Transformative Freedom: Living Boldly in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Presenting Ourselves as Living Sacrifices

God calls us to offer our whole selves—body, mind, and energy—as living sacrifices, not holding back or becoming passive in our faith, but bringing the same passion and commitment we once gave to worldly pursuits into our worship and service for Him. This means that our daily lives, actions, and attitudes should be acts of worship, reflecting gratitude and vibrancy, not dead ritual or mere formality. When we truly present ourselves to God, we acknowledge His mercy and respond with wholehearted devotion, making our lives a testimony of His goodness and grace. [40:13]

Romans 12:1 (ESV)
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Reflection: In what area of your life have you been holding back your energy or passion from God, and how can you intentionally offer it to Him as an act of worship today?

Day 2: Transformation Through Renewing the Mind

True transformation begins not with outward appearances but with the renewing of our minds by the Holy Spirit, allowing God to reshape our thoughts, attitudes, and desires so that we align with His will and purpose. The world may encourage us to simply dress up the outside, but God desires to change us from the inside out, filling the gaps in our lives with what is good, acceptable, and perfect in His sight. This ongoing renewal requires us to surrender our old ways of thinking and be open to the Spirit’s correction and guidance, so that we can discern and live out God’s will each day. [46:54]

Romans 12:2 (ESV)
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Reflection: What is one thought pattern or habit you need to surrender to the Holy Spirit today so He can renew your mind and align you with God’s will?

Day 3: Freedom and Change by the Spirit’s Power

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is true freedom—not just from external circumstances, but from the bondage of old mindsets, habits, and limitations, as we are transformed into the image of Christ step by step. The Holy Spirit’s ongoing work in us brings liberty, breaking the chains of the past and restoring us to God’s original design, so that our lives reflect His glory and character to the world. This transformation is a process, moving from glory to glory, as we allow the Spirit to fill us, change us, and empower us to live out God’s purpose. [51:03]

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (ESV)
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Reflection: Where do you sense the Holy Spirit inviting you to experience greater freedom or transformation in your life right now?

Day 4: God Uses Our Past for His Kingdom

God does not waste our past experiences, skills, or even our former zeal; instead, He redeems and redirects them for His kingdom purposes, just as He transformed Saul’s passion for persecuting into Paul’s boldness for evangelizing. When we surrender to the Holy Spirit, He takes what the enemy meant for evil and uses it for good, empowering us to serve with the same energy and effectiveness, but now for God’s glory and the building of His church. Our transformation is not about losing who we are, but about allowing God to use every part of our story for His mission. [56:33]

Acts 9:17-18 (ESV)
So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized.

Reflection: What skill, experience, or passion from your past is God prompting you to surrender and use for His kingdom today?

Day 5: Growth Is a Process—From Glory to Glory

Spiritual growth and transformation happen step by step, as we allow the Holy Spirit to expand our capacity and lead us from one level of faith and obedience to the next, never rushing the process but trusting God’s timing and provision. Just as a family grows into larger spaces over time, so too does our spiritual life expand as we respond to God’s invitations, try Him in new areas, and witness His faithfulness. Each act of obedience, no matter how small, prepares us for greater things, and as we move from faith to faith and glory to glory, we become more like Christ and experience more of His blessings. [01:08:55]

Philippians 1:6 (ESV)
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Reflection: What is one small step of faith or obedience you can take today to allow the Holy Spirit to grow and expand you for the next level God has for you?

Sermon Summary

Freedom in Christ is not just a concept, but a lived reality that transforms every part of our lives. When the Son sets us free, we are truly free—free from shame, free from bondage, and free to live boldly for God. This freedom is not a license to do whatever we want, but an invitation to present ourselves as living sacrifices, fully alive and engaged in worship and service. God desires our whole selves, not just outward displays or empty rituals. The same energy, passion, and boldness we once used in the world are to be redirected and sanctified for the kingdom. We are called to bring our full selves—our gifts, our zeal, our experiences—into God’s service, allowing the Holy Spirit to transform and use them for His glory.

