Calvary Baptist Church - Canyon Texas - David Crump, Pastor

This Changes Everything – Inside and Out

The Gospel is a powerful message.

God is a powerful Father.

Jesus is a powerful Savior.

The Spirit is a powerful Sanctifier.

Yet there is a struggle in this life to be what I want to be, what I am called to be.

I am not what I ought to be,

I am not what I want to be,

I am not what I hope to be in another world;

but still I am not what I once used to be,

and by the grace of God I am what I am.

- John Newton

Romans 12:1-13

v. 1 – There is a all-encompassing transformation in the life of the believer.

“Therefore,” because of what Jesus has done and the grace and love he has shown me,

I offer my whole self to him.

Even my body is no longer mine, it is his.

I see myself as belonging to him, like

I am living a life of sacrifice to the one who sacrificed himself for me.

v. 2 – There is an internal transformation of our minds.

How is your mind transformed?

Christians can be really good about managing the externals.

We change our behavior, but God calls us to something much deeper.

Change your mind about that, not just your behavior.

Changing your behavior rarely lasts, and causes you to look down on others.

You must be in His word. Read, meditate, journal about his word.

Pray, ask him to change your mind.

Ask him to give you his thoughts about what you’re struggling with.

This transformation helps us know God’s will.

Want to know God’s will?

Allow him to change your mind.

If you want to know his will, you have to know how He thinks, what He values.

You have to think, “What would God think about this?”

1 Corinthians 6:18-20 – God must change how we view sex.

v. 3 - There is an external transformation of our relationships.

– from making relationships about us to making them about Christ in service to each other.

v. 3 – It begins with humility, recognizing that this really isn’t about us.

Even our relationships are really not about us.

Our relationships are about the Great King that redeemed the whole body of us.

We all the time battle with this, trying to make things about us;

trying to make relationships about feeling important or significant.

No, it begins with imitating Jesus’ humility: “this is not about me, but about the Father.”

vv. 4-5 – We are in a body, not living on our own.

We belong not just to God, but to a body of God’s people.

The Christian life cannot be lived independently.

We are meant to live in close relationships with each other.

vv. 6-8 – God gives us gifts to help build up the body.

We are commanded to faithfully use our gifts to help the body function.

We are God’s representatives to the people around us.

vv. 9-13 – The body of Christ looks like this: love, devotion, honoring, zealous, joyful, hopeful, patient, faithful, generous.

God is doing his work of change in us.

We need to see ourselves within the framework of what He’s doing.

We need to offer ourselves to Him and His great plan of redemption.

We need to a change of our minds to his view in holiness and purity.

We need to see our relationships as opportunities to love him by serving others.

Genesis 50:15-21

Abraham – Isaac – Jacob (Israel) – 12 sons would be the 12 tribes of Israel.

Joseph was his father’s favorite.

This made his brother’s jealous.

God gave him dreams that he would rule over his brothers.

This made his brother’s more than jealous, they became furious.

They conspired to kill him by throwing him down a cistern.

But after they did, they became afraid of having his blood on their hands, so they pulled him out and sold him into slavery to another people.

I see Jesus being revealed on every page of the Scriptures – because this book and this world is all about him.

Joseph is a foreshadowing of Jesus.

He was sold by his own people to be done away with to another people.

He was sold for 20 shekels of silver, Jesus for 30 silver pieces.

He would suffer terribly from injustice – falsely accused, betrayed by his own people.

He teaches a lesson, like many in the Scriptures, that suffering is the path to glory.

v. 15 – “holding a grudge”

From a human standpoint, forgiveness doesn’t make much sense.

Someone hurt you, it seems like the most logical thing to do is to hold it against.

It feels like if you hold a grudge that you can keep them from doing it again.

v. 17 – “forgive your brothers”

“the sins and wrongs” – khat·tä·ä' – sin – missing the mark – sometimes intentional, sometimes not, but falling short.

peh’ shah – trespass – intentional wrongdoing.

