Getting Past Stuck - Victorious Praise Fellowship Church

Transcription

1 Transforming for your Transition
Part I. Overcoming Inhibitors
Getting Past Stuck
Seizing the Moments of Transformation, Part I
Seizing the Moments of Transformation, Part II
Part II. Living A Transformed Life
Step Away and Grow Up
Transforming Through Your Offenses
Transforming Character
Part III. Transforming Power
The Transforming Power of Resistance, Challenge, and Conflict
The Transforming Relationship of Righteousness and Holiness
Transformational Witness
2 Part I.
Overcoming
Inhibitors
3 Getting Past Stuck
Text
Romans 12:1–2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a
living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to
this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and
acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Transition is the process of changing from one state, condition, or place to another. But transition
requires transformation, which is a thorough or dramatic change in form or appearance. Transformation
is defined by change, conversion, revolution, makeover, transfiguration, and metamorphosis. Whether it
is physically, emotionally, and spiritually, life is in a constant state of transition, and we must transform
our body, soul, and spirit for the transition. You can’t embrace or be empowered by where
you’re going (transition) if you don’t change who you are transformation).
In life we go through transformative moments or transformational events. Many people struggle with
transition because they fail at transformation. They literally become stuck:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
In a state of suspended animation physically, emotionally, or spiritually.
The 24 year old that’s in a grown person’s body their mind is stuck on child. The married
individual living as husband and wife, but stuck on single.
The person that is hired for a job, but is stuck on irresponsibility.
The Christian in church leadership, but is stuck on spiritual immaturity.
The blessings, purpose, promises of life are transitioning, but they are stuck.
Stuck financially (always broke), stuck emotionally (immaturity or painful abuse), stuck
4 spiritually (strongholds, sin, or satanic attacks).
7.
Their relationships are stuck; careers are stuck; ministries are stuck; families and marriages are
stuck; even their spiritual walk with the Lord is stuck.
The place where God is taking us can’t be experienced by the person we were when God found us; so
he must transform us!
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
In order to get to the place of God’s perfect will, we must free ourselves from what has us stuck through
the power of transformation.
There’re many things that people become stuck on in life; in this lesson I want to deal with areas:
Stuck on Ignorance, Stupid, Weariness/Quitting, and Suffering/Pain.
Getting Past Stuck on Ignorance (Knowledge)
Transformation through Knowledge
There is a saying that goes “Ignorance is Bliss.” It hypothesizes the lack of knowledge to a situation
can be better than the truth that once the whole truth is revealed, you feel that you were happier being
clueless. For example: “Sherry was very happy with her boyfriend… until she was informed he was
cheating on her.” And sometimes I question the motives who rush to tell you hurtful things! But in most
cases, ignorance is not bliss. It causes us to become stuck in the same place, doing the same things over
and over never advancing.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and
not of evil, to give you an expected end.
God has plans for our lives, our purpose, and our destiny but ignorance causes us to never fulfill that
purpose, leading ultimately to our destruction.
Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will
also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: …
When it comes to the things of God, “Ignorance is definitely NOT bliss!” We are not destroyed
because of people, bad circumstances, plight in life, bad luck, wickedness, haters, or evil; we are
destroyed because of ignorance.
Get Past Stuck on Ignorance through Knowledge of God
Psalm 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable
works, there is none that doeth good.
Knowledge of God’s Word
5 Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Knowledge of God’s Promises
2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen,
Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow…
John 10:10 … I am come that they might have life… might have it more abundantly.
Knowledge of God’s Presence
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that
he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you,
than he that is in the world.
Job 19:25 For I know that my redeemer liveth …
“When Stuck, Transform Yourself through The Knowledge of God!”
VICTORIOUS THROUGH THE WORD
How Rom 12 does: 1 says we are to be transformed?
How can we get past stuck through knowledge of God’s Word? What is the result of this
knowledge?
Getting Past Stuck on Stupid (Wisdom)
Transformation Through Wisdom
Why do people get stuck on Stupid? By stupid I mean unwise, senseless, thoughtless, and ill-advised.
The proper application of knowledge is what we call wisdom. Therefore, stupid is when you have the
knowledge, but constantly misapply it. The Apostle Paul defines stupid to Timothy:
2 Timothy 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Someone else defined this as “Insanity;” doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results!
But I call it “Stupid!”
2 Timothy 3:1–4 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers
6 of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3
Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are
good, 4 Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2 Timothy 3:5–6 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For
of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with
divers lusts,
Paul says the cause of people forever learning and never coming into the knowledge of the truth is “SIN!”
Sin makes you
Stupid:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What causes a man to cheat on a good woman and destroy their home?
What causes a Bishop or Pastor to abuse his Spiritual Sons and Daughters?
What causes a person to be selfish, disobedient, unthankful, and unholy?
What causes a person to be without natural affection, engaging in fornication homosexuality?
What causes a person to love themselves more than God?
The answer is Sin, and Sin makes you Stupid!
Get Past Stuck on Stupid through the Fear of the Lord
Psalm 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that
do his commandments: his praise endureth forever.
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and
instruction.
When you fear God, you get off stuck on stupid, and into the wisdom of God. The Bible says the fear of
the Lord is wisdom, knowledge, prolonged life, strong confidence, fountain of life, and riches and honor.
Finally the Bible says the fear of the Lord is to hate evil and sin: To love what God loves, and to hate
what God hates.
“When Stuck, Transform Yourself Through The Fear of God!”
Getting Past Stuck on Quitting/Weariness (Patience)
Transformation Through Patience
Some people get stuck because they constantly, quit or give up when they get tired. They get tired of
people, tired of drama, tired of lack, tired of the struggle, tired of haters, tired of working without
promotion, tired of life, tired of being tired. This is known as weariness and ultimately, it causes us to
faint.
Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Weariness is a device the enemy uses to prevent us from moving forward.
7 Daniel 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the
most High, and think to change times and laws: …
The enemy wears us out, holds up our blessings, ties up our answers, keeps out our help, and anything
else that would drive us to weariness.
Get Past Stuck on Weariness Through Patience in God
Patience in God for Your Season Change
The enemy wants to convince us things will always be this way.
Galatians 6:9 (AV) 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint
not.
Job 14:14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change
come.
Trouble don’t last always; this is just a season, and it’s about to change!
Patience in God for Your Rest
Job 3:17 There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest.
Isaiah 28:12 says, “This is the rest that will cause the weary to rest.”
Matthew 11:28–29 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take
my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your
souls.
“When Stuck, Transform Yourself Through Patience in God”
VICTORIOUS THROUGH EXPERIENCE
Why do people get stuck on stupid? What can be done to eliminate or reverse this? Base your
answer on scripture.
What device does the enemy use to prevent us from moving forward? How can this be
prevented?
8 How can you be confident waiting for your season to change when you are stuck? What
scriptures would increase your confidence?
Getting Past Stuck on Pain/Suffering (Glory)
Transformation Through Suffering
The irony of this last point is the very thing that the enemy has us stuck on is the same thing that God
wants to use to deliver and transform us: Suffering. It is within man’s psyche, his psychological structure
to avoid pain. He will go through great lengths to avoid all forms of pain and suffering. He will fight,
run, lie, cheat, betray, give up, and even forsake his loved ones in order to avoid pain and suffering. Man
will avoid physical, emotional, and spiritual suffering: the suffering of humiliation and degradation, the
suffering of destruction and devastation, and the suffering of desperation and depression. So the enemy
will use our natural built-in human nature to avoid pain to cause us to become stuck with the pain. There
are two things that will get us past being stuck on suffering: Trust during suffering, and transformation
through suffering.
