Sermon: God’s Plan of Transformation

GOD’S PLAN OF TRANSFORMATION
2 Corinthians 3:18
A Message by Rev Dr Vincent Leoh on 31 December 2011

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit
The Christian life is one of Transformation !

“Transformed”
1.    metamorphoo = “to change into another form, to undergo a complete change, to transform, to transfigure.”  An inner kind of change that affects character, moral behaviour etc.
2.    metaschematizo = a change in appearance or outward change

The Three Stages of Transformation:There is a beginning, a process, and an end or finished product

I.  WHERE TRANSFORMATION BEGINS
LIBERTY BEFORE TRANSFORMATION2 Cor 3:17-18
Reasons why people don’t change
A hardened mind – Their minds were hardened (2 Cor. 3:14a)
A darkened heart – A veil lies over their heart (2 Cor. 3:15b)

THE GOSPEL BRINGS CHANGE
REPENTANCE AND BAPTISM (Luke 3:3)
Repentance literally means a change of heart or a change of direction
Baptism is the first step in a new life with Christ that is full of changes. Rom. 6:1-14; 2Cor. 5:17

YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN (John 3:7)
When Christ enters your life – He changes your Direction, Desires and Destiny

PRACTICAL CHANGE (Luke 3:4-14)
God wants the changes in our lives to be more than surface changes. God wants to change us from the inside out, so that what we do and say is a true reflection of who we are.

II.  THE PROCESS OF TRANSFORMATION
1. God’s transformation process is a cooperative process.
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord” (2 Cor 3:18; NKJV)
2. God’s transformation process is a continuous progressive process.
“…are being transformed … from glory to glory” (NKJV)YOU ARE I.T. – In Transformation
3. God’s transformation process is a Christ-centered process.
“into his likeness with ever-increasing glory” (NIV)
4. God’s transformation process is a Spirit-empowered process.
“just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
The Christian life is not to be static, but a dynamic process
Transformation means you are not the person you used to be. You may not be who you should be, you may not be who you want to be, but thank God, you’re not who you used to be.

III.  WHERE TRANSFORMATION ENDS
And the biggest change of all…we can live forever…a promise of life everlasting with the God who loves us.
WE SHALL BE CHANGED (1 Thess. 4:13-17)
Because the tomb is empty…because Jesus did indeed rise from the dead…those of us who choose to be Christ followers will get to experience the resurrection…the new life everlasting with God! 1 Cor 15:35-44a And that new, resurrection, body will be amazing. That’s more than just a change. That is a Radical Transformation.

HE HAS TRANSFORMED OUR SPIRITS (Col 1:12-14)
HE IS TRANSFORMING OUR CHARACTER (Col 3:9-10)
HE WILL TRANSFORM OUR BODIES (1Cor 15:51; Phil 3:20-21)

CELEBRATE TRANSFORMATION
There is freedom to be celebrated!2 Cor. 3:17 – “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” So, Celebrate!
“A celebration is a visible validation of God’s faithfulness in the presence of saints and sinners alike. Celebration is “Spirit-filled living that shows deep gratitude for the richness of God’s love and mercy. “

REASONS TO CELEBRATE !(Psalm 145:1-21)
1. CELEBRATION REMINDS US OF WHO GOD IS (:1-13a)
2. CELEBRATION REMINDS US OF WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US     (:13b-17)
3. CELEBRATIONS ARE A WITNESS TO UNBELIEVERS (:18-21)

WHEN HEAVEN CELEBRATES  (Luke 15)
WHEN THE CHURCH CELEBRATES (Psalms 149)

Let’s Celebrate! This is a day of Celebration!! This is a day of New Beginnings!!!