TRANSFORMATION**INFORMATION**REFORMATION

TRANSFORMATION**INFORMATION**REFORMATION

Lesson for 2:24:17 

Romans 12:1-2   I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

² And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

God wants us to daily lay aside our own desires and follow Him. Putting all our energy and resources at His disposal, and trusting Him to guide us.

We do this out of gratitude, that our sins have been forgiven, and because he has given us a clear path to Heaven.

If we will do that God has good, pleasing and perfect plans for us, His children. He wants us to be transformed people with renewed minds, living to honor and obey Him.

Because He only wants what is best for us, and because He gave his Son to make our new life possible, we should joyfully give ourselves as living sacrifices for His service.

Paul warned Christians not to copy the behavior and customs of the world. That wise Christians decide that worldly behavior is off limits for them.

Our refusal to conform to the worlds values must go even deeper than just behaviors and customs, it must be firmly planted in our minds.

We must let God transform us into a new person. The Holy Spirit will help to change the way we think. He will renew, re-educate and redirect our minds. Then we will truly be transformed.

Romans 8:5-9   ⁵ For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

⁶ For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

⁷ Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

⁸ So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

⁹ But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Paul divides people into two categories: those who let themselves be controlled by their sinful nature and those who follow after the Holy Spirit.

All of us would be in the first category if Jesus hadn’t offered us a way out. Once we say yes to Jesus, we will want to continue to follow Him, because His way brings life and peace.

Daily, we must consciously choose to center our life on God.

Information

Inform… to tell or give knowledge of something to someone… a word of wisdom from the Holy Spirit informs you for direction.

We must have wisdom to use knowledge. Ignorance is the curse of God, knowledge is the wings wherewith we fly to Heaven.

Proverbs 9:10   ¹⁰ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Wisdom begins with knowing God, He gives insight into living: because He created life, to know God you must not only know the facts about Him, you must have a personal relationship with Him.

James 1:5   ⁵ If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

By wisdom, James is talking not only about knowledge, but the ability to make wise decisions in difficult circumstances. Whenever we need wisdom we can pray to God and He will generously supply what we need.

Christians don’t have to grope around in the dark, hoping to stumble upon answers. We can go directly to God and ask Him for wisdom to guide our choices.

2 Peter 1:2-4    Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

³ According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

⁴ Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

God will bless you with His special favor and peace as you come to know Jesus our Lord more and more.

Many believers want an abundance of Gods special favor and peace, but they are unwilling to put forth the effort to get to know Him better through bible study and prayer.

The power to live a godly life comes from God, because we don’t have the resources to be truly godly on our own. God allows us to share in His divine nature in order to keep us from sin, and help us to live for Him.

When we are born again, God by His spirit empowers us with His own goodness, called grace….

                                                                Reformation

Reformation means to make a permanent change in one’s life, when we repent of our wrong doings.

Repent means we are heartfelt sorry for our sins and we will endeavor to not make the same mistakes over and over again.

We must reform to become better Christians. Behave better, abandon things which are corrupt and improve or correct our faults by renewing our minds with the word of God.

To reform we must be informed, we must transform into the children of God in the word of God, under the leading of the Holy Spirit and His guidance, with his anointing.

After we are transformed, then we can be the responsible people God desires as his servants.

Being a transformed Christian, means you have changed for the good, and you will never be the same as your old self.

Philippians 2:13   ¹³ For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

God helps us desire to obey Him and then gives the power to do what He wants. The secret to a changed life is to submit fully to Gods control and let Him work in your life.

When God works in your life you rest; when you work, God rests. When God works in your life it is called grace, when you work it is called the Law. Under the law, you will fail, because it was done in your effort, not Gods.

Gods grace is sufficient in our lives, as we walk holy, because we are allowing Christ in us, the transferring is taking place. When Jesus is being formed in us, it is not what we do, it is what Jesus already did.

RESTING IN GODS GRACE

Lesson for 2: 17:17 meeting


RESTING IN GODS GRACE

Hebrews 4:1-6    Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

² For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

³ For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

⁴ For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.

⁵ And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.

⁶ Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:

Resting in the Lord does not mean quitting your job. It means to not worry about things of this world.

Rest is not in the area of working and laboring. It is a place of confidence and trusting, where you can receive the blessing and the manifestation of what has already been done.

