Transformed

 

We hear the word "transformed" in church circles all the time, but what does it really mean? For the believer in Christ Jesus it means being changed on the inside. People spend millions of dollars every year to change the appearance on the outside through means of surgery, exercise and cosmetics. Seldom do people think about changing their inward person. What many people do not realize is, God only looks at the inside of a person. "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7) If God looked at the outward appearance of a person then a little shepherd boy named David would not have been king.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17).

When a person confesses their sins to God, God is faithful and just to forgive the sins and at that time God begins to perform an inward work. God does spiritual surgery by replacing the old heart with a new one formed in the fashion of his own Sons heart. In the medical world anti-rejection drugs are given to a patient receiving a heart transplant so that the body will not reject the foreign heart. God does not have to give his patience drugs; instead he gives them the gift of the Holy Spirit to help the person to receive this new heart with thanksgiving.

Some people are not willing to accept the new heart from God. A perfect example of this is the thief next to Jesus on the cross who refused to believe that Jesus was indeed the Son of God. Though he was moments from death and hanging beside his only hope, he chose his own path and died in his sins. The second thief who hanged beside of Jesus did believe and the words of Jesus ring true today "Today you will be with me in paradise".

Ezekiel 11:19 speaks of removing the stony heart of a person which they are born with and replacing it with a heart of flesh which can receive God's blessings. This is an innermost cleansing of ones soul, which only God can perform.

Everyone is born with a diseased heart. A heart which imagines wickedness and invents evil all the daylong. The original heart is cold and hard, fixed on things of the world and ignores the voice of God. But when the Word of God is applied, it pierces deep and separates good and evil. Man is not capable of looking at himself objectively and making spiritual changes. God is a revealer of truth and when the heart is cut man then can examine the two sides and as the Spirit of the Lord draws that man toward truth, the person can then receive God's Son.  

There is no greater feeling than to know that the Spirit of the living God dwells in you and moves through you. No matter what evil a person has done in their life time, no matter how removed from God they have been, God is always there for them loving them and calling out to them to come to repentance.

It is important to stay physically and mentally healthy, however our spiritual health must take priority to accomplish God's purpose in our lives. 

As God performs the miracle of transformation of our hearts there is a few other things that occur. God begins to renew our minds that we will consider him first in all situations. He gives us new ears that we can better hear his voice. "What I tell you in darkness, speak in the light, what is whispered in your ears, proclaim from the rooftops." It is a new voice that you will hear. You will hear a clear voice of love, which will direct your daily path.

 

I hope to finish this message on our next press release. As born again believers consider yourself a new person no longer walking after the lust of this world but running toward the prize for our calling in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14). 

How important are the hands of a believer in Christ? Is it important to allow God not only to change your heart and renew your mind but also give you new hands to do his work? I believe and will illustrate the importance of having Christ's hands working through your hands.

Proverbs 6:16-17 "These six things does the Lord hate: seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood." Hands that shed innocent blood would not be doing the Lord's work. Hands that belong to God will build and construct, not destroy or tear down. King Solomon the wisest of all men said this: "By much slothfulness the building decays; and through the idleness of the hands the house drops through" (Ecclesiastes 10:18). He spoke these words out of wisdom to stay busy with your hands in doing the Lord's service.

It is also important to have both hands working together and not pulling in two different directions. This is unity that only the Holy Spirit can bring. St Matthew 5:30 "And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell." Thus reminds me of the scripture in Galatians 4:"Walk in the spirit and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh."

What did Jesus do with his hands? In answering this we should know what we should be doing since we are to walk after him. St Matthew 8:3 "And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed." Over in Luke chapter 18 verse 15, little children were brought to Jesus and with his hands he touched them and blessed them. St Matthew 15:36, having compassion on the multitude which followed him, Jesus offered up thanks to God, broke bread with his hands fed the people. So we see that the hands of Jesus were instrumental in his ministry.

What is so sunifficant about lifting up our hands to God? For the sinner it symbolizes reaching out in surrender to Jesus. A person is saying "take my life and do with it what you will". It can represent reaching up to God in time of intense prayer. The hands like a lightening rod waiting for the master to strike with energy. It can exemplify, lifting our hearts to God in submission, praise and worship to receive his blessings.

Have you ever heard of the "right hand of fellowship?" This phrase represents brotherhood and sisterhood in the body of Christ. A perfect example is found in Galatians 2:9 "And when James, Cephas (Peter), and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship;" This was a mark of confidence, friendship, and fellowship among the Jews. So here we see hands forming bonds of love and friendship within the walls of the church community.

Our last example of our Christian hands is found in Luke 9:62 "No one who puts his hands to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." I remember my grandfather working his garden with a push plow. These type of plows were difficult to work and hard on your hands. My grandfather would look ahead and work that plow digging a straight line in the garden. I have often thought about how strong his hands must have been. We as Christians are to have strong hands of compassion for it is our great privilege to serve God daily and labor for the sake of Jesus Christ. I personally find joy in the work I have been called to do and my daily prayer to God is "Use me this day Father to reach someone with the message of your Son Jesus Christ and his love."

 Take joy and comfort in the Word of God,

 Dale Thompson

 

 

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