What I want to share is not new, it is no secret and there is nothing magical about it. Therefore it does not sell because it cannot be that simple. But I have found we are never too young or old to learn and the time to learn is always now. Schools do not teach how life works or how to think for yourself so we must address this in the church. Everyone needs help in knowing who they are and the Word of God never goes out of fashion to give the answers. I do not want you to simply hear or you will forget, or to see and maybe remember. I want you to experience this for yourself and understand. The experience will come to you after the church service.

(John 1:12-13) "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God."

Are you happy with your life?

Never lose the conviction that it is God who can change a life. God created man from the dust. He created him in a way that he would never have to go back to the dust. He pulled the woman out of the man. God transformed a man into marriage. God transformed a marriage into a family. God transformed a family into community. God has placed in the heart of the Christian who is born again certain things that keep him from going back to the dust. The work of God in you lets you come out of something you are forced to be into what he created you for.

Let's talk about grace:

Grace is God's grip on you and faith is your grip on God. Grace is the enabling to accomplish in you. (2 Corinthians 12:9) "My grace is sufficient for you…" The work of God in you is never intimidated by the circumstances around you. God gives you the power through grace to become who he wants you to be eternally and internally. (Philippians 2:13) "…for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." A sense of bonding comes out of similarities. People who have known each other a short time can have a companionship that feels like they have known each other for years. When purpose meets grace in you the similarities bring a sense of belonging. There is nothing wrong with being wrong but it is wrong to not make the adjustments to get it right. The work of God in you is constantly adjusting to fashion you.

What is repentance?

The method by which we change and adjust is repentance. It is God's gift to humanity to find out who they are meant to be - "…children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." Repentance can do for you in a moment what you cannot do for yourself. (Hebrews 12:17) "He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears." Esau did not repent and therefore never found himself. We tend to view repentance as a negative action but it is the prerequisite to knowing who you are. (Matthew 3:2) "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand."

How do I change?

(Romans 8:29) "…to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." The Greek word 'conform' means to be fashioned or shaped into a certain image or picture. That image in scripture is Christ. He was the firstborn of many siblings who all bear a striking resemblance to their Father. (Romans 12:2) "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." There is a competition for who shapes our lives in a lifetime. The first is God and the second is the world. The word 'world' in Greek refers to the times or ages. Paul teaches that we must not be shaped, fashioned or conformed by the age or time you live in. (1 Timothy 3:1-4) "There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God…" Paul teaches about the last days before Christ returns as terrible times. But the times are then described in terms of people. Any age or time is the people not governments, demons, weather patterns or events. The pattern of this world is the lifestyle of the people at any point in history. Anything about you that has already been conformed to the pattern of this age will be challenged to change and conform, shape and fashion on Christ. To be 'transformed' is not to have a Holy Ghost howling in the church but to transport, translate, transact or transition. To be transformed is to move forward from being a tadpole to a frog or a caterpillar to a butterfly or an ugly duckling to a swan or from faith to faith and glory to glory. No matter how these times have formed you to be misfigured as a person God has power to transform you.

Who am I?

There is no progression without persevering. Pentecostals tend to emphasis the work of the Holy Spirit in terms of a church service and the gifts of the Spirit. But transformation does not come from inspiration. It takes place in your mind. (Ephesians 4:23-24) "…be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." The Holy Spirit is a master at renewing the mind. Generally our identity comes from those authoritive figures that influenced our lives in the formative days. A parent, relative's preschool teachers, grade school teachers and the sports coach. When we are born again spiritual formative years begin that are deeply impressionable. During those years the question will be 'who am I?' It is vital that the right influence is around a new believer in Christ that begins the journey of transformation. (Matthew 16:15) "Who do you say I am? Christ was able to ask Peter who he was because he already knew. To ask the question 'who am I?' without knowing the answer is dangerous around the wrong influence. The right influence can help you some of the way but that influence will point you to your Father who has all the answers. Once this is done you will pursue God with a fierce determination. (Acts 17:26-28) "From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. `For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, `We are his offspring." This knowledge is the basis of our pursuit and the release of that knowledge brings transformation because you will know not only whom you are but also what you were created for. God is always near. He opens the door to those who dare to knock. He answers those who dare to ask and reveals himself to those who dare to seek. Initiation is totally your responsibility to hunger and thirst for him.

The life of new life:

Christ would seldom attend funerals. If he did he would stop the ceremony and arrest death. People prepare for their funeral ceremony with nonparticipation. They are there but not involved because they are dead. God is not drawn to a pity party with morbid mourners with their dearly departed dreams. If you want to invite God into your life never tell him that you are not planning to arise and get up from your deadness. Any setback is a setup for God to turn up. A funeral is a place where people have accepted everything is over. But if God shows up he wants to hear you say 'I am not dead yet!' (Proverbs 24:16) "…for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again. Christianity is a life of rising again. But you cannot rise unless you fall. There is a certain safety in being a doormat. Nothing is won or lost. But would you not rather walk on water and nearly drown and have to be saved by the hand of God than play life so safe you never get the chance to say 'I'm not dead yet!' You have to be like a little yeast. Once you are mixed into the dough of life and the heat is on what happens? You rise. Never be afraid of uncomfortable placed where the heat is on to change and be transformed. The more Egypt inflicted Israel the more they grew. (Exodus 1:9-10) "…the Israelites have become much too numerous for us…they will become more numerous if war breaks out…" The power of God responds to stress and struggle. The church grew out of this. After the arrest of the apostles and persecution of believers the church grew. (Acts 6:7) "So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith." Never be afraid of the stress and struggle of growing. (2 Corinthians 12:9) "…my power is made perfect in weakness."

Being relentless:

What is the key to growing in God? It is not Bible study, more prayer, more giving, more worship or more helping people. The key is one word - relentless. (1 Corinthians 15:58) "…always abounding in the work of the Lord…" Try things one way and if it does not work try another way. If that does not work try again. If that does not work try and try again. People who give up too easy are always filled with regret about what could have been if they were relentless. The devil is a pure sadist who loves to inflict pain through these emotional outbursts we have. People are often prepared to beg for something rather than pay for it. People get so wound up they cannot even pay attention. Watch a baby walk for the first time. It will fall and bump itself. After it has cried what does the baby do again? It gets up and tries again. A baby learning to do the basics is a forceful example of how something can happen when a life is fully committed a cause relentless and abounding in all that it does.

Look what I can do!

Does God call you to the area you are talented in or something else? (Romans 8:28) "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Have a sense of purpose in your life not in your talent. Talent is totally blind because it will take any opportunity to perform. But with purpose there are some things you will not do because it defeats the purpose. Your efforts must be tailored to the pattern of your purpose. People pray for hours trying to convince God that he should bless what are trying to be accomplished. God is not moved with tear stained eyes or parched lips or a melodramatic outburst. But prayer needs to be spent seeking his purpose because he will bless it whether you ask him to or not. You are asked to ask, seek and knock for purpose not blessing. The safest place to be is in the will of God.

What is the will of God for me?

(John 3:7) "You must be born again." How are you born again? (John 1:13) "..not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." just for me. This is how we are able to give thanks at all times.

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