God's Transformative Power

Romans 12:1-2: NRSV - I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.

As we come to the end of another year, we praise God for what we’ve seen, what we’ve heard, and what we’ve experienced in the year 2023.

If we look back over the year, there have been many things that have gone on in our lives. Changes, some good, some perhaps not so good, and some we’re still working out so we’re on the fence about it.

It’s a time when many people are making New Year’s resolutions to do something better, to be better. I’d venture a guess and say the number one resolution deals with transforming our bodies through exercising, losing weight, or getting in shape. Gyms are as much as 40% busier in the month of January.

There are those who may even make a resolution to start going to church. For those in this category our address is 3500 Hwy 5, Douglasville, GA 30135. Sunday school begins at 8:45 and Worship service starts at 10:00.

If you’re unable to get out of the house, you’re not feeling well, or you don’t live in this area, you can join us on zoom. Check out our website at www.lovechristianctr.org for the codes to join us live. That’s our public service announcement, now back to our regular scheduled programming.

Some Christians begin the year with a fast and a challenge to read the Bible in a year. That’s wonderful, but here’s the quandary, completing the challenge.

When we make a decision to do something different, to add something to our already over packed schedule, at least for some, it requires something.

When we decide to do something different it often requires we stop doing something we’re already doing. It requires a shift.

A shift in priorities,

a shift in time management,

a shift in mindset,

a shift in duties,

perhaps even a shift in location.

And for some, there are things that need to go away, some habits need to disappear from your schedule altogether and some just need an adjustment. Some adjustments, may require that certain people in your life go away or at least be put at arm’s length.

But can I challenge you to take a step back, maybe even a few steps, get in your prayer posture, whatever and wherever that may be and talk to God about what’s to come?

Today I want to talk to you about God’s Transformative Power.

I think we’ve all heard someone talk about something transforming their lives. Transformation can be good, and it can be bad.

We are in a constant state of transformation or change. We go through stages in our lives. They have been classified as

• Prenatal development which takes place in the womb, before we’re born.

Once a baby is born, they are in the infant stage. Completely dependent on someone else, usually their mothers for survival.

Infants transform into toddlers. They begin to explore their surroundings they’re crawling, then walking, then running. Toddlers begin to notice the world around them. They find that words have meaning, and the right words get a response.

Toddlers transform into early childhood. They’re increasing their vocabulary and independence.

Then they develop into middle childhood, and they’re off to school and experiencing a whole new adventure with someone else occupying their time and influencing their world.

The next stage is adolescence, and it brings with it an even bigger physical change called puberty.

Which is followed by early adulthood. This is a time when people focus on their futures and what they’re going to do in life. It’s a tricky time though, because it’s also a time when they feel they’re invincible, sometimes putting themselves in dangerous situations, and as a result they may suffer violence.

Then we move into middle adulthood. A period where you’re hopefully settling down, you have your career and you’re raising a family.

Then we go into late adulthood, where if we’ve lived the other stages well, if we’ve prepared, if we’ve kept our priorities in order, we retire and travel and, enjoy life, and if you’re married, you reconnect with and enjoy your spouse. If you’ve done it well reconnection won’t be necessary, because you’ve kept each other first throughout the marriage.

And eventually we experience death.

Transformations.

But there’s one more stage we will all experience after death, one more transformation. Because death is not the end, it’s just a transition from this life to the next, from this life to eternity.

So I have a question for you. Will your next life be glorious, or will it be full of weeping and gnashing of teeth? We’ll come back to that.

Transformation takes place all around us, every day. Morning turns to afternoon, afternoon turns to evening, evening turns to night, and it happens all over again the next day.

The seasons change and the earth transforms.

We were born in sin, shaped in iniquity. No one had to teach children to lie, it came naturally. You ask a toddler, “Did you eat that chocolate?” And the answer comes back, “No” from the chocolate covered face and hands.

No one had to teach them to manipulate others, that came naturally. Babies learned quickly, if I cry, someone is going to do something. We even learned to decipher what different cries meant. I want food, I’m wet, I’m hurt, I want attention, I’m just testing out the sounds I can make.

No one had to teach a child to be selfish, they learned the word mine and what it meant quickly.

Because of the fall in the garden, we were born with a sin nature, and we must learn to be kind, to be nice, to love, to esteem others more highly than ourselves. To do those things goes against the very nature we were born with.

