Sunday Sermon
IT'S MORPHING TIME (Part 2)
Become More Like Christ
Date: May 4, 2008
Speaker: Pastor Gerry Gregoire
Scriptural Reference: Ephesians 5:22
Listen to Audio Sermon

EPHESIANS 5:27
27That He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such things [that she might be holy and faultless].

YOU CANNOT MAKE YOURSELF SPOTLESS AND IRON OUT ALL YOUR WRINKLES ON YOUR OWN. IT TAKES ALL OF GOD. THIS WEEK WE WANT TO LOOK AT THE SCRIPTURAL BACKING FOR THIS MORPHING OR TRANSFORMATION. WE WANT TO LOOK AT HOW EARNEST GOD IS FOR HIS CHURCH TO BECOME SPOT AND WRINKLE FREE. THESE SCRIPTURES ALONE WILL CONVINCE YOU ABOUT WHAT GOD’S WILL IS FOR YOUR LIFE.

GOD IS LOOKING FOR THE REAL THING AND NOT A CHEAP IMITATION CREATED BY HIS CREATURES, A CHURCH THAT REALLY REFLECTS HIS SON IN HIS FULLNESS WITHOUT SPOT OR WRINKLE.

WE LEARNED LAST WEEK THAT IF THERE WAS ANY TIME FOR US TO BE REALLY TRANSFORMED INTO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST, THIS IS THE TIME. THIS WORLD NEEDS TO SEE THE REAL JESUS MANIFESTED IN HIS PEOPLE. THEY DON’T WANT TO SEE SOMEONE ACTING LIKE JESUS AS A RESULT OF SOMEONE TRYING TO CHANGE THEMSELVES UNDER THEIR OWN POWER. THAT MY FRIENDS WILL NOT WORK!

YOU HAVE REJOICED IN YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THINGS REVEALED IN THE SCRIPTURES BUT YOU HAVE NOT HAD A LIVING REALIZATION OF THE THINGS THEMSELVES CONSCIOUSLY FELT IN THE SOUL.

CHRIST IS BELIVED IN, TALKED ABOUT, AND SERVED BUT HE IS NOT KNOWN AS THE SOUL’S ACTUAL LIFE, ABIDING THERE FOREVER AND CONTINUALLY REAVEALING HIS BEAUTY. SOMETIMES YOUR RELIGION IS BUT “TALK” TO WHAT THE EARLY CHRISTIANS ENJOYED, POSSESSED AND LIVED IN.

YOU HAVE FOUND JESUS AS YOUR SAVIOR FROM THE PENALTY OF SIN, BUT YOU HAVE NOT FOUND HIM AS YOUR SAVIOR FROM ITS POWER. YOUR ACTUAL LIFE PLAYS OUT AS ONE DAY OF SINNING AND ONE DAY OF REPENTING AND THIS HAS BECOME WHAT SEEMS LIKE AND ENDLSS CYCLE. FAILURE,VICTORY, FAILURE, VICTORY, ONE DAY YOU ARE IN ONE DAY YOU ARE OUT.

IS THAT WHAT CHRIST HAD IN MIND WHEN HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR YOU? WAS IT TO BE ONLY PARTIAL DELIVERENCE? ALL YOU ARE CONSCIOUS OF IS THIS DAILY STRUGGLE THAT MAKES YOU WEARY WITH CONTINUAL EXPERIENCE OF DEFEAT AND
DISCOURAGEMENT. WOULD CONTINUOUS VICTORY BRING DISHONOR ON HIS NAME?

ALL YOU HAVE HEARD ABOUT IS THAT WHEN HE CAME THE FIRST TIME HE BROUGHT WITH HIM A WORK THAT WAS TO SET YOU FREE. LUKE 4:18-19 18The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me, because He has anointed Me [the Anointed One, the Messiah] to preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity],
19To proclaim the accepted and acceptable year of the Lord [the day when salvation and the free favors of God profusely abound.

YET, YOU MAY STILL FEEL LIKE YOU ARE IN BONDAGE. CAN IT BE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN SET FREE BUT YOU MUST CONTINUE TO WEAR PRISON CLOTHES AND KEEP YOUR BODY IN CHAINS AND SHACKLES? WAS THERE SOMETHING HIDDEN IN WHAT JESUS SAID THAT WAS MEANT TO DEPRIVE YOU OF ITS COMPLETE FULFILLMENT? DID DELIVERENCE FROM OUR ENEMIES MEAN THAT THEY SHOULD STILL HAVE DOMINION OVER US?

