Sermon Title: 10 Reasons: #7 Changed Lives, #8 Holy Spirit Encounters
Eat and Be Transformed
Scripture: Psalm 1:1-3 (NIV), Romans 12:2 (NIV)
Contributed by Wade Pursell
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. —Psalm 1:1-3
In our series, Ten Reasons Christians Trust the Bible, we come to Reason #7: Changed Lives and Cultures and Reason #8: Holy Spirit and Personal Experiences. These are, in a way, the ‘so what?’ of the ten reasons. Yes, the Bible is trustworthy, but what really matters is the fact that the Holy Spirit uses it to transform lives. We are to Eat this Book and be Transformed. That transformation includes conversion (or regeneration), and also continues as we grow more and more into the image of Jesus Christ (sanctification). Romans 8:29 tells us “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” When we become one of “many brothers and sisters” we have been saved into the body of Christ. And as we are “conformed to the image of God’s Son” we are being sanctified and transformed into Christ.
Psalm 1 is often referred to as the ‘Gateway to the Psalms’ (or even the ‘Gateway to the Bible’). It offers two choices for our lives. The first choice is actually the default for life in our broken state—the way of the world. Notice the downward spiral of the world. From walking with the wicked to standing with sinners to sitting with scoffers. It is a choice that comes out of rebellion to God and that leads to cynicism in life and ultimately to death of our souls. The other choice, the other way, is the way of God found in the scriptures. This way delights in God’s Word, meditating on it day and night. The resulting transformation from this path looks like an ever-green tree planted with its roots deep into the ground connecting to the perpetual stream of water. It is the way of eternal life!
To help visualize this “delighting and meditating day and night,” we are given a rich metaphor elsewhere in the scriptures where we are told to “eat the Word” (John 10:9, Ezekiel 3:3, Jeremiah 15:16). As A.W. Tozer said, “we are ordered to eat the truth – to take the book into our system until is permeates every part of us.”
Two choices. We will be influenced by the world or by the Word. The Apostle Paul essentially says the same thing in Romans 12:2. He writes, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Let’s choose to ‘eat the Word and be transformed!’
But remember, the Bible is actually NOT the point. It points to the point. It ALL points to Jesus from the beginning to the end. Even in our gateway Psalm, verse 1 is about the WAY, verse 2 is about the TRUTH and verse 3 is about the LIFE. The WAY, the TRUTH, the LIFE. We know who that is! (John 14:6).
And at the end of the Gospel of Luke, after the Cross, after the Empty Tomb, two men are on the road to Emmaus. They are very confused, distraught, and depressed at what they believe has happened to Jesus. Jesus joins them on their journey to help. What does He do to help them? He knows how to transform hearts. He opens up the Scriptures and shows them how the entire Old Testament points to Him (Luke 24:27). Then after He left them, they commented to each other how their hearts BURNED as He opened the Scripture to them (Luke 24:32).
Friends, that opportunity is still available for you and me today because Jesus still delights to bring transforming heat to cold hearts! Amen. Eat and be transformed.
Consider—
╬ How do you read the Bible? Is it like a novel with a gripping story or like non-fiction that gives good information to know? “Eating” the Bible involves a meditative, slow, submissive process with interest in both knowing more and, more importantly, becoming more. In the companionship of the Spirit, will you seek to increase your “becoming-more” reading of the Word?
╬ Who do you know who “walks in the counsel of the world, stands with sinners, or sits with scoffers”? Pray for them! May God the Spirit create in them a great hunger for God’s Word who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.
╬ Father, Son and Holy Spirit, please draw us to Your Word. Please burn in our hearts with Your transforming heat and grow us into the image of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is in His Name we pray. Amen.