Forgive them for not treating you right and forgive where they intentionally harmed you.

v. 19 – “Am I in the place of God?” – Joseph will not take revenge.

He recognizes he has no place to judge other people.

Maybe he realizes his own sinfulness, but he recognizes holding this against them is not his right, it is God’s.

When you became a believer things changed.

You realized your need for forgiveness.

You realized you had sinned, sin today and will continue to sin.

You need forgiveness – and God offers total forgiveness.

He accepted you as you were – sin and all.

He forgave you by the sacrifice of His Son.

Now you walk in the comfort of that forgiveness every day.

But somehow we get so used to God’s forgiveness that we take it for granted.

We forget that we needed forgiveness.

We forget the magnitude of our debt.

We received forgiveness in amazing grace, but we don’t show the same grace to others.

When you do not forgive others, you have forgotten the debt that was paid for you.

v. 20 – “God intended it for good.”

All the injustice he went through, he saw God’s hand in it!??!?

AND he saw that it was good?!?!?!?

When you’re hurt, offended, mistreated, falsely accused – could it be that God’s hand is in it? Could it be for your good?

Being hurt is a part of being human around other humans.

It is going to happen to all of us. No one escapes this.

The question is what are you going to do with it?

Will you nurse a grudge? Will you hang on to it and let it make you embittered?

Holding a grudge is poison for your soul.

Hurt can be a tool God uses to help heal your own soul.

When you are hurt, the debt the offender owes you can remind you of the debt that you owed.

It was huge. It could not be undone. It was interfering with your relationship with God, just like the one between you.

God took the initiative to show grace and forgiveness.

Hurt can help you grasp the breadth of God’s forgiveness for you.

When you show grace and forgiveness, you are showing others a changed man or woman.

By showing grace and forgiveness, you are showing that you are a son or daughter of God, a brother or sister of Christ.

This is what God is like.

This is what his children are like: forgiving, showing grace.

Ephesians 4:31-32

In Malachi last week we read God’s accusations against the Israelite’s half-hearted worship.

Their priests were complaining rather than being respectful toward God.

Their people were bringing leftovers instead of their best to sacrifice at the temple.

They were not offering their full tithe.

Today we’re going to read what worship is supposed to look like.

If you are a believer, God has stepped into your life and changed everything for you.

He sent his Son to die for your sin so you wouldn’t have to.

He has redeemed you from being a slave to sin.

He has forgiven all of your sin and removed all your shame by Jesus’ death.

He has given you new life that begins in this life, but goes on forever in the presence of God.

He has given you his Spirit to help you live to honor Him with a changed life.

Since God has done all these things in our lives, he is worthy of our worship.

How then should we live? Like the Israelites of Malachi’s day in half-hearted worship?

Psalm 96 (Psalms 93-100 declare the Lord’s rule over the earth and praise him for his glory.)

How do we worship?

vv. 1-2 – We worship God by singing about Him.

This is praise. Why a new song? It is a fresh outburst of praise because his salvation is always new.

New songs bring fresh stirrings of our hearts, new realizations of His goodness.

“Proclaim his salvation day after day.”

v. 3 –We worship God by telling others about His goodness. Notice: so much of worship is how we use our mouths.

Declare his glory – tell about his glorious nature, his holiness, his power, his kindness, his rule.

Declare his marvelous deeds – tell about how he works on our behalf, for Israel, for you.

vv. 4-6 – We worship God by giving him Glory. Privately, corporately, aloud, silently reflecting His beauty, majesty, glory.

He created the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him like heralds to a great king.

Strength and honor are envisioned in his presence in his sanctuary.

vv. 7-9 – We worship God by bringing offerings to Him. We think of money, but everything else too: time, possessions.

More praise of God. Ascribe to him all that he is due: glory, strength, and splendor.

v. 8b – bring an offering and come into his courts.

God’s people would enter his temple to worship him.

God had places built in the OT where he could be worshipped.

But now, we worship him everywhere.

He took away all the curtains and the things that separated us from Him.

