Tag: transformation
Grace instructs God’s people!
Scripture reading for October 9: Titus 2
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession who are zealous for good works. Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.” Titus 2:11-15
Paul declared to Titus how God’s grace had appeared and made salvation available to all men and women. The culture of Crete where Titus was ministering was lazy and self-indulgent. God’s grace through Jesus Christ was at work saving lost people and transforming them into godly saints. Paul had explained how God’s grace should work in the older men and women. They were now learning through godly instruction how to live lives of self-control and integrity. The women were learning to be active in keeping a loving home and caring for children and supporting their husbands. The younger men and women were being trained by the example of the older and by sound training in sound doctrine.
Loving God and receiving forgiveness of sins has practical daily fruit that expresses itself by transformed lives. The vision of a loving Savior coming again to receive us offers more incentive to be living by His Word and daily receiving grace to avoid lawlessness and to be zealous for good works. God is at work and the Holy Spirit purifies our hearts and empowers us to be ready when Christ Jesus returns in glory for us. Christ’s return is our ‘blessed hope’ in that all God’s promises will come to fulfillment in Jesus Christ.
As you look at your life, what sort of things motivate you to make changes in living patterns to become more holy and godly? What expectation do you have of Jesus’ return in glory? Will He find you living a self-controlled and upright life and zealous for good works?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your amazing grace appearing in the Person of Jesus Christ and revealed through the Gospel. Your grace has brought me redemption from my sins and is now at work in me through Your Holy Spirit teaching me how to live. Lead me today in good works and Gospel opportunities. Amen.
Ambassadors for Christ
Scripture reading for August 4: 2 Corinthians 5
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, Who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake He made Him to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Paul explained to the transformation that takes place when believers place their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. The believer is born again and becomes a new creation. The old man has passed away, crucified with Christ. The new man, created in Christ Jesus in righteousness is a gift from God through the Holy Spirit dwelling within. Because of righteousness, believers are now able to be reconciled to God. They are no longer objects of His wrath because of sin. This was God’s plan of salvation in action, to reconcile the world to Himself through the message of reconciliation found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
This transformation was instantaneous at our repentance and conversion. But this transformation is also ongoing in that now we become available to be Christ’s ambassadors. As ambassadors, we represent Christ and His Gospel appeal to others. We can implore others to be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. This is possible because God made His Son, Jesus Christ, to be sin although He was without sin Himself. He bore our sins on the cross and died on our behalf that we might through Him receive the Gift of righteousness from God our Father. As we mature as believers, we joyfully ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit to empower us to be ambassadors, appealing to all to enjoy reconciliation to their Father.
Have you had a believer who shared their faith in Jesus Christ with you? Can you declare today that you are a new creation in Jesus Christ? Has your spiritual transformation progressed to where you consider yourself an ambassador for Christ Jesus?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your amazing plan to reach all people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank You for sending ambassadors to me on several occasions, including my mother, my Sunday School teachers, and youth leaders. Fill me with the Holy Spirit again today and send me as Your ambassador. Amen.
The mystery of Godliness
Scripture reading for September 13: 1st Timothy 3, Psalm 33, Proverbs 28
1st Timothy 3:14-16 “I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the Church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.”
Paul had just instructed Timothy about choosing leaders in Christ’s Church. The qualifications were all about morality, character and love of truth. But Paul knew that human effort to produce godly character was not enough. There was a ‘mystery’ about the process of new birth and transformation by the Holy Spirit. Each believer must be born again through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. They then are given the Holy Spirit as a down-payment on the fullness of salvation. The Holy Spirit lives in believers and forms Christ’s character and love for God and others in them. This process is not necessarily visible to human eyes, but God’s grace is transforming believers to a life of worship and witness based on the Word that is applied by faith.
Psalm 33:8-9 “Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him! For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Jesus Christ, the revelation of Godliness to us who believe. We stand in awe of Him and through His blood receive cleansing from sin’s defilement and power. I invite the Holy Spirit to continue Your work of transformation in me as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ. Apply Your Holy Word and let the mystery of godliness grow in my life today.
Proverbs 28:10 “Whoever misleads the upright into an evil way will fall into his own pit, but the blameless will have a goodly inheritance.”
Transformation by the Holy Spirit!
Scripture reading for August 25th: 2nd Corinthians 3, Psalm 20, Proverbs 15
2nd Corinthians 3:16-18 “But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord Who is the Spirit.”
Paul used Moses and the Law as an example for the believers. The Law was written on tablets of stone and was received by Moses to give to the people. Moses wore a veil over his face when he left God’s presence, because the glow of God’s presence and glory was fading from him. This veil remains over all who try and keep the law. But in Christ God has given man something better! The Holy Spirit comes to indwell us and write God’s law on hearts of human flesh. He pours in God’s agape love and we begin to love God unselfishly and to love others, thus fulfilling God’s law. God Himself is Love! This brings freedom from the condemnation of broken law and transformation by the Spirit indwelling us into the likeness of God’s Son! The need for a veil is over! The glory is now increasing day by day! Amen!