Get Past Stuck on Suffering by Trusting in God during Suffering
Psalm 146:3 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.
Psalm 56:11 In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
Psalm 37:3–5 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be
fed. 4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 5 Commit thy
way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
Trust that he will not put more on you than you can bear, trust that no weapon formed against you shall
prosper, trust that he will be there in time of trouble.
Psalm 27:5–6 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle
shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. 6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine
enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will
sing praises unto the LORD.
Get past stuck on suffering, by being transformed “through” suffering
James 1:2–4 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the
trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and
entire, wanting nothing.
1 Peter 1:6–7 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness
through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that
9 perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of
Jesus Christ:
Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the
glory which shall be revealed in us.
Getting Past Suck Requires You to have the attitude of a Fire Alarm, “In Case of
Emergency, Brake Glass and Pull”
Behind the glass is the solution to the emergency. But you can’t get to the solution until you break the
glass. For the Christian, our emergency is we’re stuck: Stuck on Ignorance, Stuck on Stupid, Stuck on
Weariness, and Stuck on Suffering.
Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
God is our present help, but sometimes when you are in an emergency, you have to break the glass to get
to it:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Break the Glass of Ignorance, to get to the Knowledge of God
Break the Glass of Stupidity, to get to the Fear and Wisdom of God
Break the Glass of Weariness, to get to the Patience of God
Break the Glass of Suffering, to get to the Glory of God
VICTORIOUS THROUGH PRAYER. Have you been in a state of “stuck?” What strategy would you
use to get off stuck?
What scriptures would you use in your prayer for transformation? Do you know someone who is stuck?
Pray for yourself and for others in the Body of Christ who have been stuck.
10 Seizing the Moments of Transformation, Part I
Text
Exodus 2:1–6 And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi. 2 And the
woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three
months. 3 And when she could no longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it
with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river’s brink. 4 And
his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him. 5 And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to
wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river’s side; and when she saw the ark
among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it. 6 And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and,
behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews’ children.
Exodus 2:11–12 And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his
brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren.
12
And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian,
and hid him in the sand.
Exodus 3:1–3 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the
flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. 2 And the angel of
the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the
bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see
this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
In this lesson I want to look at one more inhibitor to our transformation, and that is our moments of
transformation. These transformational moments include transformational people that save us;
transformational events that change us; or transformational situations that cause us to fight. There are
moments in life that result in some form of transformation.
Some moments are evil: Betrayal, deception, temptation, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and
spiritual abuse are just a few of the moments that can transform and change a person for the worse
creating distrust, disloyalty, loss of faith, wicked behavior, or devastation.
11 Some moments are divine: I remember Jonas Richard, my first assistant, telling how he became
connected to me and this ministry and how Teresa Brooks, his recruiter (who didn’t know him), held him
up from being hired because one of her managers, Wil Nichols (who she didn’t know) was holding up the
paper work. By his worrying her to death, she finally came to my office and met me. The delay kept him
from being hired until my sister, Marshetta Parker, was hired so that they could meet. All of which came
full circle when God would called me to preach three years later.
To be transformed by the renewing of our minds to prove what is that good and acceptable will of God,
we must overcome the evil moments designed to kill us, and seize (grab hold) of the divine moments that
are designed to transform us.
I can’t address every possible moment of transformation, but even the ones I studied for this message
were more than one sermon. In this lesson we want to deal with the transformational moments of your
salvation, your change, and your call.
Transformational moment of your salvation
Exodus 2:5 And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens
walked along by the river’s side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it.
6
And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on
him, and said this is one of the Hebrews’ children.
The transformational moment of salvation is the point in which you would have died if God had not
intervened. The physical death of an abortion, not going to the club where there was a shooting, not
sleeping with the person that could have given you Aids. The emotional death of the relationship designed
to destroy your soul. The spiritual death of principality, power, of spiritual wickedness that could have
destroyed your faith in God. The plan of the enemy is to kill us, our purpose, our mission, our
soul, even our lives. Pharaoh had a plan to kill Moses before he ever became a deliverer.
Exodus 1:8–10 Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. 9 And he said unto his
people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: 10 Come on, let us deal
wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join
also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.
From that point forward, he looked for plans to destroy the children of Israel, and from the point of our
birth, the enemy has been trying to kill us.
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might
have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Our lives have been filled with these moments in which the devil has been trying to kill us. Moment after
moment he's been trying to kill us; life, soul, passion, dreams; he sent that person, sent that loss, that
devastation, ... He sends saboteurs disguised as help to save us, but are there to kill us; who were
disguised as midwives to save you, but they were sent to kill you.
Exodus 1:15–16 And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one
was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah: 16 And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the
Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter,
then she shall live.
12 A midwife is supposed to help bring life, but he sent them to destroy life. But out of the same house
that the enemy sent death, God sent the enemy’s own sister to bring salvation. Don’t worry about who’s
trying to kill you, know that God has sent someone to save you!
Ezekiel 16:6 And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when
thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live.
What you went through was meant to kill you, laying in your own blood; but God said live. That
relationship was supposed to kill your mind, but you are clothed and in your right mind. Kill you spirit,
but you’re still praising God.
“The enemy tried to kill you, but God transformed you to live”
Moses had several moments of life that transformed him. What were the transformational events
that were designed to kill him but were transformational moments of salvation?
What does John 10:10 say the thief comes to do? Why does he want to do this? What is his
mission?
Transformational Moment of Your Change
Exodus 2:11–12 And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his
brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren.
12
And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian,
and hid him in the sand.
The transformational moment of change happens when an event, a word, a situation or circumstance
creates a shift in your thinking; causing an epiphany, a moment of sudden revelation or insight. We
spend a lot of time trying to change people, change their behaviors. We labor over trying to change our
spouses, undesirable conduct and attitudes. We work and toil over trying to change immature church
members’ behavior.
Every born again believer must understand that the moment of salvation and the moment of change is
not necessarily the same moment. This is where a lot of people get it twisted when it comes to being a
13 Christian. Just because God has saved you, doesn’t mean that he’s changed you.
Psalm 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
There are a lot of Christians who have been saved, but have not been changed. Paul was quite clear in
his teaching that salvation is not transformation:
1 Corinthians 3:1 And I brethren could not speak unto you as unto spiritual but as unto carnal, even as
unto babes in Christ. 2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear
it, neither yet now are ye able. 3For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife,
and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
Romans 6:1–2 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid.
How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
There are transformational moments in your life that induce or produce change. We see Moses caught
between two worlds: Born a Hebrew, but raised an Egyptian. For 40 years he lived the life that he was
shaped in, but when he saw the Egyptian beating a Hebrew, the other side of him rose up. It was a
transformational moment that caused him to change. This is why I don’t get too discombobulated about
carnal babes in Christ, because I know that if they keep coming to church, eventually there will be
a moment that will tell them “I’ve got to change.”
A transformational moment of change is not when someone changes you; it is when you decide within
yourself, I’ve got to change. It’s when you get sick and tired of being sick and tired. It’s when a word
comes that is just for you and you say, “I got it!” It’s when righteous indignation (anger) rises up in you,
you just get mad at what the devil is doing to your life, your marriage, your children, your ministry.
When transformational change comes, people don’t have to beg you to go to school, got to work, go to
church; plead with you to pray, to fast, to praise, to worship. It’s like Sam Cooke’s Song:
“I was born by the river, and like the river I've been running ever since
It's been a long, a long time coming, but I know a change is gonna come.”
