You probably know someone who became a Christian and literally became a new person. Their life was transformed. Yet, we all know Christians who have been Christians a long time, yet still aren’t much like Jesus. This video answers the question: “What can you do that will enable God to transform you into a totally new person?”
00:00 It is in God’s Presence We are Changed
1:40 Meet God in His Word
3:50 The Word and The Holy Spirit Work Together to Change us
6:40 Be Transformed by Renewing Your Mind With God’s Word
**Romans 12 Transformation
7:01 Step 1. Surrender every part of your life to God.
7:20 Step 2. Reject the philosophies and ideas of this world. And Renew Your Mind with What God Says – His Word and His Presence.
8:35 Step 3 Then You will know God’s will
9:14 ACTIVATION: Disciplined Reading and Desire Reading of Scripture
2 Corinthians 3:18 NASB
But we all, with unveiled faces, looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
What changes us? Being in God’s presence. As we spend time with God, his glory is reflected in us, we are changed into His image. He changes us to be like Him.
In the Old Testament, Moses spent 40 days on a mountain with God. When he returned to the people, he was noticeably changed. He radiated with the glory of God. Exodus 34:34 NASB
We don’t have to go to a Mountain to Meet With God – Just Open His Book
God has given us a book that literally carries His presence.
Hebrews 4:12 NIV
For the word of God is alive and active.
It’s true. People throughout the world tell of God encounters while reading this book. People hear His voice, feel His presence, or somehow realize that He is real and He loves them.
Martin Luther wrote:
The Bible is alive, it speaks to me;
It has feet, it runs after me;
It has hands, it lays hold of me.
The Spirit and the Word Working in Our Lives
Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Our spirits and our souls (minds, wills, and emotions) are often in conflict. God’s Word judges our thoughts and the attitudes of our hearts.
Reinhard Bonnke, the evangelist who led millions to Christ, said:
“The Bible is a book you can completely rely on to tell you the truth about God - and about yourself.”
As we read the Bible, Holy Spirit reveals, he opens up the scriptures to us. We gain new understanding. And then he reveals the true condition of our hearts. The Bible reads us as we read it. And Holy Spirit shows us how to change to become like Him. Holy Spirit then empowers us to change.
Be Transformed by Renewing Your Mind With God’s Word
God transforms us, he changes us to become like Him, through the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. It is always the Spirit and the Word. This process is called sanctification. Sanctification means 2 things: to be made holy and to be set apart for God’s purposes.
God’s plan for you is to develop the character, the holiness of Jesus. And then for you to fulfill God’s plans and purposes for your life. God has specific works prepared for you to do. But you must have God’s character to do His work.
Romans 12:1-2 describes the process uses to sanctify you.
1. Surrender every part of your life to God. Romans 12:1
2. Reject the philosophies and ideas of this world. And Renew Your Mind with What God Says – His Word and His Presence. Romans 12:2 NIV
Transformation is the inside out change that only God can do.
3. Then we will know God’s will. Romans 12:2 NIV
Activation
Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
Every morning, Jesus is knocking on your door, waiting for you to open the door and let Him into your life that day. You do that by opening your Bible. Not just to study or get wisdom or answers, but first and foremost to meet with Jesus.
Action Steps
1. First thing every morning, open your Bible and meet with God. Expect Him to speak to you through his Word. Approach the Bible looking for a deeper relationship with Jesus.
2. Disciplined Reading – Have a Reading Plan (e.g. Psalms & New Testament, etc.) and read every day. If you show up, God will too!
3. Delight Reading – Read scriptures God has given to you as promises or used to solve problems in your life. Read these verses to delight and thank God. It’s important that Reading the Bible never becomes “religious obligation” or duty. Reading scriptures God has used to help you will remind you how much He loves You and how awesome he really is!!