Transformational Ministry

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Transformational Ministry

• Part 7. Revelation Through Suffering

All Bible quotations are NKJV unless otherwise
noted.
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Review of Last Teaching

• Revelation of fortress sin

• The devils assault

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Overview of Transformation

• Five Rs
• Regeneration
• Revelation
• Repentance
• Restitution
• Renewing of the mind

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The Cycle of Renewal

• Without regeneration, we cant hope for renewal
• A person may turn over a new leaf, but will
  likely return to his old ways (Jer. 1323)
• Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard
  its spots? Then may you also do good who are
  accustomed to do evil.
• To achieve regeneration, we must throw ourselves
  at His mercy and surrender to Him
• Then we go through the cycle of renewal until
  renewal occurs

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How Do You Know Renewal Has Happened?

• Instinctive reactions become new
• Renewal means the inner man has brought about
  fundamental change in the outer life
• The change may take a long time (years, even most
  of a lifetime)
• God expects us to be faithful at whatever level
  we are at (Phil. 316)
• Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already
  attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be
  of the same mind.
• The Devil wants to convince us well never
  change, but hes wrong

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Suffering is a Key Ingredient to Sanctification

• Effect of suffering proven character (Rom.
  53-4)
• 3 And not only that, but we also glory in
  tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces
  perseverance 4 and perseverance, character and
  character, hope.
• Does suffering automatically bring proven
  character? No
• Suffering points out our fleshly responses
• Survival instincts are deeply rooted
• God calls us to lose our lives (including
  survival instincts)

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We Are Not Usually Thankful for Illumination

• John 319-20
• 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light
  has come into the world, and men loved darkness
  rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
  20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light
  and does not come to the light, lest his deeds
  should be exposed.
• Example of doctor saying you have cancer
• People may be initially receptive, but draw away
  as the lights are turned on
• Assume the initial response is not joyful
• Need to forsake sin (Prov. 2813)
• He who covers his sins will not prosper, But
  whoever confesses and forsakes them will have
  mercy.

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Self-Esteem is a Barrier to Healing

• Out culture says mans greatest problem is not
  enough self-esteem
• God says we do not have a problem with
  self-esteem
• We should love our neighbor as ourselves
• We love ourselves too much
• We have too low a view of God and too high a view
  of ourselves

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Illumination is Unpleasant

• If we want people to feel good, dont turn on
  lights!
• If our goal is to help people experience Christ,
  boldly turn on the lights
• Illumination will make people walking in sin feel
  rotten
• Peoples initial reaction is about themselves
• People often try to deflect the light
• They also try to blame the bearer of the light
• Later, people may have feelings of impurity and
  despair
• Two possible solutions
• Injection of self-esteem
• Throw ourselves at the feet of a Savior (1 John
  19)
• If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just
  to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
  unrighteousness.

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When Do We Feel Better?

• It begins when we repent (Acts 319)
• Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins
  may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing
  may come from the presence of the Lord
• It is fulfilled when we practice righteousness
• The sinner rests in Christs work on the cross
• Healers need to have faith that people can change
• Healers need to know Gods diagnosis and
  prescription for sin
• Thief feels better when hes generous and gives
  away money (Eph. 428)
• Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let
  him labor, working with his hands what is good,
  that he may have something to give him who has
  need.

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The Providential Storm

• The reservoir represents lifes experiences
• Normally your life goes fine many admire the dam
• A storm comes and causes cracks to form in the
  dam
• Where is the problem here? The storm or the dam?
• Many of us blame the storm people around us,
  circumstances. Were the victims.
• But the problem is in the dam

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God Brings the Storms

• He doesnt promise that storms wont come
• He promises when they do, the life not built on
  His word will fall (Matt. 724-27)
• 24 Therefore whoever hears these sayings of
  Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise
  man who built his house on the rock 25 and the
  rain descended, the floods came, and the winds
  blew and beat on that house and it did not fall,
  for it was founded on the rock.
• 26 But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine,
  and does not do them, will be like a foolish man
  who built his house on the sand 27 and the rain
  descended, the floods came, and the winds blew
  and beat on that house and it fell. And great
  was its fall.

