God Transforms
Notes
Transcript
As we close our series of Knowing God, today we will study the about how God Transforms. I have read quite a few stories of God's transforming power in peoples' lives, and was trying to think of one that would introduce this sermon. There is a story from the Bible, however, that I think to be one of the greatest and most drastic transformation stories ever. It is found in Mark chapter 5 and also Luke chapter 8. The story is often titled The Demoniac of Gadara. But the highlight of this story is not that this nameless man was possessed by a large amount of demons, but that he was freed from these demons and changed by his encounter with Jesus. Let me give you the Cliff Notes version of the story.
Jesus and His disciples get into a boat to cross the Sea of Galilee on their way to an area call Decapolis. Decapolis means "Ten Cities" and these were predominantly Greek cities. One of these cities was known as Gadara, and as they landed near this city, a naked man comes running toward Jesus. This man begins to worship Jesus, but it is clear he has what the Bible calls an unclean spirit. He is possessed by a demon. When Jesus asks him his name, the spirit replies, "My name is Legion, for we are many," indicating that he was not possessed by only one spirit, but by a whole host of them. Jesus takes this man, casts the spirits out of him, and sets the man free. Now the Bible tells us that before his encounter with Jesus, this man lived among the tombs. He would cut himself and would cry and wail throughout the night. No one was able to control him. They would tie him up with ropes, they would chain him up with chains, and he would break them apart with the super-human strength that these spirits would empower him with. But when he met Jesus, he was freed from those spirits.
By the time the people from Gadara got to where Jesus was, they saw Jesus and the once-demon-possessed man sitting next to him, but he wasn't naked anymore. The Bible says he was sitting next to Jesus clothed and in his right mind.
A crazy thing happens next: the people of the village get scared when they see this man's transformation, and they ask Jesus to leave. You would think that they would be happy that they no longer have a crazy man running around naked and screaming all night, right? But they are afraid.
So Jesus and His disciples get back in the boat, and as they begin to shove off, the Gadarene man begs Jesus to let him go with them. Jesus tells him no, and that what he should do is go back to his home and tell them what great things God has done for him.
So he does, and if you read on a few chapters later, you find that Jesus goes back to that area of Decapolis, and now instead of being afraid of him, the people are all eagerly awaiting Jesus to listen to him and follow him around as he teaches. Why? Because they saw the life of a person transformed by God.
Often times we read and hear stories like this and think, "I wish I had a testimony like that." When I was younger, I would hear people give their testimonies of how when they got saved they were transformed. God saved them out of drugs and alcoholism, prostitution, gangs, etc. I would think, man, I wish I would have done all that before I got saved so that people could see how God transforms lives!
We either think that, or we think the opposite: "I wish God still transformed people like He used to. I wish God would transform me and my sinful habits and lifestyle like He used to."
Well, the title of today's sermon is GOD TRANSFORMS. He still does. But many times, I think we don't fully let Him transform us.
Like we have in the past 4 weeks, we will look at false narratives and true narratives.
False Narrative: (This false narrative is for the Christian)
I am a sinner. Upon hearing this, you may think I have categorized this under the wrong heading. It is supposed to be the false narrative after all.
But this statement is no mistake. The thought that Christians are sinners is a false narrative. Once again, before you write me off as heretical and crazy, hear me out.
To say a Christian is a sinner, is the same as saying that someone released from prison is a prisoner. No, at one time they were, but now they are free.
This is not anything new though. Martin Luther's slogan for the reformation stated that Christians are "simultaneously righteous and sinners." The idea behind this statement was that Luther believed we are saved, justified, and reconciled to God - and at the same time we are sinners.
This is a narrative that has been taught by theologians past and present. I want to be careful as I say this, but I have found that this is a false narrative. This does not come from my study alone or my philosophy alone. This is after several years of studying what the Bible has to say about Christians and reviewing other's studies on this as well.