THERE ARE SO MANY PROMISES IN GOD’S WORD THAT GUARANTEE US OF THE ABILITY TO BECOME LIKE CHRIST AND HAVE TOTAL VICTORY EVERY DAY. YET, MOST HAVE NOT MOVED IN THAT DIRECTION AND ARE NOT LIVING DAILY AS VICTORIOUS CHRISTIANS. LOOK AT THE FOLLOWING SCRIPTURES THAT BELONG TO US:
2 CORINTHIANS 2:14 14But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph [as trophies of Christ's victory] and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere
PAY ATTENTION TO THE WORDS “ALWAYS TRIUMPH”.

ROMANS 8:37 37Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us.
DOES “MORE THAN A CONQUEROR” MEAN CONSTANT DEFEAT AND FAILURE?
HEBREWS 7:25 25Therefore He is able also to save to the uttermost (completely, perfectly, finally, and for all time and eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He is always living to make petition to God and intercede with Him and intervene for them.

DOES “UTTERMOST” MEAN THE MEAGER SALVATION WE SEE MANIFESTED AMONG US EVERY DAY? OR DOES THE WORD “ALWAYS” MEAN THAT MAYBE HE IS NOT MAKING PETETION OR INTERCEDING FOR US EVERY DAY. WITH JESUS INTERCEDING FOR US , HOW CAN WE LOOSE OR FAIL?

1 JOHN 3:8 8[But] he who commits sin [who practices evildoing] is of the devil [takes his character from the evil one], for the devil has sinned (violated the divine law) from the beginning. The reason the Son of God was made manifest (visible) was to undo (destroy, loosen, and dissolve) the works the devil [has done].
CAN IT BE THAT JESUS FAILED IN HIS MISSION OF DESTROYING THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL? MAYBE WHEN HE GOT TO EARTH AND SAW THE MESS THAT MAN HAD GOTTEN HIMSELF INTO HE REALIZED THAT IT WAS TOO MUCH TO TURN AROUND.

BROTHERS AND SISTERS, SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES AND COLLECT EVERY ANNOUNCEMENT OR DECLARATION CONCERNING THE PURPOSE AND OBJECT OF HIS SUFFERING AND DEATH ON THE CROSS. JESUS HIMSELF SAID IN JOHN 10:10 10The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

YOU CAN SEE FROM THAT SCRIPTURE ALONE THAT JESUS WANTED TO SAVE YOU NOW IN THIS LIFE FROM THE POWER OF SIN SO THAT YOU MAY “ENJOY LIFE”.

HOW CAN YOU ENJOY LIFE NOW WITH OLD SLEW FOOT BUGGING AND LAUDING IT OVER YOU EVERY DAY. COMMON SENSE TELL US THAT JESUS DID SOMETHING FOR US TO ENJOY LIFE TO THE FULLEST, BUT IT CAN ONLY BE DONE WHEN HAVE BEEN TRULY TRANSFORMED AND REALIZE THAT YOU DON’T HAVE TO FIGHT FOR EVERY VICTORY BECAUSE HE SAID IT WAS FINISHED.

LIKE 1: 69-75 69And He has raised up a Horn of salvation [a mighty and valiant Helper, the Author of salvation] for us in the house of David His servant--70This is as He promised by the mouth of His holy prophets from the most ancient times [in the memory of man]--
71That we should have deliverance and be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who detest and pursue us with hatred;72To make true and show the mercy and compassion and kindness [promised] to our forefathers and to remember and carry out His holy covenant [to bless, which is all the more sacred because it is made by God Himself],73That covenant He sealed by oath to our forefather Abraham:
74To grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our foes, might serve Him fearlessly75In holiness (divine consecration) and righteousness [in accordance with the everlasting principles of right] within His presence all the days of our lives.

THIS WAS SPOKEN BY ZACHARIAS WHEN HE WAS FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. NOW, HOW MUCH DOES GOD WANT YOU EMPOWERED?
LOOK AT WHAT THE ANGEL TOLD JOSEPH WHEN ANNOUNCING THE BIRTH OF JESUS.

MATTHEW 1:21
21She will bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus [the Greek form of the Hebrew Joshua, which means Savior], for He will save His people from their sins [that is, prevent them from failing and missing the true end and scope of life, which is God].
CAN THERE BE ANY DOUBT WHY JESUS WANTS YOU TRANSFORMED AND ABLE TO MANIFEST THE POWER THAT BELONGS TO THE TRUE SERVANTS OF GOD WHO HAVE CONSECRATED THEMSELVES HOLDING BACK NOTHING.

LOOK WHAT PAUL SAYS TO TITUS IN TITUS 2:12-14 2It has trained us to reject and renounce all ungodliness (irreligion) and worldly (passionate) desires, to live discreet (temperate, self-controlled), upright, devout (spiritually whole) lives in this present world,
13Awaiting and looking for the [fulfillment, the realization of our] blessed hope, even the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One),14Who gave Himself on our behalf that He might redeem us (purchase our freedom) from all iniquity and purify for Himself a people [to be peculiarly His own, people who are] eager and enthusiastic about [living a life that is good and filled with] beneficial deeds.