Transformation is at the heart of the Christian journey. Romans 12:2 calls us not to conform to the patterns of this world, which often focus on external appearances and superficial change, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. The Holy Spirit’s work is internal, reshaping our thoughts, desires, and motivations so that we align with God’s will. This process is ongoing; it is a journey from glory to glory, step by step, as we grow in capacity and willingness to be changed. The Spirit fills the gaps in our lives, making us more like Christ and enabling us to reflect His image to the world.

Our transformation is not just for our own benefit. As we are changed, we become vessels through which God’s love, joy, peace, and all the fruit of the Spirit are made visible in the world. The world will not see Jesus in bodily form, but through the lives of those who have been transformed by the Spirit. Our boldness, our miracles, and our willingness to be changed become testimonies to God’s power and reality. Even when we feel unready or hesitant, God meets us where we are, growing us step by step, expanding our capacity as we yield to Him. Every act of obedience, every step of faith, opens the door for greater transformation and blessing—not just for us, but for those around us.

Key Takeaways

1. True freedom in Christ is not just the absence of bondage, but the presence of bold, Spirit-filled living. If there is lingering shame or uncertainty about whether God is pleased, that is a sign to seek deeper freedom through the Spirit, who liberates us from both external and internal chains. This freedom empowers us to live with authenticity and courage, reflecting God’s glory in all we do. [38:31]
2. God calls us to present ourselves as living sacrifices, bringing the same energy, passion, and commitment we once gave to worldly pursuits into our worship and service. The Christian life is not about becoming passive or diminished, but about being fully alive and engaged, using every part of who we are for God’s purposes. Our past experiences and strengths are not wasted, but are redeemed and redirected for kingdom impact. [40:13]
3. Transformation is an inside-out process, requiring the renewal of our minds by the Holy Spirit. Conforming to the world focuses on external change, but God is after a deep, internal shift that aligns our thinking, desires, and actions with His will. This ongoing renewal fills the gaps in our lives, making us whole and equipping us to discern and walk in God’s good, acceptable, and perfect will. [46:54]
4. The Holy Spirit’s work in us is progressive, moving us from glory to glory, faith to faith. Growth in the Spirit is not instantaneous; it is a journey of increasing capacity and willingness. God meets us at our current level of readiness, expanding us as we yield to Him, and every step of obedience opens the way for greater transformation and blessing. [68:55]
5. Our transformation is meant to be visible and impactful, not just for ourselves but for the world around us. As we are changed, we become the image of Christ on earth, carrying His love, power, and presence into every sphere of life. The Spirit equips us with boldness and miracles, making us emissaries of the kingdom and living testimonies to God’s reality and goodness. [53:24]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[38:31] - Freedom vs. Bondage: The Test of True Liberty
[39:22] - Presenting Ourselves as Living Sacrifices
[40:30] - Bringing Your Whole Self to Worship
[41:41] - The Call to Be Alive in Christ
[42:52] - Spiritual Worship: Reasonable Service
[44:00] - Transformation Over Conformity
[44:34] - The Met Gala and Superficial Change
[46:08] - The Holy Spirit’s Work: Internal Renewal
[47:37] - Breaking Captivity: The Renewed Mind
[48:38] - Filling the Gap: Aligning with God’s Will
[51:03] - Where the Spirit Is, There Is Freedom
[52:21] - Restored to God’s Image
[53:24] - Becoming Christ’s Image in the World
[54:20] - The Spirit’s Ongoing Work of Change
[55:52] - Redeeming Your Past for Kingdom Purpose
[58:14] - Saul’s Transformation: From Zeal to Experience
[59:24] - The Power of the Holy Spirit to Remove the Weight
[62:14] - Boldness, Miracles, and Transformation
[67:25] - Growing Step by Step: From Glory to Glory
[73:55] - Giving, Announcements, and Closing Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Romans 12:1-2 — "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

- 2 Corinthians 3:17-18
"Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."

- Acts 9:17-18
"And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, 'Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.' Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized."

