July 14, 2013

[This Is Your Life Video]

[Who Are You Becoming? SLIDE]
Continuing followup question - becoming

What does it mean to be a Christ Follower? To follow means that we are going
somewhere it means that this is a journey.

Years ago on the Ellen show an older woman named Gladys from Huston TX called
in to ask Ellen Degenres to move some plants on her set. Ellen moved the plants and
called the woman back heres part of their conversation:

[Ellen VIDEO CLIP]
[Journey SLIDE]
Journey begins somewhere
Angry hurt teen sarcastic tongue not honor Lori she honor
We all have stuff. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, Paul wrote in
Romans chapter 3. The journey starts somewhere. In fact John wrote in 1 John, not
the Gospel but the first of the letters toward the end of the Bible John wrote that if
we claim to be without sin we deceive ourselves. Heres what he says,
[1 John 1:5-2:2 SLIDES]
Thats pretty powerful stuff. If we claim that we have not sinned, we make God out to
be a liar, and Gods word is not within us. BUT I write this to you so that you may
not sin.
[Excuses SLIDE]
How many of us are like Gladys I love Jesus but I love Jesus but I cant stop
talking about all these other people and their problems and have you heard about
the new pastor by the way or the LAST pastor I love Jesus but I get so mad that I
just have to hit somethingor someone I love Jesus but I buy stuff I dont need to
impress people I dont even like I love Jesus but stuff all my frustrations down
with a half-gallon of Ben and Jerrys I love Jesus but I cant stop living in this
sexual relationship that I know is wrong I love Jesus butfill in your blank here
[Wicked Heart SLIDE]
Preacher Charles Spurgeon once said, Everything that is evil lurks within the heart of
everyone
Education restrain, good example hold down but circumstances can reveal the evil
within us. Examples he uses are gunpowder play with it but spark
In a similar fashion to that, sin is originally latent within every one of us

QUOTE: Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately
wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to
give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
(KJV) [SLIDE]

How many of us woke up this morning and went, yep, desperately wicked, thats me?
But thats the human condition. Were born there thats where God finds us. All of
us. But the question today is Who are you becoming? It would be pretty hopeless if
God left us there, lost in our sin, wouldnt it? But in the middle of what I read a few
minutes ago from Johns letter we hear the Grace of God in one verse: 1 John 1:9 if
we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us
of all unrighteousness.

IN this Journey of Faith Christ beckons us to be transformed.

Ohmygosh do you remember transformer toys? [Transformer Toy SLIDE] Theyre
back, of course because of the movies and my Daughter Elie loves them. The
problem is you need a masters degree in engineering to figure out how to get from
robot to car and back again. Or you need to be ten, I guess.
Or you need someone to lead you in the transformation process.

[Romans 12:1-2 SLIDE] Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of
Gods mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to
Godthis is your true and proper worship.
2
Do not conform to the pattern of
this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be
able to test and approve what Gods will ishis good, pleasing and perfect will.
[Transformation SLIDE]
Christ Following is about transformation not the car into a robot of course, though
the process can seem as mystifying sometimes but about you intowell, MORE
YOU. The way God intends you to be. Who are you becoming on this journey of
faith? Where is God leading you?

Where has this journey taken you? How are you different now than you were before?

Are we less selfish, materialistic, sarcastic, divisive than we used to be? What needs
conquered in your life? Guys less ANGRY than we were? For all of us what needs
conquered in our lives? Lust, hate, bitterness, sexual sin, self-righteousness, and on
and on. Bring it to the cross Christ died to deliver you from your sin. If we confess
our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all
unrighteousness.
How have you been transformed?
Life verse high school it was 2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed
away, behold, the new has come. (RSV) [SLIDE] Thats how I learned it from the
old Revised Standard Version of the Bible.
[Who Are You Becoming SLIDE]
If anyone is in Christ they are NEW transformed different. Heres a realization that
it took me 20 years of Christ Following to learn God doesnt do makeovers.
God is not in the "improvement" business. God is in the CREATION business.
Think about that for a minute.
Gods mercies are NEW every morning... (Lamentations 3)
We are a New Creation.
New. Not recycled. Not improved. New. Brand. New.

Thats what transformation is all about. The move from sinner to saint. The move from
The move from broken to whole. The move from old to new. Who are you becoming?

The power of Christ to change lives.
The power of Christ to transform.
The one whose life is overwhelmed with sin can be transformed and renewed.
The one whose life is at a stagnating standstill can be transformed and empowered.
The joy that has been dried up, can be transformed and restored.
Jesus has come, to change things.
Jesus has come, to transform lives.