But one day you get to the point of LaShun Pace’s Song:
“I Know I’ve been Changed, I Know I’ve been Change. If you don’t believe I’ve been redeemed, follow
me down to the Jordan stream. I stepped in the water and the water was cold. It chilled my body but not
my soul. I Know I’ve been Changed.”
“Don’t miss the Transformational Moment of Your Change”
When does a transformational moment of change occur in one’s life?
Does salvation occur at the same time as transformation? Why or why not?
14 Transformational Moment of Your Call
Exodus 3:1–3 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the
flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. 2 And the angel of
the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the
bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see
this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
When God calls you, it becomes a transformational event. It is awe inspiring, it changes you; it is
something bigger than you or than anything you’ve done. The transformational moment of your call
brings certainty, conviction, and surety; yet, many people struggle with their call. So we have to ask the
question why?
Matthew 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
Ultimately, we all are called, but very few ever walk into their calling. Why? Because too many
people are trying to figure out their call before they embrace their change. God is not going to call us to
do something until he knows that we have changed and are prepared to handle. So many people who
have not changed simply call themselves based on their gifts and talents. They discover a gift or a talent
and assumed that God has called them.
Romans 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
Don’t look for your call, prepare for it!
Exodus 3:1 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the
flock to the backside of the desert,
Moses spent 40 years in the backside of a desert preparing for his call. We need to stop looking at
other people, what others are doing, where others are, and just prepare for our call. Some people spent
years of disappointment, years of going through hell, years of frustration, and years of ridicule to prepare
for their call. When you’re prepared, you’ll get your call, and you’ll know it. It will be transformational.
When God calls us, we know it. When God calls us, we don’t need anyone else’s endorsement,
authorization, or confirmation. We’ll just know that we know that we know.
“Don’t Look For It, Prepare For It!”
Prepare for your Call by being Persecuted:
Psalm 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
Prepare for your Call by being Hated:
John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world,
but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
15 Prepare for your Call by being Strengthened:
Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with
wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Prepare for your Call by being Anointed:
Isaiah 10:27 And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy
shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.
Prepared to be Called:
Matthew 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring
forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he
may give it you.
VICTORIOUS THROUGH PRAYER. Are you ready to walk in your calling? What can you do to
prepare for your calling? Pray for yourself and others as they prepare to walk in their calling.
16 Seizing the Moments of Transformation, Part II
Text
Exodus 4:1–4 And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto
my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee.2 And the LORD said unto him, What
is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. 3 And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the
ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. 4 And the LORD said unto Moses, Put
forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his
hand:
Exodus 5:1–2 And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of
Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness. 2 And Pharaoh said, Who
is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel
go.
Exodus 14:11–14 And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us
away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? 12Is
not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For
it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. 13 And Moses
said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to
you today: for the Egyptians, whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more forever. 14 The
LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
Transformational Moment of Your Power
Exodus 4:1 And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my
voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee.2 And the LORD said unto him, What is
that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.
Once God calls us, he then empowers us to do what he’s called us to do, but the transformational
moment of power also produces fear. Most people, like Moses, will feel insecure in their calling:
Unconfident, Self-doubting, Apprehensive, Anxious, and Uncertain. This is how you know it’s God
because if you could do it with your own power then you would call yourself.
17 Exodus 3:11 And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring
forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?
Exodus 4:10 And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor
since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.
We have to recognize the power that God has placed in us.
Exodus 4:2 And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand?
Many times we don’t recognize what’s in our hands, what’s in our testimonies, what’s in our prayers,
what’s in our fasting, or what’s in our praises--our mouth!
Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of
the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony;
and they loved not their lives unto the death.
James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The
effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Matthew 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
Matthew 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt
bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in
heaven.
Once we recognize the power, we then have to stir it up and use it. Power is no good if you don’t use it!
Exodus 4:3 And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and
Moses fled from before it. 4 And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail.
And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand. Recognize your power; stir it
up; and use it!
2 Timothy 1:6–7 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee
by the putting on of my hands. 7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love,
and of a sound mind.
“Don’t fear the moment, Recognize and Stir up your Power”
Transformational Moment of Your Fight
Exodus 5:1–2 and afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of
Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness. 2 And Pharaoh said, Who
is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel
go.
18 God will never call you to do something in which there will not be a fight. As a matter of fact, I
believe that one of the requirements of a call of God is that you’re going to have to fight for it. You
obviously are going to have to fight the enemy:
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about,
seeking whom he may devour:
You’re also going to have to fight your family and friends. They won’t believe you. They will think you
are crazy, even betray you.
Psalm 41:9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up
his heel against me.
You’re even going to have to fight yourself, your faith, your doubt, your abilities, and your flesh.
Mark 9:24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help
thou mine unbelief.
With all this fighting, one would think God would make it easy for you; but I found out that God is
behind some of our fights.
Exodus 4:21 And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all
those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not
let the people go.
We’re asking God to move our enemies, and he’s the one that put them there in the first place. Embrace
this transformational moment and come out fighting.
“You were called to fight, so fight”!
Victorious in the Word
Why would you have to fight for your call? Have you experienced a fight? What have you
encountered in the fight?
What came out in the fight?
According to Ephesians 6:10-12, who is your fight against?
Why did God harden Pharaoh’s heart (Ex. 7:3)?
19 Does victory come from the fight? Where does it come from?
Why are we called to fight? Why do we hesitate to fight?
Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth
violence, and the violent take it by force.
But why do we have to always fight? Because God is not through yet! Why did God harden the heart
of Pharaoh?
Exodus 7:3 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of
Egypt.
There are miracles, signs, and wonders that are coming out of the fight.
2 Corinthians 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling
down of strong holds;)
Ephesians 6:10–12 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on
the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not
against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this
world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Fight the enemy, fight your friends, fight yourself, just keep on fighting!
“Embrace the moment of your fight and come out fighting”
Transformational Moment of Your Victory
Exodus 14:11–14 And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us
away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? 12Is
not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians?
For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.
When God sent us to fight, he never said that the victory would come from the fight. Never presume
that the victory will come from the fight. The fight is not for victory, the fight is for glory, for miracles,
for signs and wonders.
Exodus 7:3–4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of
Egypt. 4 But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth
mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.
Victory will not come from our fight; it will come from God’s hand.
20 2 Chronicles 20:15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king
Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great
multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
Stand still for the victory.
2 Chronicles 20:17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the
salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out
against them: for the LORD will be with you.
You’ve been fighting, but not seeing victory; fasting and praying, but seeing no victory, weeping and
crying, but seeing no victory; worshiping, but no victory. This is your fight, but your victory will come
when you stand still!
Exodus 14:13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the
LORD, which he will shew to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them
again no more forever. 14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
“It’s Victory Time, Conquest Time, Triumph Time, Success & Winning Time”
1Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Psalm 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night,
but joy cometh in the morning.
2 Corinthians 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh
manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
Victorious through Prayer. What has been your attitude during your transformational
moments? Have you seized your victory or have you seized defeat? As we seize our
transformational moments, pray for yourself and others to believe victory is ours.
21 Part II. Living
A
Transformed
Life
22 Step Away and Grow Up
Text
Hebrews 5:12–14 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again
which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of
strong meat. 13 For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses
exercised to discern both good and evil.