This narrative, Christians are just sinners, is extremely popular. There have been hymns written about it; hymns that until I realized what the truth of the Bible actually states, I counted as some of my favorites. You have probably heard some of them. The first one that comes to mind starts off by saying:
If you could see what I once was
If you could go with me
Back to where I started from
Then I know you would see
The miracle of Love that put me
In its sweet embrace
And made me what I am today
And if the song were to stop there, it would be perfect! But it goes on to say something that sounds really nice, but a philosophy that if adopted, will make the Christian walk nearly impossible.
And made me what I am today
A sinner saved by grace.
I'm just a sinner saved by grace.
Another song that perpetrates this point of view is Only A Sinner Saved By Grace.
It says at the end of its chorus: This is my story, to God be the glory: I'm, only a sinner saved by grace. But if you are saved right now, this is not your story!
I so prefer the hymn that says I was once a sinner but I came pardon to receive from my Lord. This was freely given and I found that He always kept His Word. There's a new name written down in glory, and it's mine!
And that new name is not SINNER!
The third verse in that hymns says In the book 'tis written, "Saved by Grace," O the joy that came to my soul! Now I am forgiven and I know by the blood I am made whole!
And this is New Testament Narrative: I am a saint.
We must replace the false narrative with the narrative of Jesus. Our God Transforms.
Greg Jones said it like this:
To be forgiven by God, to be initiated in the life in God’s Kingdom, is to be transferred from one narrative—the narrative of death-dealing sin—to the narrative of God’s reconciliation in Christ. And in that latter narrative we are forgiven of our sin so that we can learn to become holy through lifelong repentance and forgiveness.
Our narrative, our way of thinking, our drive must change from "I am an awful sinner" to, "In Christ I am no longer to be defined by sin. I have been reconciled, and sin has been defeated."
The "I am just a sinner" narrative is false because it belittles what we are in Christ. The quote that I often refer to from A.W. Tozer states that the way we view God is be the most important thing about us. And in my opinion, the way we view ourselves comes in a close second. However, the two are linked. The way we view God affects the way I view myself.
So many Christians live a life that seems like it is trapped by sin. They find themselves in a cycle of sin, guilt, repentance, and sin again. E.g.: Temper, lying, pride/selfishness, having a critical spirit, etc.
But when we fall into these cycles, it leads to a feeling of defeat and powerlessness when the Bible says that we are more than conquerors and that the power of sin has been defeated. I believe a large part of this comes from the mindset of "I am a sinner."
But when I look at myself and when you, fellow Christian, look at yourself, what we should see is what God sees: a child of God, a person in whom Christ dwells, a citizen of heaven bought by the blood of Christ; we should know that we have the power and the presence of God in us and realize there is no reason to live a sad, fearful, and defeated life.
What many of us desire is an end to bad behaviour and bad habits, but what we need (and will lead to that) is a deeper life with Christ, a more intimate relationship with Him. No human being is able to break the bonds of sin. When we get saved, we understand that concept. We understand that sin can only be paid for by someone who is perfect, and that person is Jesus.
But once we are saved, for some reason, we try to live our new Christian life in our own strength. We make attempts at "doing the right things," we "try harder" not to sin. We put filters on internet, we don't hang out with the people that used to encourage us to drink or do drugs, we break off relationships that were sinful, we try to do so many things so that we won't even be tempted anymore. And I am not saying those things are wrong, but those things aren't perfect.
We were never meant be able to break the power of sin.
Listen, a lost person, a person without Jesus, cannot help but sin. But a saved person can make the decision not to.
What is the difference between these two types of people? JESUS!!
It is not willpower or better planning or better situations. The difference is Jesus!
So why do we leave Jesus out of the equation or look to Him as a last resort to defeating sin in our life? HE IS THE EQUATION; HE IS THE ONLY RESORT!!
But do we try to have personal relationship with Him daily? Do we seek Him first? Or do we just resort to Him when we have once again fallen into sin, feel guilty, confess it, and then, on our own, try to try harder as we throw up our hands in defeat saying, "In the end, I'm just a sinner saved by grace."
