Focus: Establishing a Jesus-led foundation by understanding salvation, sanctification, and the work of the Spirit.
Anchor Verses: John 12:24-28, 2 Corinthians 5:11-17
Recap/Intro
- Expose False Constructs: Identify and dismantle cultural and theological distortions that lead to jadedness, misdirection, or apathy (1 Corinthians 3:1-11, Matthew 13:1-23).
- Embrace Spiritual Formation: Cultivate transformation through ownership, intentionality, and community — recognizing faith as a personal yet shared journey.
- Fix Your Eyes on Jesus: Anchor your growth in Christ, not in people, systems, or fleeting methods (Hebrews 12:2).
Establishing our Jesus-led Foundation for Spiritual Growth
- John 12:23-28
- God’s plan is from beginning into eternity – Jesus’ death was a glorious part of this plan because it lead to our redemption
- Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man[a] to enter into his glory.
- Jesus modelled what it meant to sacrifice – to submit ourselves to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit
- 25 Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity.
- Jesus empathized with the pain, discomfort, and suffering required to allow our earthly bodies to be transformed through the power of the Holy Spirit
- “Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came! 28 Father, bring glory to your name.”
- Rabbi Shais Taub – “Why is God called an all consuming fire?”
- Deuteronomy 4:24
- Imagine we are wood and God is a fire. When wood goes into a fire, the fire doesn’t become wood. The wood becomes fire. It fuels the fire. So, when we fully surrender to God’s all-consuming fire, we become one with Him.
- A seed contains everything that is needed to be a new plant. It is not losing it’s current self to become something new – it is fulfilling its destiny and design to become what it is designed to be
You Are Not the Main Character
- Ephesians 2:10
- “With that definition in mind, workmanship may be a more fitting term than either masterpiece or handiwork because of the emphasis it places on the Creator rather than the creation.” (Got Questions)
Why Spiritual Transformation Matters
- Salvation is the beginning, not the end
- The goal of redemption was to bring us back into the presence of God
- God is preparing us for eternity
- So, what do we do now?
- Reflect and Glorify God
- Grow in Christlikeness
- Advance God’s Kingdom
- Spiritual formation is the act of aligning us with who we really are now in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17)
- The misled view or concept of this is the idea that by coming to Jesus, we become a super version of ourselves. Instead, when we are added to the fire to become a part of God’s all consuming fire, or His will, we become his agent, conduit, or vessel. Some of us want to step into the flame, but still want to be wood. You can’t do both.
Application
- 2 Corinthians 5:9-10
- It is possible to have a saved soul and a wasted life
- 2 Corinthians 3:12-15
- Intentionality is the key
- “Lord, I know I’m not truly surrendered to You and what you’ve called me to do, but I really need you to do x,y,z.”
- You’re going to be disappointed time and time again because God is not a transactional God. That is prayer and plead made out of selfishness, not submission
- Yes, Matthew 7:7-8
- BUT with the assumption the request is being made from the right posture of the heart
- James 4:3
- Matthew 7:7-8 AMP
- A piece of wood cannot shout from the edge of the fire, “Hey! I want some of that! I want to become one with you! Yet, refuse to jump in and be consumed.” A piece of wood that is not consumed by the fire will rot and lose its usefulness.
- It is possible to have a saved soul and a wasted life
Closing
- Spiritual transformation is not about becoming a better version of ourselves, gaining blessings, or securing heaven as a destination. It’s about fully submitting to God, allowing Him to refine us through His Spirit and align us with who we already are in Christ.
- Jesus is the foundational motivation for this transformation. Like wood consumed by fire, our transformation requires surrender—letting go of our ego, agendas, and comfort to be wholly united with God’s purpose.
- This process matters because salvation is just the beginning of our journey. God has called us to reflect His glory, grow in Christlikeness, and advance His Kingdom. This transformation aligns us with our true identity as new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17), dispels the lies of our flesh and the world, and prepares us to participate fully in the eternal destiny God has set for us.
- As we leave here, ask yourself, “Am I fully surrendered to God’s transformative work, or am I still trying to hold on to my identity outside of Him?” Remember, it is possible to have a saved soul but a wasted life. Let’s choose to jump fully into God’s refining fire, letting Him shape us for His purposes and glory.
