2024 Theme Sermon

The funny thing about “transformation” is that it appeals to everyone, but some consider it out of reach, some run from the effort required to bring it about, some neglect it due to the level of admittance about one’s self in order to begin the process.

The transformation the Apostle Paul is talking about is not what your typical counselor will lead you through. Many counselors today takes you through a process that can only address the symptoms and never get to the root of the problem which is SIN.

I am wanting to bring your mind back to understanding and believing that God and God alone can effectively deal with sin. To be honest, He already has through Jesus. He has written the answer in blood on a wooden cross over 2,000 years ago. Transformation begins with a “new birth” and continues by a continuous pursuit of renewal within the depth of ones’ soul. God is the only one who can accomplish both for you. That is exactly what we want to explore this year with this theme of “RENEW YOUR MIND.”

to be transformed v. — to be or become changed in outward appearance or expression as manifesting a change in nature or essence.

renewal n. — the act of reestablishing something in a like-new and often improved manner.

“Renewal” broken down into its root words: Activity - Continuation - Renewal

1) A Plea For Transformation

Verse 1

A. The nature of Paul’s plea

Paul is making an encouraging request or plea.

This plea does not come from Paul having a Temple education and his academic resume.

This plea comes from a man you has already experienced and learned what it means to be a “genuine worshiper.”

Paul also learned the work necessary for a born-again Christian to achieve it.

God did not lead Paul to approach these Christian with high pressure nor with a forcing of the will.

God gave the “reasonableness” of the plea to ring so loudly evident that it would create an immediate and prompt response.

The motivation behind Paul’s plea is the mercies given to him every day from the One he now lives for.

Notice who Paul is appealing to: YOU!

This is not to say you and you alone can follow through with such a daily accomplishment, but God can only bring you to a particular and useful spiritual destination if you alone are willing to “live in truth.”

Paul’s three-fold life plan for these believers (including you) is what would be considered “living the truth.”

Your words will always be the easiest thing about you. God is most concerned with you acting out your words.

1 John 1:5–6 “5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:”

B. “Present your bodies”

Before you trusted Christ, you used your body for sinful pleasures.

Now belonging to Jesus, there should be a desire to give our body over to Him for His use.

The Christian’s body is God’s temple.

1 Corinthians 6:19–20“19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

Philippians 1:20–21“20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

As Christ gave His body for us, let us give our bodies to Him.

“Present” = once and for all (Ill. - like a bride and groom’s vows)

C. “Living sacrifice”

O.T. sacrifices were dead ones.

We have two example of living sacrifices in the Bible:

Isaac - willingly put himself on the altar / would have died in obedience / God sent a ram / Isaac did die that day (died to self) / got off the altar as a living sacrifice.

Jesus - actually died in obedience / rose again / in heaven as our living sacrifice / the wounds you and I created are still there.

For the Christian to be “spiritual” they must relinquish all control to the Holy Spirit.

Your whole man can be controlled only when your surrender your body to Christ.

The very source that can cut away your control and give it to the Spirit is God’s Word — Hebrews 4:12 “12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

“Holy” - There is only one person you can entrust your whole person to to bring about a holy display of life: HOLY SPIRIT.

“acceptable sacrifice” - The Holy Spirit will never fail to bring you to experience all the value of Christ’s sacrifice on your behalf on the cross.

2) The Way To Transformation

Verse 2

A. Beginning with the negative

“do not” - Paul begins with a negative plea.

The world’s systems are after your mind to control it.

The Devil knows, whoever controls the mind controls the body.

The last thing the devil and this world wants the Christian to accomplish is displaying what God approves.

The Devil cringes when those who are under his reign learns the truth about God’s will for their life.

“do not” - Paul wants the Christian to be motivated by far more than the sensual.

Illustration: Have you ever said these things: I’m too tired, I’m too hot, It’s too cold, It doesn’t taste good? These are sensual condition of which determines your outward actions. Christians can have these also. Maybe it’s too hot to attend the event, maybe you don’t like the speaker, maybe you are uncomfortable to participate in the work. The person may be saved, but they are living in the lowest possible plane.

Quote: “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold.” - J. B. Phillips

“the world” - signifies the condition of humanity; darkness & opposing God.

The Christian who has truly laid down on the altar will NOT be conformed to the condition of humanity.

The beauty the Christian is called to display is not something to be created starting on the outside, but from within.

Matthew 6:29“29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”

Quote: John Phillips said, “He is not molded by the world’s morals; he sets the standard for the world.”

The answer is NOT personal “will power.”

Remember Pauls struggles when only relying upon his own will power (Rom. 7:15-21). Only God can give you the will “to do His good pleasure” and the “won’t power” to reject the evil pleasures of the enemy.

B. HOW DO YOU GET THERE?

“be transformed” - This kind of transformation can only come about when the Christian is continually contemplating the Lord Jesus — 2 Corinthians 3:18 “18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

This speaks of a spiritual metamorphosis; a change of form (caterpillar).

Examples: Moses face would never be seen the same after coming down from the mountain spending 40 days and nights with God. Steven filled with the Holy Spirit to the point his face had the resemblance of an angel.

“Renewing your mind” - Paul is not suggesting a cosmetic adjustment. Paul is pleading for the Christian to experience the “exchanged life.” Before the “transformed life” can be lived, the “exchanged life” must be ruling inside.

Illustration: Renewing of the mind is equivalent to a well digger. It must drill down deep enough to bring water to the surface. There are depth or chambers to your heart that MUST be reached in order to bring to the surface what is beneficial.

PRAYER is the power drill God has given you to dig deep so you can live loudly and brightly for His purposes.

Biblical proof of hidden hinderances in your heart:

Psalm 19:12–13“12 Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults. 13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me: Then shall I be upright, And I shall be innocent from the great transgression.”

Psalm 139:23–24“23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.”

2 Corinthians 10:3–6“3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.”

Jeremiah 17:9 “9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

Proverbs 18:8 “8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, And they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.”

Psalm 51:6 “6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: And in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.”

3) The Purpose of Transformation

Verse 2 — “proving God’s will”

A. God’s will is good

God can never ask anything of you that does not line up with our eternal good.

God’s will may cut through your opinions, emotions, and tastes.

God’s will comes from the best omniscient wisdom and perfect love can conceive.

The only one who strives to persuade you God can’t be trusted, God will let you down, or God is guiding you to purposeless pain is SATAN.

B. God’s will is acceptable (worship)

God will never ask something of you that he cannot accept Himself.

God is taking you along a path that is maturing you as you go.

Example: God took the Israelites down the longest path to Canaan for the purpose of preparing them to possess the land.

Quote: When speaking about the path God chose to lead the Israelites home, Warren Werisbe said, “He decided indeed that the longest way around was the shortest way home.”

C. God’s will is perfect

You can’t improve on the plan of God.

You only see bits a pieces. God sees the whole. God sees past, present and future.

God’s will is designed to both “challenge” you and “change” you.

The change = verse 1

The challenge = verse2 “renewing your mind”

Conclusion

Jesus not only will help reveal the bad roots in the depth of your heart, but He is the only one who can bring true healing.

I am not saying everything you think or feel has a deep black root, but much of what makes you bitter, anger or fearful does.

Not allowing God’s Spirit to cleanse these inward roots will only allow the same symptoms to continue to resurface.

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