How Does Personal Transformation Take Place? (Part 5)
Growing up is often a difficult process, but the benefits are always worth the pain. Personal transformation yields incredible fruit. Paul
explains some of what we can come to expect when he says …
“ … from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which
every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” Ephesians 4:16 (NKJV)
PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION CULMINATES IN A JOYOUS CONCLUSION
Wrapping up this important discussion on the dynamic of personal transformation and its implications to our individual faith
communities, we now focus on its ultimate benefits. While many people use a false bravado today to express their lack of interest in
the recompense of honoring God’s will, it is essential to see why we go to all this trouble in the first place. For the record, let me state
clearly Paul says that the reason we must be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ is for the health of the local church! In
becoming like Christ …
• I am to supply unity to the local congregation – which brings peace of mind. Paul is saying that under God’s direction, the whole
body is fitted together perfectly. In doing this, he tells us of God’s work within the local assembly. How that work happens has already
been explained through the passage we are examining. God calls us to be “speaking the truth in love” which means the motivation of
our hearts is the best for each and every person. It is only the truth that brings us free of sin, Satan and self. When we work with the
Spirit and accept God’s will as revealed in His Word through the exhortation of another, we bring about the unity of God’s body – our
local church. Such unity brings peace of mind to everyone willing to align themselves with God’s heart.
• I am to work within my local church – which brings others help. As each person seeks the unity of the church by speaking the
truth in love and abandoning the childish life, self-sacrificing love manifests itself. We let go of our own needs to meet the needs of
others (Philippians 2.3) – this is true love (John 15.12-13). Such is the fruit of spiritual transformation. And as we are transformed, our
loving sacrifices bring help for each and every person we touch within our local church. As a result of such love and transformation,
my local community of faith becomes healthy.
• I am to cause growth within my local community of faith – which brings health and abundant love. This process of
transformation, repeated in the hearts of more and more of the people who make up our faith community, brings health. Like cells
within our body, as more and more become healthy, so goes the health of the entire body of Christ. Health in God’s body happens
when each individual lovingly sacrifices themselves for the good of others. This repetitive, daily process of self-sacrifice within the
lives of each person inside our community of faith yields the very things we seek for every day: significance, maturity, personal peace
and the assurance of God’s love.
Spiritual health, both of the individual and of our local church, is the end result of personal transformation. As we walk with Christ,
becoming more like Him as we learn from Him, we enjoy the benefits of life in Christ for both ourselves and our family of faith.
In our next lesson, we will begin to explore how God brings about transformation in our local church.
Would you help us strengthen and encourage others in their spiritual leadership? Please forward this email to a friend and
encourage them to subscribe!
© 2007 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith. All rights reserved.
Growing up is often a difficult process, but the benefits are always worth the pain. Personal transformation yields incredible fruit. Paul
explains some of what we can come to expect when he says …
“ … from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which
every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” Ephesians 4:16 (NKJV)
PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION CULMINATES IN A JOYOUS CONCLUSION
Wrapping up this important discussion on the dynamic of personal transformation and its implications to our individual faith
communities, we now focus on its ultimate benefits. While many people use a false bravado today to express their lack of interest in
the recompense of honoring God’s will, it is essential to see why we go to all this trouble in the first place. For the record, let me state
clearly Paul says that the reason we must be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ is for the health of the local church! In
becoming like Christ …
• I am to supply unity to the local congregation – which brings peace of mind. Paul is saying that under God’s direction, the whole
body is fitted together perfectly. In doing this, he tells us of God’s work within the local assembly. How that work happens has already
been explained through the passage we are examining. God calls us to be “speaking the truth in love” which means the motivation of
our hearts is the best for each and every person. It is only the truth that brings us free of sin, Satan and self. When we work with the
Spirit and accept God’s will as revealed in His Word through the exhortation of another, we bring about the unity of God’s body – our
local church. Such unity brings peace of mind to everyone willing to align themselves with God’s heart.
• I am to work within my local church – which brings others help. As each person seeks the unity of the church by speaking the
truth in love and abandoning the childish life, self-sacrificing love manifests itself. We let go of our own needs to meet the needs of
others (Philippians 2.3) – this is true love (John 15.12-13). Such is the fruit of spiritual transformation. And as we are transformed, our
loving sacrifices bring help for each and every person we touch within our local church. As a result of such love and transformation,
my local community of faith becomes healthy.
• I am to cause growth within my local community of faith – which brings health and abundant love. This process of
transformation, repeated in the hearts of more and more of the people who make up our faith community, brings health. Like cells
within our body, as more and more become healthy, so goes the health of the entire body of Christ. Health in God’s body happens
when each individual lovingly sacrifices themselves for the good of others. This repetitive, daily process of self-sacrifice within the
lives of each person inside our community of faith yields the very things we seek for every day: significance, maturity, personal peace
and the assurance of God’s love.
Spiritual health, both of the individual and of our local church, is the end result of personal transformation. As we walk with Christ,
becoming more like Him as we learn from Him, we enjoy the benefits of life in Christ for both ourselves and our family of faith.
In our next lesson, we will begin to explore how God brings about transformation in our local church.
Would you help us strengthen and encourage others in their spiritual leadership? Please forward this email to a friend and
encourage them to subscribe!
© 2007 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith. All rights reserved.
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