The Path of Spiritual Transformation Part 1: Knowing God Philippians 3:18-21 Romans 12:2 2 Corinthians 3:18 "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960…1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.”

Why be transformed? You will not obey God if you do not believe Him. You cannot believe Him if you do not love Him. You cannot love Him unless you know Him. Henry Blackaby Romans 10:13-17

The Natural Life Philippians 3:18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ… Not all of Christ’s enemies are obvious Matt. 12:30 "He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.” To choose other than Christ is to be His enemy

19 …whose end is destruction, Christ’s enemies are doomed! John 3:18 …whose god is their appetite, Sensual pleasure is their goal – 1 John 2:16 …and whose glory is in their shame, “Woe to those who call evil good…” Isaiah 5:20 …who set their minds on earthly things. Col. 3:1 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ... 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

A New Home 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; our citizenship - Even though our transformation is yet incomplete our identity and our home are established we …wait for a Savior – He is there, ruling, waiting for just the right time – Then He will come – Then we will join Him – Then we will be home

Free at last! 21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself. …transform… reconfigure to be suitable with His state of glory – Our mortal bodies are burdened by the humiliation of sin – they are unsuitable for our new environment – See 1 Cor. 15:51-54; 1 John 3:2

But until then… When He comes, we go! Must we wait until then to change? Romans 8:23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. Indeed, we must be in a continuous state of change – growth toward His nature – This growth is out of the Spirit within us – This growth is His will and plan for us

Love God Love Others Serve the World (Matthew 22:37 ) (Matthew 22:39) (Matthew 28:18-20 Acts 1:8) Worship Small Groups (Bible Study Classes) (House Churches) (Personal Disciple-making) Ministry/Missions (Local, Global) Our Goal: To reach the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our Strategy: To build disciples who reproduce spiritually and to minister to our “neighbors.” Our Process: To move people along a clearly understood path toward spiritual maturity

The Critical Goal: Spiritual Transformation Spiritual Transformation takes place at two stages in a person’s life: Stage 1: Moving from Death to Life by salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and His atoning work on the Cross of Calvary John 3:16-18 Ephesians 2:1-10 Romans 10:9-10 Stage 2: Growing from spiritual immaturity toward spiritual maturity through life-long discipleship Ephesians 4:13, 6:4; 2 Timothy 2:2; 2 Peter 3:17-18

Spiritual Transformation… Lifeway Christian Resources developed an intriguing model of the process of spiritual transformation. It involves three spheres of Holy Spirit activity which may be seen as a life-long path of growth: – Biblical Knowledge and Understanding (Knowing) – Development of Godly Values (Being) – Living with God-given Purpose (Doing) John 17:3 Romans 12:2 2 Timothy 2:15 Acts 17:28 Colossians 2:8-9 Ephesians 2:10

Deuteronomy 6:1 "Now this is the commandment, the statutes and the judgments which the LORD your God has commanded me to teach you, that you might do them in the land where you are going over to possess it, 2 so that you and your son and your grandson might fear the LORD your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged.”

4 "Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! 5 "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 "These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.”

7 "You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. 8 "You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. 9 "You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

…the LORD your God has commanded me to teach you… In the great Shema Israel (Deut. 6:4-9), our Lord has given us a synopsis of our mission: – Pass the Truth down to succeeding generations – Use every opportunity and every means at your disposal to do so – Integrate Truth and the Biblical Principles of life into your everyday life This responsibility is given primarily to fathers!

New Thinking is Required! Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Engrafting God’s Word into our soul – our mind, will, and emotions – results in a new foundation for reason and action – 1 Cor. 2:14-16 G.I.G.O. – We must guard what we allow to enter our minds - Colossians 2:8; Phil. 4:8 – Control what you can! – Pray a hedge around yourself, your spouse, your children, your grandchildren

Instilling Godly Values Knowing God in an intimate personal relationship initiates Spiritual Transformation Wonderful things begin to happen in our lives as we grow in Him As parents, grandparents, and teachers we have critical, active roles in this process: – We are God’s instruments to instill His values in the lives of those He brings us. – We will explore this aspect in two weeks!

Are You being Transformed? 2 Cor. 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. Are you seeking His glory or your own? Are you spending time in His Word daily? Are you spending time with Him in prayer? Are you seeing His fruit being borne in your life? Are you willing to move to the next level in Him?