Living in Conversion

Preparation for a new year. Living in a time of conversion. Writing your name after you got married, writing 2005 till February, etc… things take time and choices to change over.

God has placed the potential for greatness in each one of us.

We are people for the most part that have the ability to hope and to look forward. To expect something better in our future.

God has also given us something that we can become great at, a gift a calling, a purpose.

Something that no one else can do as well as we can. Something that will take us to a place of fulfillment and influence and eventual success in this world and in the kingdom of God.

Our lives are a constant conversion experience. Actually our relationship to God is called a CONVERSION experience. Why?

Conversion and Exchange

Mt 22:36-40 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

If this was all we knew of the bible would it be enough to fulfill the will of God?

Balance is not 50% doubt and 50% faith or having to choose between being spiritual or natural. It is 100% living life the way God has planned.

• The goal of balance is to bring the spiritual principles that we are learning into the practical areas of our life.  Conversion  taking spiritual life and converting it to natural

• Loving God = Spiritual ….Loving people = natural …sum. Loving people= loving God

• When something is brought from one realm to another, it must be converted.  
• Conversion
• In computing there is this problem that when people create certain software it is often in another code, or format or type. To make things more useable often we must convert things into a format that is more compatable. * The same is true with money. You cannot spend Czech Crowns in America. We use dollars. You must convert them first.
• Electricity, TV systems, Telephone bands, etc...

To Convert

1          a : to bring over from one belief, view, or party to another

b : to bring about a religious conversion in

2          a : to alter the physical or chemical nature or properties of especially in manufacturing

            b  : to change from one form or function to another

c. to alter for more effective utilization

1. Conversion of Spirit  

• Think about it, We were dead to spiritual things and through Jesus we were made alive.
• That means we were only usable in this natural world. We did not have the ability to function in the spiritual one. Changed from old to new, CONVERTED!

Romans 8:8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. NIV

1 Corinthians 2:12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. NIV

·         When we try to use something from one realm that was not created to operate in another it will not function properly. We must convert it!

1. Conversion of Soul (mind, will and emotions)

Ephesians 4: 17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. NIV

Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed (how many of you have a transformer at home?) by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. NIV

·         Before Christ came into our lives we did not have the ability to receive spiritually we received everything through the five senses.

• These led to ridiculous conclusions about the world around us and about God.
• Through 5 senses alone = no understanding of our real purpose

• Bible says understanding darkened
• God is… a goose bump, a happy feeling, theologically understandable, or I will not believe till I can see God!  

• If we will fill our souls with the God and his truth, it will begin to transform (convert) us. The way we think, the solutions that we seek, the choices that we make, how we feel about things.
• What I think about  

1. Conversion of body

Romans 12: 1 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. NIV

This is conversion in the other direction. The out come of spiritual life. Faith translated into actions = balanced life.

• The actions of our body prove what is inside and flowing through us.
• Visible in good deeds. Good fruit.
• Healthy life style, why? To fulfill your years and his purposes!
• If you are sick you are distracted from doing his will.
• If you are dead, even more.
• Common sense and medical wisdom so as not to need his miracles on a daily basis.
• Stop smoking, living in excess…..

“A converted life”

Are you converted?

1.     1 Cor.2:12…We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God.

a.     Conversion only happens when something is flowing in.

2.     Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

a.     Conversion only happens when something flows through.

3.     Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship

a.     Conversion only happens when something is flowing out.