Transformed By His Word and Spirit

For my VCC Friends. Here's the Notes from the October 1 message. 

For others who want to listen to the message, you can go to this link. 

Introduction:

1.     How does God’s Word change us? I know I can’t fully answer that in a few minutes! (Entire Course!)

2.     But because God’s Word is “living and powerful” (Hebrews 4:12) and is the key to the “renewing of our minds” (Romans 12:2), I want to spend a few minutes talking about how Spirit and Word work to change us “more and more into His image from glory to glory.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)

3.     First things first. Here’s a few foundational things in talking about how God’s word changes us.

a.     First, we are, in one sense, already “transformed” but we are also being transformed. J There is a sort of a tension between who God says we are and who we are becoming.

·       2 Corinthians 5:17 is one of many passages that say we are already changed: “So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away - look, what is new has come!” (NET Bible)

·       But other passages speak of a process. Two we will look at today are 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.” Romans 12:2 Stop allowing this present age to shape you and how you live and instead be being transformed by the renewing of your thinking (mind) so that you can prove by living it out how good, pleasing and complete God’s will is. (TW paraphrase)

b.     Second, it’s about relationship, not religion. We change in the context of intimacy with God.

·       I trust God’s Word because I know Him and trust Him. For example, I trusted my Dad’s promises to me because I knew his integrity. So it is with us: We trust His Word because it’s His Word. Our growing intimacy with Him and experience of His faithfulness in our lives assures us that His word is true even when it appears otherwise.

·       My interaction with God’s Word flows out of and also shapes my interaction with Him as my Papa. Fellowship with the Holy Spirit.  

c.     Third, other believers around us are an essential to our being transformed by God’s Word. We often see in the Bible that it’s people living out God’s Word that brings change. Some examples (from NIV)

·       1 Corinthians 4:16-17 Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17 For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.

·       1 Corinthians 11:1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

·       2 Timothy 3:14-15 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

d.     Transformation requires us to see what Scripture really says, not what we think it says. And again to think! We “study” and meditate in partnership with the Holy Spirit. Note that “think” doesn’t mean mere human effort or “trying hard.”

e.     Finally, transformation happens only when we say “Yes” to what God shows us in His Word. It’s not enough simply to agree with what we hear or see. Change happens as we respond & obey.

·       James 1:22-25 (ERV) Do what God's teaching says; don't just listen and do nothing. When you only sit and listen, you are fooling yourselves. Hearing God's teaching and doing nothing is like looking at your face in the mirror and doing nothing about what you saw. You go away and immediately forget how bad you looked. But when you look into God's perfect law that sets people free, pay attention to it. If you do what it says, you will have God's blessing. Never just listen to his teaching and forget what you heard.

Three Passages That Help Us Understand Transformation

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (NRSV) Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.

1.     Transformation happens through the leadership of the Spirit who leads us to increasing freedom!

2.     Intimacy unlocks transformation. (Unveiled faces speaks of intimacy, authenticity, etc.) Context here speaks of unashamed, full access to God without any hindrances to our understanding.

3.     Where (at whom) we look changes us! Some quotes from Renovation of the Heart by Dallas Willard are below.

·       Our present American culture boasts of complete freedom in what one sees, says, and hears. Many professing Christians are paralyzed or even destroyed by adopting this “freedom” as a lifestyle. For they allow images into their mind that eventually overwhelm them. If we allow everything access to our mind, we are simply asking to be kept in a state of mental turmoil or bondage. For nothing enters the mind without having an effect for good or evil.

·       There are many things we need not see and are better off not seeing—though, if you wish, you have a “right” to see them. Anyone who thinks that if I have a right to do X it is good for me to do X, simply hasn’t thought deeply about the matter. Paul’s wise counsel, by contrast, was, “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things” (Philippians 4:8). Make no mistake; this is a fundamental and indispensable part of our spiritual formation in Christ.

