Be Ye Transformed
May 14, 2010
Thoughts from the Pastor’s Desk:
I bring you greetings on this Friday morning. I hope that you have been growing in your relationship with God and seeing more and more Transformation and Sanctification in your personal life and in your relationships as you submit and commit your life to Jesus everyday and walk in His ways.
WE MUST LAY HOLD OF IT OURSELVES!
I have come to realize that we must be actively involved in the work of grace that God desires to bring to our lives. Some seem to struggle with spiritual growth, while others just seem to soar. God has so much abundance for us to walk in, but we must “lay hold” of it ourselves.
Ephesians says that you have to “…put off the former… which is corrupt…” and you must be “renewed in the spirit of your mind” (Eph 4:22-23). There are actions that we must take to acquire the spiritual growth that God has in store for us.
Peter says that we must “…arm ourselves” with the mind of Christ, (1 Peter 4:1) and Colossians goes on to tell us that we must not lie to one another because we have put off the old and have put on the new (Col 3:9-10). I call these the “put offs” and the “put ons”. We must be completely earnest about our spiritual growth and truly desire to live the righteous life that God provides for us, and then we must take action. Other Scriptures also tell us that we must take action and encourage us to get on with it.
When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior we are immediately accounted for as Righteous in the eyes of God. That is justification. Now for the rest of our lives we are responsible for “cleansing ourselves from the filthiness of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God (2 Cor 7:1). That is Sanctification.
Finally, I want to leave you with a few words from Colossians 3:1-2, 2 Cor. 10:3-5 and 2 Peter 1:9-10.
Colossians 3:1-2 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (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;
2 Peter 1:9-10 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
Love you and look forward to seeing you on Sunday evening,
Pastors Lawrence and Lisa Marie Fox, THHMI