A Call To Spiritual Growth
1 Corinthians 3:1–4 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as
unto babes in Christ. 2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear
it, neither yet now are ye able. 3
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal,
and walk as men? 4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
Immaturity in Christian Service
Ephesians 4:11–14 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some,
pastors and teachers;12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the
body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto
a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more
children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and
cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
23 Perfecting of the Church
We want to begin to look at transformation from the perspective of living a transformed life. Paul
begged us in Romans 12 to yield ourselves and our bodies as a living sacrifice to God by refusing to
conform to this world but to be transformed. God wants us to live a transformed life: a lifestyle defined
by a mind that is so transformed that it knows and does the will of God for his or her life…. Our lesson
deals with the fact that a transformed life requires a level of spiritual maturity that each of us as Christians
must obtain, which is a level of spiritual maturity that can only be obtained through spiritual growth,
spiritual service, and the spiritual perfecting of our purpose. The challenge to living this transformed life
has to deal with those things that constrains, hinders, or even prevents maturity:
1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child:
but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
You may physically grow, but if you don’t put away the childish things, put away the toys, put away
the baby food, put away the childish behavior, put away the immature attitude, then you won’t be able to
hold down a job, develop mature relationships, step up as a leader, or become a man. Many Christians do
not experience a transformed life in the will of God because they never put away the childish things. They
don’t put away the childish milk that inhibits spiritual growth. They don’t put away the childish behavior
that limits spiritual maturity. They don’t put away the childish inadequacies that stop spiritual perfection.
To live a transformed life, we must step away from childish things and grow!
Step Away From Spiritual Inhibition (Stunted or Spiritual Growth)
Our first lesson text teaches us the importance of spiritual growth in transformation.
Hebrews 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use
have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
The definition of inhibition is:
1.
2.
The action of inhibiting, restricting, or hindering a process.
The slowing or prevention of a process, reaction, or function by a particular substance.
What is being inhibited, slowed, or prevented is our spiritual growth; our spiritual growth has become
stunted. Naturally, stunted growth is a reduced growth rate in human development. It is a primary
manifestation of malnutrition in early childhood, including malnutrition during fetal development brought
on by the malnourished mother. This same manifestation happens with spiritual growth: malnutrition in
early spiritual childhood and an inability to develop our babies because our leaders are spiritually
malnourished.
Step away from malnourished mothers:
Hebrews 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again
which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of
strong meat.
Our Christian babes are not transforming properly because they have inadequate fetal development
24 because their mothers are malnourished. Many of our spiritual leaders, teachers, and mentors are
producing underdeveloped babes because they themselves are not mature.
Matthew 15:14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both
shall fall into the ditch.
“Step Away!”
Step away from malnourished feedings:
Hebrews 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
Milk is necessary at the beginning of birth but does not have enough nourishment to sustain a child
through growth; the child becomes stunted. Many Christians have been in church, around church, doing
church, but they are not spiritually growing for church; living on a constant diet of milk: No
righteousness, no holiness, no godliness, no persecution, no trials and tribulations, no suffering, no
longsuffering.
trying of your faith worketh patience.
Heb. 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord
2Tim 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Step away from spiritual inhibition by changing your diet! Get off the milk and start eating the meat of
the Word.
Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Psalm 1:1–3 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of
sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law
doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth
forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
Victorious through the Word.
Heb. 5:12-14 and 1 Cor. 3:1-4 speak about milk and meat. What is said about them?
According to Mat 15:14, why are Christian babes not being transformed and developing
properly?
What is the result of too much milk in Christian development?
25 What is the reason for spiritual immaturity?
How does 1 Cor. 3:3 describe those who are carnal?
What are some things we can do to step away from spiritual immaturity in changing our
behavior?
What happens when the Church does not grow up and continues to act up?
“Step away from spiritual inhibition and grow up!”
Step away from spiritual immaturity (childish behavior or spiritual service). Transformation not only
requires spiritual growth but also requires spiritual maturity.
1 Corinthians 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it,
neither yet now are ye able.
The same analogy of milk and meat is used, but here it refers to Christian service. Not growing
spiritually impacts our personal transformation but not growing in spiritual maturity impacts the
transformation of those we serve. It is in the next verses that we see the church serving in spiritual
immaturity.
1 Corinthians 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying (jealous of one another),
and rife (quarrelling with one another), and divisions (separated into groups and cliques of disunity), are
ye not carnal, and walk as men? 4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye
not carnal?
The primary causality of spiritual immaturity is carnality:
1Corinthians 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: … and walk as men?
1 Corinthians 3:3 (NLT) for you are still controlled by your sinful nature… Doesn’t that prove you are
26 controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world?
The challenge we all face is the fact that we have been born into a carnal (sinful) world and nurtured
(cultivated) to be carnal (sinful in our behavior). Now when God saved us, he gave us his Holy Spirit to
give us power over the world and our carnal or sinful nature.
Ephesians 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the
prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Ephesians 2:4–5 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when
we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved; )
The problem is that too many Christians continue to operate according to the course of this world, their
sinful nature, even though they have the power to be free.
Step away from spiritual immaturity by changing our behavior
Transformation is not something the Holy Spirit does to us when we get saved. It is what the Holy
Spirit does for us when we behave as we though we are saved.
Romans 6:1–2 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid.
How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Romans 12:1–2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a
living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to
this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and
acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
“Step away from spiritual immaturity and stop acting up!”
Step away from spiritual imperfection (a deceived or perfected church)
We step away from spiritual inhibitions by growing up. We step away from spiritual immaturity by not
acting up. Finally, we need to step away from spiritual imperfection by stirring up.
Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every
wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
When the Church does not grow up and continues to act up, it will fail to fulfill their purpose because like
children they will continue to be tossed back and forth: insecure, unsure, and constantly tricked with lies
and deceived.
Step away from spiritual imperfection by stirring up the gifts of God.
Ephesians 4:11–14 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some,
27 pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of
the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:
2 Timothy 1:6–7 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee
by the putting on of my hands. 7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love,
and of a sound mind.
Fulfill Your Purpose by Stirring Up Your Gift
Stir up your Anointing (Destroys the Yoke);
Stir up your Calling (Many are Called);
Stir up your Healing (Pray for One Another);
Stir up your Deliverance; Stir up your Praise; Stir up your Preaching
Victorious through Prayer. Has the Holy Spirit revealed your diet and what you need more of?
What do you need to stir up? Pray that your diet matures for more of God and his Word.
28 Transforming Through Your Offenses
Text
Matthew 11:1–6 And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve
disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities. 2 Now when John had heard in
the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3 And said unto him, Art thou he that
should come, or do we look for another? 4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John
again those things which ye do hear and see: 5The blind receive their sight and the lame walk, the
lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel
preached to them. 6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
Matthew 11:11–12 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not
risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is
greater than he. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven
suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
Luke 17:1–5 Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but
woe unto him, through whom they come! 2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged
about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. 3 Take
heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.
4
And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee,
saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
How many of you have ever been offended: By a leader, family member, a coworker, a church
member? Offence or being offended means:
The act of displeasing or affronting
The state of being insulted or morally outraged
An emotional response from a slight or indignity
29 It implies hurt, displeasure, indignation, or ill will
It is the violation of a law or rule discomfort, injury, anger, or vexation.
Our lesson text gives us three instances of offences:
Matthew 11:6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
The offense that comes is from who called us!
Luke 17:1 …It is impossible but that offences will come...
The offense that comes is from whom we’re called to serve!
The offense that comes is from what we’re called to do!
But we learn something interesting about what should happen through these offences:
Luke 17:5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
The enemy wants us to use our offences to fall out with who called us; to stop serving those we’re called
to; and to quit doing what we’re called to do. God takes these same offenses and uses them to transform
us.
Transforming from the offense of who called you
We are called to our Lord and by extension our pastor and church. Many times this calling results in being
offended. Along with the calling comes a certain amount of offense, some just from association.