When Jesus died on the cross, everyone who has faith in him was washed clean of their sin.

We have been made holy and made worthy to enter his presence to worship him.

vv. 10-13 – We worship God by living holy lives. He comes to judge the world.

When he does, he will find the people who believed in His Son and they will be holy before Him.

Romans 12:1-2 – Your life is an act of worship.

How’s your worship? Is it half-hearted? Or does your life reflect the change that God has made in your life?

Does your speech/what you say to others honor God? Do your offerings honor Him? Does your life honor Him?

Malachi – last prophet of the Old Testament.

Malachi “my messenger” or “the Lord’s messenger”

Date – after the temple had been rebuilt under Zerubabel.

May have been written in the middle of Nehemiah’s ministry to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem, 434 B.C.

The people of Israel had been defeated militarily. They had been taken into captivity, then returned for 60-70 yrs.

Maybe after all of that, the people would be focused on obeying God.

Maybe this would be the golden age of Israel.

No, after all that they went through, apathy and lethargy took charge.

Malachi finds that the people’s worship of God has become disrespectful and apathetic.

1:2 – “I have loved you” – the Lord had not changed, his promises were still in place, his love not overcome by their sin.

1:6-13 – Blemished sacrifices are being offered to God at the temple.

2:1-9 – Priests’ attitudes are bad, disrespectful.

2:10-16 – Men are unfaithful, divorcing their Israelite wives for younger pagan women.

Malachi 2:17 – You wear me out.

Even after all that they’ve been through – the heights of the Lord’s power toward them, the Law given to them, the prophets sent to them, the warnings given to them to repent, the punishment that the Lord put them through – after all of that, the Israelites still return to apathy, lethargy, complaining, and sin.

If there is any hope that anyone can follow the Lord, it must be by a different way.

Malachi 3:1 – God’s plan all along was to make a way himself.

The first messenger is John the Baptist, the second is Jesus Christ.

He would have to send “the Lord,” the messenger of the covenant whom you desire.

Even in their sin, the people desired the Messiah.

They were worn out in trying to keep a Law that they could never measure up to.

But God would change everything through the coming Lord, the messenger of the new covenant.

Malachi 3:6-12

v. 6 – “I do not change” - immutability of God, so he did not destroy them, b/c he is patient and keeps promises.

v. 7 - “you have [always] turned away” - “return to me and I will return to you”

v. 8 – You rob me in tithes and offerings. God claimed the firstborn or first fruits

and a tenth of everything as his. The tithe was not the upper end of giving, it was the base, more was given.

But the people were keeping it. God said, you’re robbing me.

v. 9 – so you are under a curse.

v. 10 – the remedy – do what is right, bring the whole tithe. Test me – only time he says this

v. 11-12 they will be blessed and the Lord’s name will be honored.

I was dishonoring God with my money.

I had to repent.

I had to use money in a way that honored God.

I owe Christ everything. He changed everything for me. What is a tithe?

2 Corinthians 8:7 “excel in this grace of giving”.

2 Corinthians 9:12 generosity is expression of thankfulness to God. Says similar things about God blessing generosity.

1 Thessalonians was written soon after Paul’s visit to Thessalonica, about 51 A.D.

Paul and Silas had visited in early summer of 50 A.D.,

but had to leave in a hurry when the Jewish leaders stirred up a mob.

The mob, looking for Paul and Silas, stormed a believer’s house named Jason. He was arrested. (Acts 17:1-10)

It looked like the Jews had successfully squashed Christianity in the city.

Paul and Silas’ visit to Thessalonica looked like a failure.

But, the power of the Holy Spirit and the message of the Gospel had taken hold.

The gospel changes everything for those who would believe in its message.

Paul writes this letter soon after he left to encourage the believers there and

to clear up some confusion about the second coming of Christ.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

v. 13 – Thessalonians thought Christ would return immediately.

They were concerned that some brothers were dying and did not understand what was happening.

Paul writes to tell give them hope that the dead in Christ are not lost.

