The Main Agenda of God's Spirit: Transformation, Part 3

We can only imagine what it was like the 12 disciples would walk with Jesus and loved when they discovered that there will be crucified.

Doubtless they were heartbroken and confused today on Insight for living Chuck Swindoll's teaching from the Gospel of John and re-creating these unsettling moments.

Jesus offered the disciples hope although they felt abandoned. He assured them that help was on the way God they learn would provide an ever present companion. Today we resume a message that Chuck titled the main agenda of God spirit transformation. I believe the disciples must have thought after the fact. Lord help us to never forget what we were like before you transformed us because they were changed to give you four examples of transformation.

First, there very human frailties were transformed into supernatural gifts and abilities, their very human frailties, which we looked at were transformed into supernatural gifts and abilities chapter 3 of acts Peter and John going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour prayer, a certain man lame from his mother's womb carried along the used to sit down every day at the gate of the temple nor the big arms of those who were entering the temple when he saw Peter and John about to go to the temple.

He began asking for to receive almost Peter along with John fixed his gaze on them and said look, look at us, he began to give them attention. Peter said I do not possess silver and I do not have gold, but what I do have I give you in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk, and seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up. Please observe the secret of a miracle. The word immediately immediately his feet and ankles were strengthened immediately with a lead. He stood upright and began to walk second their fearful reluctance was transformed into bold confidence back to chapter 2. Their fearful reluctance is transformed into bold confidence. Look at verse 36 that's where I want you to turn Peter is concluding his message. Let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Jesus, both Lord and Christ. This Jesus whom you crucified. That's rather bold statement.

He says it without hesitation when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, brethren, what shall we do with you. Look at that these are the man who only days before were not wanting to talk to anybody and now they're out in the streets boldly proclaiming Jesus Christ without fear. Verse 40 with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them to be saved from this perverse generation sold and those who received his word were baptized and there were that day added about 3000 so by the way, I love verse 13 of chapter 4, a very interesting verse inserted by Dr. Luke. In this early church history record for 13 he's describing the reaction of the unsaved pagan officials as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and as they understood that they were uneducated and untrained men.

They were marveling and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. Well I gotta hand it to them. They had a little bit a savvy. They recognize that there was nothing unusual about their physique about their training about their background or their own human emotional makeup. They were just plain folks and they realize something about their relationship with Jesus had transformed them and they took note of that. They were like they had been before. Third, there spirit of intimidation is transformed into a spirit of invincibility, a spirit of intimidation is transformed into a spirit, a sense of incident of invincibility. You're in chapter 4 look back in chapter 3 verse 18, the things which God announced before hand by the mouth of all the prophets that his Christ should suffer, he has thus fulfilled. Now look at these in these absolutely on intimidated invincible man repent. Therefore, in return, that your sins may be wiped away in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord and that he may send Jesus the Christ appointed for you who have and must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke to the mouth of his holy prophets from ancient times. Doesn't sound to me like Amanda doesn't quite know his theology, chapter 4 verse one as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard the Sadducees came upon them and look who's disturbed the people who were going to arrest them being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming Jesus. In Jesus the resurrection from the dead, they laid hands on them and put them in jail until the next day for it was already evening. These guys are intimidated. Many of those who heard the message believe the number of the men came to be about 5000.

So, on top of the 3000 in acts chapter 2 we now got 5000 Lord came about. The next day the rulers of the elders, and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem and is the high priest was there when a wicked man and Caiaphas and John, and Alexander and all who were the of the high priestly dissent. They were corrupt everyone of them.

These are the people who had a hand in Jesus trial, which was a kangaroo court and is being put on the cross speaking the same ones who would put Jesus on the cross are now examining Jesus apostles tell you that's an intimidating scene.

Under normal circumstances, and when they place them in the center. They began to inquire, so they put them in the lineup are really right in the center of of of a group of people and they said to them what by what power and what name have you done this in Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, rulers and elders of the people. If we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man as to how this man is been made. Well, let it be known to all of you and all the people of Israel by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead by this name. This man stands here before you in good health. Verse 12 there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among men by which we must be a loving Peter looks at the man and says well I'm glad we call this meeting have a chance to tell you about Jesus Christ and how is change my life and how you sinful, you are guilty though you are for having crucified, the son of God, I'll tell you there is salvation for you that is available through his name on ask you is that being rather invincible or the intimidated there standing like stairs in a blizzard. They are unmoved.