PAUL WAS TALKING ABOUT GOD’S GRACE.
HE FURTHER STATES , IN CONTRASTING THE LIVES OF BELIEVERS AND NON-BELIEVERS, IN EPHESIANS 4:19-22 19In their spiritual apathy they have become callous and past feeling and reckless and have abandoned themselves [a prey] to unbridled sensuality, eager and greedy to indulge in every form of impurity [that their depraved desires may suggest and demand].20But you did not so learn Christ!
21Assuming that you have really heard Him and been taught by Him, as [all] Truth is in Jesus [embodied and personified in Him],22Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion;
COL 2:9-10 9For in Him the whole fullness of Deity (the Godhead) continues to dwell in bodily form [giving complete expression of the divine nature].10And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead--Father, Son and Holy Spirit--and reach full spiritual stature]. And He is the Head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power].

WE ARE COMPLETE AND HAVE ALL THAT WE NEED TO BE LIKE CHRIST.
ROMAN 6:1-4 1WHAT SHALL we say [to all this]? Are we to remain in sin in order that God's grace (favor and mercy) may multiply and overflow?2Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer?
CATCH THE WORDS DIED TO SIN.
3Are you ignorant of the fact that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?4We were buried therefore with Him by the baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious [power] of the Father, so we too might [habitually] live and behave in newness of life.

WE SHOULD WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE BECAUSE WE ARE NOW DEAD TO SIN. DO YOU THINK THAT GOD WHO HATES SIN IN THE SINNER, WILL TOLERATE SIN IN THE BELIEVER. HE HAS ARRANGED THE PLAN OF SALVATION IN SUCH A WAY AS TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR THOSE WHO ARE SAVED FROM THE GUILT OF SIN TO FIND DELIVERENCE FROM ITS POWER.

GOD WILL NOT LET SIN RULE OVER HIS MASTERPIECE ------- MAN. THINK ABOUT THE INFIMITENESS OF GOD’S POWER FOR DESTROYING THAT WHICH IS CONTRARY TO HIMSELF. WHO CAN BELIEVE THAT THE DEVIL MUST ALWAYS STAND AND PREVAIL SINCE HE HIMSELF IS THE EPITOME OF SIN. JOHN 8:34 34Jesus answered them, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, Whoever commits and practices sin is the slave of sin.

LOOK WHAT ISAIAH SAID JESUS WOUL DO FO US IN ISAIAH 53:4-5 4Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains [of punishment], yet we [ignorantly] considered Him stricken, smitten, and afflicted by God [as if with leprosy].
5But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole.

COULD IT BE THAT ISAIAH HEARD GOD INCORRECTLY?
THESE GREAT SCRIPTURE BRING US GREAT TRUTHS FROM GOD HIMSELF, YET MANY IN CHURCHES HAVE LOST SITE OF THIS REALITY.

OUR MOUTHS ARE FILLED WITH SONGS OF TRIUMPH AND VICTORY BUT OUR LIVES REFLECT THE DIRECT OPPOSITE. ASK GOD IF ALL THESE SCRIPTURE ARE TRUE. ASK HIM TO OPEN YOUR EYES THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THE TRUTH IN EPHEIANS 1:19-23
19And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength,20Which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His [own] right hand in the heavenly [places],
21Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and in this world, but also in the age and the world which are to come.22And He has put all things under His feet and has appointed Him the universal and supreme Head of the church [a headship exercised throughout the church],
23Which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all [for in that body lives the full measure of Him Who makes everything complete, and Who fills everything everywhere with Himself].

ENTERING INTO THIS TYPE OF LIFE REQUIRES CONSECRATION AND FAITH. CONSECRATION BEING THE FULL RELEASE OF YOUR BODY MIND AND SPIRIT INTO THE HANDS OF GOD. HIS WILL FOR YOU IS PERFECT, BUT MANY CHRISTIANS ARE AFRAID TO ENTER THIS LIFE BECAUSE THEY FEEL THAT GOD WANTS THEM TO BE MISERABLE. THEY FEEL THAT WAY BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY HAVE SEEN IN OTHERS WHO HAVE TRIED TO DO IT BY THERE OWN STRENGTH. WE WERE SAVED BY FAITH AND YET WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO LIVE AND ACHIEVE IN THE FLESH WHAT CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED BY GOD’S SPIRIT WORKING IN US.

NEXT TIME WE WILL MINISTER ON HOW TO MOVE INTO THIS TYPE OF CONSECRATION AND FAITH THAT PEOPLE HAVE MISSED FOR YEARS. YOU WILL BE AMAZED AT HOW SIMPLE IT REALLY IS AND YOU WILL WANT TO ENTER IN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.