Transformed
It is Sunday and that means it time for today's sermon. Today we are in the book of Galatians.
Galatians 1:11-24
11I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. 12I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
13For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased 16to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.
18Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days. 19I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord's brother. 20I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. 21Later I went to Syria and Cilicia. 22I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23They only heard the report: "The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy." 24And they praised God because of me.
Intro: Paul begins by laying out his credentials, not given by men but by God. Paul was a man who personally knew what it meant to be transformed. Before his life changing encounter with Christ on the Damascus road he was a man intent of stamping out the threat of Christianity.
Paul was
1. Educated
2. Religious
3. Successful
4. Determined
5. Headed in the wrong direction
Paul was a man whose whole purpose changed. From that moment we see him transformed ... growing by the indwelling reality of a resurrected Christ. Here are some earmarks of a transformed life.
1. Humbleness – Understanding of what saved from
2. Reconciliation – Making Amends (past)
3. Attitude of Learning
4. Attitude of Leaning
5. Desire to share the Gospel
6. Love for Others
Conclusion: We need the kind of transformation that Paul had. A life changing encounter with a living God. It is time for us to be transformed. If we profess Christ and yet live lives that are not being transformed, it is nothing. Do you know absolutely know that God has saved you? Do you know that you have been … are being transformed? If our salvation experience stops at our own Damascus road experience we are robbing ourselves, we are robbing those around us of the power, joy and daily reality of being transformed.
Just Connie
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