Sermon Notes "Be Transformed" A. Teaching Scripture Romans 12:1 WmsNT "I beg you, therefore, brothers, through these mercies God has shown you, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies as a living sacrifice, devoted and well-pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service." 1. To Present= to place a person or thing at one’s disposal, to yield, surrender 2. Your Bodies 3. As a Sacrifice: A. Holy- consecrated B. Acceptable- well-pleasing C. This is your reasonable-logical service to God Romans 12:2 CEV "Don't be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think." Romans 12:2 GNB "Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind." Romans 12:2 ISV "Continually be transformed by the renewing of your minds" 1. Don't be conformed to the world 2. Be transformed- metamorphosis 3. By the renewing of your mind- thoughts, feelings, and will TLB 12:1-2 And so, dear brothers, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living sacrifice, holy--the kind he can accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask? Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but be a new and different person with a fresh newness in all you do and think. Then you will learn from your own experience how his ways will really satisfy you. B. The Lord Jesus on the mount of transfiguration- Luke 9:29 ASV "And as he was praying, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment became white and dazzling." Matthew 17:2 WEB "He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his garments became as white as the light." C. Biblical Example- Jacob wrestles- Genesis 32:24 MKJV "And Jacob was left alone. And a Man wrestled there with him until the breaking of the day." D. How to be transformed? 1. Make a complete dedication to God- "decisive dedication" 2. Surrender your body to the Lord- "present your body" 3. Let God change your mind- "a complete change of your mind" 4. Spend time in prayer- the Lord Jesus on the mountain 5. Seek Him and don't give up until He touches you- Jacob wrestled Ps. 34:4 "I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears."
Pastor Jim Crawmer
Faith & Family Worship Center
The Battle for the Mind: Part 1- "A Sound Mind"
2 Timothy 1:7 MKJV For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (sozo= a saved mind)
Don't Have,...
1. Doubtful Mind- Luke 12:29 Neither be of doubtful mind.
2. Discouraged Mind- Hebrews 12:3 CEV So keep your mind on Jesus,... then you won't get discouraged and give up.
3. Double Mind- James 1:8 WEB He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
The Enemy Attacks,...
2 Corinthians 4:4 WEB In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn on them.
1 Corinthians 2:14 WmsNT An unspiritual man does not accept the things that the Spirit of God teaches, for they are nonsense to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are appreciated by spiritual insight.
2 Corinthians 11:3 GNB I am afraid that your minds will be corrupted and that you will abandon your full and pure devotion to Christ---in the same way that Eve was deceived by the snake's clever lies.
Ephesians 6:17 WEB And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the spoken word of God;
Do Have,...
1. A Ready Mind- Acts 17:11 MKJV They received the Word with all readiness of mind and searched the Scriptures daily to see if those things were so. (open & willing)
2. A Humble Mind- Acts 20:19 MKJV serving the Lord with all humility of mind
3. A Renewed Mind- Romans 12:2 MKJV And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove by you what is that good and pleasing and perfect will of God.
4. A Spirit-Controlled Mind-
Romans 8:6 MKJV For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace
Romans 8:6 ISV To set our minds on the flesh leads to death, but to set our minds on the Spirit leads to life and peace.
Romans 8:6 WNT Because for the mind to be given up to earthly things means death; but for it to be given up to spiritual things means life and peace.
Romans 8:6 CEV If our minds are ruled by our desires, we will die. But if our minds are ruled by the Spirit, we will have life and peace.
Battle For The Mind: Part 2 "Taking Control of Your Thoughts"
FILTER: Philippians 4:8 WEB Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think about these things.
1. Forget the Past- Philippians 3:13 WEB Brothers, I don't regard myself as yet having taken hold, but one thing I do. Forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before,
2. Don't worry about the Future- Matthew 6:34 WEB Therefore don't be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.
FIGHT: 2 Corinthians 10:5 WmsNT For I am demolishing arguments and every barrier that is raised against the genuine knowledge of God, taking captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ
1. Don't think evil- 1 Corinthians 13:5 MKJV does not behave indecently, does not seek her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil.
2. Psalms 101:3 Webster I will set no wicked thing before my eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.
3. 1 Corinthians 13:5 CEV Love isn't selfish or quick tempered. It doesn't keep a record of wrongs that others do.
FOCUS: Isaiah 26:3 MKJV You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You; because he trusts in You.
