Embracing Transformation: Saying Yes to God's Calling
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor reflecting on the story of Moses and his transformation after coming down from the mountain with a glowing face. The pastor emphasizes the importance of ongoing transformation and adjustment in fulfilling God's calling. He encourages the congregation to be patient during the waiting period between accepting God's assignment and its fulfillment, as this is when necessary adjustments occur. The pastor also highlights the importance of developing character to match the assignment God has for each individual.
The pastor then discusses the timeless relevance of the Bible and its ability to provide guidance in all situations. He encourages the congregation to adjust their lives according to the Bible's guidance rather than expecting the Bible to adjust to their needs. The pastor also addresses the issue of a lack of trust in God's plan, emphasizing that saying yes to God's assignments leads to personal growth, brings glory to God, and benefits those around us. He uses examples from the Bible, such as Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Jonah, and Paul, to illustrate the importance of overcoming doubts and trusting in God's plan.
The pastor further emphasizes the importance of having a vision for the future and being willing to say "yes" to God's calling. He acknowledges that people often struggle with saying "yes" because they can't see beyond their current circumstances. However, he encourages the congregation to focus on what God has in store for them and to trust in God's timing. The pastor also discusses the need for believers to adjust their commitments to avoid idolatry, emphasizing that when our commitments become idols, they hinder our ability to join God in His work.
The pastor then discusses the importance of making adjustments in our lives, explaining that adjustments are necessary when something isn't right or when there is an opportunity to make something better. He emphasizes that to join God, we must adjust, and it is necessary to say yes to God's call. The pastor also addresses the struggles and hesitations that people may have when it comes to making specific adjustments in their lives according to God's will. He encourages the congregation to overcome these obstacles and embrace God's plan.
Finally, the pastor reflects on the importance of making adjustments in our lives in response to God's invitation. He uses examples from biblical figures such as Noah, Abraham, and Moses to emphasize the importance of pushing through discomfort and sacrifice to say yes to God. The pastor concludes by encouraging the congregation to embrace discomfort and crisis moments, viewing them as opportunities for growth and adjustment.
Key Takeaways:
- The process of transformation and adjustment is crucial in fulfilling God's calling. It is during the waiting period between accepting God's assignment and its fulfillment that necessary adjustments occur. This is a time for developing character to match the assignment God has for each individual. ([12:45])
- The Bible provides timeless guidance in all situations. Instead of expecting the Bible to adjust to our needs, we should adjust our lives according to the Bible's guidance. Trusting in God's plan leads to personal growth, brings glory to God, and benefits those around us. ([24:30])
- Having a vision for the future and being willing to say "yes" to God's calling is important. Despite the struggles and hesitations that come with making specific adjustments in our lives according to God's will, we should overcome these obstacles and embrace God's plan. ([36:15])
- Adjustments are necessary when something isn't right or when there is an opportunity to make something better. To join God, we must adjust, and it is necessary to say yes to God's call. We should view discomfort and crisis moments as opportunities for growth and adjustment. ([48:50])
- Making adjustments in our lives in response to God's invitation is crucial. Biblical figures such as Noah, Abraham, and Moses pushed through discomfort and sacrifice to say yes to God. We should embrace discomfort and crisis moments, viewing them as opportunities for growth and adjustment. ([59:20])
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Hebrews 11:13-16: "All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them."
2. Philippians 3:12-14: "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
3. 2 Corinthians 3:18: "And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."
Observation Questions:
1. What is the common theme among the people mentioned in Hebrews 11:13-16?
2. In Philippians 3:12-14, what does the author mean by "pressing on" and "forgetting what is behind"?
3. What transformation is being described in 2 Corinthians 3:18?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the longing for a "better country" in Hebrews 11:13-16 relate to our own spiritual journey?
2. What does the "goal" in Philippians 3:12-14 represent in our lives?
3. How does the transformation mentioned in 2 Corinthians 3:18 apply to our personal growth and character development?
Application Questions:
1. Can you identify a time when you felt like a "foreigner and stranger" on earth, as described in Hebrews 11:13-16? How did your faith guide you during this time?
2. What is one thing from your past that you need to "forget" in order to press on towards your spiritual goal, as mentioned in Philippians 3:12-14?
3. How can you apply the concept of transformation from 2 Corinthians 3:18 in your daily life? Can you think of a specific situation where you need to adjust your character or behavior?
4. Can you think of a specific situation where you hesitated to say "yes" to God's call? How can you overcome this hesitation in the future?
