Living the Altered Life: Embracing Divine Transformation

 

Summary

In our journey through life, we are called to an existence that is far beyond the mundane and the ordinary. We are beckoned to live an altered life, a life that is transformed and reshaped by the hands of the Almighty. God, in His infinite wisdom and love, does not desire for us to remain stagnant in our spiritual walk. He loves us as we are, yet He loves us too much to leave us unchanged. It is through this divine transformation that we become a beacon of His glory, a testament to His grace.

Our exploration of the altered life takes us through the profound words of the Apostle Peter, who spoke to a group of believers enduring severe persecution. These early Christians faced trials that tested the very fabric of their faith. Yet, Peter reminded them of their identity in Christ, their chosen status as a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own possession. Once not a people, they were now the people of God, called out of darkness into His marvelous light.

This transformation is not merely a change in status; it is a call to live differently, to resist the toxic desires of this world that wage war against our souls. We are reminded that our true citizenship is in heaven, and as such, we must not succumb to the fleeting pleasures of this world. The battle between our old nature, which craves what is wrong, and our new nature, which desires what is right, is ongoing. The victor in this struggle is determined by which nature we choose to feed and nurture.

At the heart of many of our struggles lies the pervasive issue of self-centeredness. It is the root of conflict, the source of relational strain, and the antithesis of the life to which we are called. To combat this, we must be willing to let our selfishness die at the altar, to renounce the self-centered desires that so easily entangle us. This requires a level of honesty and introspection that can only be achieved through the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit.

Our journey towards selflessness is not one we embark on alone. It is God who works within us, giving us both the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. We must lean on His grace, for it is by grace that we are empowered to live beyond ourselves. As we follow the Spirit's leading, we begin to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These qualities reflect a life that is truly altered, a life that mirrors the selfless example set by Jesus Christ.

Key Takeaways:

- The altered life is a testament to God's transformative power, where we are called from darkness into His marvelous light. This transformation is not just about a change in identity but also a change in how we live, resisting worldly desires and living with a heavenly perspective. [49:33]

- Our battle against self-centeredness is a daily struggle between our old nature and our new nature. Victory comes from nurturing our new nature through spiritual disciplines and a conscious choice to follow God's ways.

- True transformation requires honesty about our selfish tendencies. We must be willing to ask God to reveal areas of self-centeredness and have the courage to confront and renounce them.

- We cannot achieve selflessness through our own efforts; it is by leaning on God's grace that we find the strength to live for others. Grace empowers us to forgive, to love, and to serve beyond our natural inclinations.

- Living an altered life means being led by the Spirit. As we follow the Spirit's guidance, we produce the fruit of the Spirit, which is the hallmark of a life that is truly transformed and aligned with God's will.

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide: Living an Altered Life

#### Bible Reading
1. 1 Peter 2:9-11 (NIV)
> "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul."

2. Galatians 5:16-17 (NIV)
> "So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want."

3. James 4:1-2 (NIV)
> "What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God."

#### Observation Questions
1. According to 1 Peter 2:9-11, what are the key aspects of our identity in Christ?
2. What does Galatians 5:16-17 say about the conflict between the flesh and the Spirit?
3. In James 4:1-2, what is identified as the root cause of fights and quarrels among people?
4. How does the sermon describe the role of self-centeredness in our daily struggles? ([07:46])

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does understanding our identity as a "chosen people" and "royal priesthood" in 1 Peter 2:9-11 impact the way we live our daily lives?
2. What practical steps can we take to "walk by the Spirit" as instructed in Galatians 5:16-17, especially when faced with conflicting desires?
3. How does the concept of self-centeredness as described in James 4:1-2 relate to the conflicts we experience in our relationships? ([08:26])
4. The sermon mentions that true transformation requires honesty about our selfish tendencies. How can we cultivate this honesty in our spiritual walk? ([09:55])

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your daily life: In what areas do you see the battle between your old nature and new nature? How can you nurture your new nature this week? ([07:04])
2. Think of a recent conflict you had. How did self-centeredness play a role in that conflict? What could you have done differently to address it in a more Christ-like manner? ([08:26])
3. The sermon emphasizes the need to let our selfishness die at the altar. What specific self-centered desires do you need to renounce, and how can you practically do this? ([05:08])
4. Identify one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control) that you struggle with. What specific action can you take this week to cultivate this fruit in your interactions with others? ([38:49])
5. How can you lean more on God's grace in your daily life, especially when dealing with disappointments and unmet expectations? ([34:34])
6. The sermon suggests that we need to be led by the Spirit to live an unselfish life. What are some practical ways you can be more attentive to the Spirit's leading in your daily decisions? ([38:49])
7. Reflect on a time when you did something good with a selfish motive. How can you shift your focus to serve others selflessly in the future? ([09:55])