1. The Word of God- Psalms 1:2 CEV Instead, the Law of the LORD makes them happy, and they think about it day and night.
2. The Things of God- Colossians 3:2 WEB Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth.
Colossians 3:2 WNT Give your minds to the things that are above
The Lord Will Provide
Genesis 22:8- "God will provide"
In this story the Lord instructs Abraham to take his son Isaac, go to the mountain, and offer him there as a sacrifice. Abraham unhesitatingly complies with the request. However, at the last moment the Lord tells him to stop and God provides a lamb for the offering.
In this passage we see the faith and obedience of Abraham put to the test. This precious man of God had faith for the scripture tells us "He believed that if Isaac died God would bring him back to life again." Heb. 11:19 Therefore, he took his son and proceeded to do as the Lord told him.
Out of his faith he lived a life of obedience to God and it is ever true that those who really have faith in God will live their lives in obedience to God. Faith without works is not real faith at all. Today those who profess to believe in Jesus Christ but who will not submit their lives in obedience to Him are living in delusion for this is not saving faith at all.
There is a beautiful picture here of the sacrifice of Jesus who is the Son of God. For He willingly died for our sins and the Bible says He is the "Lamb of God:.
Here we also find that wonderful promise of the Lord's provision for His servants. As Abraham followed in faith and obedience the Lord tells him that He will provide. God's very nature and character is one of love, concern, and care! What a great promise for us today that the Lord will provide all we need as we believe and obey Him.
Proof Positive: Jesus is Alive
Ac 1:3 (ALT) He presented Himself living after His suffering, by many convincing proofs (CEV) For forty days after Jesus had suffered and died, he proved in many ways that he had been raised from death. He appeared to his apostles and spoke to them about God's kingdom. (GNB) He appeared to them many times in ways that proved beyond doubt that he was alive.
The Reports
1. The Angels (Matthew 28:7 WEB) Go quickly and tell his disciples, He has risen from the dead.
2. The Soldiers- (Matthew 28:13 WEB) "Say that his disciples came by night, and stole him away".
3. The Disciples- (Acts 4:33 WEB) With great power, the apostles gave their testimony of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.
The Evidence
1. The Empty Tomb- (Matthew 28:6 WEB) "He is not here, for he has risen"
2. His Appearances- (1 Cor 15:6 WEB) Then He appeared to over five hundred brothers at once.
3. The Lord's Day- (Revelation 1:10 WEB) I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day
The Witnesses
1. The Changed Disciples- (Mark 14:50 WEB) They all left him, and fled.
2. The Christian Church- Gamaliel Ac. 5:38-39 (MKJV) If this counsel or this work is of men, it will come to nothing. But if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it.
3. The Changed lives in History- (2 Corinthians 5:17 WEB) Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.
Note: 2.1 billion people in the world (1/3 of the Earth's population claim to be Christian)
Israel: Past, Present & Future
Past
Romans 9:4 CEV They are the descendants of Israel, and they are also God's chosen people. God showed them his glory. He made agreements with them and gave them his Law. The temple is theirs and so are the promises that God made to them.
Present
Romans 11:25 GW Brothers and sisters, I want you to understand this mystery so that you won't become arrogant. The minds of some Israelites have become closed until all of God's non-Jewish people are included.
Romans 11:5 ISV So it is at the present time: there is a remnant, chosen by grace.
Future
Zechariah 14:2-4 GNB The LORD will bring all the nations together to make war on Jerusalem. (3) Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations, as he has fought in times past. (4) At that time he will stand on the Mount of Olives
Romans 11:26 GNB And this is how all Israel will be saved. As the scripture says, "The Savior will come from Zion and remove all wickedness from the descendants of Jacob.
Summary:
1. The Bible is True
2. Christ is Coming Again
3. World situations show the end is getting closer
4. Now is the day of salvation- so get saved now
5. Follow and serve the Lord with all your heart
Living in the LIght of Eternity
2Cor 4:18 (NIV) So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Eccl 3:11 (NIV) He has also set eternity in the hearts of men
Deut 33:27 (NIV) The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. Jere 31:3 (NIV) "I have loved you with an everlasting love
Dani 4:3 His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; Psal 119:89 Your word, O LORD, is eternal
Psal 111:10 To him belongs eternal praise.
1. Woman at the well- John 4:14 "but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
2. Rich Young Ruler- Matt 19:16-21 (NIV) Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" 17 "Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments." 18 "Which ones?" the man inquired. Jesus replied, "`Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony,
19 honor your father and mother,' and `love your neighbor as yourself.'"
20 "All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?"
21 Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
1Joh 5:11 God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
Hebr 5:9 He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him
1Joh 5:20 He is the true God and eternal life.
Jude 1:7 In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.
2The 1:9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power
John 5:28-29 (KJS) Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.