There was a courage they never had before. Why the spirit of God has come into their life and free them from their fears God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and of the law and end of love and of a sound mind. There is no more timidity in these men back to we should look at what they say in chapter 5, verse 27 there back in jail. They were there in jail all the time in these early days of the church in verse 27 when they brought them. They stood before the Council. This is the this is the Supreme Court of the Jews the Sanhedrin 70 men. If you have ever been in court, you know, again, the feeling of intimidation and the high priest question them, saying we gave you strict orders get you to see great Misty not to continue teaching in this name and you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. Peter and the apostles answered and said we must obey God rather than men, like Daniel and the lion stand.

Vernon McGee had it right. The Lions didn't need him because he was three force backbone the rest. Chris, I mean Peter he says you guys on trial you are on trial.

The very idea that we are brought in. We are speaking for the living God will tell you is a marvelous example of an on intimidated invincible messenger of God and its Peter Limited one more their grim feelings of abandonment transformed into joyful perseverance there grim feelings of abandonment were going to be orphaned were troubled were anxious. Lord we want to go where you're going. That's before the spirit of God, but after his coming and his transformation in their lives.

Why look for yourself. Look at look at this joyful perseverance. Look at verse 33 when they heard this, they were cut to the quick and they were intending to slay them, but a certain Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law are respected by all the people stood up in the Council and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time and he said to them, men of Israel, take care what you propose to do with these men some time ago.

Thaddeus rose up claiming to be somebody in a group of about 400 men joined up within he was slain in all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After this man Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census and drew away some people after him.

He too perished, and all those who follow him were scattered.

He's going back into the records is using is using case studies in good legal fashion. He mentions the notice and he mentions a Judas.

And so, in this present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone for this plan are action should be a minute will be overthrown, but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them, or else you may even be found fighting against God, and they took his advice and after calling the apostles in they flogged them and ordered them to speak no more. In the name of Jesus and then release them and look at what happened, so they the ones who had been flogged when on their way from the presence of the Council rejoicing while their shirts, their roles were stuck to the blood on their backs before they even have their wounds dressed from the flogging they are rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for his name, don't miss verse 42, and every day in the temple from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus the Christ light, a little ornery bulldog. They just kept coming back and bite them on the heels just kept coming back by pneumonia angles. They considered they had that they rejoice that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for his name, amplified Bible says they were dignified by the indignity.

What an honor to bear in our bodies. The marks of the Lord Jesus. He whose life was changed by the cross whose body will bear the marks the rest of his of the rest of eternity. What a privilege it will be to have scars on our backs for the cause of him who gave himself for they are transformed now. What did it. Possible options of written down in my notes. What are some possible options. As we look at this kind of a straightforward analysis and kind of interpreting quickly years we wrap things up.

What was it the transformed them well. Some could say positive thinking. Now the Christ is left it so it's it's time for us to grow up and be responsible, very, very doubtful. Positive thinking never help anybody. Rejoice through getting the skin whipped off their backs. Positive thinking never made a person who is naturally normally regularly intimidated in a moments notice invincible before the public.

Another possibility is a better environment maybe things lightened up the public maybe was more open and willing to accept the blame for crucifying Christ. Quite the contrary. Things got increasingly intense. Well, perhaps someone taught a course how to endure suffering 12 easy steps toward a successful life.

No.

If you ever go to Rome. Don't miss the catacomb's just take my advice, stop by the catacombs. Take a walk, you will be the same through the narrow paths in the labyrinth down in the bowels of the catacomb you will see the graves you be able to touch and slender little births were broken bodies replaced back in earlier days, you can see the writings you could touch the sign of the fish in the cross, the markings, the Victoria statements and you could see in the remains, how they had died torture and yet on these markings. These grave markings are words of Terry try enjoy confidence. The best conclusion is acts 18 these people had received power when the spirit of God came upon them, and they became witness says the word frequently is translated from the term from which we get our word martyr you shall become my marketers Romans chapter 8 I read it to what our appetite for our next study because I think you're starting to get it cheered. You're ready to get past the apostles and you want to get it personally in your life and that's only natural.

So much of our life is described by Paul in Romans chapter 7 or seven heavy dark chapters. He has provided a panorama of sin. It's a Cinerama in panorama and he admits his own struggles in the middle of chapter 7 and he comes finally to the conclusion in chapter 7 verse 24 of Romans Richard man that I am who will set me free from the body of this death. How long will I live in this struggle between the drag of the flash and the desire of the spirit. How can I get out of this body of flesh that he for the first time in the book of Romans introduces the secret. That's the Holy Spirit. Romans eight but he starts by that transitional verse 25. Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord, so that on the one hand, I myself with my mind and serving the law of God, but on the other with my flesh the law of sin. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.

