Transformative Reflections: Partnering with Jesus for Change
Summary
In today's message, I shared a personal anecdote about my aversion to scary movies, using it as a metaphor for the discomfort we often feel when confronting our own reflections—both physically and spiritually. As we age, we may not always like what we see in the mirror, but sometimes, unlike the physical changes, there are aspects of our spiritual lives that we can change. This reflection serves as a reminder that Jesus desires to work with us to transform our spiritual lives, removing the "wrinkles and moles" of our souls.
I emphasized the importance of not merely going through the motions of faith but actively seeking to know Jesus more and follow Him more closely. This involves putting a mirror in front of our spiritual lives and being honest about what we see. Whether it's sin, fear, or a lack of purpose, Jesus offers transformation. The story of Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana illustrates His power to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. This miracle also highlights that while Jesus doesn't need us to perform His works, He invites us to participate in His plans, making us partners in His transformative work.
I encouraged everyone to see themselves as the water in the story, acknowledging that true transformation comes from Jesus. While we can read books and work on self-discipline, only Jesus can truly change us. Our role is to say yes, listen, and yield to His guidance. This partnership with God is a process where He does most of the work, but we must be willing participants.
Finally, I invited everyone to spend time in quiet reflection, asking God to reveal areas in their lives that need change. By staying connected to Jesus, the vine, we can experience His life-changing power. Through Him, we can become people of joy, purpose, and love, transformed into His likeness.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Mirror of Self-Reflection: Just as we may not always like what we see in a physical mirror, our spiritual reflection can reveal areas needing change. Jesus desires to work with us to transform these aspects, removing the "wrinkles and moles" of our souls. This process requires honesty and a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths about ourselves. [04:22]
2. Jesus' Transformative Power: The story of Jesus turning water into wine at Cana illustrates His unique power to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. This miracle shows that while Jesus doesn't need us to perform His works, He invites us to participate, making us partners in His transformative work. [14:37]
3. Our Role in Transformation: True transformation comes from Jesus, but we have a role to play. Our part is to say yes, listen, and yield to His guidance. This partnership with God is a process where He does most of the work, but we must be willing participants, open to His leading. [20:14]
4. Listening to God's Voice: God speaks to us in various ways—through people, circumstances, pain, and His Word. It's crucial to spend time in quiet reflection, asking God to reveal areas in our lives that need change. By doing so, we can hear His voice and follow His guidance. [25:46]
5. Staying Connected to the Vine: Jesus is the vine, the source of our power and purpose. By staying connected to Him, we can experience His life-changing power. Through Him, we can become people of joy, purpose, and love, transformed into His likeness. [31:38]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:00] - The Horror of Self-Reflection
- [04:22] - Spiritual Mirrors and Transformation
- [07:15] - Holy Dissatisfaction
- [10:00] - The Wedding at Cana
- [12:00] - Jesus' Transformative Power
- [14:37] - Our Role in God's Plan
- [17:00] - Seeing Ourselves as the Water
- [20:14] - The Process of Transformation
- [23:00] - Listening to God's Voice
- [25:46] - Quiet Reflection and Prayer
- [28:00] - Yielding to God's Will
- [29:51] - Worship and Surrender
- [31:38] - Staying Connected to the Vine
- [34:55] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- John 2:1-11
- Ephesians 2:10
- Philippians 1:6
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Observation Questions:
1. In the story of the wedding at Cana, what specific instructions did Jesus give to the servants, and how did they respond? [14:37]
2. According to the sermon, what are some of the "wrinkles and moles" in our spiritual lives that Jesus wants to transform? [04:22]
3. How does the pastor describe the process of transformation in our spiritual lives, and what role do we play in it? [20:14]
4. What does the pastor mean by having a "holy, happy, faithful, joyful, content dissatisfaction" with where we are in our spiritual journey? [07:15]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the miracle at Cana illustrate Jesus' power to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary, and what does this reveal about His character? [14:37]
2. The pastor mentions that Jesus doesn't need us to perform His works but invites us to participate. What does this suggest about our relationship with God and our role in His plans? [14:37]
3. Reflecting on Ephesians 2:10, how does understanding ourselves as God's masterpiece influence our view of personal transformation and growth?
