Monthly Archives: July 2012

July 25, 2012

Always Transforming

By Terrie van Baarsel

Sermon Notes: Pastor Milton Vincent
July 22, 2012-Cornerstone Fellowship Bible Church

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. Romans 12:2

Monarch Butterfly Caterpillar. Shot in Aucklan...

Monarch Butterfly Caterpillar. Shot in Auckland, New Zealand (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

We ask the question, “What then, shall we do with the Gospel truths we have learned previously in the book of Romans?”

Implications of the command to “be transformed” in Romans 12:2:

You’re not perfect yet.
Yes, you are saved, forgiven, clothed with righteousness, secure in eternity, etc. But we still need to grow.

You need to change.
Not just others need to change, not just circumstances, but, you.

Transformation is possible.
Implied in every command of God is the promise that God will empower you to do it. For example, in Matthew 14 when Peter wants to walk on water he says to Jesus, “Lord…command me to come to you on the water.” When Jesus tells Peter to come, Peter knows that he will be able to walk on the water.

Transformation is never finished in this life.
The command to be transformed is in the present tense. Be continuously being transformed. In every stage of Christian life, be transformed. Don’t think you’ve been changed enough. God is never done changing and transforming you.

Don’t make your changing conditional. “I’ll change if…” It’s not Jesus +…. in order to be transformed.

You cannot transform yourself.
Only God can transform you. God stands at the ready to empower you to transform.

Transformation is something you must choose.
Paul is appealing to our will. God will change you to the degree that you choose to allow him to. It’s deeper than mere behavior modification. It’s a process of deep transformation that often happens very slowly and is not observable on the outside.

How can I position myself to allow God to most effectively transform me?

Monarch male showing its wings to attract a mate

Monarch male showing its wings to attract a mate (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

SIX STEPS TO TRANSFORMATION

1. Embrace the fact that the purpose of all things (including you) is to glorify God. (Rom. 11:36)
-Get away from the idea that everything revolves around you.
-God is bigger and greater than you. Open your eyes to the big picture.
-Seek His glory and our circumstances become less about us and more about Him.
-We conform to Him, not Him to us.

2. Surrender everything you are and have to God.
-We no longer belong to ourselves.
-Fully surrender yourself and be transformed.
-Transformation happens most deeply on the other side of surrender.
-Just as when someone goes into surgery they fully surrender themselves to the surgeon, surrender yourself to the Great Surgeon!
-It’s not, “Lord I want to be good!” but, “Lord, I want to be Christ-like.”

3. Consciously resist the influence of the world every day.
-The world system seeks to press us into its mold.
-Don’t go along with the world’s flow.
-We flatter the things we conform to. What has the world done to deserve such flattery?
-Steel yourself against the influence of the world.

4. Be continually engaging in the task of renewing your mind.
-Transformation comes through the mind.
-The battle is fought and won or lost in the mind.
-Even as saved people, sometimes we have wrong thinking.
-Renew your mind with Gospel truth. Learn Gospel truth, unlearn anything contrary to the Gospel.
-Be intentional. Read, memorize, meditate, wrap your mind around truth and envision how you can apply truth and walk in it.

5. Make it your daily ambition to discover and demonstrate that God’s will is exceedingly good.
-Get up every morning with the attitude to prove that God’s will is beneficial to you.
-God’s will is well-pleasing.
-Discern the experience that God’s will is perfect and good.
-God’s will is most satisfying.

6. Live in community with your brothers and sisters in Christ. (Romans 12:36)
-Transformation is a community project.
-More to come on this!

Comments Off   |  tags: , , , , | posted in Gospel

July 19, 2012

Job’s Window

By Terrie van Baarsel

I am a hoarder of details. In the midst of a trial, they hinder my vision. They stop my ears.  I trip over them. I lose my bearings. They form a carefully constructed (by me) bricked up window upon which I project my fears. Unbridled thoughts entertain the worst nightmare imaginings, and before I know it, anxiety steals in and trust in God flies out.

English: Piercefield House - bricked-up window...

English: Piercefield House – bricked-up window (with frame still intact) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I need a room with a view, a big picture window to enhance my perspective on the Sovereignty of God. I need a wide-angle lens trained solely on the certainty of trusting God’s Providence. A panoramic safe-house where vision is faith and faith is vision and where the Gospel of Christ is the axis upon which my view of the world spins.

Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.

From that vantage point I see what this trusting God costs, and I find the eternal perspective that I crave. From that window the Gospel becomes clear. From there I see the Lord agonizing on the cross, calling out to His Father in the ultimate manifestation of Divine Trust:

“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!”

Shall I shrink from the sufferings of this life and expect to see clearly the strong Hand of the One who rules the universe? Dare I refuse to share in the sufferings of Christ, thereby forfeiting the reality and sufficiency of His matchless comfort?

It is Job’s window I am asking for. It is a window to the objective truth that God can be trusted, no mater what.

By His Grace and for the Gospel,
Terrie van Baarsel

(See Job 13:15; Luke 23:46)

6 comments   |  tags: , , , , | posted in Gospel

July 17, 2012

The Peace of God

By Terrie van Baarsel

Sermon Notes – Pastor Karlos Limtiaco
July 15, 2012 – Cornerstone Fellowship Bible Church

SIX DISCIPLINES THAT WILL HELP YOU TO GENUINELY EXPERIENCE THE PEACE OF GOD

Shalom in Hebrew Text שָׁלוֹם

Shalom in Hebrew Text שָׁלוֹם (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Text: Philippians 4:4-9

Peace: Shalom, a state of mind that is satisfied and has relationships which are characterized by harmony. More than just peace of mind…but also a flourishing wholeness with God and others.