If you just have to labor, then labor in rest. Spiritual warfare is not fighting the devil. Spiritual warfare is maintaining the victory that Jesus made available through the cross. Jesus already defeated the devil at the cross. The good fight of faith maintains our victory. Faith puts a hedge between you and Satan (you do this by claiming the bloodline around you). Therefore, our spiritual warfare is keeping the faith.

We already have the victory, God did not make us to operate out of stress and worry. God created us to operate out of rest.

When you rest in God’s grace, and the world is falling apart, you will have peace. Knowing that your confidence and trust will sustain you.

But how can you rest in God if you don’t know what has already been done?

Romans 15: 4   ⁴ For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

The knowledge of the scriptures in hope effects our attitude toward the present and the future. How is it possible to maintain a godly life without hope?

Scripture was written aforetime for our learning, and also patience and comfort. The more we know about God and what he has done in the past, the greater the confidence we have about what we will do in the days ahead.

Hebrews 11:1   Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Faith is the evidence of things not seen. The substance of things hoped for. Faith is our servant of hope, hope brings trust. God doesn’t need your help, God wants your trust.

Your help doesn’t move the hand of God, it is your trust that moves the hand of God.

Psalms 9: 9-10    ⁹ The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.

¹⁰ And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

The Lord will be a refuge for the oppressed. A refuge in time of trouble. The ones that know His name, or His mercy, will look to Him for help, for He has never yet forsaken those who trust in Him.

In our hurting world, sometimes hope can be hard to hold on to. From the constant negative bad news on our televisions and smart phones, to the difficulties of everyday life in a fallen world, we spend much of our time gathering pieces of sorrows. That can add up to a to incredible weight upon our shoulders.

As believers, we are encouraged to live lives characterized by hope. Biblical hope is not a feeling and it is not wishful thinking.

It is an attitude of holy expectation, based on God’s promises to us found in His word. The saints of the old bible did not live in times that were easier than ours.

They encountered the same problems with prodigal children, unjust political systems, failing health, broken relationships and struggling churches. They rested on these same promises.

Hope is the anchor for your life. It will restore your belief that God has a purpose for our trials, and a plan for our future. It is a promise He intends to keep.

For anyone who is feeling beaten down by life, Gods word will transform your outlook and refresh your heart.

Deuteronomy 6: 5   ⁵ And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

Enter into a life that is fully engaged with God. We are to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. We are to love God and think constantly about His word.

So? How can a person rest in God without hope?

1 Peter 5: 6-7   ⁶ Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

⁷ Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

We often worry about our position and status. Hoping to get proper recognition for what we do. Peter advises us to remember that Gods recognition counts more than human praise.

God is able and willing to bless us according to his timing. Carrying your worries, stress and daily struggles by yourself shows that you have not trusted God fully with your life. Letting God have your anxieties calls for action. Giving Him both large and small struggles; before we can reliably know and understand Gods will, we must know God himself.

If you have not trusted God fully with your life, letting God have your anxieties call for action. Don’t submit to circumstances, but rather submit to the Lord who controls every circumstance.

This year seek out God’s word, and let God demonstrate His power in your circumstances large and small; before we can reliably know and understand Gods will, we must know God himself.

Never doubt in the dark what God told you in the light. True faith is forever connected with hope. Your faith and hope in God develops by renewing your mind in His word, learning about His exceedingly great and precious promises.

Exodus 23:17-20   ¹⁷ Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord God.

¹⁸ Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leavened bread; neither shall the fat of my sacrifice remain until the morning.

¹⁹ The first of the first fruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk.

²⁰ Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.

In the old testament, Israelite men were required to go up to Jerusalem three times each year to worship God at the feast of unleavened bread, the feast of the harvest, and the feast of ingathering.

Why? Because it was a way of keeping hope alive, and keeping their relationship with God fresh and current.

They would offer sacrifices, worship, and take renewed inspiration back to their families and clans.

Under the new covenant of grace, we offer a different kind of sacrifice, it is the sacrifice of praise to God, and not just three times a year, but many times each day.

So how does praise and worship keep hope alive for us? By giving thanks to His name; as we thank God for his blessings of provision and protection in our life, we never lose sight of Him as our hope in all things.

Hope is being confident in God’s grace by faith, and trust. With the expectation of the fulfillment of manifestation through resting in the assurance that God will do what His word says He will do.

Isaiah 55:11   ¹¹ So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.


