Transformation

1. Transformation • (Rom 12:2) Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed 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.

2. Supernatural Living • (1 Cor 3:3) You are still worldly . . . Are you not acting like mere men? • Supernatural living requires a supernatural mindset.

3. A Spirit-Transformed Mind • (Rom 8:5-6) Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. {6} The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;

4. What’s inside will come out

5. What’s inside you is what you PUT there!

6. Spirituality in 3 Dimensions • Faith – our lens for looking at God • Hope – our lens for looking at the future • Love – our lens for looking at others

7. (1 Cor 13) If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. {2} If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

8. {3} If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. {4} Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

9. {5} It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. {6} Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. {7} It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

10. {8} Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

11. {9} For we know in part and we prophesy in part, {10} but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. {11} When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.

12. {12} Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13. A Transformed Life • Body – senses, physical influences, drives • Soul – mind, will, emotions • Spirit – conscience, awareness of self & God • The Bible frequently speaks of soul & spirit together as your “heart”

14. Three Enduring Things {1 Cor 13:13} And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Cor 14:1) Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts.

15. Faith • (Heb 11:1) Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. • (James 2:18) . . . Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

16. Hope • (Rom 5:3-5) Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; {4} perseverance, character; and character, hope. {5} And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. • Hope – confidence that things can change for the better!!!

17. Love • (John 13:35) By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

18. A Transformed Life • Body – senses, physical influences, drives • Soul – mind, will, emotions • Spirit – conscience, awareness of self & God • The Bible frequently speaks of soul & spirit together as your “heart”

19. The Key to God’s Future for us: • Father God – you can believe God • Holy Spirit – power to change things • Jesus Christ – loves us!!! • Faith, Hope, Love

20. (1 Cor 13) If I speak the language of the customer and increase sales by 300%, but have not love, I am just another greedy salesman. {2} If I am an engineer and understand how things work, and if I have the technology that can move mountains and make millions, but have not love, I really haven’t accomplished anything lasting.

21. If I make good money, tithe, give to missions, work a 60-hour work week, spend my driving time with my ear welded to my cellphone, but have not love, I’m just another frenetic workaholic without a real reason to be so busy.

22. {4} Love is patient with the idiots at work, love is kind with your kids or your roommate when you’ve had a terrible day. It does not envy the girl who gets the promotion because she’s sleeping with the boss,

23. It does not boast about grades next to someone who is struggling academically or go on about how much work you do around the house, it is not too proud to apologize when you’ve been a jerk or arrogant with people who aren’t as skilled as you are.

24. {5} It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. {6} Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. {7} It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

25. {8} Love never fails. But where there is new software, it will become obsolete; where there are new ideas, they will become passe; where there are beautiful fashions and designer hairstyles, they will become dated and your kids will laugh at them.

26. {9} For our understanding of life is limited and science only takes us so far, {10} but when you finally discover what God is saying is really important in life, everything else seems insignificant.

27. {11} When I was a kid, I liked cartoons and ice cream, and thought girls were icky. I went to school from 8am-2:30pm and thought that was a long day. I couldn’t understand why we didn’t use nuclear weapons to end the war in Vietnam. I couldn’t wait to grow up so I could be in charge and do only what I wanted to do.

28. When I became a man, I changed my mind about everything except cartoons and ice cream . . .

29. {12} Right now we need to just follow God’s leading, not always sure of where we’re going; but one day, we shall see Jesus face to face. We only know part of God’s plan for our lives; but one day we’ll be amazed at how He had directed us and led us.

30. {1 Cor 13:13} And when we get to the end, our workplace issues will seem silly, we won’t remember our GPA or our SAT; we won’t care about not being invited to a wedding or how clean our living room was . . . But the three things that make all the difference in life are faith, hope and love . . . real love not mushy sentiment. And it’s no secret, the greatest by is love.

31. (1 Cor 14:1) So while you’re phoning and FAXing . . . Putting out fires, fixing other people’s mistakes, driving kids to school, mowing the lawn, cleaning the shredded tissues out of the dryer filter, grabbing some romantic time with your husband or wife, and counseling your moron brother who is messing up his life . . . Again!

32. While you’re busy multi-tasking everything else that you have to do . . . For crying out loud, don’t try to do it alone! God the Father is there for you. Have FAITH!

33. The Holy Spirit can change anything . . . There’s HOPE!

34. And Jesus Christ the Son of God who died for you, still hasn’t given up on you. That’s LOVE!

35. So how about you follow Him? . . . and pour His love on the people in your life . . .

36. Let the Holy Spirit transform you!!! • God the Father is your encouragement! • Jesus Christ is your enablement! • God the Holy Spirit is your empowerment!

37. (1 John 3:1) How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

38. {2} Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. . . . We shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.