5. What is one commitment in your life that has become an idol, hindering your ability to join God in His work? How can you adjust this commitment to better align with God's plan?
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Transformation in God's Timing
God's calling often requires a period of waiting and transformation. This time is not idle; it is a period of character development and adjustment to align with the assignment God has for each individual. It is a time of patience and trust in God's perfect timing. [12:45]
Isaiah 40:31 - "But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you had to wait for God's timing. How did this period of waiting and transformation shape your character and faith?
Day 2: Aligning Life with Biblical Guidance
The Bible is a timeless guide for all situations. Instead of expecting the Bible to adjust to our needs, we should adjust our lives according to its guidance. Trusting in God's plan leads to personal growth, brings glory to God, and benefits those around us. [24:30]
Psalm 119:105 - "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path."
Reflection: What is one area of your life that you need to align more closely with biblical guidance? How can you take steps to make this adjustment today?
Day 3: Saying "Yes" to God's Calling
Having a vision for the future and being willing to say "yes" to God's calling is crucial. Despite the struggles and hesitations that come with making specific adjustments in our lives according to God's will, we should overcome these obstacles and embrace God's plan. [36:15]
Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are hesitant to say "yes" to God's calling? How can you trust in His plan and take a step of faith today?
Day 4: Making Necessary Adjustments
Adjustments are necessary when something isn't right or when there is an opportunity to make something better. To join God, we must adjust, and it is necessary to say yes to God's call. We should view discomfort and crisis moments as opportunities for growth and adjustment. [48:50]
Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
Reflection: What is one adjustment you need to make in your life to better align with God's will? How can you view this adjustment as an opportunity for growth?
Day 5: Embracing Discomfort for God's Glory
Making adjustments in our lives in response to God's invitation is crucial. Biblical figures such as Noah, Abraham, and Moses pushed through discomfort and sacrifice to say yes to God. We should embrace discomfort and crisis moments, viewing them as opportunities for growth and adjustment. [59:20]
James 1:2-4 - "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance."
Reflection: What discomfort or crisis are you currently facing? How can you view this as an opportunity for growth and adjustment in response to God's invitation?
Quotes
"When you say yes to God in your crisis of belief, you will have to make some adjustments." [06:47]
"Whenever we're looking at our lives, we are the ones who actually need an adjustment... the truth is we need to adjust ourselves and our entire lives to follow the guidance of our Bible." [04:05]
"We are being changed from one degree of Glory to another speaks to me about the ongoing NeverEnding always looking for the next adjustment that we need to make in order to become who God's called us to be by accepting the invitation that he has for us to join him in the work that he has assigned to us that's going to make a difference in the world that's going to make a difference in our family that's going to make a difference in our community ities it's going to make a difference in our lives so that we can align more with who Christ is and who he wants us to be." [34:51]
"The question that we have to decide in our own life is this is in between that call and the Fulfillment of God's assignment for us is are we going to be faithful will we allow God to develop our character so that when the Fulfillment comes we're ready for it see again let's go back to this idea that God matches our charact develops our character to match the assignment because the worst thing possible that could happen to a person is for God to have a big assignment for you but you have no character or little character." [35:36]
"When it comes to Experiencing God, making adjustments is essential because God's invitation to join him in his work will always lead us to an adjustment... Sometimes we come to this place and God speaks to us and he says you're out of whack, you're out of alignment, something's not right in your Journey of Faith and you need to adjust." #!!09:52!!#
"We might need to change how we think, our ideologies might be challenged, biases might need to be scrutinized, allegiances might need to be evaluated in order to adjust to God and join Him." #!!40:32!!#
"His call to us might simply start the clock toward fulfilling something that he wants us to do later down the road...there's often a lag time in between hearing God's voice and actually seeing the assignment that God gives us fulfilled and unfortunately that's when a lot of people give up." #!!29:32!!#
"If we asked Moses or David and or Paul ask anyone who's adjusted their life if they if they glad that they pushed through any discomfort any kind of perceived loss or any kind of real sacrifice that they had to make in order to to say yes to God's invitation what would they say they would say yeah I'm glad I'm glad I did what God asked me to do." #!!25:14!!#
"Because I am so captured by the thought of Christ's sacrifice that the best and I'll never do it perfectly will'll never do it perfectly but the very best of my ability whenever I hear God speak whenever I hear him tap me on the shoulder whenever I believe that he has an assignment for me no matter what it is I'm going to say yes because Jesus said yes to the Cross because Jesus said yes to the Cross I'm G to say yes whenever he speaks." #!!44:17!!#
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