John 15:18–19 If the world hates you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the
world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of
the world, therefore the world hateth you.
But the more jarring, hurtful, and wounding offenses comes from who called you. Some of our most
hurtful experiences have come from those we loved and were willing to give our all to: A pastor or church
who hurt us, let us down, or disappointed us. Many people are not in church today because they have
been offended, slighted, insulted, angered, or even vexed by the pastor or spiritual leader. Now the issue
is not right or wrong, interpretation or misunderstanding, intentional or reprehensible; it is that it came
from who I’m called to. In our lesson text, we see John the Baptist (filled with the Holy Ghost
in his mother’s womb), offended by Jesus (the embodiment of the Holy Ghost).
Matthew 11:2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3
And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?
Why haven’t you been to visit me? Why haven’t you come and saved me? …
30 “If Jesus could offend, then I know I’m going to offend!”
Notice that Jesus never denied the offense; He never tried to justify it, qualify it, explain it, or excuse it.
He simply used it as an occasion for transformation:
Matt 11:4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and
see: 5The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead
are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
Jesus didn’t dignify the offense, didn’t try to fix the offense, he simply gave his testimony to transform
John to another level. We will not overcome the devil by holding on to our offense, by chasing down our
offense, by always trying to fix our offenses, but we will be transformed by our testimonies.
“Don’t be offended by the call, be transformed by the testimony!”
What are three offenses our lesson text gives?
What should happen through these offenses?
Who was John the Baptist offended by? Why was he offended?
What happens when you focus on the offender?
What can we learn from Jesus’ response to John the Baptist’s offense?
Transforming from the offense of who you’re called to (serve)
31 Luke 17:1–5 Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto
him, through whom they come! …3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke
him; and if he repent, forgive him. …5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
There are several things that Jesus brings to our attention in regards to the offences that come from
those we serve: 1) The offences, 2) The offenders, 3) Our responses, and 4) What the end result will be.
How we respond to our offenses and offenders will determine if we will be transformed by them, or if we
are crushed or defeated by them. Don’t focus on the offence or it will crush you.
Luke 17:1 …It is impossible but that offences will come:
People who focus on offenses stay in a constant state of aggravation, frustration, hurt, anger, and
vexation because there will always be offenses. They are never content, never satisfied, never experience
happiness because they are seeking something they will never find: no offenses. Constantly looking for a
church, a pastor, a group of friends, a spouse, a job where they are not being offended. It crushes them
because they will never find it; it crushes them because they are always moving and missing God.
Ultimately, their feudal and ineffective attempt to avoid the offenses will either cause them to
become isolated and stop serving, or become bitter and serve with anger, resentment, and hostility.
Don’t focus on the offender or it will crush you. We have a dilemma: It’s hard to serve people who
are always offending you, and yet the people you are called to serve will always offend you. Many times
their offenses are the very reason why you are called to them. It is amazing how we Christians get so
upset with other Christians because of what they do, what they say, or how they behave towards us. Their
problem is we are focusing on the offender and so our response and serving them is inept at best, and just
completely wrong at worst.
Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
When your focus is on your offender, you will use weapons designed to deal with your offender. If
they fight, you fight back; hurt, hurt back; get you, get them back; lie, cheat, betray, then you will use
flesh and blood weapons.
2 Corinthians 10:4–5 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the
pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself
against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Focus on the godly response, and it will transform you.
Luke 17:3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent,
forgive him. 4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to
thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
Here’s the revelation: every time you forgive them, it transforms you. We allow multiple offenses to
frustrate us, but God says they transform us. Seven is the number of fulfillment, completion. So if the
same offence keeps coming, keep forgiving them until you have been transformed beyond them.
Proverbs 24:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: …
“Don’t be offended by your service, be transformed by it!”
32 Transformed from the offense of what you’re called to do
Don’t be offended by the call; be transformed by the testimony. Don’t be offended by the service; be
transformed by the response. Finally, don’t be offended by what you are called to do; be transformed by
the power you are given to do it. Jesus said the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take
it by force.
Matthew 11:12 And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven
has been forcefully advancing,* and violent people are attacking it.
It’s not just that violent people will be attacking what you’re called to do but that they will constantly
be attacking. And the only way you are going to advance, is through force. The offenses to your call will
not let up; the offenses to your purpose will not stop; the offenses from your service will keep frustrating
you; the offenses to your gifting will keep disappointing you, hurting you, and devastating you. They will
keep lying on you; they will keep betraying you; they will keep depressing you; keep fighting you; keep
terrorizing you; and trying to break you. But use the power God placed in you to transform you.
Matthew 11:11–12 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a
greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Even the least in the Kingdom of Heaven has power greater than the offenses.
1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you,
than he that is in the world.
2 Timothy 1:6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by
the putting on of my hands.
If God be for us, who can be against us! We are more than Conquerors!
Victorious through Prayer. How can we be transformed by offenses? How can we overcome
offenses? Pray that any offenses you have encountered transform you to be more than a
conqueror.
33 Transforming Character
Text
Romans 5:1–5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory
of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4
And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of
God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
The next key to living a transformed life is transforming our character.
Romans 5:3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us
develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character …
Character is defined as strength of moral fiber. A.W. Tozer described character as “the excellence of
moral beings.” A person’s character is the sum of his or her disposition, thoughts, intentions, desires, and
actions. It is measured or gauged by general lifelong tendencies, not on the basis of a few isolated actions.
We must look at the whole life. For example, King David was a man of good character (1 Samuel 13:14:
a man after God’s own heart) although he sinned on occasion. And although King Ahab may have acted
nobly once (1 Kings 22:35), he was still a man of overall bad character. Character is doing the right thing
not just when people are watching but when the lights go out and no one is watching. It is doing the
right thing not just when it benefits you but when it hurts you. Transformation that pleases God is
proving what is that good, acceptable, and perfect will of God cannot occur if our character is not
transformed. Here is what Paul said about his character:
Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing…21 when I would do
good, evil is present with me.
Our character constantly fails us: behaving unethically, dishonestly, immorally. And herein lies our
problem: the character within us, within our flesh, is morally deficient; causing our gifts and talents to
take us places that our character can’t keep us. We end up with apostles, prophets, and pastors who are
immoral; leaders who are unethical; and Christian brothers and sisters who are dishonest and unkind.
Character must be transformed by the work of the Holy Spirit through sanctification; transforming our
character from the wicked place of its conception to the purity of heart manifested by our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ:
34 Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his
Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
The Holy Spirit transforms our character through spiritual choices, trials and tribulations, revelation, and
ultimately, demonstration.
David said, in 1 Chron. 29:17, “I know that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness.”
Changing character through choosing
Character is created every time we make a choice. Do we cop out or dig ourselves out! Do we bend
the truth or stand on the truth! Do we take the easy money or do we pay the cost. Unfortunately, the
answer to many of our character choices are based on a corrupt system of nature (genetic conception) and
nurture (environmental formation).
Romans 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
In Romans 7:21, I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I,
inevitably, do what is wrong.
The choices that determine my character are working against my will.
Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing:
David explains the predicament or quandary of his character and his choices.
My nature is sin, creating wicked choices and my nurture is iniquity making me a slave to immorality.
Some of us had generational wickedness passed down from generation to generation. Some of us had
environmental immorality, everyone around us! We became a slave to our choices because they were the
only choices we had. The key to transforming our character is changing our choices. Because of nature
and nurture the only choices we had were bad choices.