Observation Questions

In Romans 12:1-2, what does Paul say is our "reasonable service" to God? What does he say about being conformed versus being transformed?
According to 2 Corinthians 3:17, what is the result of the Spirit of the Lord being present in our lives?
In the story of Saul’s transformation in Acts 9, what happened to Saul after Ananias prayed for him? What physical and spiritual changes took place? [59:24]
The sermon mentions that transformation is an ongoing process, not a one-time event. What phrase does the Bible use in 2 Corinthians 3:18 to describe this process? [01:08:55]

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says, “Freedom in Christ is not just the absence of bondage, but the presence of bold, Spirit-filled living.” What does it mean for freedom to be more than just “not being in bondage”? How does this change the way we think about Christian living? [38:31]
Why do you think Paul urges believers to present themselves as “living sacrifices” instead of dead ones? What does it look like to bring your whole self—energy, passion, and experiences—into worship and service? [40:13]
The sermon talks about the difference between external change (conforming) and internal change (transforming). Why is God more interested in renewing our minds than just changing our outward behavior? [46:54]
The pastor shared that God grows us “step by step, from glory to glory.” How does this idea help us when we feel unready or hesitant to change? [01:08:55]

Application Questions

The sermon says if there is lingering shame or uncertainty about whether God is pleased, that’s a sign to seek deeper freedom through the Spirit. Is there an area in your life where you still feel shame or uncertainty? What would it look like to invite the Holy Spirit into that area this week? [38:31]
Think about the energy, passion, or skills you used to use in other areas of life (even before you followed Jesus). How could you redirect those same strengths into serving God and others now? Can you name a specific way to do this in the coming month? [40:13]
The sermon challenges us not to just “dress up the outside” but to let God transform us from the inside out. Are there habits or attitudes you’ve tried to change only on the surface? What would it mean to let God renew your mind about them? [46:54]
The story of Saul shows that God can redeem even our past mistakes and use them for His kingdom. Is there a part of your past you think God can’t use? How might God want to redeem and redirect it for good? [55:52]
The pastor said, “Every step of obedience, every step of faith, opens the door for greater transformation and blessing—not just for us, but for those around us.” What is one small step of obedience or faith you feel God is asking you to take right now? How could that impact others? [01:08:55]
The sermon reminds us that transformation is a journey, not a sprint. When you think about your own spiritual growth, do you get discouraged by slow progress? How can you remind yourself to celebrate the “little bits” of growth along the way? [01:09:13]
The fruit of the Spirit is meant to be visible to the world through us. Is there a specific fruit (love, joy, peace, patience, etc.) you want to ask God to grow in you this week? What is one practical way you can show it to someone in your life? [53:24]

Sermon Clips

When you have your spirit, when you present your spiritual act of worship or you lift your your sacrifice to God as a living, holy, acceptable sacrifice, it becomes the service that you give to God. But verse two is where we've got to understand this transformation. Do not be conformed to this world, the the the the mode of thinking because the world tells us that that uh last week I think it was last week they had the Met Gala and uh the Met Gala is this event you know tickets are like $75,000 to go to the Met Gala and uh every year they have a theme and everybody dresses up according to the theme and so this year for the first time uh ever in their history they did a theme that was African centric, africaname African culture um you know 90s uh the the 1920s and 30s kind of centric called dandyism where it's a it's a celebration of African style African-American style and fashion and culture that's appreciated but did it change anything for our people? [00:44:15]

Did Did it change anything for how the rest of the world handles African-American culture? We still in a battle on whether or not African-American history is a part of American history and can be taught in our schools and in our colleges cuz right now the government is starting to pass laws that are causing schools either you're going to take it out and keep your funding or keep it in and lose all your funding. that that I I appreciate the Met Gala and what they did, but but that didn't change anything because the being conformed to this world is dress it up on the outside, but leave the inside alone. [00:45:10]

Have a black history program, but don't actually teach the history as one history. Just pull it out and act like it didn't exist like that. The Bible says here in Romans 12:2, don't you do that. Because what you have to understand is is that the Holy Spirit, remember, didn't come for your outside. He came for your inside. So you cannot be conformed to this world and start living thinking about, well, if I just if I just dress up my outside. [00:45:49]

No, he's coming to surrender. He's coming for those that will surrender their inside. Because look at what the scripture says. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed. There's a thing you want me to do. You want me to be transformed? Yes, that's what I'm telling you. Be transformed. Well, how am I supposed to be transformed? I'm glad you asked. By the renewing of your mind. The renewing of your mind. [00:46:16]

