Transformation

July 29, 2015

Scripture 

Romans 12:1-3

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. 

(NLT)

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (NKJV)

Observation

1. Beseech- to implore urgently: They besought him to go at once.

to beg eagerly for; solicit.

It means to urge, plead, implore

To do what?

2. Give my body to God as a sacrifice.  

My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, it belongs to God.  I am to be a steward of my body

3. Do not copy the behavior and customs of this world.  

Do not conform be shaped by the world.  It's values, beliefs, cultures.  I am to be shaped by God and His Word.

4. But be transformed by the renewing of my mind

Allow God to shape the way I think, my mind will be controlled by the Holy Spirit and shaped by the Bible.

Then I will be able to:

5. Prove the good, acceptable, pleasing and perfect will of God.

Application

1. Offer my body as a sacrifice, treat my body as the temple of the Holy Spirit

Holiness and health 

2. Do not conform to the values, beliefs, and cultures of the world

Edit entertainment and be careful that I do not allow academia to have too much influence.

3. Be transformed by the renewing of my mind through God's word by the Holy Spirit.

Read, journal, memorize, and pray the Bible

4. Then I will know the good, pleasing, acceptable, and perfect will of God.

Live in the will zone

Prayer

Enable me to live holy and healthy 

Personal growth leads to prosperity

July 14, 2015

Scripture

Proverbs 19:8

He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good. (NKJV)

To acquire wisdom is to love yourself; people who cherish understanding will prosper. ( NLT)

Observation

1. Acquire wisdom

Get wisdom

2. Is to love yourself

Personal growth is key to advancement.  Always learn, grow, and develop self

This is not pride but love.

3. Keep understanding

Personal growth is not just learning but applying what I learn. I must keep what I learn.

4. Personal growth is the key to prosperity.

Good things will come my way as I grow, learn, and continually develop.

Application

1. Read daily

2. Life coaching

3. Member care growth

Prayer

May I grow so I will prosper

The process of becoming hostile to God

July 13, 2015

Scripture 

Romans 1:21

Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. (NLT)

because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. (NKJV)

Observation

1. They knew God

God has given us revelation of himself through nature, an inner void and hunger for him.

2. They did not give God the glory, they refused to worship him, give him the glory he deserves.

3. They were ungrateful, they did not give God thanks.

He has been good to mankind, giving us all we need to survive, exist, and prosper

As a result:

1. They became futile in their thoughts

A. Futile- incapable of producing any result; ineffective; useless; not successful: Attempting to force-feed the sick horse was futile.

trifling; frivolous; unimportant.

B. They created God in their own image and imaginations.

They created the God they wanted not as he revealed himself to be.

2. Their hearts were foolish and darkened.

A. Foolish- resulting from or showing a lack of sense; ill-considered; unwise: a foolish action, a foolish speech.

lacking forethought or caution.

B. Darkened- to make dark or darker.  to make obscure.

Application

There is a process of becoming estranged or even hostile to God.

1. Know God

2. Refuse to give him the glory he deserves

3. Become ungrateful, not appreciative of what God has done.

Be unthankful, not a person of worship.

The result is:

1. Become futile in their thoughts

2. Heart become dark

So I need to:

1. Be thankful, grateful, and appreciative for what God has done for me.

2. Give God all the glory, worship him, be in awe of him, fear him.

3. Seek to know God as who He is.

Prayer

I worship you, reveal yourself to me.

Expereince God's favor by encountering God's presence

July 12, 2015

Scripture

1 Chronicles 13:13- 14

So David did not move the Ark into the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed- edom of Gath. 14 The Ark of God remained there in Obed- edom’s house for three months, and the LORD blessed the household of Obed- edom and everything he owned. (NLV)

So David stopped moving the ark of God to himself in the City of David and diverted it to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite, and while the ark of God stayed in his house three months, the Lord blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all he had. (1 Chronicles (MEV)

Observation

1. The ark of God represented the presence of God.

Where the ark was, the manifested presence of God resided.

2. David took he ark of God to the house of Obed- Edom for three months

3.  God blessed the house of Obed- Edom and all he had

There is blessing where the presence of God is. 

