HEAD 1 + Title: The Transformed Life
Text: Selected
Tracing: Preached October 4, 1992 PM at SDCC
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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!
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