FROM THE HEART OF OUR PASTOR
1. A Spiritual Transformation is a Personal Crisis Experience
In 2 Corinthians, Paul encourages the believers to know that God
is the father of all mercies and all comfort, who comforts us in our
tribulations and sufferings. Paul told them of his own suffering in
Asia where he was burdened beyond measure, above his own
strength, and feared for his life. Paul declared that God delivered
him, as he trusted God’s grace. Paul said in verse 12 of chapter 1,
“we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly
sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God.” Paul
declares that we are triumphant in Christ and we have seen His
glory. We become bold to speak of the Gospel in such a way that
we do not lose heart. We have renounced the hidden things of
shame and the methods of those who are deceitful and spiritually
blind. For we have a treasure in us that the Excellency and success
of our lives will be because of God’s power and not of our own
ability.
We must see our own spiritual rebellion and repent. We do not
allow ourselves to become slaves to materialism or popularity. We
lose the fear of peoples rejection as we find a way to live under the
influence and control of the Holy Spirit. Think back over the past
at the phony and disgusting things we have done to have the respect
or support of someone we wanted to impress; It takes a transformed
person to stand up against the stupid things we hear people say and
do.
Remember that the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against
all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. (Romans 1:18) We
are reminded in Romans 8:6 that to be carnal minded is enmity
against God. When we live in the flesh, without a transformation,
we cannot please God. If we live according to the flesh we will die
spiritually. We must put to death the deeds of he flesh and be led
by the Spirit of God. Our sufferings in this life; the price we pay to
be transformed is nothing when we compare it to eternity. Paul
then ask us to consider in Romans 8:31, what shall we say, if God is
for us, who can be against us?
THE GREATEST NEED IN LEADERSHIP IS TO SUSTAIN IN OUR PERSONAL LIVES A SPIRITUAL
RENEWAL AND TRANSFORMATION—PART II
Our transformation comes out of our own personal crisis because
we are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are
perplexed but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck
down, but not destroyed. We are always ready to live and ready to
die. Therefore we do not lose heart but are sustained and changed
and renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:17, says, “For our light
afflictions, which are but for a moment are working for us a far
more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at
the things which are seen. For the things which are seen are
temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
Transformation demands that we keep our priorities clear and our
values focused and our commitments strong. We must show
attention to what is important and handle our responsibilities with
integrity and accountability. For some today, loyalty means very
little. We often allow ourselves to be distracted for our destiny and
we then become dysfunctional and indulgent. Many today resist
direction and teaching, they resist the preaching of the Word.
I see many today in a personal crisis of faith and commitment.
Even some who claim to be spiritual cannot demonstrate that their
faith transforms their attitudes or significantly affects their
behaviors.
What is needed is a spiritual regeneration and renewal. We need a
personal crisis that transforms us in a significant way. The greatest
enemy of a future hope is the hypocrisy of Christians who do not
live in the Spirit and Mind of Christ. We must be authentic not
phony. Paul taught us to be authentic even in the smallest details of
our lives. We are to seek to please Christ and honor His name. If
we live to please people we are not living as true servants of Christ
who test our hearts.
And who shall condemn us or separate us from the love of Christ
and His joy? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or
famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? No, for in all these things
we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
We are persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor
principalities nor powers, not things present not things to come shall
be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.
Out of our personal crisis can come a true transformation where we
are not conformed to this world but transformed by the renewing of
our minds to prove and follow the will of God. This transformation
causes us to possess real humility and maturity. We reject
hypocrisy and abhor what is evil and go after what is right and pure.
We demonstrate hon