4. In Philippians 1:6, Paul speaks of God continuing His work in us. How does this assurance impact our approach to spiritual growth and transformation?
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Application Questions:
1. When you look in the "mirror" of your spiritual life, what are some areas you feel need transformation? How can you invite Jesus into that process? [04:22]
2. The pastor encourages us to say yes, listen, and yield to God's guidance. What is one specific area in your life where you need to practice this more intentionally? [20:14]
3. How can you create space in your daily routine for quiet reflection and listening to God's voice? What might be a first step in making this a habit? [25:46]
4. Consider the idea of being "water" in the story of Cana. In what ways can you allow Jesus to transform your ordinary life into something extraordinary? [14:37]
5. The sermon talks about staying connected to the vine, Jesus, as the source of our power and purpose. What practical steps can you take to strengthen your connection with Him this week? [31:38]
6. Reflect on a time when you felt like you were just going through the motions in your faith. What changes can you make to bring more passion and purpose into your spiritual journey? [07:15]
7. How can you partner with God in His transformative work in your life and the lives of others around you? What is one action you can take this week to be a more active participant in His plans? [14:37]
Devotional
Day 1: The Mirror of Self-Reflection
In our spiritual journey, self-reflection is akin to looking into a mirror that reveals not just our physical appearance but the state of our souls. This process can be uncomfortable, as it often highlights areas that need change, such as sin, fear, or a lack of purpose. However, it is through this honest self-assessment that we open ourselves to the transformative work of Jesus. He desires to remove the "wrinkles and moles" of our souls, guiding us towards spiritual growth and renewal. By confronting these uncomfortable truths, we allow Jesus to work within us, leading to a more authentic and fulfilling spiritual life. [04:22]
James 1:23-25 (ESV): "For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."
Reflection: What uncomfortable truth about yourself have you been avoiding? How can you invite Jesus to help you address this area today?
Day 2: Jesus' Transformative Power
The miracle of Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana is a profound illustration of His ability to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. This event not only demonstrates His divine power but also His desire to involve us in His work. While Jesus does not need our help to perform miracles, He invites us to be partners in His transformative mission. By participating in His plans, we become witnesses to His power and grace, experiencing firsthand the extraordinary changes He can bring into our lives and the lives of others. [14:37]
2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV): "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: In what ways can you actively participate in Jesus' transformative work in your community or family this week?
Day 3: Our Role in Transformation
True transformation is a divine work of Jesus, yet it requires our active participation. Our role is to say yes to His call, listen to His voice, and yield to His guidance. This partnership with God is a process where He does the heavy lifting, but we must be willing participants, open to His leading. By embracing this role, we allow Jesus to mold us into His likeness, experiencing the profound changes that only He can bring. [20:14]
Philippians 2:12-13 (ESV): "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to say "yes" to Jesus' guidance today?
Day 4: Listening to God's Voice
God communicates with us in various ways—through people, circumstances, pain, and His Word. It is crucial to spend time in quiet reflection, asking God to reveal areas in our lives that need change. By doing so, we can hear His voice and follow His guidance, allowing Him to lead us towards transformation. This practice of listening and responding to God's voice is essential for spiritual growth and alignment with His will. [25:46]
1 Kings 19:11-12 (ESV): "And he said, 'Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.' And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper."
Reflection: How can you create space in your daily routine to listen for God's voice today?
Day 5: Staying Connected to the Vine
Jesus is the vine, the source of our power and purpose. By staying connected to Him, we can experience His life-changing power, becoming people of joy, purpose, and love. This connection is vital for our spiritual health and growth, as it allows us to draw strength and nourishment from Jesus, enabling us to be transformed into His likeness. Through this relationship, we are empowered to live out our faith in meaningful and impactful ways. [31:38]
John 15:4-5 (ESV): "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."
Reflection: What practical steps can you take today to deepen your connection with Jesus, the true vine?