But the good news is, from the adolescence stage and throughout the rest of our lives, as long as we have breath we have an opportunity to transform from the selfish, self-centered people we were born as, into the loving, kind-hearted, giving people God wants us to be.

And it’s a never-ending process. You may find yourself at times, taking two steps forward, only to take three steps backward. But since you’ve been down that path before you know how to navigate it and you should be able to go through it a little easier. Hopefully there are lessons you learned, and you can get to the other side of through more quickly.

What we must know; what I’m here to tell you this morning on not just the last Sunday, but the last day in the year 2023, is that transformation must begin in the heart.

And more importantly, true transformation begins with Christ. Try as you may, you cannot do it alone. If you could’ve there would’ve been no need for Jesus to come. We couldn’t then and, we can’t now save ourselves, we needed, and some must still learn you need a Savior to save you not only from yourself, but from the pit of hell you could find yourself in when you experience death, that last stage of life on this side.

And trust me when I tell you, unless Jesus returns first, you will experience death. Hebrews 9 tells us, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” I don’t mean to be morbid, but I have a responsibility to prepare you for what’s to come and I don’t need a prophetic utterance to tell you that death is coming, and it doesn’t have an age attached to it.

It’s never too soon to accept Christ as your Lord and Savior, but it can be too late and after death, no one can pray you into heaven, there’s no such thing as purgatory. The Bible says, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

Transformation

Every Sunday, churches whose doors are open in the name of Jesus, the missionaries in the mission field, and those who are obedient to the Great Commission all over the world are asking the question, “Do you know Jesus in the pardoning of your sin.” It may be phrased

“Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior?”

“Have you given your life to Christ?”

“Would you like to be saved?”

However the question is asked, the result is the same, salvation, eternal life in heaven with God

where Sabbath will have no end

every day will be Sunday

there’s no night, the Son shines perpetually

there’s no more sickness, no more sorrow, no more pain, no more bills, no more worries, no more problems, no more war, no more hatred, no more trials, no more tribulations

the troubles of this life and this world are all gone

there’s just hallelujah and rejoicing

the place where the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say, “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.”

When we come to Christ,

for some it’s an emotional, tear-filled experience.

For some, it’s an exciting new beginning.

For others it’s a reverent, solemn occasion, laying down a weight they’ve been carrying.

For still others it’s answering a call they received with a determination to give their all.

In whatever way the question comes to you, what’s important is that you answer it in the affirmative. What’s vital is that you say Lord I’m available to you, what’s imperative is that you say, yes. Will your heart and soul say yes?

Does anybody have a yes in your spirit for the Lord?

Will you tell the Lord yes I’ll obey and mean it?

Will you tell Him yes and do it, whatever it is?

If God told you what he really needs from you, will your spirit still say yes?

Will you tell Him yes and begin your transformation?

Oh we have the best of intentions, when we say yes, and then life gets in the way.

The wife,

the husband,

the children,

the job,

the car,

the house,

the laundry,

school,

television,

and ourselves.

Yes, sometimes we get in our own way of getting to our transformation, of getting to God’s yes. We get in the way of God’s perfect plan for our lives.

Paul says I appeal to you, I beseech you, I beg of you, by the mercies of God, present your bodies a living sacrifice.

Now that would seem like a contradiction in terms. Living — sacrifice. When you think of sacrifice, you typically think of something dying.

There’s a story about the farmer’s family getting ready for a big celebration and a few of the animals got together and decided they wanted to help. The cow said I’ll contribute some milk. The chicken said, “I’ll contribute some eggs.” They turned to the pig and asked, “Will you contribute some bacon?”

To which the pig responded, “Now hold on a minute, for you it’s a contribution, but for me it’s a commitment.” For the pig it was a sacrifice, it meant the end of his life.

Paul didn’t ask for a contribution, he asked for a commitment, he asked for a sacrifice. Giving all of yourself, going all in. But in giving this sacrifice we don’t die, in fact he wants us to live life to the fullest. Live exceeding, abundantly, above all we could ask or think according to the power that works in us.

God wants to bless us abundantly, but he requires obedience, he requires holiness. What does holiness look like? In a word, Jesus. But preacher, that’s a high bar to reach. Yes it is, but reaching for that bar keeps you looking up.

