How Does Personal Transformation Take Place? (Part 3)
One of the most insidious realities of personal transformation is that there are enemies who withstand us. While we seek to live for
Christ and serve Him, the fact remains our spiritual growth is often shut down by three very real and very common adversaries. Paul
reveals these when he says …
“… that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the
cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting …” Ephesians 4:14 (NKJV)
PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION DEFENDS AGAINST THE DEVIOUS ENEMY
If I am to continue the process of becoming like Christ …
1. I am not to remain childish. Now, we all have to admit that growing up and being responsible can be very discomforting. In fact,
we understand that in order to achieve all God desires for us, we have to grow out of our self. Many of the things that hold us back
from becoming like Christ boil down to our lack of courage or motivation to make the sacrifices necessary to move to the next level of
Christ-likeness. Growing up takes more of us than most have to offer. The old maxim, “you have to give up, to go up” surely plays true
here. We may need to pull back on other good commitments to reach for those things that are excellent. One of those major shifts is
in pleasure – who will we please? Do we please our baser, childish nature or do we please the Lord of life and grow to become
more like Him?
2. I am not to be unstable in my knowledge of doctrine. Part of the growth process is to so know God’s Word that we are not easily
deceived. Again, this is growth from childishness to adulthood. We don’t just accept what people tell us because we haven’t studied
it. Now we take the time – and it takes time – to know the truth inside and out. We make it our passion to “lock down” the details about
our Lord, His heart and the purposes and directives of His will. We refuse to accept our own current ignorance and choose to deepen
and broaden our understanding through systematic study at the hands of our pastor. It is our shepherd who can answer our
questions and make sure that we understand when we are confused or need extra help.
3. I am not to be tricked by the deceit of others. Con men and women exist in every arena of life. It is no different in the spiritual
world. Schemes and frauds are rampant in these days leading up to the return of Christ. It seems more and more difficult to tell the
real, genuine article from the slick, professional knock-off these days. Paul’s warning is clear. We must know God’s Word, possess a
vital relationship with Christ and be working for Christ so that our spiritual knowledge becomes our spiritual experience. The more we
understand the real, authentic God of the revealed Word the less we fall prey to the deceptive schemes of those who would seek to
derail us from Christ.
Growth and transformation into the image of Christ is the process of growing up, out of the childish nature of self. When we willingly
choose to beat back the impulses and enemies of our growth – to do the hard things that bring conformity to Christ – we experience
true personal transformation.
In our next installment, we will discover how personal transformation targets the glorious goal of Christ-likeness.
Please help us strengthen and encourage others in their spiritual leadership – forward this email to a friend and encourage them to
subscribe!
© 2007 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith. All rights reserved.
One of the most insidious realities of personal transformation is that there are enemies who withstand us. While we seek to live for
Christ and serve Him, the fact remains our spiritual growth is often shut down by three very real and very common adversaries. Paul
reveals these when he says …
“… that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the
cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting …” Ephesians 4:14 (NKJV)
PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION DEFENDS AGAINST THE DEVIOUS ENEMY
If I am to continue the process of becoming like Christ …
1. I am not to remain childish. Now, we all have to admit that growing up and being responsible can be very discomforting. In fact,
we understand that in order to achieve all God desires for us, we have to grow out of our self. Many of the things that hold us back
from becoming like Christ boil down to our lack of courage or motivation to make the sacrifices necessary to move to the next level of
Christ-likeness. Growing up takes more of us than most have to offer. The old maxim, “you have to give up, to go up” surely plays true
here. We may need to pull back on other good commitments to reach for those things that are excellent. One of those major shifts is
in pleasure – who will we please? Do we please our baser, childish nature or do we please the Lord of life and grow to become
more like Him?
2. I am not to be unstable in my knowledge of doctrine. Part of the growth process is to so know God’s Word that we are not easily
deceived. Again, this is growth from childishness to adulthood. We don’t just accept what people tell us because we haven’t studied
it. Now we take the time – and it takes time – to know the truth inside and out. We make it our passion to “lock down” the details about
our Lord, His heart and the purposes and directives of His will. We refuse to accept our own current ignorance and choose to deepen
and broaden our understanding through systematic study at the hands of our pastor. It is our shepherd who can answer our
questions and make sure that we understand when we are confused or need extra help.
3. I am not to be tricked by the deceit of others. Con men and women exist in every arena of life. It is no different in the spiritual
world. Schemes and frauds are rampant in these days leading up to the return of Christ. It seems more and more difficult to tell the
real, genuine article from the slick, professional knock-off these days. Paul’s warning is clear. We must know God’s Word, possess a
vital relationship with Christ and be working for Christ so that our spiritual knowledge becomes our spiritual experience. The more we
understand the real, authentic God of the revealed Word the less we fall prey to the deceptive schemes of those who would seek to
derail us from Christ.
Growth and transformation into the image of Christ is the process of growing up, out of the childish nature of self. When we willingly
choose to beat back the impulses and enemies of our growth – to do the hard things that bring conformity to Christ – we experience
true personal transformation.
In our next installment, we will discover how personal transformation targets the glorious goal of Christ-likeness.
Please help us strengthen and encourage others in their spiritual leadership – forward this email to a friend and encourage them to
subscribe!
© 2007 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith. All rights reserved.
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