Transformed Through Spiritual Renewal
Speaker: Pastor Delroy Bryan
Introduction:
At this time of the year many people stop to evaluate the past year while looking toward the next. In doing so we have to be honest with ourselves, did we walk with God, did we become complacent in giving God ‘just enough’. To achieve spiritual renewal, we need to think differently, act differently, make a change in our behaviour.
Renewal means that we must seek to achieve to reach new heights for God, to make new commitments. If we keep ‘doing what yuh doing, you will keep on getting what yuh getting’. We must actively make a change in how we are serving God.
God has called us to be spiritually renewed: THROUGH A TRANSFORMED LIFE
As children of God we must always looking forward and be transformed to the extent that we are becoming more like Jesus Christ.
In Romans 12:1 Paul says that there is an expectation of us as children of God.
Romans 12:1
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.
Transformation means that there must be a change, something must be different. When we turned to Christ we changed, we became new.
The word transformation is derived from the Greek word ‘metamorpho’, moving from one form to another, not patching up or fixing up.
The renewing of our minds must mean that there is a change in our actions.
When we are transformed in Christ we must see other persons as someone for whom Christ died and as such the value of everyone we meet is amplified. We must see people differently.
A perfect example of transformation is the apostle Paul, he sought out to kill and destroy Christians by any means, however he became a different person when he had an encounter with JESUS. He moved from being a persecutor of the church to a defender of the church.
2. God has called us to be spiritually renewed: TOGETHER
When we all experience spiritual growth then the collective unit must progress, must growth from strength to strength.
Every institution is as strong as its weakest link.
There is none of us that is more valuable to God than any other believer. We all have a role to play to glorify God and to edify the body of Christ.
A fragmented body is weak, together we are stronger.
As we are renewed we must be renewed together
Romans 12:4-5
For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Like the masterfully crafted human body as members we cannot exist on our own, we must be one body working and growing in unison. There must be unity of spirit and purpose.
We need to continue to encourage each other to maintain the unison, hence we should not forsake coming together to build each other.
3. God has called us to be spiritually renewed: IN OUR TRUST
For renewal to take place there has to be trust, this helps us to build stronger relationship with Jesus and each other as members of the body of Christ.
Like Peter we each must learn to trust Jesus completely. We must believe that he has come to give us life and to give it more abundantly.
We must learn to take Jesus at his word and trust that he is able and willing to do for us far above what we even deserve or can think or imagine.
If we cannot trust our brothers and sisters in the Lord, then who can we trust? We should not be enemies, we are children of the most High and as such we must have each other’s interest at heart.
Challenge: Will you answer the call to be spiritually renewed? What is holding you back you’re your renewal? What is preventing your transformation?
Scripture References
Romans 12:1-21
James 4:11
James 5:16
1 Corinthians 14:26
1 Peter 4:9-10
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