You Were Created To Become Like Christ

Purpose 3Sections 22-28 (pages 169-223)

Transformed by Truth

Section 24 page 185-192

 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word

that comes from the mouth of God.'"

 "Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up

and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”

The Truth Transforms

us

Spiritual growth is the process of replacing lies with truth, Jn 17:17

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

Spirit of God + Word of God

= us like Son of God

2 Tim 3:16-17

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

God’s Word is not a book - it is alive and powerful, life changing

Heb 4:12, Acts 7:38, 1 Pet 1:23

John 6:63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.

Creation exists because God spoke.

James 1:18

He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

God’s Word generates life, creates faith, produces change, frightens the devil, causes miracles, heals hurts, builds character, transforms circumstances...

[Full list on Purpose Driven Life page 186]

God’s Word is our spiritual nourishment - milk, bread, solid food, sweeter than honey.

1 Peter 2:2

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,

Abiding in God’s WordMillions of believers are starving to death from spiritual malnutrition. It is not enough to simply own a Bible, you have to feed on God’s Word:

John 8:31-32 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

This involves 3 activities in daily life

Abiding in God’s WordMillions of believers are starving to death from spiritual malnutrition. It is not enough to simply own a Bible, you have to feed on God’s Word:

John 8:31-32 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

This involves 3 activities in daily life

I must accept its authority

The Bible has to be the authority standard for my life - the place I look for counsel, the place from which I evaluate everything - the first and last word.

Society chooses based on unreliable (flawed) sources: traditions, reason, culture, emotion

Prov 30:5

Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

2 Tim 3:16

Warren makes the point that we need to accept the authority of the Bible regardless of our opinions, whether we understand it or not, what our culture says - our fist question should be,

“What does the Bible say?”

and then trust it and live according to it.

I must assimilate its truth

Fill your mind with it so the Holy Spirit can transform you using it.

Receive it

Read it

Research it

Remember it

Reflect on it

I must assimilate its truth

Fill your mind with it so the Holy Spirit can transform you using it.

Receive it

Read it

Research it

Remember it

Reflect on it

Assimilate - verbtake in (information, ideas, or culture) and

understand fully

I must assimilate its truth

Fill your mind with it so the Holy Spirit can transform you using it.

Receive it

Read it

Research it

Remember it

Reflect on it

Receive it - with an open attitude - Parable of the sower, seed is the Word of God - Lk 8:18

Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him."

James 1:21TM

In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word...

This applies even in boring teaching sessions!

Receive it - with an open attitude - Parable of the sower, seed is the Word of God - Lk 8:18

Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him."

James 1:21TM

In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word...

This applies even in boring teaching sessions!

Read it!

15 minutes per day = whole Bible in one year

Deut 17:18-19

When he [the king] takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the priests, who are Levites. It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the LORD his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees

Get a good daily Bible reading plan!

Read it!

15 minutes per day = whole Bible in one year

Deut 17:18-19

When he [the king] takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the priests, who are Levites. It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the LORD his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees

Get a good daily Bible reading plan!

Research, study it!

Ask questions, write down your insights - learn to ask the right questions - “5 W’s and an H”,

Inductive Bible study - observe, interpret, apply

James 1:25

But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

Research, study it!

Ask questions, write down your insights - learn to ask the right questions - “5 W’s and an H”,

Inductive Bible study - observe, interpret, apply

James 1:25

But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

J.I. Packer suggests that we ask 6 questions of any bibilcal text.

(1) What do these words actually mean?

(2) What light do other scriptures throw on this text? Where and how does it fit in to the total biblical revelation?

(3) What truths does it teach about God, and about man in relation to God?

(4) How are these truths related to the saving work of Christ, and what light does the gospel of Christ throw upon them?

(5) What experiences do these truths delineate, or explain, or seek to create or cure? For what practical purpose do they stand in Scripture?

(6) How do I apply them to myself and others in our own actual situation? To what present human condition do they speak, and what are they telling us to believe and do?

J.I.Packer, Among God’s Giants: The Puritan Vision of the Christian Life, p138.

Remember it!

You memorise or remember many many facts - whatever is important you memorise.

The Bible helps you resist temptation, make wise decisions, reduce stress, build confidence, offer good advice, share your faith...

Memorising is like a muscle - the more you use it, the stronger it becomes.

Remember it!

You memorise or remember many many facts - whatever is important you memorise.

The Bible helps you resist temptation, make wise decisions, reduce stress, build confidence, offer good advice, share your faith...

Memorising is like a muscle - the more you use it, the stronger it becomes.

Reflect on it!

Meditate on it.

“No other habit can do more to transform your life and make you more like Jesus than daily reflection on Scripture”

Rick Warren

This leads to transformation - 2 Cor 3:18

Psalm 119:97 Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.

Said by David, a man after God’s own heart.

I must apply its principles

We are meant to be ‘doers’ of the Word

James 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Satan hates Christians applying what they have learned - in fact without implementing the Word all our studies are useless.

John 13:17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Matt 7:24

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

Application can also be difficult or painful - the truth will set you free but it will also first make you miserable because of the way it exposes our hearts and minds.

Warren suggests a way to overcome this is by being part of a small study discussion group - other people help you see more and apply it.

After you have studied - write down an action step which is; Personal, Practical, Provable

“The Bible was not given to increase our knowledge but to

change our lives”DL Moody

Key Verse:

John 8:31-32To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Key Question:

What has God already told me in his Word that I haven’t started doing yet?

So once more dear friends we come to the

end of this little piece of tranquility and goodness.

Go and be at peace