Embracing Transformation: Choosing God's Will for Life

 

Summary

As we gather on this first Sunday night of a new year, we are reminded of the significance of time and how we choose to spend it. The world often misuses special occasions like Christmas and New Year, fooling itself into believing that a mere change of calendar can bring about real change. Yet, amidst this self-deception, the world stubbornly ignores the one true source of transformation: the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This evening, we are called to reflect on the fleeting nature of our lives and the choices we make with the time we have left.

Life is divided into three parts: the past, the present, and the rest of our time. The past is unchangeable, the present is fleeting, and the rest of our time is limited and unknown. This reality should prompt us to consider how we will spend the remainder of our lives. There are only two paths: living according to the lusts of men or living according to the will of God. The former is characterized by a life devoid of spiritual content, driven by desires and excess, leading to emptiness and destruction. In contrast, a life lived according to the will of God is one of spiritual depth, guided by the example of Christ, who lived not for Himself but for others, fulfilling the will of God.

The Gospel offers us a new beginning, not through our own efforts or resolutions, but through the transformative power of Christ. He has borne our sins, offering forgiveness and a new life. This new life is not just a change in behavior but a fundamental transformation, a new birth through the Spirit of God. As we embrace this new life, we are no longer bound by the past but are empowered to live according to God's will, with the assurance of eternal life.

Key Takeaways:

- The world often deceives itself with illusions of change through superficial means, ignoring the true source of transformation found in the Gospel. Real change comes not from external circumstances but from a heart transformed by Christ. [02:36]

- Life is fleeting, divided into the past, present, and the rest of our time. Recognizing the brevity of life should lead us to consider how we spend our remaining days, choosing between a life of self-indulgence or one aligned with God's will. [13:25]

- Living according to the lusts of men leads to emptiness and destruction, while living according to the will of God brings spiritual fulfillment and purpose. The choice is between a life bound by earthly desires or one enriched by spiritual depth. [21:07]

- The Gospel offers a new beginning through the transformative power of Christ. This new life is not achieved by human effort but through the Spirit of God, who gives us a new nature and empowers us to live according to God's will. [47:04]

- At the end of our lives, we will face judgment based on how we have spent our time. Embracing the life offered by Christ ensures that we are prepared for this judgment, living with the assurance of eternal life with God. [38:07]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:09] - Introduction to 1 Peter 4
- [01:21] - The Misuse of Special Occasions
- [02:36] - The World's Self-Deception
- [04:11] - Ignoring the True Source of Help
- [06:04] - The Significance of Being in God's House
- [08:59] - Assessing Our Life and Time
- [11:29] - Dividing Life: Past, Present, Future
- [13:25] - The Rest of Our Time
- [20:14] - How to Spend the Rest of Our Time
- [21:07] - Two Ways to Live: Lusts of Men vs. Will of God
- [29:27] - Characteristics of a Godly Life
- [36:59] - The Inevitable Judgment
- [42:53] - The Hope in Christ's Sacrifice
- [47:04] - The New Life in Christ
- [50:08] - The Power of the Gospel
- [52:29] - Invitation to Believe in Christ

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1 Peter 4:1-5

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Observation Questions:

1. According to 1 Peter 4:1-5, what are the two ways of living that are contrasted in the passage?
2. How does the sermon describe the world's approach to special occasions like New Year and Christmas? ([02:36])
3. What does the sermon say about the fleeting nature of life and how it should influence our choices? ([13:25])
4. What is the significance of Christ's suffering in the flesh as mentioned in the sermon? ([34:18])

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Interpretation Questions:

1. What does it mean to live "according to the will of God" as opposed to "the lusts of men," and how does this distinction impact a believer's daily life? ([21:07])
2. How does the sermon explain the concept of time being divided into the past, present, and the rest of our time? What implications does this have for how we live? ([13:25])
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the Gospel offers a new beginning, and how is this different from human efforts at change? ([47:04])
4. How does the sermon describe the judgment that comes at the end of our lives, and what criteria will be used in this judgment? ([38:07])

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your past year. Are there areas where you have been living according to the "lusts of men" rather than the "will of God"? How can you begin to align more with God's will this year? ([21:07])
2. The sermon emphasizes the fleeting nature of life. What practical steps can you take to ensure you are making the most of the time you have left? ([13:25])
3. How can you incorporate the transformative power of the Gospel into your daily life, rather than relying on your own efforts for change? ([47:04])
4. Consider the ways you celebrate special occasions. How can you ensure these times are meaningful and aligned with your faith rather than just following worldly traditions? ([02:36])
5. The sermon mentions the inevitability of judgment. How does this reality affect your priorities and decisions today? ([38:07])
6. Identify one area of your life where you feel bound by past mistakes. How can you embrace the forgiveness and new life offered by Christ to move forward? ([45:02])
7. Think of a person in your life who may not understand your faith. How can you share the hope and transformation you have experienced through the Gospel with them? ([51:20])

Devotional

Day 1: True Transformation Comes from the Gospel
The world often deceives itself with illusions of change through superficial means, ignoring the true source of transformation found in the Gospel. Real change comes not from external circumstances but from a heart transformed by Christ. The world celebrates occasions like New Year with resolutions and hopes for change, yet these are often temporary and lack the depth needed for true transformation. The Gospel of Jesus Christ offers a profound change that is not dependent on human effort but on the power of Christ's sacrifice and resurrection. This transformation is a renewal of the heart and mind, leading to a life that reflects the love and purpose of God. [02:36]

Ephesians 4:22-24 (ESV): "To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."

Reflection: What superficial changes have you been relying on for transformation, and how can you instead seek a deeper change through the Gospel today?