1. If I desire to experience the favor of God I must be in the presence of God.

2. My family will be blessed because I spend time in God's presence

3. God's blessing will rest on all I have and own

Application

1. Spend extra and time with Jesus

2. Pray for his blessing and favor

3. Expect his blessing to be upon me, my family, and all I have

Prayer

May I experience your blessing in greater degrees.

Investing into relationships

July 10, 2015

Scripture

Proverbs 18:23

A man who has friends must show himself friendly, and there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (MEV)

There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother. (NLT)

A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (NKJV)

Observation

1. to have friends I have to take the initiative.

2. There are special friends that become like family.

Relationships are like finances, it includes sowing and reaping.  I invest into the relationship and reap friends.  The health of my relational world is in my hands.  I can make good wise investments and will reap good solid friendships.

3. There are times when friends will turn on me, even try to destroy me.

I cannot allow this to keep me from exposing myself to people.  I cannot allow my heart to become hard and cynical.  I must stay pliable, soft, and receptive.

Application

1. Keep investing into the important relationships in my life.

2. When people turn on me, mourn, hurt but then recover.

3. Invest more into a few close relationships.  Let them be like family.

Prayer

Enable me to invest into my relationships wisely, consistently, and generously

What should a preacher preach?

July 8, 2015

Scripture 

Acts 26:20

I preached first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that all must repent of their sins and turn to God—and prove they have changed by the good things they do. (NLT)

but declared first to those at Damascus, then at Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God and do works proving their repentance. (MEV)

Observation

What did Paul preach?

1. All must repent

2. Turn to God

3. Do works proving their repentance, befitting repentance 

Application

1. This should be the message of every preacher,

A. Repentance

Change of thinking that leads to a change of living

B. Turn to God

Turn- to reverse the position or placement of: to turn a page; to turn an egg; to turn a person around.

C. Do works befitting their repentance

Befitting- suitable; proper; becoming: planned with a befitting sense of majesty.

Proving, befitting, demonstrate, in keeping with

2. The idea is a changed life,

Repentance, turning, proving all point to a person who has changed.  

Prayer

Change me, I turn to you, I repent before you.

Humility

July 3, 2015

Scripture 

2 Kings 22: 11, 18-20; Proverbs 18: 12; James 4: 6-10

When the king heard what was written in the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes in despair.

“But go to the king of Judah who sent you to seek the LORD and tell him: ‘This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says concerning the message you have just heard: You were sorry and humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I said against this city and its people—that this land would be cursed and become desolate. You tore your clothing in despair and wept before me in repentance. And I have indeed heard you, says the LORD. So I will not send the promised disaster until after you have died and been buried in peace. You will not see the disaster I am going to bring on this city.’” So they took her message back to the king. (NLT)

Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor. ( NLT)

Observation

1. God's word brought humility

When we use the word of God as a plumb line, we see our failures.

2. Humility precedes honor

Humility- to lower in condition, importance, or dignity; abase.

Honor- to hold in honor or high respect; revere: to honor one's parents.

3. God fights against the proud but gives grace to the humble.

And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor. (James 4:6-10 NLT)

A. This passage is similar to Josiah's experience.  When he heard the word of God there were tears, cleansing, sorrow, and grief.  Josiah was a model for what true humility and repentance is suppose to be like.

4. Humble myself before God

I do not want God to have to humble me.

5. Draw near to God.

6. Cleanse myself

God promises to:

A.  Give me grace

B. Lift me up in honor

Application

1. Truly repent over my sins.

Sin should bring grief 

2. Humble myself before God

Humility is acknowledging my need of God

3. Trust him for the results 

He promises to give me grace and honor

Prayer

I humble myself before you.  I acknowledge my need of you.

Trusting God's will

July 2, 2015

Scripture

2 Kings 20:1-6, 12-13, 17; 21:1-3, 6-7

About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill, and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to visit him. He gave the king this message: “This is what the LORD says: Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness.” When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, “Remember, O LORD, how I have always been faithful to you and have served you single-mindedly, always doing what pleases you.” Then he broke down and wept bitterly. But before Isaiah had left the middle courtyard, this message came to him from the LORD: “Go back to Hezekiah, the leader of my people. Tell him, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of your ancestor David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you, and three days from now you will get out of bed and go to the Temple of the LORD. I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my own honor and for the sake of my servant David.’”