Let us all endeavor in this new year to seek God and to praise Him with our trust and love.

SPIRITUAL CONFIDENCE “VS” HUMAN KNOWLEDGE

Service from our Friday meeting 1-10-17

SPIRITUAL CONFIDENCE “VS” HUMAN KNOWLEDGE

Deuteronomy 6:10-12   ¹⁰ And it shall be, when the Lord thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not,

¹¹ And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;

¹² Then beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

God is saying, I will bring you into a land, that He promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and he will give to them great and goodly cities which they didn’t build.

And houses full of good things that they didn’t buy, and wells they didn’t dig, vineyards and olive trees that they didn’t plant, and all the food you can eat.

And when this takes place, beware lest thou forget the Lord.

How many times has God blessed people, and they have never given God praise for it? How many prayers have been answered, how many people have been healed, even our salvation and  have we ever given God praise?

Justification, sanctified made righteous, made holy before God.

These blessings and many more, are the houses you didn’t build, the wells you didn’t dig, the vineyards and olive trees you didn’t plant. How many times has God fed you with money that came from the Job that he blessed you with?

Could it be possible that God could give you something that you did nothing to get?

Hebrews 4:1-3   Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

² For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

³ For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

Gods rest is there for the people to enter, the Jewish Christians have been on the verge of turning back from their rest in Christ Jesus, just as the people in Moses day had turned back.

When we trust in our own efforts instead of Christs power, we too are in danger of turning back: away from His rest: he says, any of you should seem to come short of it.

We must put our confidence in what has already been done. People who are confident in themselves only last for a short time, and end up in failure.

We need to let God know that we need Him; so, we won’t do something to come short of His rest, which is nothing more than trusting Him for the things he has already done, and the things He will do in the future.

Psalms 46:10   ¹⁰ Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Sometimes we get so busy until the last thing we need is someone telling us to be still. With a million different things facing us daily, but that is precisely what God is saying.

When you get too busy to rest in God, you’re too busy. Be still long enough to hear what God is saying to you. You may not know this, but God loves to fellowship with you.

James 4:14-16   ¹⁴ Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

¹⁵ For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

¹⁶ But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.

It is good to make plans, but they will disappoint us if we leave God out of them. There is no point in making plans as though God does not exist. Because our future is in His hands.

What would you like to be doing ten years from now, one year from now, or even tomorrow? How will you react if God steps in and rearranges your plans? Plan ahead, but ask Gods guidance, seek Gods will in your planning. He will never disappoint you.

Life is short, no matter how many years we live. Never be deceived into thinking that you have lots of remaining time to live for Christ, or to enjoy your loved ones, or to do what you know you should.

If we continue to live for God today, then no matter when your life ends, or the rapture comes, you will have fulfilled Gods plan for your life.

Hebrews 10: 34-35   ³⁴ For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.

³⁵ Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

The word says: you were thrown into jail, when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with Joy, for you knew you had better things waiting for you in eternity.

We are never to abandon our faith in times of persecution, but we are to show by our endurance that our faith is real. Faith, love and resting in Christ Jesus is trusting God for the manifestation of what has already been done and paid for, through the cross. Our health, prosperity, power over the flesh world and the devil.

Hebrews 10: 36-39   ³⁶ For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

³⁷ For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

³⁸ Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

³⁹ But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

We need to be patient, because after we have lived righteous before God, “which means you have done his will” then you might receive the promise.

The promise here is Gods unmerited favor upon your life, which means God is making things happen in your life supernaturally,

things you couldn’t make happen in the natural.

Another part of the promise made is “in a little while”, he that is promised to come, “which is Christ Jesus” will not tarry.

The just shall live by faith, because it is impossible to please God without faith, but if any man/woman draw back “or doubt and stop believing in the word” God says, my soul shall have no pleasure in him/her.

Proverbs 15: 31-33   ³¹ The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.

³² He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.

³³ The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

We must stay humble before God, we must remain wise and receive Godly instruction, the fear “or reverence of God” is his instruction of wisdom, and before honor from the Lord, is humility.

Proverbs 18:12   ¹² Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.

THROUGH THE EYES OF GOD

Lesson from 2- 5- 17

THROUGH THE EYES OF GOD

We are to live on this planet; in this time and hour; by the law of life that governs the world by the Spirit. Not by the law of sin and death that governs the world of the natural.