We have hope of eternal life, even after the death of this body.

v. 14 – Probably the key verse of the letter.

Jesus died and rose again, so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep.

Jesus’ death and resurrection changes everything.

Death is not the end for us.

Death was conquered by Jesus.

We believe since he died and rose again that those who have died will rise again.

Paul lays out three things about Christ’s death that should affect your life right now:

1. Christ’s return gives us hope for those who have fallen asleep.

v. 17 – we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

2. Christ’s return encourages us that our salvation is near.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

vv. 1-3 – No one knows when Christ will return. Don’t let anyone tell you differently.

v. 4 – This day should not surprise you. You know it’s coming.

3. Christ’s return urges us to be ready.

He’s coming back. Be self controlled – don’t give in to laziness or apathy, be faithful to the Lord’s calling on your life.

He’s coming back. Put on faith and love – live in them like clothes, let them cover you, your attitude toward others.

He’s coming back. Put on the hope of salvation as a helmet – live like you have hope like no one else – b/c you do.

v. 10 – He died for us so that, whether dead or alive, we may live together with him. – THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING.

Are you living ready? Are you self controlled, ready for Christ’s return? Are you living faithfully and lovingly? Hopefully?

Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection is life changing.

When you first heard the account of Jesus giving his life for sin, it began a lifetime of change in you.

When you understood that you were guilty before the holy God because of your sin,

but that Jesus took the punishment for your sin to reconcile your relationship with God,

when you first believed that, it changed everything.

It is still changing everything.

The truth of the gospel is still changing your life.

The ramifications of who Jesus is, what he has done, and what it means to you will have a ripple effect in your life from the day you first believed throughout eternity.

When you believe the truth of the Gospel, it changes everything.

We are a people who have been changed, and are being changed.

Passage today is about one of the big changes, that is to happen in the life of a Christian.

Philippians 2:1-23

vv. 1-4 – One of the big changes is that a Christian is to be humble.

Humility is defined for us.

Humility is to set aside differences in love, spirit and purpose.

Humility is to set aside our own interests and see to the interests of others.

Live selflessly, showing more concern for others than you do for yourself.

Live in unity, set aside your differences.

The Bible teaches that your individuality takes a backseat to unity in the church.

vv. 5-11 – (Probably a hymn sung by the early church)

Jesus always existed, is God, became a man, limited his divine nature, died on the cross for our sins, was glorified by God the Father for his obedience, was raised to the position of honor with God the Father.

Jesus is held as the example of humility.

He made himself nothing.

He humbled himself to the point of death, even the humiliating, torturous death on the cross.

If Jesus, who is God, humbled himself to the point of humiliation and death, how should you live?

You can choose to live a life that is focused on you.

Or you can live a life that is primarily concerned about others as you follow Christ’s example.

Does the world live like Jesus in humility? Do you and I live like Jesus in humility?

vv. 12-13 – “Therefore… obey… continue to work out your salvation.”

“Therefore” ties the teaching of humility for unity to work out your salvation.

It is hard work together to rid ourselves of divisions and selfishness, but we are to do it together.

It is hard work to die to self.

I often think of myself as most important.

I often think I have the best ideas.

I often don’t want that to die.

There will be times of struggle to be unified.

But it is God’s will that our selfishness and self-centeredness be challenged in a body of believers.

It is part of his plan to make us more humble, more like Christ.

Fascinating verses, somehow we are to work (v. 12) because it is God working in us (v. 13).

Our growth as believers is God’s work and our cooperation.

This is a tension of two truths, seemingly contradictory, but both are true.

vv. 14-18 – Don’t complain or argue. Let the world see Christ instead.

Paul writes, even if I die, I rejoice that I helped you live for Christ.

vv. 19-23 – “I have no one like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. Everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.”

When you read this, don’t you ask, “who am I like?”

I am the one looking out for my own interest? Am I concerned for others and for the work of Christ?

We have a decision to make; will we reflect Christ or ourselves?

