The Transformed Life
.HEAD 1 + Title: The Transformed Life
Text: Selected
Tracing: Preached October 4, 1992 PM at SDCC
.HEAD 1 + INTRO
Through the centuries, men have come up with some pretty silly ideas about what they have to do to really please God: obey minute regulations, fasting, extensive prayer, perfect church attendance, denial of the needs of your body, dietary regulations, generous giving, animal sacrifices, singing songs of worship, etc. etc. etc.
Symeon the Stylite was a man widely known for His “Holiness” during the middle ages. He sat chained in a dark cave for 30 days, not even removing leeches — THAT WAS HOLY! He sat in a hole in his garden, buried up to his neck all through a hot Syrian Summer — THAT WAS HOLY! He sat on a pillar for 30 years and would stretch out his arms in prayer ALL NIGHT LONG — THAT WAS HOLY. People came from miles away to watch him “be holy”. WAS GOD PLEASED? I THINK NOT!
It is true that the person who pleases God WILL BE doing some of these things — but not one of them is a magic button to activate God’s pleasure with your life. In fact, some of them can be subtle traps if we give them too much emphasis. There were times in the history of Israel when they were taking all the “PROPER” steps in their religious service and to their consternation recieved God’s anger instead of His pleasure for it!
What God really wants is not religious service but a TRANSFORMED LIFE!
.HEAD 1 + BODY
.HEAD 2 + The Transformed Life is Superior to Religious Service.
(But of course, the TL INCLUDES Religious Service!) Micah 6:6-8 compare James 1:27
Isa 58 – shows the danger of an over-emphasis on the externals
Let me show you one of the tightropes an alert preacher must walk — For Committed, faithful believers trying to live the TL, things such as faithful attendance, generous giving, quiet times with God, etc are all INDISPENSIBLE for helping them in the process of transformation. Yet, if those things are given too much emphasis, it can lead to misunderstanding and false hope on the part of the immature and uncommitted. I have seen too many people who live rebellious lives 6 days of the week but look to their regular church attendance as evidence of their salvation.
.HEAD 2 + The Transformed Life is the Essence of Worship and Sacrifice. Ro. 12:1-2
Some look for a “Pattern” for NT Worship much like the “Pattern” for OT Religious Service. I don’t think there is any such pattern for our corporate worship — and the reason there isn’t is that WHATEVER we do in our corporate services is not sufficient for TRUE WORSHIP. True worship is, and has always been, the transformation of the life of a believer into what God wants it to be — practicing love, mercy, justice and obedience to God.
Heb. 13:15-16 – confessing Him, doing good, sharing with others are sacrifices.
.HEAD 1 + CONCLUSION
Want to please God? Let Him change you — Surrender today!
.HEAD 1 + COMMENTS
.HEAD 1 + Prepared by Scott L. Purcell Minister of Stokelan Drive Christian Church 1501 Stokelan Drive Malden, MO 63863 (314) 276-2343 Reproduce, modify, and use freely for the glory of God and the Growth of the Kingdom! If these outlines are of some benefit to you, a note, postcard, or phone-call would be most welcome!