1 Corinthians 6:9–11 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not
deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with
mankind, 10Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the
kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are
justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Romans 7:24–25 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank
God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God;
My flesh had me enslaved to sinful choices, but the Holy Ghost gives me power to choose from a whole
new set of choices.
35 Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and
death.
2Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled
again with the yoke of bondage.
Galatians 5:22–23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
The Holy Spirit frees us to choose love over hate, joy over depression, peace over confusion,
longsuffering over impatience; to choose morality over immorality, goodness over evil, righteousness
over wickedness.
“Character is a choice, and I choose the Spirit of God to change my choices”
What is the key to living a transformed life?
According to Rom. 5:3, what do problems and trials help develop?
What did Paul say in Rom. 7:18 dwells in his flesh?
Who transforms our character? How is this done?
What effect does the flesh have in the choices we make which determine our character?
What does God use to reveal our character? How does he do this?
36 Revealing character through suffering (trials & tribulations)
When the Lord calls us and we accept his call, one of the things he begins to do is develop, or better
yet, redevelop our character. But before he can redevelop our character, he must first reveal it. This is
where the suffering of trials and tribulations come in to play. Trials and tribulations don’t make character,
they reveal it. People have an uncanny ability to conform to the environment around them and to perform
to the characteristic behaviors society expects of us. For most people, though, what they present in public
is not really who they are. We don’t really find out who they are until they get under pressure; until
something happens that causes them to get a little warm. You really don’t know a person’s true nature or
character until they get heated. I find it interesting that when people try us, we fall out with them, blaming
the devil for our problems; but has it ever occurred to you that God may be using them to reveal the
character flaws in us so he can transform us.
God uses the fire of tribulations to reveal character.
1 Peter 1:6–7 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness
through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that
perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of
Jesus Christ:
Gold in its natural state is filled with impurities, dirt, rock, soot, trash; it is all just harden together as
one. But the fire does two things:
8.
9.
It reveals the trash by heating it up, separating it from the gold.
Then the fire burns up the trash, leaving not but pure gold.
God can’t reveal the true you until he first reveals the trash in you! And you can’t become the true you
until trials burn up the trash in you!
Romans 5:3 … but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4And
patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is
shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Rejoice in your trials. Glory in your tribulations. Count it all joy in your temptations, knowing that God
is revealing his glory in you!
Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the
glory which shall be revealed in us.
“Character is suffering, and I rejoice in suffering because of God’s revelation”
37 Demonstrating character through enduring
The transformation of character happens because:
1.
2.
3.
The Spirit of God causes us to change our character.
The suffering of God causes us to reveal our character.
Finally, the patience of God causes us to demonstrate our character.
Scripture reveals to us a direct correlation to endurance, patience, and longsuffering to the character of
God.
The Spirit of God produces longsuffering.
Galatians 5:22–23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering….
The trials of God produce patience.
trying of your faith worketh patience.
The tribulations of God produce endurance.
Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
Why is endurance such a necessary part of our character? Because God is longsuffering , what he calls
us to do will require endurance. It takes character to endure sound doctrine:
2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts
shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.
It takes character to endure afflictions.
2Timothy 4:5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full
proof of thy ministry.
2Timothy 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
It takes character to endure until your change comes.
Job 14:14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change
come.
It takes character to endure while you’re waiting on the Lord.
Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with
wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Psalm 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on
the LORD.
It takes character to endure until your season comes.
38 Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Victorious through Prayer. What have trials and tribulations produced in your life? Can you
see any levels of transformation in your life due to these trials and tribulations? What Fruit of
the Spirit should we pray to be developed in our lives? What would your prayer be?
39 Part III.
Transforming
Power
40 The Transforming Power of Resistance, Challenge and Conflict
Text
1 Peter 5:8–10 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about,
seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are
accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto
his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish,
strengthen, settle you.
1Peter 5:8–10 (NLT) Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy ….9 Stand firm against him, and be strong
in your faith. …
James 4:7–10 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw
nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye
double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your
joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
James 4:7–10 (The Message) So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him
scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time…
We want to begin to look at the process of transforming our power.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be
witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the
41 earth.
This passage is awesome in that it states that we all are given power when the Holy Spirit comes upon
us to save us. It also indicates our purpose, which it to witness, evangelize, and win the lost. But this also
reveals a fundamental problem. Most growth in our churches is not through witnesses, evangelizing, and
winning the lost, but in transferring! Although we have all the requisite parts, we are not producing; and
we are not producing because our power is not transforming.
In 1987 a science research facility was built called Biosphere 2:
1.
It was an artificial, materially enclosed ecological system, built within a 3.14-acre structure with a
mission to serve as a center for research, outreach, teaching and lifelong learning about Earth.
2.
It would accomplish this mission by studying the effects of sunlight, moisture, solar intensity, and
temperature on plants within this enclosed environment.
3.
When it was first created, plants and trees grew relatively quickly, but they frequently fell over
before they were of reproductive age.
4.
After some intensive observations and experimentation, it was determined that the problem was a
lack of wind. Apparently the lack of wind created trees with much softer wood than that species would
normally make in the wild.
5.
They grew more quickly than they did in the wild, but they were harmed in the long run as a
consequence.
6.
What the wind represented was resistance to the trees. And although it slowed their growth, it
made them harder and stronger.
Resistance means to stand firm against a person or influence: The inherent capacity of a living being to
resist toward circumstances such as disease, malnutrition, or toxic agents. It is also the ability to confront
challenges: such as new data that challenges old assumptions, and the resistance of temptations. One final
definition deals with conflict: the struggle against an opposing force physically or mentally. To fight,
battle, or war!
When the enemy can’t keep us from getting saved, he wants to place us in a spiritual biosphere without
wind, without resistance, without challenges or conflict. So many Christians want to be in a safe
environment without conflict, challenge, or resistance and if they don’t find it, they leave until they do.
But what we end up with is a bunch of soft Christians who are constantly falling over and failing before
they have reached the ability to reproduce. Our churches are filled with powerless, feckless, useless,
spineless, impotent Christians who can’t fulfill their purpose and reproduce. One of the most important
purpose of our power is to witness and produce and Jesus teaches us that it needs to transform:
John 15:1–5 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not
fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
The purpose of our resistance, challenges, and conflicts is to transform our power and we are never
stronger than when we are in conflict and resistance.
Our lesson will answer three questions:
1.
2.
3.
What do you do when your faith appears to not be working?
What do you do when your faith is challenged?
What do you do when your faith is attacked?
42 Transforming power of resistance (resist by standing firm on your faith)
The first key I want us to look at in transforming our power is resistance from the perspective of
“Standing Firm Against.”
seeking whom he may devour:
This first point addresses the question, “What do you do when your faith appears to not be working?”
The Bible teaches us that we have an adversary who is as a roaring lion seeking ways to devour,
overwhelm, demolish, devastate, kill and destroy. The a-clause of John 10:10 is the thief cometh not, but
for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. So most people seek to avoid the adversary, the thief, the devil.
We seek the path of least resistance! We don’t necessarily give up on our Christian walk, but we look for
an easy, non-confrontational, seeker friendly experience. So they bounce around until they find what they
think is a safe place.
Transform your power by standing firm.
1Peter 5:9 Whom resist steadfast in the faith,
1Peter 5:9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. …
The most important thing we use to stand on is our faith. Faith that has not been tried is useless,
powerless, and unable to produce. A lot of people rejoice when things go their way, when they get the
job, get the house, get the promotion, or get the answers to their prayers. But this is not standing on faith;
this is standing on the stuff you got! Standing on faith is when you lose the job, when you get denied,
when it looks like your prayers are bouncing off the ceiling and all you have left to stand on is your faith.