Romans 6:5-14 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. (Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.)
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Do you realize the weight of what we just read? This is talking about sin's power and the absence of it in a Christian's life. NOT ONCE does it say, "Try harder," or, "Do better." It says let Jesus live in and through you. It is a decision you make. We get so preoccupied about what we shouldn't do and the sins that we shouldn't commit, and we leave the most important thing about Christianity to the side. The term Christian means "Follower of Christ." That is the most important thing about Christianity.
Being a better Christian has nothing to do with the sins that you do not commit; it has everything to do with how closely you follow Christ. It is something that is abnormal, to let go of control over your life, and so it may be difficult to let Jesus live your your life. And this is why it is so difficult: because it is not a list of things to do and not do. It is relational. It is pursuing a relationship. It is taking constant steps to walk beside Jesus. When you are new to this, it is a little awkward, just like when you make a new friend. "Where do you want to eat; what kind of movies do you like to watch; what do you do for fun?" Those kind of questions get asked often in the beginning of the relationship, but after a while, you know. If you've never made a real effort to follow Christ, those kind of questions are things you will need to ask Him often. And just as with a friend and you do something that doesn't jive, you know, because of a look, a reaction, or simply the silence. As your relationship progresses with Jesus, when something isn't right, you know, because He lets you know in your heart. The Holy Spirit's job is to guide you and direct you in your walk with God. The closer and more focused you are on Him, the easier it is to hear his direction in your life. And then, you know what happens? TRANSFORMATION!!
And you know how that comes about? Not by being worried about "not sinning," but being preoccupied with following and getting to know Jesus.
I cannot remember to whom this quote is attributed, but when I was in high school I read it and it stood out to me. I wrote this quote in a notebook, and for a long time, I kept that book. I no longer have that notebook and haven't read the quote in a while, but the gist of the quote is this: Treat a man the way he currently behaves, and do not be surprised when nothing changes; treat a man in the way you expect him to act, and do not be surprised when he does change.
If I constantly view myself as a person who sins because, "Well, I'm just a sinner; sin is too strong for me sometimes," why would I be surprised that I experience no victory over sin and that there is no change or transformation in my life?
To the Christians present, you must view yourself through the eyes of your Heavenly Father. You are a saint. You are a person who can be controlled by Jesus or by sin, but it is your choice. You can chose to obey Christ or to obey yourself, and those are both mutually exclusive. To follow Christ, you need to get to know Him. The best way to get to know Him is by seeking Him daily. Spend time with Him in prayer, and spend time with Him in the Bible.
Then, obey Him. Do what is explicitly spelled out in the Bible for you to do, and then listen to Him as he speaks in your heart through the Holy Spirit.
Our God is a God that transforms. If you live a defeated spiritual life, He wants to transform that.
To those that are not save, those that do not personally know Jesus as their Savior: You must see yourself through God's eyes too. Romans 3:10-20 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:
17 And the way of peace have they not known:
18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
It is a pretty bleak outlook, but God wants to transform you too. God wants to transform your destiny, from hell to heaven; He wants to transform your spirit, from being dead in sin to alive because of Jesus; and He wants to transform your relationship with Him, from being an enemy to being a son/daughter.
He has done everything for that transformation to happen, you simply must believe in Jesus Christ as your only savior and ask Him to save you, trusting that He will keep His promise.
The false narrative that you may have heard and believed is that you are too messed up for God to be able to transform you. This is a lie. God already knew you and your sin before he ever sent Jesus to die for you, and He sent Him anyway! Today, if you are not saved, you can experience that transformation that only comes through Jesus.
INVITATION:
Who here would say, "I have been living a defeated life. I am a Christian, but I have lived a defeating cycle of sin and confession over the same things in my life; I need to live in God's transforming power?"
Is there anyone that would say, "I am not a Christian. If I were to die right now I would not go to heaven, I need Jesus to come into my life and transform me?"
