Sunday April 19, 2009

How Do We Experience Transformation?
2 Corinthians 3:13-18

I. Introduction

Believing the Bible

A certain pastor observed a little girl standing outside the preschool Sunday school classroom between Sunday school and worship, waiting for her parents to come and pick her up for "big church." The pastor noticed that she clutched a big storybook under her arm with the title "Jonah and the Whale."

Feeling mischievous, he knelt beside the girl and asked, "What's that you have in your hand?"

"This is my storybook about Jonah and the whale," she answered.

"Tell me something," he continued, "do you believe that story about Jonah and the whale?"

The girl said, "Why, of course I believe it!"

The pastor inquired further, "You really believe a man can be swallowed up by a big whale, stay inside him all that time, and come out okay?"

She declared, "Yes! This story is in the Bible, and we talked about it in Sunday school today."

Then the pastor asked, "Can you prove to me this story is true?"

She thought for a moment and then said, "Well, when I get to heaven, I'll ask Jonah."

Finally the pastor asked, "What if Jonah's not in heaven?"

The girl put her hands on her hips and sternly declared, "Then YOU can ask him!"

—Rich Tatum, Carol Stream , Illinois ; source unknown

In preparation for my three month sabbatical, I felt it was vital to restate what Grace Christian Fellowship is all
about – who are we as the people of God and what are we supposed to be doing?

First, we are to be passionate worshippers of God.

Second, grounded in our love for God we intentionally reach out with the love and message of God to others.

Third, we seek to joyfully serve one another in Christian service.

More recently, we have been speaking about transformational community, which shows the close relationship between
our last two purposes: loving fellowship (genuine or authentic community is another term I personally like) and
life-transforming discipleship

So, two weeks ago I had us looking at: What does the transformed life look like?

Today, I would like to take a few minutes and look at what it takes to experience transformation.

II. How Do We Experience the Transformed Life?

In a vision statement I created years ago I said, “We are committed to being a transformational community.”

I followed this up with another statement:

“As we encounter God through corporate and private worship, prayer, fellowship and the reading of the Scriptures, we
will be transformed from those who are hurting, depressed, frustrated and hopeless to those who are filled with the Holy Spirit, love, joy, peace, hope and faith.”

“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18, NIV)

Now you may expect me to give you some major insight on how to be changed from glory to glory, but the truth of the matter is that we do not need some new revelation about how to grow spiritually.

We just need to do the things we already know to do.

This makes for a fairly brief message today, but let me focus on the one foundational issue that must be in place before
you will be able to move forward.

In our passage today it says, “And we, who with unveiled faces…”

What does it mean to have unveiled faces before God? First, let's look at the passage in context:

“We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. 14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the
old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we, who with
unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory,
which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:13-18, NIV)

Essentially, this means we have nothing between us and God.

The passage goes on to say, “…we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:2, NIV)

If you want to fully experience the wonderfully transforming work of God in your life you have to be brutally honest before God, with yourself and with others.

No secrets, no pretense with God, but a full-blown surrender of your heart and mind to Jesus Christ. We yield
everything – the good, the bad, and the ugly!

We stop playing our religious games; we stop trying to impress others with our gifts and ministries. We no longer try to
hide like Moses did behind the veil of religious activity. We lay our lives down before the Lord.

What did Jesus say? “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. 25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it… 27 For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds.” (Matthew 16:24-27, NLT)

Do not kid yourself, the transformed life does not begin with us trying to change our outward behavior – this is the emphasis of religion. The transformed life begins with a change of heart – a surrendering of our lives to Jesus.

“Knowing the correct password — saying ‘Master, Master,' for instance — isn't going to get you anywhere
with me. What is required is serious obedience — doing what my Father wills. I can see it now — at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, ‘Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons,
our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.' And do you know what I am going to say? ‘You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don't impress me one bit. You're out of here.'” (Matthew 7:21-23, The Message)

I know this sounds harsh, but I have a genuine concern that some of the most religious-looking people really do not know God. It is still all about them and not about being fully conformed and surrendered to God through Jesus Christ.

In 2 Corinthians Paul continues saying, “For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.” (2 Corinthians 4:5, NIV)

Going back to our passage in Matthew most versions have Jesus using the phrase, “I never knew you.”

You may have engaged in all this religious activity, but you never knew me! And how do we get to know someone? (Honesty, truthfulness, etc. – let people respond)

The point is, it all begins with a genuine desire to give yourself completely to God – engaging honestly with Him concerning your sins, struggles and victories.

Now once you have surrendered and put your trust fully in Jesus Christ, how do you behold His glory, which brings about the change we so desperately need?

III. Application

We encounter God through corporate and private worship, prayer, fellowship and the reading of the Scriptures.

I told you this is nothing new, but like Peter (2 Peter 1:12 -13) I will remind you once again of these things.

First, remember that we are to engage in all of things in groups and as individuals. Neither the one nor the other is sufficient unto itself – we need to do both.

A. Worship

When the veil is taken away and we are able to enter into the holy presence of God we will be changed.

“Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of your presence, Lord.” (Psalms 89:15, NLT)

If we walk and live in God's presence He “makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.” (2 Corinthians 3:18, NLT)

You see worship is like hanging out with God and we become like those we hang out with.

B. Prayer

Prayer is similar to worship, but involves more of conversation with God.

“I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. 5 Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.” (Psalms 34:4-5, NLT)

C. Fellowship

Often we do not see the value of gathering with other believers, but Scripture is clear that God transforms us in the
context of fellowship.

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider
how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:23-25, NIV)

D. Read and Study the Scriptures

“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” (Hebrews 4:12-13, NLT)

The Bible shows us who God is and who were are in Him.

In conclusion – it all begins with a heart fully surrendered to God. Not necessarily fully perfected, but certainly f
ully surrendered.

With hearts surrendered to God through Christ we come to the Lord with unveiled faces and engage Him through corporate and private worship, prayer, fellowship, and Scripture reading.