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Divine Transformation
Transformation is not a passive event but an active journey of becoming who we are meant to be in the light of God's love. It is about stepping out of the shadows of our past and into the radiance of His marvelous light. This divine transformation is a testament to God's power, where we are called from darkness into His light, not just changing our identity but also how we live. It is about resisting the toxic desires of this world and living with a heavenly perspective, which often stands in stark contrast to the fleeting pleasures that surround us. This transformation is a daily choice to walk in the newness of life that God offers, a life that is marked by His grace and truth [49:33].

"Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." - 1 Peter 2:10 ESV

Reflection: What is one worldly desire you can resist today to live more fully in the light of God's transformation?

Day 2: Nurturing Our New Nature
The battle against self-centeredness is a daily struggle between our old nature, which craves what is wrong, and our new nature, which desires what is right. Victory in this struggle comes from nurturing our new nature through spiritual disciplines and a conscious choice to follow God's ways. This means feeding our spirit with prayer, scripture, and fellowship, while starving the impulses that lead us away from God's will. It is a commitment to growth and maturity in Christ, recognizing that every choice we make either strengthens our new nature or gives power to the old [49:33].

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

Reflection: Which spiritual discipline can you practice more consistently to strengthen your new nature in Christ?

Day 3: Confronting Self-Centeredness
True transformation requires honesty about our selfish tendencies. We must be willing to ask God to reveal areas of self-centeredness and have the courage to confront and renounce them. This process involves a level of introspection that can only be achieved through the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit. It is about letting go of the ego and the pride that so often lead to conflict and strain in our relationships. By embracing humility and selflessness, we open ourselves to the transformative work of God in our hearts and lives [49:33].

"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves." - Philippians 2:3 ESV

Reflection: In what ways can you practice humility today to combat self-centeredness in your life?

Day 4: Leaning on God's Grace
We cannot achieve selflessness through our own efforts; it is by leaning on God's grace that we find the strength to live for others. Grace empowers us to forgive, to love, and to serve beyond our natural inclinations. It is the divine assistance given to us for regeneration and sanctification. By relying on God's grace, we are empowered to do what pleases Him, which often goes against our human nature. This grace is not just for salvation but for every step of our spiritual journey, enabling us to live lives that reflect God's love and compassion [49:33].

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." - 2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV

Reflection: How can you rely on God's grace today to help you serve someone else selflessly?

Day 5: Producing the Fruit of the Spirit
Living an altered life means being led by the Spirit. As we follow the Spirit's guidance, we produce the fruit of the Spirit, which is the hallmark of a life that is truly transformed and aligned with God's will. These qualities—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—are not just virtues to aspire to; they are evidence of the Spirit at work within us. They reflect a life that mirrors the selfless example set by Jesus Christ and are the natural outcome of a life surrendered to God [49:33].

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." - Galatians 5:22-23 ESV

Reflection: Which fruit of the Spirit do you need to cultivate more in your life, and what practical step can you take today to grow in that area?

Quotes

"Our citizenship is in heaven, and we're passing through this world. Don't give in to the desires of this world because it's toxic and will stain your soul." [06:25](Download | Download)

"There's a battle within us between the old nature that wants to do what's wrong and the new nature that wants to do what's right. The victor is determined by which nature we feed and nurture." [07:04](Download | Download)

"Selfishness needs to die at the altar. Every conflict, argument, and relational strain has self-centeredness at its root." [08:26](Download | Download)

"It's unnatural to think about others first. It's our natural desire to think about ourselves. If you think otherwise, you're kidding yourself." [12:27](Download | Download)

"Selfishness is never excusable. We begin to keep score on people, which is a sign of our self-centeredness." [32:39](Download | Download)

"We need to lean on God's grace. Grace empowers us to live beyond ourselves and to forgive, love, and serve beyond our natural inclinations." [34:34](Download | Download)

"Self-centeredness destroys lives, churches, communities, and nations. We're called to live by the Spirit to not gratify the desires of our selfish nature." [21:07](Download | Download)

"Your life is to learn how to be unselfish. The Christian life is to give yourself away, to be God-centered and others-centered, not self-centered." [21:54](Download | Download)

"We need the Holy Spirit's help to face up to our sinful nature. We must ask God to show us where we've been selfish and to change our hearts." [24:31](Download | Download)

"The fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control—reflects a life that is truly altered and unselfish." [39:26](Download | Download)

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Transcript
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