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The Process of Spiritual Transformation

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Greek word 'cosmos,' 'portrays human society as a system ... 'The world system is a dark ... impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: The Process of Spiritual Transformation


1
The Process of Spiritual Transformation
  • Part Four
  • Gaining Wisdom for the Journey Persevering in
    Grace

2
  • Dangers on the journey home
  • The world
  • The flesh
  • The devil

3
  • What do we mean by the world?
  • Not the earth
  • Not the mass of humanity in general
  • Greek word cosmos, portrays human society as a
    system warped by sin and tormented by beliefs,
    desires and emotions that surge blindly and
    uncontrollably. (EDBW, 639)

4
  • The world system is a dark system (Eph. 6.12),
    operating on basic principles that are not of God
    (Col. 2.20 1 Jn. 2.16). The entire system lies
    under the power of satan (1 Jn. 5.19) and
    constitutes the system from which believers are
    delivered by Christ (Col. 1.13-14). (EDBW, 639)
  • The world is hostile to God

5
  • Do not love the world or the things in the
    world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the
    Father is not in him. For all that is in the
    worldthe desires of the flesh and the desires of
    the eyes and pride in possessionsis not from the
    Father but is from the world.

6
  • And the world is passing away along with its
    desires, but whoever does the will of God abides
    forever. (1 Jn. 2.15-17, ESV)

7
  • Loving the world is a form of idolatry that
    quenches love for God and neighbor and corrupts
    the soul
  • Love of the world is widespread in the American
    church but rarely recognized as a problem or
    seriously questioned.

8
  • Many in the church appear to be living much more
    for the American Dream than Jesus and the kingdom
    of God
  • This is a major hindrance to growing in
    Christlikeness and helps explain why poll after
    poll shows that the lives of believers differ
    little from non-believers

9
  • What is the Flesh
  • A synonym for the fallen nature, or what a human
    being is like apart from God
  • Apart from God, humanity is characterized by a
    complex web of thoughts, desires, values and
    actions that are in opposition to Gods intended
    plan for us. (EDBW, 284)

10
  • The flesh is profoundly self-centered and gives
    rise to a wide array of sinful thoughts,
    attitudes, desires
  • Now the works of the flesh are evident sexual
    immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry,
    sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger,
    rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy,
    drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.
    (Gal. 5.19)

11
  • I warn you, as I warned you before, that those
    who do such things will not inherit the kingdom
    of God. (Gal. 5.19)
  • As we saw in Lecture 3, only as we daily walk in
    the Spirit can escape the downward pull of the
    flesh

12
  • The self-sins are especially subtle
  • Self-righteousness
  • Self-pity
  • Self-confidence
  • Self-sufficiency
  • Self-admiration
  • Self-love
  • And many others

13
  • We are usually blind to self-sins until the
    searching light of the Holy Spirit exposes them
    to us.

14
  • The Devil is also called
  • satan (Mt. 4.10)
  • the evil one (1 Jn 2.13)
  • the tempter (Mt. 4.3),
  • the enemy (Mt. 13.39)
  • father of lies (Jn. 8.44)
  • deceiver (Rev. 12.9)
  • the prince of the power of the air (Eph. 2.2)
  • Apollyon (Rev. 9.11)
  • Ruler over army of evil spirits (Mt. 12.25)

15
  • The picture is one of unimaginable meanness,
    malice, fury and cruelty directed against God,
    against Gods truth and against those to whom God
    has extended his saving love. (Concise Theology,
    J.I. Packer, 69)

16
  • We are warned
  • to beware of the schemes of the devil (Eph. 6.11)
  • that he prowls around seeking to devour believers
    (1 Pet. 5.8)
  • to resist him when he attacks us (Jas. 4.7, 1
    Pet. 5.9 )
  • We are encouraged
  • Resist the devil, and he will flee from you
    (Jas. 4.7)

17
  • C.S. Lewis says, There are two equal and
    opposite errors into which our race can fall
    about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their
    existence. The other is to believe, and to feel
    an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.
    (Screwtape Letters, Preface)

18
  • Today growing number of people no longer believe
    what the Bible teaches about the devil as a
    personal being, but rather view the Devil or
    Satan as merely symbols of evil.

