total before the reunion with his father.
When his father died the brothers got worried. (They feared he would retaliate for what they did.-You have to hear this.)
Genesis 50:18-20 NASB
18 Then his brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.”
19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place?
20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.
Remember this?
Luke 6:27-28 NASB
27 But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.
28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Solomon said it this way.
Proverbs 10:12 NASB
Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all transgressions.
Paul quoted Proverbs 25:21-22 when he sais this to the Romans. This one is even harder.
Romans 12:20 NASB
“But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”
“Preach-Two principles that conquer hate. 1st, remain faithful to God in every situation. 2Nd, Love, it’s the hardest one.”
#inHisname
Do We Smell Sweet, or do We Stink
Do We Smell Sweet, or do We Stink
We have entered into the Holiday Season for 2017. The time has passed so fast. In a very short time we will begin our 15th year of service to this community.
As I look at the things God has done over these years, I am humbled and honored. Together, we have made a difference in this area, and through our mission work, in the world.
Betty and I love and appreciate everyone here. Your love and faithfulness has moved us forward, and will continue to move Amazing Life Church Forward.
This past week was an absolutely awesome time in the presence of God. The prayer, brokenness, praise, and love was so evident in this house.
I pray that the love and concern for one another, and this community, continue always in this house.
I come to you this morning in the name of Jesus, to share some thoughts titled, “Do We Smell Sweet, or do We Stink”
Before I share some thoughts on how we smell, and I am referring to the fragrance of Christ that reaches the people we come in contact with.
I want to first share a little bit about how we shine. In one of Daniel’s end time prophesies he revealed this.
Daniel 12:1-3
1 “Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued.
2 Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.
3 Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
Throughout the Bible, old and new, there is a constant Biblical principle revealed. “God’s people are the light of the world.”
The word insight in the original text is wisdom. From the Hebrew it means, “to be prudent, circumspect, have understanding, to have insight, to cause to prosper.” (explain prosper)
The word shine from the Hebrew means, “to admonish, send out light, be light, to enlighten.”
(Those who have insight will shine!!)
Matthew 5:14-16
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;
15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
The word light in these passages come from the Greek word, phos, and it is used metaphorically to mean this.
“God is light, of truth and knowledge, with spiritual purity. Exposed to the view of all, and the power of understanding.”
Paul spoke of being the light with some admonitions.
Philippians 2:14-15
14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing;
15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world.
Preach-Preach-Preach the Light
Now let’s have some fun.
2 Corinthians 2:14-17
14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.
15 For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing;
16 to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things? (Aroma, thing well pleasing to God.)
17 For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God.
2 Corinthians 2:15-16 TLB
15 As far as God is concerned there is a sweet, wholesome fragrance in our lives. It is the fragrance of Christ within us, an aroma to both the saved and the unsaved all around us.
16 To those who are not being saved, we seem a fearful smell of death and doom, while to those who know Christ we are a life-giving perfume. But who is adequate for such a task as this?
First of all, by Christ, we have been made adequate. Bearers of that high calling to share the story, and the love, of our Father and our Savior.
This defines these two verses. “We and our testimonies, and our preaching represent God, and the glory and knowledge of Christ. It gives new life to those who hear, and a sweet smell of eternity.”
“To those who reject this sweet aroma, this revelation of Christ, they do so because it means dying to self. They smell death, not life. Something, that at the moment they are not willing to embrace.” (Plant the seed anyway)
Ephesians 5:1-2 TLB
1 Follow God’s example in everything you do just as a much loved child imitates his father.
2 Be full of love for others, following the example of Christ who loved you and gave himself to God as a sacrifice to take away your sins. And God was pleased, for Christ’s love for you was like sweet perfume to him.
“Do We Smell Sweet, or do We Stink”
#inHisname