1. The Discipline of rejoicing in the Lord.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. (Phil. 4:4)
-Rejoice in the things of the Lord rather than in the things of the world.
-Rejoice = being thankful to God
-Thanklessness moves us into having a hardened, darkened heart. (Rom. 1:21)
-See 2 Cor. 13:11; Phil 2:17; 3:1; 1 Thess. 5:16
-Rejoice over material blessings, but spiritual blessings as well: Forgiveness, Justification, etc.

2. The Discipline of relating to others in a gentle manner.
Let your reasonableness be known to everyone… (Phil. 4:5a)
-Being patient and forbearing toward those who have sinned against you, responding in Grace.
-Being more concerned about how your sin affects others rather than how their sin affects you.

3. The Discipline of practicing the presence of God.
…The Lord is at hand. (Phil. 4:5b)
-…in your presence is fulness of joy… (Psalm 16:11)
-Goes beyond intellectual knowing, not only objective but subjective presence of God.
-The truth of Divine Omnipresence.
-In Him we live and move and have our being.
-Jeremiah 23:23-24, Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away?…
-Psalm 139

4. The Discipline of replacing an anxiety with prayer to God.
…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:6-7)
-Go to the Lord in prayer. Know that He is near and willing to hear you.
-Lay your burdens at His feet.
-…casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)
-It is not a peace we drum up ourselves, God produces the peace that surpasses all understanding.

5. The Discipline of meditating on appropriate things.
Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Phil. 4:8)
-These things are all embodied in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
-Focus on Jesus.
-Also are qualities that can be reflected by believers.
-View all of life from the lens of the Divine Christ.

6. The Discipline of behaving in a godly manner.
What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me–practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (Phil. 4:9)
-Being transformed by the truth so that it works itself out in our actions and behavior.

2 comments   |  tags: , , , | posted in Sermon Notes

July 5, 2012

How People Get Saved

By Terrie van Baarsel

Sermon Notes-Pastor Milton Vincent
July 1, 2012-Cornerstone Fellowship Bible Church

Text: Romans 10:9-15

The Essence of Salvation: God gives a person righteousness, deliverance, and satisfaction in Jesus. (See Romans 10:9-11)

Righteousness: Salvation is God giving to a poor, lost sinner, righteousness. His record of sin is wiped clean and he is clothed in the perfect righteousness of Christ.

Deliverance: God saves from something, from sin’s guilt and power, condemnation, wrath, hell, and a meaningless and hopeless life.

Satisfaction: We are sure to be let down if we put our confidence in things and people. God promises that when He is done doing what He wants to do in us through His Son, we will not be ashamed that we have put our trust in Jesus.

A FIVE-FOLD EXPLANATION AS TO HOW IT IS THAT HIS SALVATION GETS TO PARTICULAR PEOPLE

1. This salvation comes to those who call upon Christ.
…for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing His riches on all who call on Him. For everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. (Rom. 10:12-13)
-We don’t just wake up one day saved, delivered, justified.
-It is people who cry out to Jesus who get saved.
-Salvation does not come from within, but from without and only through Jesus.
-Salvation is for those who stop calling upon anything or anyone else besides Jesus.

2. Those who call upon Christ do so because they believe in Christ.
How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed?… (Rom. 10:14)
-Calling on Christ without believing would be meaningless.
-Belief is the fuel that drives the prayer of calling upon the Lord.
-Belief in Jesus is more than a bare believing of facts about Him.
-It is seeing a need for the Savior and withdrawing trust from themselves, anything or anyone else and putting trust in Jesus.
-It is believing and trusting that Jesus has the power and desire to save.

3. Those who believe in Christ do so because they have heard the gospel of Christ.
…And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard?… (Rom. 10:14)
-This is God’s plan- through hearing.
-See Acts 11:14; 1 Cor. 1:21
-Hearing words, a message, is the means God uses to bring people to belief in His Son.
-Not a list of do’s and don’t's, but a piece of news that comes to us about Jesus.

“Faith indeed comes of hearing. Do not imagine men will be saved any other way.” -Newell

4. Those who hear the gospel of Christ do so because someone preached it to them.
…And how are they to hear without someone preaching? (Rom. 10:14)
-Preacher=Heralder, someone who announces a public message.
-Herald: someone who acts as a messenger of a king or commander.
-”…the herald announces no word more or less than he is bidden to announce and alters and changes nothing.” -Lenski
-There are many who don’t like certain parts of Scripture. but it’s not our luxury to pick and choose and preach only the parts that we like.

“The essence of other religions is advice; Christianity is essentially news.” -Tim Keller, The King’s Cross

5. Someone preaches the gospel to them because he is commissioned by God to do so.
And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” (Rom. 10:15)
-The sovereign God who is utterly sovereign in salvation has so structured things that He uses people to preach the Good News.
-God is the sending agent. He is behind it all!
-How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news! This comes from Isaiah 52. The Jews imagining the heralds running over the mountains to make the announcement that their Babylonian captivity is over. The dusty feet of the heralds would be beautiful to them.
-The idea is, how beautiful are the goings of those who bring the good news of the Gospel.
-We go to bring the Good News of salvation because we are sent by God.
-See Mark 16 and Matt. 28.

4 comments   |  tags: , , , , , , | posted in Sermon Notes

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