Has Jesus changed your life?

Will we reflect our own pursuits, our own interests?

Or will we reflect our sin?

Is Jesus Lord of your life or are you?

Do you want to honor Jesus, or focus on you?

Forget all that, pursue Christ, reflect his life, follow him.

We continually need to be re-focused:

In all the confusion of life and struggles…

In all the pursuits of this life…

I want to reflect Christ, not me.

God will help us do it.

It is God who works in you, as you work out your salvation.

Peter wrote his first letter to believers who were experiencing persecution for their faith.

He wrote to comfort them with the hope of eternal life and to challenge them to continue living holy lives.

The letter may have been written at the time of Roman Emperor Nero who took on an agenda of torture and killing of Christians.

The theme of Peter is hope.

Peter describes Christian hope as completely different from any other.

For the rest of the world, suffering can drain hope dry.

Trials can result in failure and discouragement.

Hardship can bring hopelessness.

But Peter would write that Christian hope is a living hope.

Christian hope is active, because the object of our faith, Jesus Christ, overcame death and is alive.

Our hope produces joy that doesn’t just survive through suffering and grief,

Our joy can thrive in suffering.

1 Peter 1:1-25

vv. 1-2 – Peter’s letter is written to believers throughout Asia, Bithynia, Pontus, Galatia, and Cappadocia

Peter reminds them by strong declaration that they were chosen by God.

We belong to him by his choosing. If you are a believer, God chose you.

The Father chose us before we chose him.

The Holy Spirit brings us the benefits of salvation and sets us apart for God’s service.

“To God’s elect… chosen… according to the foreknowledge of God… through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood.”

We are strangers in the world – with different goals, motives, and by God’s grace, a different destiny.

We are aliens, strangers, pilgrims here.

We are only here for a while, our destiny is heaven.

vv. 3-5 – God has given us new birth – What we were and what we are now are so different

So entirely new and entirely different that it is nothing short of new life.

There has been a decisive change in the life of the believer.

It is a new life, a divine life, built upon the life of Christ.

This new life brings new hope (v. 3), a new inheritance (v. 4), and God’s shielding and salvation (v. 5).

Peter seems to say, “Remember first of all how much you have to thank God for: new life, new hope, God’s sure promises, his power to keep you, and full salvation soon to come.”

“Hope” is not wishful thinking, but “confident expectation” or “joyful anticipation”

Why do Christians have hope like no one else?

Why can we have hope in the midst of hopeless situations?

Because God has promised good to us. He does that for his children – whom he chose.

Even in the worst of circumstances on earth, I know that he has solved my biggest problems.

He took your sin and gave you new life.

When you had wondered away, he called you back and made you his son or daughter.

When you deserved death and isolation from him,

he sent his Son to suffer and die for you so that you could be brought back into relationship with him.

When we go through suffering, grief, trials, pain, we forget that this stuff matters.

In the midst of suffering, trials, grief, pain, this is all that matters – you have living hope

vv. 6-9 – “In this you greatly rejoice” Because of the new birth and all it has brought to us

(hope, inheritance, God’s shielding and salvation)

Because of all of that, believers can rejoice (overjoyed or leap for joy) – even in suffering.

Suffering is described as temporary and varied (v. 6).

Joy is described as inexpressible and glorious. (v. 8).

“Inexpressible” – human language is not adequate to explain it.

“Glorious” – it is supreme joy.

Hiebert writes, “[The Joy of a believer during a trial] is inspired by, and in a remarkable measure already radiant with, the glory that is yet to come.”

We have begun to receive our salvation – but what we have so far is just a taste.

v. 7 “Trials have come so that your faith may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor.”

Suffering is necessary for us.

Suffering refines our faith, bringing out the genuineness of it.

Suffering is never pointless in a believer’s life.

Suffering produces a genuine faith tested by the fires of trial that lasts forever.

The process of suffering is painful, but God’s intention is good.

He wants to strip our faith of all dross and make its genuineness apparent and to reward us.