You have to allow Holy Spirit access to give you a new mind because you have an old mind. The Holy Spirit wants you to have a new mind. But if you don't acknowledge that you have an old mind, he can't give you a new mind. The old mind is saying, "I'm stuck in my way." The old mind is saying, "This is just how I do it." The old mind is not being open for the Holy Spirit to look at you and say, "That's wrong. [00:46:41]

See the way you're talking, that's wrong. See the way you're speaking, that is not right." And some of us, some of us have gotten so comfortable in our conforming to this world. Well, that's just how I am. That's a worldly statement. Because Christ came to break to break out every captive person and make them free. If you're saying that's just how I am, that's the statement of a captive person. Christ came to give you freedom. [00:47:09]

Do you want to be free? Well, you cannot be conformed to this world, but you've got to be renewed in your mind so that you can prove what is that good, per acceptable, and perfect will of God. A good way to remember this is that is the gap. There is a gap in my life and the Holy Spirit has come to transform me to fill in my gap. The filling in my gap is that good, acceptable, and perfect will of God. [00:47:37]

I need the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God. I need my gap filled. And when I release myself to the transformation of the Holy Spirit, he brings the the the filling, the infilling of what is good, acceptable, and perfect to the will of God. And so when I understand this, the spirit renews our thinking to align us with God's purpose. That's what that filling of the gap is all about. [00:47:57]

If you want the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God, then you have to be renewed in your thinking to be aligned with God's purpose. You are not just going to just wake up one day and say, "I'm on God's team." You have to you have to shift your life culture to get on God's team. You have to stop messing around like you used to mess around. You have to stop being a glutton at times. You have to discipline yourself. [00:48:21]

Well, now that you've recognized that there's a gap, allow God to come in and transform you. The Holy Spirit has an ongoing work in us to free us and change us. The Holy Spirit has an ongoing work in you that wants to free you, but it wants to change you. The question is, do you want to be changed? [00:48:49]

Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. There is freedom. God has called you into a place of freedom from where you've been into where he wants you to be. You see that? It doesn't just stop there. Look at verse 18. But we all with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image. [00:51:15]

When I was created, when my ancestors when when when Adam was created, he was created in the exact replica of God. It was just God over the cosmos and Adam over the earth. But Adam was God's expressed image in the earth. But he conversed with someone who who bamboozled him to be conformed to the world and not to the image of God. So that Adam lost it. But now the Holy Spirit has come to restore me back to my image in God. [00:51:56]

So that I am not just a person who benefits from God, but God now can live his life through my life. And I am the image of God. And that's what you got to understand, brothers and sisters, that the reason the fruit of the spirit has to be alive in you is that if this world is going to see Jesus, they're not going to see Jesus because he shows up to them in some bodily form. [00:52:18]

When we align with the transformation of Holy Spirit, he works his work through our lives. And that love, that joy, that peace, the longsuffering, all that stuff that was in Galatians now gets released in the earth realm. And that's how people know that God is real because what he is working in you now, you get to work on his behalf in the lives of others. [00:53:24]

And when it comes to this transformation, when we allow the infilling of the Holy Spirit to overwhelm us and to overtake us, he brings us into a place where everything about us shifts. We don't lose our prior knowledge, but we take it with us so that we use it in the way that God intended for us to have it. [00:54:20]

You learned how to evangelize with boldness and not be a respector of who it was. When you saw him, you got him. Guess what? That's that's the ministry of evangelism. You didn't know that cuz you were on the other side of the butt. But now that the Holy Spirit is in your life, he wants to take what you had. If you thought you could close the deal when you were in the world, I you got that same anointing in the kingdom just not to go to bed with them to bring them into the kingdom. [00:55:56]

So now he has this experience, but this experience is not connected to the information that he had because he sees them now as two separate things. That's how we get to Acts chapter 9:1 17. Let's look at it. And Ananas went his way and entered the house. And laying his hands on him, that's Ananas laying his hands on Saul. He said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me to you that you may receive your sight." [00:57:57]

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