Psalm 20:4-5 “May we shout for joy over your salvation, and in the Name of our God set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions! Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving might of His right hand.”
Prayer: Father God, I shout for joy over Your gift of the Holy Spirit living in me! From Your Word, I understand that I am being transformed into Your image day by day, with ever-increasing glory! My cheerful heart has a continual feast! I love You with all my heart, soul, mind and strength and my neighbor as myself! Open doors that I may share this glory transformation with all in my community!
Proverbs 15:15 “All the days of the afflicted are evil, but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.”
Praying for God’s enemy!
Scripture reading for April 26th: 1st Samuel 11-13, Psalm 38, Acts 9
Acts 9:13-17 “But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to Your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your Name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine to carry My Name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of My Name. So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, The Lord Jesus Who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you might receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight.”
God knows all people and the plans He has for them. He often uses stubborn and contrary people and specializes in transformation. Saul, the strict Pharisee, was such a person. He was zealous for the law and justified having followers of Christ imprisoned and even killed, thinking that they were blasphemers. But Jesus confronted Saul and struck him blind. He gave instructions to him to wait for a man named Ananias to come and pray for him. Ananias was reluctant to go, knowing the evil that Saul had done to believers. But God gave clear instructions and Ananias obeyed. Immediately Saul was healed and God began the work of transformation! Amazingly, God uses our prayers to accomplish some of His work.
Psalm 38:15 “But for You, O Lord, do I wait; it is You, O Lord my God, Who will answer.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the prayers of God’s people for those needing transformation. It is wonderful that You include us in Your amazing work of salvation and transformation! Help me to pray effectively for those who oppose Your people and even Your plans. Speak to me through the Holy Spirit and I will obey even if I may fear those involved in evil. I have confidence in Your answers and Your powerful Name!
1st Samuel 12:22-24 “For the Lord will not forsake His people, for His great Name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for Himself. Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and right way. Only fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things He has done for you.”
Growing up in Christ
Scripture reading for May 27th: Ephesians 4
Key Scriptures: Ephesians 4:15-20 “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him Who is the Head, into Christ, from Whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ–. .”
As it is natural for a child to grow as they age, so it is God’s plan that believers grow up in their emotions, attitudes, and actions. This growth takes place from allowing Christ Jesus full access to our heart and opening our minds to transformation through the Word of God. Taking in God’s Word leads to ever-increasing knowledge of God and God’s life flourishing in us. We offer our bodies to Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to use us and His gifts to equip the body of Christ. We renew our minds and soften our hearts allowing God’s love to build up Christ’s body. We leave the old life behind, putting it off, and embrace new life in Christ Jesus, choosing to put it on.
Ephesians 4:25 “Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, growing up into Christ Jesus requires Your grace and the Holy Spirit. Help me to take the place You have assigned to me in Your Church and to function in the gifts and graces You have provided that the Church might grow numerically and to be like Jesus.
Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
Vision to Stand Firm!
Scripture reading for September 4th: Psalm 147-150, Philippians 3
Key Scriptures: Philippians 3:20-4:1 “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body. Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!”
As Paul was concluding his letter to the Philippians, he cast vision of Christ’s return and the expectation of believers. Christ’s return would bring the ultimate transformation of human flesh to those who trusted in Him. Lowly earthly bodies will be transformed into eternal heavenly bodies, just like Christ’s. This is vision that enables faith and a firm stand.
Psalm 148:13-14 “Let them praise the Name of the Lord, for His Name alone is exalted; His splendor is above the earth and the heavens. He has raised up for His people a horn, the praise of all His saints, of Israel, the people close to His heart. Praise the Lord!”
Prayer: Lord, we praise You and Your Horn, Jesus Christ our Savior. We look forward to Your return for us and the transformation that will take place at that time! Amen.
Sunday rest and reflection!
Sunday July 6th, 2014
Dear Friends of Jesus,
What a wonderful week of celebration of freedom in our nation! We are truly blessed to live in the United States of America! God’s blessings here are not to be taken lightly!
We who belong to Jesus Christ gather each week on the first day of the week to worship, pray, and thank God for His blessings! We come to listen to His Word and open our hearts to humbly allow Him to transform our thinking to mirror His thinking. We come to have fellowship with Jesus around His table in Holy Communion, remembering His sacrificial death until He comes again in glory for His redeemed people! We will start a message series called “Seek First the Kingdom” on stewardship. Don’t neglect God’s gathering of His people today! We need each other and Him more and more as we see the end approaching!
In His Love,
Pastor John and Mary
Sunday Rest and Reflection!
Sunday February 9th, 2014
Dear Friends of God,
Greetings in the Wonderful Name of Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of Man! This is another opportunity to connect with God and His people for prayer, worship and the Word! Pastor Brent will be preaching today on relationships. Come to give yourself to God in worship, to pray for other and encourage them, and to listen to God’s Word for instruction and transformation! God loves to meet with His Bride!
In His Love, Pastor John