"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 Godʼs will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will"
(Romans 12:2 NIV).
"16 But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit" (2 Corinthians 3:16-18 ESV).
Christianity is about TRANSFORMATION.
1. We are transformed by what we CONSUME.
- God designed us to consume air, water, food.
- We will be what we consume.
- There are two major sources of what we consume:
- What we see: "I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar" (Psalm 101:3 NLT).
- What we hear
- NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF WHAT YOU ARE CONSUMING.
2. We are transformed by what we BEHOLD.
Isaiah beheld the glory of God, and it changed him.
- "1 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said: 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!' 4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 And I said: 'Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!’" (Isaiah 6:1-5 ESV).
What are you fixated on?
- Who are your heroes? "My eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in a blameless way is the one who will minister to me" (Psalm 101:6 NASB).
- What is your greatest goal?
- What takes up the most space on your mental hard drive? "For as he thinks within himself, so he is" (Proverbs 23:7 NASB).
As we behold the glory of the Lord, we are changed into His image. "One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD and to meditate in His temple" (Psalm 27:4 NASB).
3. We are transformed by the SPIRIT.
Surrender to the WORK of the Spirit.
"12 Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. 13 For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God" (Romans 8:12-14 NLT).
Surrender to the PROCESS of the Spirit.
- God is allowing your transformation to take place through a process overseen by the Spirit.
- Allow His process to take place.