1 John 5:1   5 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

When you made Jesus the Lord of your life, you were reborn from death to life. Being born of God entitles you to citizenship in the Kingdom of God.

Luke 12:32   ³² Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

It is God pleasure to give us the Kingdom. You don’t own a part of the Kingdom, you own it all. In verses of scripture Jesus states the primary goal of the Christian life is by seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.

So,© what exactly is the Kingdom of God? Some people think the Kingdom of God is in Heaven, but, the kingdom in its literal understanding is not heaven.

Heaven is the place where God lives, but the kingdom of God involves more than that. The kingdom of God is basically God himself because he can’t be separated from His kingdom.

God is the kingdom. Without Him the kingdom would not even exist.

The kingdom of God includes more than heaven. Just as the kingdom of earth is more than just this planet.

The kingdom of earth includes the atmosphere around it, and the laws that govern it. The kingdom of God is the world of the spirit, and governed by God and the laws of God.

As believers, we operate by spiritual laws. The same laws that govern Gods kingdom.

Romans 8:1-2   8 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

² For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Without Jesus, we would have no hope at all. He declared us not guilty and has offered us freedom from sin, and the power to do His will.

This life-giving spirit is the Holy Spirit. He was present at the creation of the world, and he is the power behind the rebirth of every Christian.

He gives the power we need to live the Christian life.

Knowing we are citizens in the kingdom is great, but without a revelation of righteousness we will never know the reality of our kingdom rights.

Righteousness is right standing with God. It is a free gift that is received by faith, not by feelings. Righteousness has been made manifest by faith in Christ Jesus, it has already come.

Romans 3:21-24   ²¹ But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

²² Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

²³ For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

²⁴ Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Let’s look at this through Gods eyes. God sees the believer through his word; he sees us in Christ Jesus. God doesn’t look at us the way we look at ourselves.

We need to see ourselves the way God sees us. Then we will be able to see our actions as of no condemnation. What God sees is what we really are; made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.

We may not feel like it, or look like it sometimes, but it is true, we are His creation, the boy of Christ, the church in the earth today, one spirit with Christ Jesus, bone of his bone, flesh of his flesh, and filled with his mighty Holy Spirit and power.

Matthew 6:33-34   ³³ But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

³⁴ Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

It is Gods will for us to own the kingdom. Remember what Jesus said, it’s your fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdom. It is Gods will for us to live above the present evil world.

Colossians 1:13-15 + verse 19     ¹³ Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

¹⁴ In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

¹⁵ Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

Verse 19   ¹⁹ For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

Giving thanks unto God, has made us able to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. Who has delivered us from the power of darkness.

The Colossians feared the unseen forces of darkness, but Paul is saying, the true believers have been transferred from darkness to light, from slavery to freedom, from guilt to forgiveness, from the power of Satan to the Power of God.

We have been rescued from a rebel kingdom to serve the rightful King. Our conduct should reflect our new allegiance.

Galatians 4:4-5    ⁴ But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

⁵ To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Jesus was born of a woman, He was human, He was born as a Jew, and was subject to Gods Law and he fulfilled it perfectly. Jesus was a perfect sacrifice because, although he was fully Human, He never sinned.

His death brought freedom for us who were enslave to sin so that we could be adopted into Gods family.

Galatians 4:5-7    ⁵ To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

⁶ And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

⁷ Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Under Roman law an adopted child was guaranteed all legal rights to his father’s property, even if he was formerly a slave. He was not a second class son, he was equal to all other sons.

Biological or adopted in his father’s family as adopted children of God we share with Jesus all rights to God’s resources. As Gods heirs we can claim what He has provided for us as full identity as his children.

John 16:13-15   ¹³ Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

¹⁴ He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

¹⁵ All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Jesus said when the spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth, for he shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever He shall hear. That shall He speak, and he will show you things to come, he shall glorify me, for He shall receive of Mine, and show it unto you.

All things that he the Father hath are mine, therefore said I, that He shall take of mine and show it unto you. This is an open invitation for the spirit of God to show us the very insides of God Himself.

It is a magnificent blessing to be a citizen of the Kingdom of God and have such a close relationship with the father, he is the God of the universe and we are his very own children. He wants to bless and prosper us as His family so that we can go forth in His power, not only to rule over the evil in the world but to feed the world.

Matthew 6:33   ³³ But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Learn to hear the voice of wisdom and rely on God, who is inside you, to guide you in every area of your life.