Transformation Part 2

Sanctification: 
The Process by which believers become more and more conformed or shaped into the image of Christ.

Let’s remember sanctification is a process that continues on for the rest of our lives here on earth. It is helpful to know with complete certainty that God's desire is to transform us from the inside out. God wants us to reflect His Holiness and be a light for His Gospel in a dark and fallen world.  So God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, begins to shift our old ways of thinking and acting into new ways which reflect an eternal perspective, a loving heart, and a desire to good.  God desires a personal relationship with us, and  desires for our lives to be set apart to Him. We need to understand that this process of transformation is part of our preparation to be with Him for all eternity. God is also renewing our minds and shifting our focus from living a self centered life to living a God centered life. This way, our understanding of life itself will now carry with it God's unique purpose, which unfolds as He directs us into living for His good purpose. This new life can not be purchased or extracted from an earthy based system. Only through God's grace can we receive the gift of salvation and faith. Only through His grace and supernatural intervention can we be changed and receive His promises and great blessing.

God changes us from the inside out. In fact, God has designed in each of us a “God Shaped/Sized Hole”.

This hole is the longing of the human heart to be filled by God alone. Yet many people do not recognize this specific need. Unfortunately many people try to fill this God sized hole with things that can never satisfy the need for something greater than themselves. But those who come to know God understand only He can satisfy the emptiness we feel inside. 

Jesus, recognizing this need to be filled, calls us to come to Him for the strength, comfort and rest

that He can only satisfy:

Matthew 11:28-29 NIV

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

The Bible tells us to have fellowship God and open our hearts to Him:

Philippians 4:6-7 NIV

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

When we come to Jesus He will unlocked the doors to understanding and give us the perspective

we need to live out the abundant Christian life:

Matthew 7:7-8 NIV

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

To help us gain eternal perspective it is vitally important to realize that everything the world  

has to offer is temporary in contrast to our God who is everlasting:

Matthew 6:19-20 NIV

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

1 Chronicles 16:34 NIV
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

God offers us the greatest gift we could ever receive, eternal life. There is no greater gift than to

be able to spend our eternity with God in Heaven, free from the sin, evil, death, destruction and

persecution that are always at the forefront of living in this fallen world:

Revelation 21:3-4 New International Version 1984 

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Faith is a gift from God:

Ephesians 2:8 NIV
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

God loves us and gave His life to save us:

John 3:16-17 NIV

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

God saved us from the consequences of sin:

Romans 6:23 NIV

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Jesus reassures us about the result of His work on Cross because in this world we will struggle and suffer: 

John 16:33 NIV
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble.

But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Matthew 5:10 NIV
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

There is great hope for followers of Jesus. God has made an incredible promise to His people.

In return for God’s grace, in gratitude, we can offer him what he desires:

Romans 12:1 NIV

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

All the scripture above remind us that we have a God who loves us and wants to be part of our life story. God really cares about helping us navigate through the rough the rough waters of this fallen world. We can't do this in our own strength or with limited perspective. That is why we need God's help and guidance. That is why we need transformation and sanctification.

It is good to remind ourselves that each day we have to make a choice to pursue our relationship with God and fight the temptation to pursue things that separate us from Him. Spiritual growth is important and God desires that we continue on that journey.

Colossians 1:9-10 New King James Version

For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Interestingly enough, one of the subtle ways we interfere with our spiritual growth and development of our Christ-likeness is to desire a comfortable Christian life. I have tried to live out this comfortable Christian life and I can tell you it does not serve me or others well. Attempting to live this way flat lines our spiritual growth and maturity. We need to pursue the things of God and desire to continually have our eyes open to the source of all truth. The good news is, when we act on the desire to change, grow spiritually and allow ourselves to be filled and influenced by the Holy Spirit, we can live out our Christ-likeness and reflect God's Glory to the world.

Remember this: We have been given the great privilege of  serving an awesome, loving and gracious God. Let's not take this privilege lightly. Let's make sure we live out God's purpose for us to become like Jesus. Let's make sure we continue influence others to consider the message of the Gospel by telling our story of our transformation and hope.

Let's not forget that God has a great plan and good purpose for us.  

Philippians 2:13 NIV

for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose

Romans 8:28 New International Version 1984 

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been 
called according to his purpose.

Philippians 1:6 New International Version 1984

being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion 
until the day of Christ Jesus.

Our sanctification and transformation are part of that good purpose.

Just Sayin………………..Dave