You’re looking up, instead of at all the turmoil going on in the world.

You’re looking up instead of measuring yourself by the person next to you.

You’re looking up instead of back at who you used to be.

You’re looking up instead of at what your spouse isn’t doing for you, isn’t giving you.

You’re looking up instead of how your friend betrayed you.

You’re looking up instead tearing down what others are trying to do.

You’re looking up, to the hills from whence comes your help because you know that all of your help comes from the Lord

You’re looking up, because to look down is a posture of defeat, of giving up and giving in.

You’ve got to keep looking up

Don’t misunderstand me, you’re not oblivious to what’s going on around you. I’m not saying ignore what you see, but the Word tells us rather than placing your focus on the negative, focus on

whatsoever things are true,

whatsoever things are honest,

whatsoever things are just,

whatsoever things are pure,

whatsoever things are lovely,

whatsoever things are of good report;

if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Transformation begins in the heart. Transformation begins at the core of who you are.

What does God require? He requires holiness. Holiness is not reserved for a denomination. For the Christian, it’s a way of life. It’s a state of mind, it’s the condition of the heart. Holiness is right.

Live a life that is acceptable to God. What’s acceptable to God? I’m so glad you ask.

God wants obedience.

In 1 Sam 15:22 the question was asked - “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? And the answer was, Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice,”

He said, “My sheep hear my voice and a stranger they will not follow.” Can you hear him calling to you? He’s trying to tell you the way you should go.

In what we call the Lord’s prayer, we say, “…and lead us not into temptation” God is trying to tell you which way to go but you’re not doing it, you’re not going where he said go. Is it that you can’t hear him, maybe you don’t understand, or maybe you just don’t want to do it?

Dare I say it could be any of those depending on what it is God told you to do. Some of you may even be trying to decide right now if you’re going to do something God has ask of you.

When it came to my call to ministry, for three years I ignored what God was telling me to do. I had all kinds of excuses, including I just didn’t want people looking at me. I might mess up and I never want to be the reason someone turns away from God. Not realizing it was never about me, it’s about making myself available to be used by him to lead others to him. It’s about winning souls for the Kingdom of God.

And guess what, it’s not about you either.

God wants submission. The last portion of that same verse says.

“… and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.”

When you submit to God, you are surrendering to his will and his way. It’s about knowing his ways are higher than our ways and his thoughts higher than our thoughts.

Aren’t you glad God is not like us? I am. We can be up today and down tomorrow. Petty, get mad about nothing, hold a grudge, be unforgiving and place standards and expectations on others we don’t adhere to ourselves.

But God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He said, “I am the Lord, I change not”.

Do you need stability in your life? Try Jesus.

Do you need peace in your life? Try Jesus.

Do you need forgiveness in your life? Try Jesus.

Do you need hope in your life? Try Jesus.

Do you need love in your life? Try Jesus.

Do you need salvation in your life? Try Jesus.

When you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable, this is your spiritual worship. The KJV says it’s your reasonable service.

You’re not doing God a favor by allowing him to use you. He said if you don’t praise me the very rocks will cry out. So don’t get it twisted, our service to God benefits us. It blesses us, our giving places us in a position to receive.

Don’t abide by the world’s standard of taking all you can get and holding on to all you can. God’s ways are completely opposite. His Word says give, and it shall be given to you, good measure, pressed down and shaken together shall men give into your bosom.

God says the wealth of the wicked is stored up for the righteous. God can do some financial redistribution and provide you with all you need and some more. You may not know when, you may not know where it will come from, but when it comes it will be right on time.

And now Paul tells us about God’s transformative power. He says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed,” How are you transformed? By the renewing of your mind.

When your mind is renewed you have a different way of processing what you see, think, and feel. You now see that person who gets on your nerves through a Jesus lens and God allows you to see the trauma they’ve been through. He lets you see the hurt they’ve experienced in their lives and now instead of anger and impatience toward them, you have care and compassion.

That time that you spend watching TV, you now want a closer walk with God, so you turn the TV off and begin listening or reading your Bible to learn more about God and develop a closer relationship with him.

You treat your spouse with love and kindness, instead of treating them like your servant. Men you’ll pray for and with your wives, being the priest of your household.