Romans 12:1-2 (NIV 1984) Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship. 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.
(TW’s paraphrase of v. 2 again) Stop allowing this present age to shape you and how you live and instead be being transformed by the renewing of your thinking (mind) so that you can prove by living it out (testing) how good, pleasing and complete God’s will is.

1.     We are being shaped one way or the other by what we expose our minds to and think about. Paul urges us to be shaped in our thinking by the renewing of our minds (our thinking).

2.     The primary way this happens is through exposure to the Truth of God’s Word. (This includes people modeling it, other resources but especially the Bible.) This has many implications, of course, but for just one, consider how much of your thinking is actually shaped by His word. “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.” Ps. 119:97 (NIV 1984) I mention this in the 2005 message I recommend!

2 Timothy 3:14-17 (NIV 1984) But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

1.     The context of this passage is Paul giving instruction for living in wild and crazy times!

2.     What do those four main words in v. 16 mean?

·       Teaching (doctrine) Now “doctrine” sounds exciting, eh? It will if you understand that it means instruction in truth that changes our thinking, our faulty paradigms and views of God and ourselves!

·       Rebuking. “Rebuking” sounds even less exciting! But don’t you want to have things that harm you and others removed from your life? The word basically means to expose sin. (So that it can be expelled!) “(Rebuking) means, clearly, that as we read scripture it will from time to time inform us in no uncertain terms that something we’ve been doing is out of line with God’s will. Sometimes this will lie plainly on the surface of the text; other times, as we read a passage, we will begin to hear the voice of God gently, or perhaps not so gently, telling us that this story applies to this area of our lives, or perhaps that one. When that happens – as it may often do for those who read the Bible prayerfully – we do well to pay attention.” (For Everyone Commentary)

·       Correcting. This word means “restoration to an upright or right state, correction, improvement of life or character.” (Olive Tree Enhanced Bible Dictionary). This word can also be translated, “Improving.” “Reading the Bible will transform you, will ‘improve’ you, in the sense of somebody making ‘improvements’ to a house or a city.” (For Everyone Commentary)

·       Training in righteousness. “It will train you in ‘righteousness’, which is a combination of goodness and justice, the behavior that God longs to see in all his children. The aim is (verse 17) not to squash people into a strange, unnatural shape by trying to order their lives according to the Bible, but to help people who belong to God to become complete, richly human beings, reflecting God’s image in all its many-sided splendor.” (For Everyone Commentary)

SUMMARY: We are transformed by who we are with, what we look at/listen to, what we think about and what we choose.

Examples from my life as to how this works:

Remember: the goal is to get to know God (but like a child getting to know His Father, not a slave getting instructions on what to do!): “Show me your ways, teach me your paths…” This happens as Holy Spirit and the Word change our understanding of Him, of our paradigms (how we view and think about things), our understanding of who we are to Him, of people around us, our hearts, etc. As we said earlier, this requires us to think deeply and often as we reflect and read. Think often: Most of us, even as believers, think mostly about things other than God and His Word. So much treasure is lost because of this, so much joyful intimacy, so many lies still hold us captive! Therefore my ultimate goal today is to compel you by love to consider living saturated with His Word!

Two main ways Holy Spirit uses the Word with me:

1.     By having me reflect on what I already have in me (it’s good to have a lot of it in me. It gives Him a large vocabulary). Some examples: 1) “Get rid of all bitterness.” Ephesians 4:31, can speak to me any time it needs to!  2) One big epiphany was that God sounds like what He tells us to sound like (take a look at Ephesians 4:29, 1 Corinthians 14:3 to determine whether the voice you hear is God or something else.) 3) Psalms 56:3 and 94:17-19 often speak to me when I am struggling with anxiety. Note, though, how each of these grows out of conversation with Him! Relationship! Also, all of it is positive not negative for me. God is never harsh or condemning with me. If what I hear doesn’t give me hope (even when I am being corrected), I know it’s not from Papa God (or at least part of it is being tainted by my thinking or the enemy).