Ephesians 6:10–11 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on
the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Your faith is transforming because you are standing on the word, standing on Jesus, and what he
promised you even when you don’t see it.
1 Peter 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that
ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might
have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
“Transform your power by standing on your faith when you have nothing else!”
According to the Message translation of James 4:7-10, what should we say to God and to the
devil?
43 How can we overcome taking the path of least resistance by standing firm?
What can we stand on?
How does the enemy challenge our faith? How can we challenge and defeat the devil?
Transforming power of challenge (resist by submitting to your faith)
The next key in transforming our power is challenges. This is about trusting in what you have when
you’re been tempted with something that seems better.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Next we want to address the question, “What do you do when your faith is challenged?” A challenge is
when new data challenges old assumptions: To confront or question the legality or legal qualifications of
old assumptions vs. new ones. Our lives were born and nurtured into a set of assumptions that constantly
challenge our faith in the new data God is presenting to us.
God then made us a new creature and gave us new data.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new.
The enemy constantly challenges our faith deal by constantly tempting our flesh.
1 John 2:15–16 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world,
the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the
eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Transform your power to these challenges by submitting and drawing.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7 (The Message) So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him
scamper. Submit to God by yelling a Loud “No” to the devil!
No to your flesh, no to your temptations, no to lusts, no to sin, no to wrath, no to vengeful behavior, no to
immorality, no to the devil!
James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify
your hearts, ye double minded.
44 James 4:8 (The Message) Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify
your inner life. Quit playing the field. Draw to God by yelling a Quiet “Yes” to God.
Yes to the will of God, yes to the way of God, yes to the Word of God, yes to the love, joy, and peace of
God, humility of God, mercy of God! Yes to setting your affections on things above, walking in the
Spirit …!
“Transform Your Power by Submitting to your Faith when the devil tempts you!”
Transforming power of conflict (resist by fighting for your faith)
The final question is “What do you do when your faith is under attack?” First, we resist the devil by
standing on our faith.
seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist steadfast in the faith
Second, we challenge the devil by submitting to our faith.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee.…
Finally, we defeat the devil by fighting with our faith. When I was in college I studied Computer
Science and Electrical Engineering. The significance of these two disciplines came together in a
computer circuit board specifically in how you direct an electrical current. To get an electrical current to
go where you want, you simply set up a series of resistors along its path knowing that it would travel the
path of least resistance.
This is what the enemy does to us when it comes to our destined path. The devil has us missing God,
missing our purpose, missing our calling by bouncing us around with resistor after resistor. But
overcome your resistor by fighting with your power.
Ephesians 6:14–17 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate
of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking
the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the
helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Fight betrayal with the power that God will never leave you.
Fight lost with the power that after I’ve suffered awhile God will make you
perfect, established, strengthened, and settled.
Fight disappointment and depression because the joy of the Lord is …
Fight bitterness and hatred because the love of God conquerors evil …
Fight trouble and confusion because the peace of God shall keep you.
Fight frustrations and impatience because the longsuffering is waiting on
God...
Victorious through Prayer. In your Christian journey how has your faith been transformed?
45 Can you think of areas in your life where you have taken the path of least resistance? What has
been the result of those decisions? Pray for strength to fight resistance with your faith.
46 The Transforming Relationship of Righteousness and Holiness
Text
Romans 8:1–9 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not
after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free
from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God
sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the
righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 For
they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of
the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because
the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So
then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be
that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Galatians 5:16–26 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the
flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other:
so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness,
lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also
told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit
of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance:
against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and
lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory,
provoking one another, envying one another.
In this lesson we want to look at our relationship to the Holy Spirit in transforming us. In any
relationship, there are things that make it strong, but then there are also things that will make it weak or
destroy it. Some people are in relationships that strengthen each other; we call these symbiotic
relationships, which is the intimate living together of two dissimilar organisms in a mutually beneficial
and cooperative relationship: mutualism. Endosymbiosis is a form of a symbiotic relationship in which
one lives within another in mutual cooperation to benefit each other.
47 1 Corinthians 6:19 What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you,
which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall
teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Some people are in relationships that weaken or destroy each other. We call these parasitic or
antithetical relationships. Antithetical is being in direct and unequivocal opposition. Constituting
antithesis is to be opposite, contradictory, polar, reverse, or diametric. The antithetical relationship
aggravates constantly because it’s always opposite: up or down, in or out, black or white, good or evil.
Parasitic or parasite is an organism that seeks support from another without making an adequate
return. A parasitical relationship is one in which one exploits the hospitality of the other: a bloodsucker,
freeloader, leach, or deadbeat. The problem with a parasitic relationship is that it’s always taking and
never giving and, thus ultimately, weakening the host relationship. Having the Holy Spirit within us
benefits us, but if we only take and never give, we will literally drain the life of the Spirit out of us.
Romans 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity (Hostile, Antagonistic) against God: for it is not subject to
the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the
one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Our lesson teaches us two things that can transform our relationship with the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:1
says “Walk after the Spirit:” denoting ownership or belonging. Galatians 5:16 says, “Walk in the Spirit”
denoting guidance and direction. When we allow Satan to own us and our flesh to guide us, our
relationship to the Holy Spirit becomes antithetical and parasitical.
1Corinthians 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit,
which are God’s.
When we “Walk after the Spirit” and “Walk in the Spirit,” we change our ownership and guidance and
develop a symbiotic relationship that transforms us through righteousness and holiness.
What is the difference between an antithetical relationship and a symbiotic relationship?
How Rom.8 does: 1 and Gal 5:16 saw we are to walk?
When we walk in this manner, what is the result?
Fill in the blank. Antithetical righteousness _______________________the Holy Spirit.
48 Fill in the blank. Parasitic righteousness ____________________ the Holy Spirit.
What is the difference in quenching the Holy Spirit and grieving the Holy Spirit?
Walking in the Spirit has benefits. Name some of those benefits.
Transforming power by overcoming antithetical righteousness
Although the definition of righteous is to act in accordance to divine or moral law, the Bible clearly
teaches us about our limitations to achieve this directive in his eyes.
Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we all do
fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Isaiah 64:6 (NLT) We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are
nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind.
Romans 3:9–10 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews
and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Our righteousness represents our best efforts, our best behavior, and at its best we don’t measure up to
God’s calling. So we are given his Holy Spirit to live within us to transform us. However, we limit the
Spirit’s ability to transform us when his power doesn’t grow within us due to antithetical and parasitic
behavior. Antithetical righteousness quenches the Holy Spirit.
1Thessalonians 5:19 Quench not the Spirit.
Now the word “quench” means to put out, to extinguish, to put out the light or fire, to cause to lose
heat, to cause dampening, diminishing, or stifling. Antithetical righteousness is behavior that dampens or
diminishes the Holy Spirit’s power and influence over our lives. We’re saved, but our behavior puts out
the Spirit’s Light! Saved, but our behavior has caused us to lose our fire, heat, love! Paul described this
antithetical behavior:
1 Thessalonians 5:20–22 Despise not prophesyings. 21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22
Abstain from all appearance of evil.
1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 (The Message) Don’t suppress the Spirit, and don’t stifle those who have a word
from the Master. On the other hand, don’t be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what’s good.
49 Throw out anything tainted with evil.
Our behavior has to past the sniff test! If it don’t smell right, it’s not right!