Women you’ll honor your husbands and submit to them as they submit to Christ. Being their helpmeet, continually praying for them.

Children will obey and honor their parents so their days may be long upon the earth.

When everyone gets in their place God can work some things in the earth. He can change hearts and minds. He can cause wars to cease.

The old ways you had, you don’t have anymore. The places you used to go, you have no desire to go to anymore. The things you used to say, you don’t say anymore. When your mind is renewed your actions will be also.

When your mind is renewed, you’ll be able to discern, you’ll be able to discover, what the will of God is for your life, for your family, for your ministry.

When your mind is renewed, you’ll be able to discern what’s good and acceptable and perfect

according to God’s standards not how man votes.

According to God’s standards, not what man says is permissible.

According to God’s standards, not what the courts say.

According to God’s standards, not what you feel is right.

You want to know what it is to be “good”. Let’s listen in as Jesus answers that question in Matthew 19:16-17- “And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

What is acceptable?

In Acts 10 we see these words, “34 Then Peter began to speak to them: ‘I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. What’s right? Look at Jesus.

And in this world of imperfection, what is perfect? Back in Matthew, Jesus finishes the answer, “Jesus said to him, ‘If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”

What are you still holding onto? What do you need to put down? Who do you need to leave behind? Not everything and everyone can go where you’re going. Accept it, because the sooner you do, the more you can do for the Lord and the lighter your load will be.

When Jesus came through the virgin Mary, he came on a mission to give us the opportunity to transform our lives, to bring us from death to life.

When sin entered the world, so did death and to reconcile us back to the Father there needed to be a sacrifice. But not just any old sacrifice would do. It had to be a perfect sacrifice, it had to be a sinless sacrifice. But there was no one in the earth who met that requirement and so Jesus said he would go for us.

He knew what the assignment required, but he came anyway.

He knew he would suffer, but he came anyway.

He knew he would experience hurt, but he came anyway.

He knew he would experience pain, but he came anyway.

He knew he would be betrayed, but he came anyway.

He knew he’d die a criminal’s death on an old rugged cross, but he came anyway.

But glory be to God he also knew, when he gave up the ghost that, that wouldn’t be the end of his story. He was about to turn everything upside down and inside out. He was about to show everyone, not just those who sought to destroy him, not just his disciples, not just those witnesses at the foot of the cross, but generations past, present, and future, who he really was.

He was about to build a bridge to reconcile us back to the Father.

Sin demanded blood. Jesus shed his blood. Sin demanded something die. Jesus died. Sin demanded a perfect sacrifice, Jesus was the sinless lamb of God.

Jesus presented his body as a sacrifice for you will you present yours to him? While you still have time, as we enter 2024, I’m here to encourage you, don’t wait. There are those who may be hearing my voice right now, but they won’t see the new year.

The place is here, the time is now. If you’ve never accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, all it takes is a prayer.

Father, I admit I’m a sinner. Please forgive me. Jesus, I give you my life, please come into my heart and be Lord of my life, in your name I pray. Amen

There’s no time like the present. Get off the fence and make up your mind that you will allow God’s transformative power to work on and in your life. Give God your yes, be the person he called you to be, so you can bless others.

You might not be here this Sunday, but you made it into 2024 and you’re watching this message online in the coming week; if you live in the Douglasville, GA area and you don’t have a church home, I’ll see you next Sunday. Start your journey here with us, find out what God has in store for your life as you become a living sacrifice for him.

If you prayed that prayer of salvation for the first time, welcome to the family of Christ, send us a message so we can celebrate and pray with you, better yet come tell us about it in person on Wednesday during our Bible study at 7 p.m. or next Sunday.

If God is telling you it’s time for a change, pray and ask if Love Christian Center is the place you should be. The harvest is plenty, but the laborers are few. Great things are happening here, and God is using us in a mighty way to bless many people. If you’d like to be a part of our food pantry ministry, whether it’s as a volunteer, if you’re in need, or both, join us on Wednesdays from 1 - 6 pm. In the month of Dec we blessed 286 households with 8,852 pounds of food.

Maybe you don’t live in the area but you’d like to support the ministry financially, go to the giving page of our website for all the ways you can give or click on the link. Another way you can help is to share this message, and subscribe to us on our YouTube channel at Love Christian Center, Douglasville.

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