Quotes
"I hope you didn't come for that, and I hope you didn't just come to church today because it's Sunday, and, you know, that's what we do. We go to church, and we go through the motions, and we check a box, and we eat a donut, and then we get back to our previously scheduled life. I hope that's not why you came to church today. I hope, and I think Jesus hopes, that you came to church today because you've decided to follow Jesus." [00:02:34] (24 seconds)
"And, I hope that wherever you are in your walk with Jesus, you're taking your own spiritual formation seriously, and that you are, maybe slowly, but you are shaping your life around being with Him and becoming more like Him. And, if you are, you know that sometimes that means putting a mirror in front of our lives." [00:03:06] (26 seconds)
"And, if you put a mirror in front of your life and in front of your walk with Jesus, and you hate what you see, don't despair because Jesus wants to work with you on that. He wants to, He wants to, He wants to take away some of the wrinkles and body hair of your spiritual life. He wants, He wants, to remove the mole from your soul." [00:03:25] (21 seconds)
"believed in him so this story definitely I think can help us know Jesus more because it shows us something really important about Jesus it shows us the thing that the disciples saw that day that verse 11 told us is what made them believe in Jesus and what they saw was and I think what we can see is that Jesus has a power that we don't that as the creator he has a power nobody else has he has the power to transform he has the power to transform he is like supernatural right he is he is above the world he's above the laws of the world he he didn't improve the water he transformed the water into something completely new and different and better I think we can see something important in this story about who Jesus is and that is he can transform things another thing I think it's really cool that Jesus let those servants participate in the miracle you know and they're just they're just they're working and he he gives them these instructions fill the jars with water dip it out take it to the master of ceremonies and they did and these regular people got to be part of this amazing miracle that we're talking about now 2 ,000 years later so let me ask you a question did Jesus need those servants to do that did Jesus need the disciples did Jesus need Noah to build the ark did Jesus need Moses to raise his stick to part the Red Sea did Jesus need David to kill the Goliath did Jesus need Paul to start the church did Jesus need our Peter to start the church and" [00:11:01] (110 seconds)
"Just like the water in the story, only Jesus can really transform you. You can read all the books you want, which is great, and you should. And you can really try to work on yourself, which is great, and you should. And you could try to use all of your determination and self -discipline, which is great, and you should. He might use that book that you read. He might use the work that you do. He might use the self -discipline that you exercise. But just like that water, Jesus is the only source of true transformation. You can't transform yourself." [00:15:37] (41 seconds)
"The good news is that Jesus wants to transform you. And he wants to change that person and that life that's in your mirror. And he wants to transform you to make you more like him. He wants to change your life from ordinary and plain to extraordinary and meaningful. and delicious just like he transformed the water to wine jesus can and he wants to transform you he wants to transform that life in the mirror into a whole new person of passion and joy and and purpose and peace and love ephesians 2 10 tells us that we are god's masterpiece this is one of the coolest verses in the bible we are god's masterpiece and it's what i think hard for us to understand sometime is we're not the artist we're the art right from the moment we accept jesus god begins his work in us so philippians 1 6 tells us paul's right in the church of philippi he says i'm certain that god who began the good work within you will continue his work until it's finally finished on the day that jesus comes back so who started that work according to that verse not a trick question who started the work god right who's continuing the work god uh who will finish the work god when does that happen on the day that jesus comes back so this is transformation is god's work it's not your work so we don't need to be anxious we don't need to be scared we don't need to freak out when we see that person in the mirror but what's really cool is even though this transformation of you is god's work he chooses to do it like he always does in partnerships with a human just like he had those servants participate in the miracle of transforming the water to wine and in this transformation miracle of your life the human that he partners with is you you you" [00:16:18] (128 seconds)
"And as he transforms you from water to wine, from sinner to saint, from lost to found, from angry to joyful, from a casual consumer Christian that just goes to church out of habit to an apprentice of Jesus who's really knowing him and really following him, from somebody who's watching God work to someone that God is actually working through, from a life of boredom and emptiness to a whole new life of purpose and passion and joy and peace and love." [00:18:48] (34 seconds)
"And the honest truth is, in this partnership, God does most of the work. Philippians 2 .13 tells us that he gives us both the desire and the power to change. So our part is not easy, but our part is pretty simple. We say yes, we listen, and we yield. That's it. That's the transformation process. God is at work in us." [00:19:47] (29 seconds)
"Sometimes God speaks to us through circumstances. And I think we have to look around and really ask, God, what are you showing me? What are you teaching me? What am I supposed to be getting in this situation? But then again, we have to wait and we have to listen for the answer. Sometimes, this is not a favorite, sometimes God speaks to us in the pain and suffering of our lives." [00:22:14] (22 seconds)
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