Why because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ has set us free from the law of sin and what the law could not do. We because it was through the flesh, God did sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, he condemned sin in the flinch in order that the requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but walk according to the spirit.

For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh and or.

But those who are according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the spirit.

What an intriguing comment that things of the spirit were to look into that next time.

Verse 10. If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.

And if but if the spirit who of of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who indwells you that is a wonderful hope the same transforming power that change those apostles is still available to gods people. Romans 12. Remember the verse one of the great versus I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy second, acceptable to God which is your spiritual service of worship.

And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed. It's a command allowing herself to be transformed to cooperate with the plan of God in becoming transformed how by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what the will of God is, namely that it is good acceptable and perfect will. Will delve into that we have time probing question I want to leave with you.

Only you can answer is the intimate spirit of God allowed being allowed to transform your mind is the intimate spirit of God being allowed to transform your mind, and I have to and if not why not there only two possible answers either one you don't have the spirit because you don't know the Lord or because you prefer to walk in the flesh, and tragic, though it is that really is the answer for most. We prefer old habits, we prefer our old ways. We prefer our old are our standard way of thinking. We fix our minds on the same old stuff and we live our lives as though we haven't even the power to change will look more closely to that next time on that convicting note let's bow for a few moments of thought our father as we have probed your glorious word. We have come to realize again that you have provided all that we need and the problem is not because of the bad environment. It is not because of we have missed some course that somebody's taught somewhere in the need is not some some psychological mental apparatus that that allows us to do a technique or number owner on our minds thinking, problem somehow is a blockage between what could be and what is between the working of the Spirit of God within us, just as he worked in the lives of those of old, and the struggle with the flesh that seems to dominate us give us new insights give us courage to try new things. Give us an openness of mind.

Help us to at least tolerate these thoughts, though they seem at first a bit frightening and almost too good to be true. May the intimate spirit of God begin to make a difference within us so that we might know transformation.

We pray this expectantly and believing the deer name of Christ our Lord, and with his closing prayer Chuck Swindoll wraps up our three day study called the main agenda of God spirit transformation. It's just one portion of this much larger teaching series called flying closer to the flame. This is inside for living.

To learn more about this ministry, we invite you to visit us online@insideworld.org glad to learn that Chuck wrote a book that parallels today's topic is called embraced by the spirit untold blessings of intimacy with God to purchase a copy right now. Go to insight.org/store.

Bear in mind that while you're listening to Chuck's teaching today you joined with fellow listeners around the world. Many of them are just learning how to walk with God and summer recovering from poor decisions they made long ago.

But there's a common thread of gratitude in the messages we receive God is using inside for living to transform the hearts of willing listeners through the power of our companion. The Holy Spirit, these transformational stories are made possible in part because people like you give voluntary donations and if you are among those who give let me encourage you with the comment we received this person said thank you Chuck for your message about getting past the guilt of your past you help me more than I can know I just past five years clean from all drugs, even so guilt keeps me up all night thinking about my failures to my kids and family.

Will this listener gave his gratitude to Chuck, but it really belongs to those who partner with us.

As you can readily see this person is still on a journey toward transformation. God is the one who changes lives, but he invites us to play a critical role in broadcasting the truth so you can have confidence that your gift of insight for living is making a difference to give a gift today. Call us if you're listening in the United States, call 800-772-8888 or go online to insight.. In March, 20, 23 insight for living ministries is hosting an unforgettable journey to Israel. Carefully plan to deepen your understanding of the Bible and draw you closer to God hears Chuck Swindoll for thousands of years. No place is more meaningful to God's children in the land of Israel. The Roy did landscape reminds us to find refuge in God alone.

The fertile valleys invite us to follow our ship Jerusalem's position at the very center of the world announces the good news of Christ's every nation and now you can see Israel with Chuck Swindoll and insight for living ministries March 5 through the 16th 2023. Every time I visited the holy land of returned home with the refreshed part for God and a renewed vision for the world really.

I mean it every time it's all want you to have the same life changing experience to learn more, go to insight.org/events call this number 1-888-447-0444 insight for living ministries toward Israel is paid for and made possible by only those who choose to attend. I Bill Meyer join us. When Chuck Swindoll's series called flying closer to the flame continues Friday on insight for living in the preceding message. The main agenda of God spirit transformation was copyrighted in 1990 to 1993 and 2003 and the sound recording was copyrighted in 2003 by Charles R. Swindoll. All rights are reserved worldwide.

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