You Are Not the Only One

I have written one devotional on Transformation already.  However, I do  believe that the subject is not well understood.  Therefore, I have added another one to  the blog.  However, this one has block quotes from Ph.D.’s who are well versed in the subject and are known throughout the country for their writings and the manner in which they have applied their writings to real-life.  They are not just talking heads.  They have planted numerous churches and are teaching at universities as well as the fact that they are experienced pastors.  In short, they have a proven track record of evangelism and worship.

Although physics is an important field of study, not many people would claim it as their favorite subject in school.  All of those theories and equations can be overwhelming, but there are few laws from the world of physics that most find easy to understand.  Like Sir Isaac Newton’s law of motion.  Newton’s first law states that an object at rest will stay at rest unless acted on by an outside force.  Also, an object in motion will stay in motion until something throws it off course.  These are pretty simple concepts.  An object can’t change the state it is in unless something or someone interacts with it.  This same principle applies to believers.  Believers can be objects at rest, inactive and stagnant in our Christian lives.  Although God intended for us to grow, into the likeness of His Son, Jesus, it’s possible for us to fail to grow spiritually.  However, once we begin to connect with the power of the Holy Spirit, he stimulates growth and brings about transformation in our lives.[1]

The Bible says, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” [2]  It is the Holy Spirit that provides us with what it takes to become Great Commission Worshipers. Not church, not just reading the Bible, bot great acts of kindness, not participating in hundreds of charitable activities each year.  We are only transformed into Christ-Likeness through the work of the Holy Spirit.  And when that happens you are fully aware of it.

GREAT COMMISSION WORSHIP IS TRANSFORMATIONAL. 

God through the Holy Spirit is in the business of changing people. The power of the Holy Spirit is in the changing broken people into worshippers of the Living God. He transforms lives from hurting and broken to healed and recreated.   As he transforms us into the likeness of Jesus we are equipped to teach, train, encourage, edify, and share the gospel with the lost so that they can become Great Commission worshipers of the Living God.[3]

WORSHIP AND OBEDIENCE: People are afraid to change. And the older you get, the more this statement is true.  The popular phrase is “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”  The problem is that we’re all desperately broken.  In our attempts to change, we make resolutions and promises we often can’t keep.  In many ways, we try to fix ourselves, but to no avail.  Only the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives can thrust us toward real transformation and Great Commission worship.[4]

A NEW NATURE: If you’re a child of God you experienced the work of the Holy Spirit at salvation.  This was so much more than renovation.  It was more than simply taking something dirty and cleaning it up to make it pretty.  Your regeneration was a total change of your very nature from the inside out. [It is to be noted that if you have not had this transformative process it is difficult for you to relate to it.  You cannot identify how your life has changed since you met the Lord.  It is impossible for you to identify your sinful state before your met the Lord. [Romans 3:23][5]. When someone tells you that they did not have a conversion story because they have seen no change in their life since they accepted Christ then the acceptance was not complete and the Holy Spirit is not at work in their lives. 2 Corinthians 5:17][6]. The old is completely replaced by the new. The Holy Spirit hasn’t merely reshaped or regenerated what was corrupted by sin. The corrupted is gone making room for an entirely new creation with an entirely new nature[7]…

WHY?  Christ is living in me– and because he lives in me the life-long process of transformation takes place every day of my life..

In the same way that the Holy Spirit works at regeneration, he continues to work in [me] to transform [me] into the likeness of Jesus.  Although [I am] a new creation in Christ the Holy Spirit still takes [me] through a process of embracing and living out the character of Jesus [in my life]. [8]

God’s word explains it in this manner, “9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices” (Col 3:9).

Transformation is an ongoing lifelong process, and it can be accomplished only by the Holy Spirit.  When [my] heart remains attentive the Spirit’s transformational work will lead to me experiencing transformational worship and display the Spirit’s work to  world. 1 Corinthians 2:9-13.[9]

 Transformation leads me to long to see others become Great Commission worshippers as well.  Both witness and worship experiences end up being transformational.  I am being renewed in knowledge according to the image of my creator.  Transformation is a lifelong process.

 When we’re transformed into Christ-likeness, our expressions of worship and evangelism are changed.  As we go into the world to fulfill the Great Commission and as we exalt God, we long to see others become Great Commission worshipers as well.  As the same time, our experience of witnessing and worship are themselves transformational.  The Holy Spirit Changes our hearts as we obey Jesus Christ’s call to fulfill the Great Commission and the Great Command. OBEDIENCE IS AT THE HEART OF AUTHENTIC TRANSFORMATIONAL WORSHIP AND EVANGELISM.  One of the ways that we experience transformation is through obedience to the Holy Spirit’s direction.  Ezekiel tells us that God works through the Holy Spirit: [10]We demonstrate our love, our worship of God best when we do what he tells us to do.  When we obey his word, our worship becomes transformational. God desires hearts of obedience.  [11]  It is not the details of worship the brings about change and transformation in our lives.  It is not the songs we sing, the prayers we pray, the sermons we deliver [or listen to], the engaging and moving videos about mission we watch, the offerings we bring, the invitations we give, or the testimonies we share that transforms our lives. TRANSFORMATION COMES only when the Lord receives our songs, prayers, sermons, offerings, testimonies, service, and obedience as sincere, honest, personal gifts of love for him – and to him. IF THE CEREMONY OF WORSHIP TRANSFORMED OUR LIVES, WORSHIP WOULD BECOME MERE RITUAL.  The Holy Spirit-not our actions, service, or formal procedure for worship-transforms our lives.   Actually our acts of worship don’t do anything to change us.  It is during worship that the Holy Spirit begins to break down the bitterness, anger, self-promoting attitudes, and greed in our hearts.  And it’s this kind of transformation that changes a life, family, church, and nation.[12]

My dear friends, I know that transformation of one’s life style is a process and for that process to work effectively it takes absolute obedience. Not whining, quibbling, complaining, and threatening God about what one will and or will not do.  He needs nothing from us, but our obedience. Obedience to the call on our lives and obedience to God’s will for our lives. Why?  Because if we won’t worship him, the rock will (Luke 19:40).  Are you ready to dedicate your life to the work of the Lord?  This is our calling.  This is our purpose!

The Great Commission

¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.^{(P) 17} When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.^{(Q) 19} Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,^(R) baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,^{(S) 20} and teaching^(T) them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you^(U) always, to the very end of the age.”^{(V) (Matthew 28).}

Are you prepared to be obedient to the call of the Lord on your life?  Use the resources that are on these pages to assist you.  Contact us if you need further assistance.  “Go ye therefore into all the world and preach the GOSPEL to EVERYONE!

[1] David Wheeler and Vernon Whaley, Worship and Witness: Becoming a Great Commission Worshiper (Nashville, TN: LifeWay Press, 2012), 38.

[2] (Acts 1:8 NIV) Unless otherwise noted, all biblical passages referenced are in the New International Version (GrandRapids, MI: Zondervan, 2009).

[3] Ibid.

[4] Wheeler and Whaley,  Worship and, 39.

[5] ²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Ro. 2:23

[6] ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come; the old has gone, the new is here! One cannot be a new creation and not know it.]

[7] Wheeler & Whaley, Witness and, 39.

[8] Wheeler and Whaley, Witness and, 40.

[9] Wheeler and Whaley, Witness and, 41-42.

[10]  Ezekiel 36:26-27

[11] Ibid.

[12] Ibid.