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Mar 31, 2019

Transformation

Transformation

Speaker: Dennis Gallaher

Series: The Heart of Freedom Fellowship

Category: Sunday Morning

Now to Him who is ABLE to do far more abundantly beyond all we ask or think, according to the power that works within us. Ephesians 3:20

Series: The Heart of Freedom Fellowship Church – The Seven Non-Negotiables 

  • #1 Intimacy with God and Intimacy with others 
  • #2 People are Priority 
  • #3 Seek God's Heart Not Just His Hand
  • #4 Simplicity
  • #5 Work Hard and Give Stuff Away

This week's message: #6 Transformation

Lay your persistent pain in front of this verse. Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.

Able means capable, experienced, willing. It describes Jesus, the Able One! It is the good offer of a holy, creator God to do what we cannot. What will He do? Exceedingly, abundantly, and beyond all that we can ask or all that we could ever think. I Corinthians 2:9 but just as it is written, "things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him."

"Able" - Jude 1:24; 2Corinthians 9:8; Hebrews 7:25; Acts 20:32; Romans 4:21.

Transformation is one of the things that happens in a person’s life that becomes a Christian – the process of going from a believer to a disciple. A disciple is a learner. A disciple is not a title (a title means that you are doing something). A disciple is not someone who knows more than others (teacher or professor), or one who is holier than others (hypocrite), or someone who is full of themselves (Pharisee).

A disciple is best described in the book of Acts 4 through the story of Peter and John. Peter and John were doing what followers of Jesus did – telling others about Him. They were put in jail and the intimidating “mucky mucks” came along and ask Peter a question.

Acts 4:8-13 Peter filled with the Holy Spirit answers them. The Pharisees heard Peter and were amazed and began to recognize him as having been with Jesus. Therefore, the defining mark of a disciple is that they have been with Jesus and their life looks different than others. The defining mark of those that have been with Jesus is that their life overflows with the Holy Spirit.

What does it look like to overflow with the Holy Spirit? Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. Every one of us needs something on this list. Jesus will make us something that we are not. He will give us what we need.

How do I transform? First and foremost, understand and embrace the Holy Spirit. There is an astonishing claim in 2 Corinthians 5:17 If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. All the old stuff is gone – there will be no movies played back in Heaven! “New things” is the promise of God’s Word. When we ask God to forgive us and save us, we are made a new creation, but Jesus’ gifts do not end there. God wants us to go on in life through the power, the gift, the anointing, and the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 3:11 Jesus will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. It’s also found in Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16, and John 1:33. (When we find something in all four gospels then it is very important). Any disciple can baptize another who comes to Christ with water. Baptize means to immerse – under the water. Therefore, Jesus will immerse our lives with the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:11 The Holy Spirit came to baptize the church. Why? It's not just about salvation or having our sins forgiven, and it's not about trying really hard to have a good life, but it's about having the power and anointing and becoming a disciple.

If you want to be with Jesus, then get Jesus to be with you – through the Holy Spirit. It’s fire inside; it’s the fuel that keeps us going; it’s the presence of God that comes to empower us to be like those who have been with Jesus; it’s there for the asking.

How do we get it? He’s a benevolent God who has far more planned for us than we could ever know. Luke 11:13 How much more will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask? The astonishing claim does not end with new life and a new nature but ends with the power to live the life of a true disciple; the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is alive in us when we invite the Holy Spirit to take over our lives. Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Therefore, here are four practical tools for transformation:

1) Receive His grace. Grace arrives when we accept the totality of God’s forgiveness. God’s love, God's grace must master anyone if we want to be transformed.

2) Soak in His Word. Read John 17:17 - The Prayer of Jesus to sanctify us in the truth. His word is life-giving truth. Soak it in by:  

  • Listening to the preaching of the Word
  • Reading the Word
  • Singing the Word
  • Ephesians 5:18-19 Be filled with the Spirit.

3) Take communion as much as possible. Jesus body was broken for us.  Jesus' blood was poured out so I could be forgiven - can't do it without His sacrifice. 

4) Listen for the revelation of the Holy Spirit. He is always speaking. Ask Him what He is saying specifically to me. He will speak through His Word, in our hearts, and through others who have been with Him (devotions).

Go back to Ephesians 3:20. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.

What is that persistent pain, broken relationship, or that something we’ve given up on changing?

What does it look like to lay it before this verse, Ephesians 3:20?

How can you apply the 4 practical tools of transformation to your life? 

What does it look like to overflow with the Holy Spirit?