19
  • 57 of adults say the Devil is not a living being
    but is a symbol of evil
  • 46 of born-again Christians deny Satans
    existence
  • 64 of Catholics say the Devil is non-existent
    and only a symbol of evil (Barna Research, 2007)

20
  • The devil dominates the world system, and
    therefore also influences human cultures, so
    that, overtly or covertly, they are anti-God, to
    a greater or lesser degree, and thus exert a
    corrupting influence on people

21
  • The Devil also exploits the believers flesh
    especially areas of special weakness or
    vulnerability to ensnare them, neutralize them
    for God and reclaim their souls, if possible
  • If we would deal with the flesh, it would put the
    Devil out of business over night.

22
  • Thus Paul warns believers in Ephesus
  • "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the
    strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of
    God, that you may be able to stand against the
    schemes of the devil.

23
  • For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood,
    but against the rulers, against the authorities,
    against the cosmic powers over this present
    darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in
    the heavenly places.

24
  • Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that
    you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and
    having done all, to stand firm." (Ephesians
    610-13, ESV)

25
  • Peter does the same
  • "Be sober-minded be watchful. Your adversary the
    devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking
    someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your
    faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering
    are being experienced by your brotherhood
    throughout the world." (1 Peter 58-9, ESV)

26
  • We are called to persevere/endure in our journey
    to the Celestial City, the Heavenly Jerusalem,
    battling as we go with the world, the flesh and
    the Devil in the Spirits power.

27
  • It not easy
  • Jesus warns, in this world you will have
    tribulation (Jn. 16.33)
  • Paul says, ...through many tribulations we enter
    the kingdom of God...(Acts 14.22)
  • And, All who desire to live a godly life in
    Christ Jesus will suffer persecution (2 Tim.
    3.12)

28
  • Paul likens it to a running a race
  • "Do you not know that in a race all the runners
    run, but only one receives the prize? So run that
    you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises
    self-control in all things.

29
  • They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we
    an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly I do
    not box as one beating the air. But I discipline
    my body and keep it under control, lest after
    preaching to others I myself should be
    disqualified." (1 Corinthians 924-29, ESV)
  • Commitment and discipline are but it is a race
    well worth running

30
  • Endurance is also essential
  • " Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great
    a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every
    weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let
    us run with endurance the race that is set before
    us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter
    of our faith, who for the joy that was set before
    him endured the cross, despising the shame, and
    is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

31
  • Consider him who endured from sinners such
    hostility against himself, so that you may not
    grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle
    against sin you have not yet resisted to the
    point of shedding your blood." (Hebrews 121-4,
    ESV)

32
  • Paul finished well and so can we.
  • "For I am already being poured out as a drink
    offering, and the time of my departure has come.
    I have fought the good fight, I have finished the
    race, I have kept the faith.

33
  • Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of
    righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous
    judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only
    to me but also to all who have loved his
    appearing." (2 Timothy 46-8, ESV)

34
The Consummation
  • Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the
    first heaven and the first earth had passed away,
    and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city,
    new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from
    God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

35
  • And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
    Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.
    He will dwell with them, and they will be his
    people, and God himself will be with them as
    their God. He will wipe away every tear from
    their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither
    shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain
    anymore, for the former things have passed away.
    (Revelation 211-4, ESV)

36
  • To paraphrase C.S. Lewis,
  • For those of us who overcome, this is only the
    beginning of the real story. All our lives in
    this world have only been the cover and title
    page. Now at last we begin Chapter One of the
    Great Story which no one on earth has read
    which goes on forever in which every chapter is
    better than the one before. (The Last Battle)
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