Soon after this, Merodach-baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent Hezekiah his best wishes and a gift, for he had heard that Hezekiah had been very sick. Hezekiah received the Babylonian envoys and showed them everything in his treasure-houses—the silver, the gold, the spices, and the aromatic oils. He also took them to see his armory and showed them everything in his royal treasuries! There was nothing in his palace or kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them.

The time is coming when everything in your palace—all the treasures stored up by your ancestors until now—will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the LORD. (NLT)

Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. His mother was Hephzibah. He did what was evil in the LORD’s sight, following the detestable practices of the pagan nations that the LORD had driven from the land ahead of the Israelites. He rebuilt the pagan shrines his father, Hezekiah, had destroyed. He constructed altars for Baal and set up an Asherah pole, just as King Ahab of Israel had done. He also bowed before all the powers of the heavens and worshiped them.

Manasseh also sacrificed his own son in the fire. He practiced sorcery and divination, and he consulted with mediums and psychics. He did much that was evil in the LORD’s sight, arousing his anger. Manasseh even made a carved image of Asherah and set it up in the Temple, the very place where the LORD had told David and his son Solomon: “My name will be honored forever in this Temple and in Jerusalem—the city I have chosen from among all the tribes of Israel. ( NLT)

Observation

This is a great example of accepting and obeying God's will.  Isaiah told Hezekiah that he was going to die and to get his affairs in order.  Hezekiah prayed and God healed him, giving him 15 more years.   But during those 15 years Babylon can and saw all the riches of Judah, and Manasseh, the most evil king in the history of Judah, was born.  If Hezekiah had accepted and obeyed the will of God none of these things would have happened.

1. Hezekiah but self interest above the well being of the people.

2. Hezekiah but his well fare above the will of God.

3. If is confusing and interesting to me that God went ahead an answered his prayer.  Why?  God knew it was a mistake.  In his sovereignty sometimes God gives us what we want even though he knows it is not best.  

4. I must be careful to pray in agreement the will of God.

5. God will not turn his head away from evil forever, ,eventually judgment will come

Application

1. Trust God above all else

2. Pray in agreement with the will of God.

3. Put the interest of the people above self interest

4. live in purity 

Prayer

May I live in the center of your will,  I trust you.

Purify yourself

July 1, 2015

Scripture 

2 Chronicles 29:5, 31

He said to them, “Listen to me, you Levites! Purify yourselves, and purify the Temple of the LORD, the God of your ancestors. Remove all the defiled things from the sanctuary. (NLT)

Then Hezekiah declared, “Now that you have consecrated yourselves to the LORD, bring your sacrifices and thanksgiving offerings to the Temple of the LORD.” So the people brought their sacrifices and thanksgiving offerings, and all whose hearts were willing brought burnt offerings, too. ( NLT)

2 Chronicles 31:18, 21

Food allotments were also given to the families of all those listed in the genealogical records, including their little babies, wives, sons, and daughters. For they had all been faithful in purifying themselves. (NLT)

In all that he did in the service of the Temple of God and in his efforts to follow God’s laws and commands, Hezekiah sought his God wholeheartedly. As a result, he was very successful. ( NLT)

Observation 

1. Purify yourselves

2. Purify the temple

Purify- to make pure; free from anything that debases, pollutes, adulterates, or contaminates: to purify metals.

3 remove all defiled things

Defile- to make foul, dirty, or unclean; pollute; taint; debase.

4. Consecrate yourself 

Consecrate- to make or declare sacred; set apart or dedicate to the service of a deity: to consecrate a new church building.

5. Seek God wholeheartedly 

To achieve success God's way you need to purify yourself, concecrate myself and remove all defiled things in my life.  Seek God wholeheartedly and God will make me successful.  

Application

1. Live in green

2. Seek God daily

3. Remove anything that can defile me

Three things to do everyday

1. Abide

2. Live in green

3. Walk 100000 steps

Prayer

Purify me.  I consecrate myself to you.