Day 2: The Brevity of Life Calls for Purposeful Living
Life is fleeting, divided into the past, present, and the rest of our time. Recognizing the brevity of life should lead us to consider how we spend our remaining days, choosing between a life of self-indulgence or one aligned with God's will. The past is unchangeable, the present is momentary, and the future is uncertain. This understanding should prompt a reflection on how we use our time, urging us to live with intention and purpose. A life aligned with God's will is one that seeks to serve others and glorify God, rather than being consumed by personal desires and temporary pleasures. [13:25]

James 4:14 (ESV): "Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes."

Reflection: How can you intentionally align your daily activities with God's will, knowing that life is brief and precious?


Day 3: Two Paths: Earthly Desires vs. Spiritual Fulfillment
Living according to the lusts of men leads to emptiness and destruction, while living according to the will of God brings spiritual fulfillment and purpose. The choice is between a life bound by earthly desires or one enriched by spiritual depth. A life driven by human desires is often marked by dissatisfaction and a lack of true purpose. In contrast, a life lived in accordance with God's will is characterized by peace, joy, and a sense of fulfillment that transcends circumstances. This path is not always easy, but it is rewarding and leads to eternal life with God. [21:07]

1 John 2:16-17 (ESV): "For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever."

Reflection: What earthly desires are you holding onto that may be hindering your spiritual growth, and how can you begin to let them go?


Day 4: Embracing New Life Through Christ's Power
The Gospel offers a new beginning through the transformative power of Christ. This new life is not achieved by human effort but through the Spirit of God, who gives us a new nature and empowers us to live according to God's will. This transformation is a gift, not something earned, and it results in a life that reflects God's love and grace. As believers, we are called to embrace this new life, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide and shape us into the likeness of Christ. This journey involves daily surrender and reliance on God's strength. [47:04]

Titus 3:5-6 (ESV): "He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior."

Reflection: In what ways can you rely more on the Holy Spirit to guide your actions and decisions today?


Day 5: Living with Eternal Perspective
At the end of our lives, we will face judgment based on how we have spent our time. Embracing the life offered by Christ ensures that we are prepared for this judgment, living with the assurance of eternal life with God. This perspective encourages us to live with eternity in mind, prioritizing what truly matters and investing in relationships and actions that have lasting significance. It is a call to live not for the temporary pleasures of this world but for the eternal joy and fulfillment found in God's presence. [38:07]

2 Corinthians 5:10 (ESV): "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."

Reflection: How can you shift your focus from temporary concerns to eternal priorities in your daily life?

Quotes



The extraordinary Readiness of the world to fool itself and to Bluff itself isn't this an amazing thing how the world can persuade itself that there is some unusual Spirit of Goodwill about at Christmas time and how it can persuade itself that some because we pull down an old calendar and put up another one that things are going to be different. [00:02:34]

The world behaves as it does to borrow some of the words that are found in my text tonight it's excess of Riot that's how it celebrates these things that's how it faces them and I say it's just a part of the way in which the world can Bluff itself and delude itself and rarely fool itself. [00:03:22]

The world in its trouble clutching at any straw working up something that has no EX existence lashing itself up into a state and a condition in order to find some relief in order to feel a little bit of happiness and of Joy poor old world there isn't much joy in it is there there isn't much happiness it's a world of confusion and of trouble of tragedy on all hands. [00:04:20]

Life is divided up in that way that is the total that is the lot the time past the present the rest but we can't leave it at that can we you know this rest of our time this rest of our life oh it tells us a great deal doesn't it tells us this you see if there is a rest of my time in this world it means of necessity that there is a definite length to the my time in this world. [00:13:32]

There are only two possible ways of using it and only two a man can either live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men or else to the will of God and there are no Alternatives we are either going to live to the will of God or else we are not going to live to the will of God. [00:21:02]

The first way of spending the rest of our time is to live it and to spend it entirely apart from God that our whole outlook should be governed by the ideas and the wills of men he talks about the Gentiles and he mentions the Gentiles for this reason the ancient world you see was divided up into the Jews and the Gentiles. [00:21:12]

The time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles when we walked in lasciviousness lusts excess of wine revelings banquetings and abominable idolatries oh I needn't stay with that because the world is still living that sort of life that's how they've been celebrating Christmas that's how they were celebrating the coming of a new year last night wasn't it. [00:26:04]

The life that is lived according to the will of God God and according to the will of Christ he should no longer live the rest of his life In the Flesh to the lusts of men but to the will of God now let's look at this other type of life that is held before us in the scriptures what what is this life what are the characteristics of this life. [00:29:24]

This is a life that is revealed to us by God not man this isn't what man thinks it's what God thinks it's a life that we know nothing about if God hadn't revealed it to us we know the other type of Life men think it up they invent new games new Pleasures new way of exciting themselves and it's man's Ingenuity man's invention this isn't this is God. [00:29:56]

The great characteristic of his life was this that he lived to do the will of God he saids I am come to do the will of him that sent me that was his guiding star the law of God the will of God not what he wanted there he is in the Garden of Gethsemane father if it be possible let this cup pass by nevertheless not my will but thine be done. [00:33:23]

The Gospel of Jesus Christ can do it why well because it is the power of God un to Salvation to everyone that believeth just as you are having realized the truth this evening you have better to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ the son of God you you have but to believe that he died for you and for your sins to know that all your sins are blotted out. [00:50:03]

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and begin to live this new life to the will of God instead of the old life to the lusts of men and then you'll have nothing to fear in the Judgment you may die in the flesh but you live according to God in the spirit and when you die it'll mean going on to be with Christ and what is eternity well the glory of being forever with the Lord. [00:52:19]

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Transcript
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