Bible Text: 2 Corinthians 5:17 | Preacher: Pastor Steve | Series: Transformed
God’s Word has the information and instruction that is necessary for our health, happiness, wholeness, and holiness!
We are going to see what TRANSFORMED LIVING looks like according to God’s Word in the following areas:
Spiritual
Emotional
Mental/intellectual
Vocational
Financial
Physical
Relational (community)
Marital
Familial (families)
LIFE EQUATIONS
The word of God has conditional statements or premises that lead to a promise (IF…THEN statements):
Examples:
IF we CONFESS our sins (premise) THEN He will FORGIVE US of our sins (promise).
(IF) In all your ways ACKNOWLEDGE HIM (premise) THEN He will DIRECT YOUR PATHS (promise).
Spiritual Health
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Transformed Living is Loving Jesus Completely & Absolutely
Luke 14:26-27 If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.
Our Spiritual Health is Measured by Our LOVE
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Our God is PASSIONATE for us: God so loved the world!
Our God gave us an OBSERVABLE expression of His love: He gave His only begotten Son
Our God gave us a CHOICE because He loves us: that whoever believes in Him
Our God gave us a PROMISE because He loves us: should not perish but have everlasting life.
Mark 12:29-31 Jesus replied, the most important commandment is this: Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. The second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these.
Passionately: all your heart
Willfully: all your soul
Intellectually: all your mind
Practically: all your strength
What we love we worship!
PRAYER
Transformed living meets with the Lord daily in conversation. If we want to be spiritually healthy we must PRAY and meet with Him Daily.
Proverbs 8:34 Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
Transformed Living is Studying and Then Applying What the Lord has Taught Us
We must learn to study and do and integrate and apply His Word (Bible) into our lives!
Psalms 1:1-3 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.
The Premise/Conditional Statement (IF…THEN):
(If we study and integrate and apply the Word of God)
IF we are passionate about the Word:
But his delight is in the law (scriptures) of the Lord,
IF we are disciplined in our study:
And in His law (scriptures) he meditates day and night.
The Promise (THEN):
Productivity: (3) He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season…
Longevity: Whose leaf also shall not wither…
Prosperity: And whatever he does shall prosper.
John 15:14-15 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.
James 1:25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
Transformed Living Gives Time, Talent and Treasure to the Lord. (If we want to be spiritually healthy we must tithe.)
IF we give God our first fruits (the best) THEN He blesses us!
The Premise: Proverbs 3:9 (IF) Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the first fruits of all your increase;
The Promise: (THEN) your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
Principle of Generosity
Malachi 3:10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.
The Premise/conditional statement (IF…THEN):
(IF WE) Bring all the tithes into the storehouse that there may be food in My house,
The Challenge: And try Me now in this, says the Lord of hosts…
The Promise (THEN):
If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.
The Premise/Condition: IF we give to the Lord
The Promise: THEN He will give to us
Tithing brings blessing based on what we give. The Lord can only bless what we give Him to bless!
Spiritual growth requires us to learn the discipline/habit of giving/generosity!