2.     By guiding me as I read/study (or “listen” for you who are auditory). This happens as we think carefully and thoroughly about what we are reading. Several examples below.

Who God Really Is (What He is Really Like)

1.     Although “saved” and “salvation” are part of the Gospel message, nowhere is the Gospel described as choosing between Heaven or Hell. It’s rather about the Kingdom of God, about returning to the One who loves us, etc. The Good News is about relationship with the One who paid everything to get to us, not escaping eternal torment. We won’t be joyful in Heaven because we escaped Hell but because we will be face to face with the One who is beyond description and who loves us infinitely. (John 14:1-3 “that you may be with me…”)

a.     Exodus 34:6-7 (NIV 1984) “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.”

b.     Example: John 3:16-17 (Loved the world so much that He gave…, not to condemn the world but to save the world…)

c.     Example: “God was, in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself…” 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 (NIV 1984) All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

2.     God is like what He tells us to be! I already sort of covered this earlier (when I discussed what God sounds like) but when I stopped and reflected on 1 Corinthians 13 and Galatians 5:22-23…Wow! I realized that these passages and others are descriptions of God. God is the kindest, most joyful, most patient, most gentle Being in the Universe, etc.

3.     Another example: “Your mercies never end….” (Lamentations 3:22-23) We tend to think of God in human terms so we think He runs out of mercy, or has to parcel it out, but His mercy never ends!

4.     My reflecting on Papa as a Good Father (Matthew 7:7-11) My thinking was changed about God‘s desire to bless by this passage. I was unconsciously thinking that He was limited in his goodness and/or that if others have it bad, I should not ask for him to bless me. But the truth is that God is good all the time and others suffering does not cancel out his goodness.

Who Believers Really Are to Him

1.     We loved beyond measure. Romans 5:8

2.     Are we “unworthy”? Nowhere are we called that! You don’t pay a huge price for something that has no worth, and God paid an infinite price for you and me. What about Luke 17:10? Some translations use the term “unworthy” in this verse. But the meaning is undeserving, not unworthy. Luke 17:10 (NET) So you too, when you have done everything you were commanded to do, should say, ‘We are slaves undeserving of special praise; we have only done what was our duty.’

3.     Are we punished when we do wrong? We may reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7-8), we may be disciplined (Hebrews 12:7-11), but all punishment that was/is due to us has been put on Jesus. Isaiah 53:5 “the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.”

What the Core of “The Christian Life” Really is

1.     Abundant Life: John 10:10 What is “abundant life”? In a nutshell, it’s eternal life lived in loving relationship with God, hearing His voice, experiencing His love, fulfilling His purposes (a life with meaning, purpose and destiny). All of this can be discovered simply by reading the rest of the Gospel of John. The point is that Abundant Life has nothing to do with material possessions or “having a nice life,” but it has everything to do with having an eternal and growing relationship with the One who is life.

2.     I have discovered that the Christian life is more about being in healthy relationships than merely stopping personal sin (also important, of course). Ephesians 4:1-3 (NIV 1984) As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Most of what follows these verses has to do with relationships with one another—check it out!. This fits with the New Commandment, of course in John 13:34-35 A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” TW paraphrase: “The world around you will recognize you as my followers by your healthy, love-filled relationships with one another.”

3.     Related to number two: Example is the most important teacher/trainer. A careful reading of the New Testament will see that “truth” was transferred from teacher to “student” more by example than by talking!

4.      “I can do all things…” I was reading this passage one day and realized that a Christian can never say “I can’t!”

Consider these amazing words as we finish. May God grant me/us similar passion for Him and His Word!

Psalm 119:1-2 (NIV 1984) Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord.  2 Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.

Psalm  119:11-18 (NIV 1984) I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. 12 Praise be to you, O Lord; teach me your decrees. 13 With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. 14 I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. 15 I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. 16 I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word. 17 Do good to your servant, and I will live; I will obey your word. 18 Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.

Psalm 119:97 (NIV 1984) Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.