John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Transforming power by overcoming parasitical righteousness
Parasitic righteousness grieves the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
To grieve is to cause to suffer, distress; to bring sorrow or grief; to burden. It is characterized by severe
pain, suffering, or sorrow. This behavior is not just antithetical to God’s Word but brings pain and
suffering to his Spirit in us. To grieve the Holy Spirit is to literally drain His wonder-working power out
of us.
Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from
you, with all malice:
When bitterness, wrath and anger that lingers; gossip (in which the Bible calls an abomination)
continues to operate in us; it kills the Holy Ghost in us. So Paul says, “Put it away!” Put away the
bitterness, anger, wrath, gossip!
Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for
Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Transforming power by embracing symbiotic holiness
Our job is to develop a symbiotic relationship with the Holy Spirit: an intimate cooperative
relationship that is mutually beneficial. We do this by “Walking in the Spirit!” To walk in the Spirit, you
have to change your walking partners.
2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath
righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? 16 for ye are the
temple of the living God; … I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall
be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not
the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
To walk in the Spirit, you have to agree with the Spirit.
Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
Psalm 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
To walk in the Spirit, you have to trust the Spirit.
Proverbs 3:5–6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all
thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
50 To walk in the Spirit, you have to pray in the Spirit.
Ephesians 6:17–18 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of
God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit…
Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as
we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
When you walk in the Spirit, it will transform you. God’s Spirit will flow out of you.
John 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living
water.
God’s Spirit will produce fruit in you.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law
God’s Spirit will produce power that will keep you.
Jeremiah 20:9 Then I said I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word
was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not
stay.
Victorious through Prayer. How can we develop a symbiotic relationship with the Holy
Spirit? In your prayer, seek God’s help in obtaining this.
51 Transformational Witness
Text
Acts 1:4–9 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from
Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly
baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.6 When they
therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the
kingdom to Israel? 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the
Father hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon
you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the
uttermost part of the earth.9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up;
and a cloud received him out of their sight.
In this lesson we want to move to the ultimate goal of the Holy Spirit which is to make us witnesses.
Being a witness is a very profound thing. Some people have been adjudicated and sent to jail on nothing
but the testimony of an eyewitness. Perhaps, a lot of you have watched the trail of George Zimmerman
who was accused of killing Trayvon Martin. Both the defense and prosecutors presented their evidence,
experts, and opening and closing remarks on their opinions. But the results, agree or disagree, may have
been determined by the words of the witnesses.
Our Lord and Savior and our Christianity is on trial every day. People are trying to make decisions on
whether to accept him or reject him. They have the evidence, experts, and the opening and closing
remarks of the Word and the preaching of the Gospel by the pastor or preacher. But more than likely, they
will make their decision based on witnesses.
witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the
earth.
Acts 1:8 (NLT) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my
witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the
52 ends of the earth.”
Based on your witness testimony, what decisions will they make? Are you a personal eyewitness who
has experienced Christ and read his word, or just a hearsay witness of what someone talked about? Are
you a witness whose life epitomizes the image of Christ, or is it characterized by a lifestyle that
disqualifies your witness? Are you a witness whose treatment of people typifies the love of God and
draws people to Christ, or is it so deplorable that it turns them away from Him? With others’ lives riding
on our eyewitness’ account, we must transform our witness.
The Power to Transform the Life of our Witness (How we live)
The first key to transforming our witness in how we live: our lifestyle. One of the things the opposing
counsel does in a trial is to disqualify a witness, which is the reliability of the witness based on their life
or lifestyle. Before we say one thing to anybody about our witness, our lives will speak for us. Before we
get on the stand to witness, our lifestyle has already been there. It’s not us who are on trial; it’s Christ in
whom we are the witnesses. But before we can be an effective witness, our lives are put on trial.
Revelation 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the
kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which
accused them before our God day and night.
Disqualified Witness through our Lives
The challenge we have as Christians representing Christ is we all have sinned.
1John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
Salvation saves us, changes us, and makes us new.
1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness.
Hebrews 10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new.
But this fact may save us, but it doesn’t help our witness. God will forgive and forget, but people will
remember and Satan will accuse.
The Power to transform the lives of our witness
1 Corinthians 6:12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for
me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
I can’t change what I did, but I can transform what I’m doing. I can’t stop the devil from using his gun,
but I can refuse to buy him the bullets.
53 Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be
witnesses unto me …
The power of Holy Ghost is here to transform your life regardless of your past. The power of my witness
is diminished in what I used to do but am strengthened in the fact that I don’t do it anymore. Your witness
may not be perfect but let it have transformed living.
Who is the accuser of the brethren?
According to 2 Cor. 5:17, we are transformed by salvation. What does it make us?
What does Acts 1:8 say the result of the Holy Spirit coming upon us?
Can we justify hating our brother and say we love God? If we do, 1 John 4:20 says we are this?
Matt 5:44 teaches us how to love our brothers. What does it say?
The Power to Transform the Love of our Witness (How we treat others)
The second key to transforming our witness is in our behavior towards each other: our love! We will
never be successful as witnesses of the love of Christ if we don’t demonstrate that love to each other.
Matthew 22:36–39 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou
shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the
first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
Disqualified witness through our lack of love
1 John 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother
whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
This is the reality and challenge of our lives since we’ve been saved. We just don’t like each other; we
don’t like their behavior, their personality, their hurt and betrayal; and so it’s difficult to love them.
Matthew 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.
So we feel justified in our behavior and lack of love; it’s because of theirs.
Matthew 5:38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
54 And so our witness is disqualified because we have a bunch of blind and toothless Christians who can
neither see nor bite.
The power to transform the love of our witness
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
You didn’t have it before, but I’m giving it to you.
witnesses unto me …
Matthew 5:39 But I say unto you, that ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right
cheek, turn to him the other also.
Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that
hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Your witness may not be perfect but let it have transformed love!
The power to transform the testimony of our witness (What we say)
Transformational Witness
Our witness is transformed when the Holy Spirit transforms our lifestyle. Our witness is transformed
when the Holy Spirit transforms our love. Finally, our witness is transformed when the Holy Spirit
transforms our testimony. Earlier we told you how we were put on trial by Satan who accuses us day and
night before God! But we have been given power through our testimony.
Transformed by the power of our plea
When you are put on trial, you can spend time trying to defend yourself or can simply just plead guilty
and ask for the mercy of the court. You see, the truth of the matter is we are sinners; we have sinned; we
are guilty; we are not perfect in our love, not perfect in our walk, prayer, study, praise… So how do you
plead?
“I Plead The Blood!”
Revelation 1:5–6 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead,
and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own
blood, 6And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for
ever and ever. Amen.
55 This is what Robert Lowry was thinking when he penned the hymn:
“What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Oh! precious is the flow; That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know, Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”
Transformed by the power of our testimony
In the ninth chapter of St., John the disciples asked Jesus, who sinned, the man or his parents that he
was born blind. This is how the enemy constantly accuses us; who sinned? “Why am I going through
this? Who Sinned?” “Why did they hurt me? Why did I get fired? Why am I broke? Why me?”
John 9:3 Jesus answered, neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should
be made manifest in him.
It was not about him. It was about his testimony! This is not about you. It’s about your testimony!
Rev. Clay Evans put it to music:
“When I look back over my life, And I think things over
I can truly say that I’ve been blessed, I’ve got a testimony
Sometimes I couldn’t see my way through,
But the Lord He brought me out
Right now I’m free, I’ve got the victory
I’ve got a testimony.”
Victorious through prayer. Seek God’s help in revealing areas where your testimony is disqualified.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to help you be a transformational witness.
56

Getting Past Stuck - Victorious Praise Fellowship Church

Transcription

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