How to be Transformed

How to be Transformed

By the Rev. Brook Batchelor

November 13, 2022

Malachi was written about 400 years before Jesus.

Malachi 3:13–4:6 (NIV84)

13 “You have said harsh things against me,” says the Lord.

“Yet you ask, ‘What have we said against you?’

14 “You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the Lord Almighty? 15 But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly the evildoers prosper, and even those who challenge God escape.’ ”

Many people no longer know what it means to be blessed by God (see Deut 28), but are just arrogant.

Malachi knows that judgement is coming. That makes the righteous , (see Psalm 98:9) but those on the outside will be in danger.

16 Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name.

17 “They will be mine,” says the Lord Almighty, “in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. 18 And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.

4    “Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the Lord Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them.  2 But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall. 3 Then you will trample down the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I do these things,” says the Lord Almighty.

The sin nature is like the force of , which always pulls us down.

            It is .

Romans 8:5–6 (NLT)

5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.

On your own, you can only jump and fall back, you can’t .

The Good News of Jesus

• On the Cross, Jesus won a battle over sin and death
  • He became sin
  • Sin was put to death
  • And death, the penalty for sin, was shown to be defeated when Jesus rose from the dead
• All the victory and benefits thereof have been extended to all of us
  • All we have to do is trust that He’s the Savior – we’re not
  • And he can change us – we can’t
• When you do trust, and you ask Him to, the Spirit of God will give you new life
  • You’re given a new nature that is free from the gravity of sin – you’re no longer a slave to the sin nature
• Then you have to learn to fly

• How do we do that?

Romans 12:2 (NLT)

2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

 It all starts with your renewing your , your thinking.

How to be Transformed

#1 – “Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you .”

God’s will for you is:

• “Good”       – it’s as God intended it to be (the right thing in the right place at the right time, beneficial, helpful)
• “Pleasing” –
• “Perfect”   – , complete, not lacking anything

#2 – “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world,” but change the way you act.

Romans 8:12–13 (NLT)

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.

• So choose life!
• God has planted new life in you like a , and it has to grow up through the dirty old sinful nature and break out

Philippians 2:12–13 (NIV84)

12 Therefore, my dear friends, …continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Choose to place your trust in Jesus, then take some steps to change the way you think and act

• Memorize and meditate on God’s ways, so you can put them into practice

Romans 12:2 (NLT)

2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

• Think about each word, why each word is important

If you realize there’s something specific that God wants to change in you, find a scripture about that thing and memorize it

• Most bible apps have a keyword search

2 Peter 1:10-11 (NLT2)
10  So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. 11  Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

[Please be sure to email your notes to yourself!]