transformed into His likeness 1

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transform- in character & impact

HOOK?
From the moment we are saved and enter God Kingdom, God gets to work on transforming us into the image of Jesus.
This is a journey where we give up destructive habits and a worldly lifestyle and embrace a godly attitude. Why? Cos it results in us becoming far more free, far more full of love, peace/ joy/ life with every single step. Jesus did not come to kill our joy but to bring life in all its fullness.
So how does God do this work?
Psalm 147:3 (NLT)
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
our hearts are healed by the love of God. When we first come into God's Kingdom often we have been wounded by the world.
PICTURE OF HURT HEART
Ppl have been unkind, we’ve been downtrodden. And we can come to Jesus initially beaten up. Heart with arrows. If one of these arrows gets a small touch its gonna hurt like crazy.
these wounds cause us to shrink back often, to protect ourselves. One small knock to a hurting heart and the pain is magnified. Have you ever seen someone give an extreme reaction to a minor issue? FUNNY STORY – but these things happen cos of wounds picked up in the past.
GOSPEL: But Jesus died for each and every one of us. He died so that every hurting heart could be made whole, know His forgiveness and healed by His incredible love. And the more we know His love, the more we are healed and transformed.
Song of songs - journey
A book of poetry in the OT which is to be read as the love between us and the Lord
Song of Solomon 1:2 (NLT)
1. Let Him kiss me and kiss me again,
2. My lover is mine, and I am his.
6. I am my lover’s, and my lover is mine.
7. I am my lover’s,
and he claims me as his own.
Look at the transformation over the course of the book....
The more time we spend allowing the love of God in the more we are inspired and empowered to love him & others/ trust god/ the more secure we become as his love drives out fear/ we operate out of a genuine desire to give rather than simply to survive. The love of God heals our hearts and makes us new on the inside. Able to handle life’s setbacks. Able to walk thru the injustices and problems we have to face.
STORY – the more I have rested in God’s love the more I find ppl in my local community are drawn to have conversation with me. IBC
PROPHETIC WORD OVER CHURCH: As we spend time resting in God's love, soaking in his love, experiencing it, it will take our relationship with him to a whole new level. There's so much more he wants us to experience with him yet. And this will result in us bearing far more fruit.
APPLICATION - how to rest in God’s love?
Starts with belief. So dwell on and personalize verses that say how much God loves you. (For God so loved me…) . Pause. Thank Him for His love for you.
Intimate loving r brings an inner transformation that only God can achieve.
2 Corinthians 3:18 (NKJV)
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. EXPOUND
A 2nd way God brings transformation is the brand new change He works into us at our conversion.
Ezekiel 36:26–28 (NLT)
And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.
You will be my people, and I will be your God.
Effectively, God re-wires us as we become Cs. He puts in our hearts a compass that has Jesus as its true north. And so our desires change. We desire to worship/ draw close/ live right/ holy/ bless others/ give/ generous/ to live in close loving r with God and each other. This now is our joy and satisfaction. Our hearts passion. But...Our minds still play catch up with this
Romans 12:2 NLT
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.
It is God who changes the way we think. It happens as we hear him. This is why it's good to slow down each day to ask him to speak to us through his word. In the Greek the phrase means “open the mind to something not previously understood”. As we start to see/ understand things differently a transformation supernaturally occurs. God knows absolutely everything. Everything about you. All that you know, all that you don’t know wants to teach us something new today. All we need do is ask Him. He desires to lead us into more truth and out of confusion or lies that we can easily believe about God/ ourselves. To shed light on something brand new. And God’s Word really helps here as it is transformational. As we meditate on it it transforms every single fibre of our being. It nourishes us and releases a fresh faith in us to see ourselves as we truly are - our new creation selves. Righteous, holy Ppl of God.
So let’s ask God to teach us something new today.
A Third way in which God works transformation into us is thru the inner promptings of HS
Galatians 5:16–17 (NLT)
So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.
EXPOUND Prompt and trust
The HS is constantly living inside every believer, and is always guiding us into all truth, into the right way to live, the best way to live. Not only this but he empowers us to live this holy life.
But how do we recognise this?
Prompts/ nudges. An inner voice/ conviction to stop doing something. [perhaps a habit/ a lifestyle/ or a one-off event] Or on the positive to move out and speak to someone, do good for someone, to commence a more holy way of living that he leads us into. And this happens v regularly.
Story - telling funny stories in staffroom [incl telling a story where you complained this week]
We may sense the HS nudging us in someway that seems too hard a request, but remember it is God’s power in us that works the change. All we need do is say yes and trust. God I cannot but you in me can.
And bit by bit we get transformed.
APPLICATION - PRAY “make me more aware of your HS, of your nudges”
The close for non-cs to get saved/ know Jesus
Jesus died that our sins could be forgiven and we could enjoy an eternal r with God forever. One that brings a new peace, hope and joy into our lives. Forever.
In a moment I am going to pray and you may find yourself in one of the following three categories. Can I have every head bowed please.
1. You don’t know Jesus today as your Lord and saviour. Never been a C. You would like to make this today the day you begin your r with Him.
2. You used to walk with Jesus and would like to re-connect with Him today.
3. You’re not sure of your salvation. You’re not sure that at the end of your life you will be going to heaven and you desire that certainty that Jesus offers.
If you relate to any of those 3 then please pray along with me now, repeating these words out of your own heart.
Lord Jesus, I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I ask You to forgive me for all my wrongdoing, and receive me as Your child. I commit my life to You now. Amen
With every head still bowed could I ask you to raise your hand if you prayed that prayer?
Pause
Anybody else?
PAUSE – pray for these ppl to receive God’s peace and presence
Thank you Lord for you all incredible love that you have showed us. Pour out your presence. thank you that for everyone today who raised their hands have entered into a most wonderful relationship with you and can be assured of their salvation.
MIN
Hip, whole of someone’s left leg, healing for your heart - greater exp of God’s love
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