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Few Will Admit the Problem is in the Dam

• Even fewer take responsibility for our actions
  that contributed to the onset/severity of the
  storm
• We look for relief from the storm, rather than
  release from our destructive and
  character-weakening patterns of living
• We pray for relief, and if it doesnt come, we
  blame God for not loving us enough (or being
  powerful enough) to free us from the storms
• We do not glory in our tribulations (Rom. 53)

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We Need to View Storms as Good

• Storms are Gods providential way of illuminating
  flaws
• People never come and say The problem is me.
• People make all sorts of excuses for sin
• They are blinded to the fact the problem is in
  the dam
• If we get relief, theres another storm coming
• They put whitewash on the dam to make it look
  pretty
• But the cracks will be bigger when the next storm
  hits
• A chain reaction can lead to total collapse
• 10 "It is definitely because they have misled My
  people by saying, 'Peace!' when there is no
  peace. And when anyone builds a wall, behold,
  they plaster it over with whitewash 11 so tell
  those who plaster it over with whitewash, that it
  will fall. A flooding rain will come, and you, O
  hailstones, will fall and a violent wind will
  break out. Ezek. 1310-11

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Storms Can Lead to a Nervous Breakdown

• The dam collapses because it cant cope with the
  storms
• Christian healers should not be overwhelmed with
  a nervous breakdown
• Its a great opportunity for the Christian
• The old coping mechanisms didnt work
• Gives a chance to build a new stronger dam
• Secular psychiatrists try to erect the old dam
  again
• Building self-esteem on sand foundations will not
  work
• We should see a storm as an opportunity for
  illumination
• If there are cracks, we should look for Gods
  purpose
• Eventually we will do so exultantly
• Short road vs. long road (1 Thess. 43a)
• For this is the will of God, your sanctification

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The Example of Job

• Was Job sinful? (Job 11)
• There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was
  Job and that man was blameless and upright, and
  one who feared God and shunned evil.
• Before the storms, the dam looked perfect (Job
  was righteous)
• His understanding of God was able to keep up with
  his experiences
• He experienced storms that God allowed
• Evil ones plan show Job as a self-centered
  servant who would curse God when the benefits
  stopped
• Gods plan reveal flaws in Jobs view of God

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Job Passed the Test

• Job passed the test by remaining faithful
• The storms revealed cracks
• Job was righteous, but not perfect.
• Storms revealed severely wrong views of God
• He ended with blessing of communion with God
• He came to a new realization of who God was and
  who he was
• He repented of wrong view of God (Job 421-6)
• 1 Then Job answered the LORD and said 2 I know
  that You can do everything, And that no purpose
  of Yours can be withheld from You. 5 I have
  heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now
  my eye sees You. 6 Therefore I abhor myself, And
  repent in dust and ashes.
• Job received greater blessing from God
• There is a goal in suffering, if dealt with
  properly

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The Point of Jobs Story

• God, in His infinite mercy, allows us to be
  tested
• The purpose is so we may repent of our flaws
• Testing leads to greater communion with God
• When storms break, we should ask God, What is it
  I need to learn?
• God does not allow suffering without purpose
• It leads to proven character (Rom. 53-5)
• Must be dealt with correctly
• The way to deeper communion with God is along the
  road of suffering

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Responses to Suffering1. Hide Out in the Hold

• This will not lead to deeper relationship with
  God
• We may find relief, but theres a bigger storm
  coming
• The next storm will find a leakier vessel, unless
  we grow with the storms
• The world is filled with storms (Acts 1422, 2
  Tim. 312)
• 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples,
  exhorting them to continue in the faith, and
  saying, We must through many tribulations enter
  the kingdom of God.
• 12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in
  Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

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Responses to Suffering2. Look at the Dam

• We need to face ourselves honestly
• We need to evaluate what the storm is teaching
  us.
• The storm may reveal things that go to the core
  of our being

• Jobs sins were not at the Actions level
• Personal example (Matt. 527-28)
• 27 You have heard that it was said to those of
  old, You shall not commit adultery. 28 But I
  say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust
  for her has already committed adultery with her
  in his heart.

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Summary

• Suffering is a key ingredient in sanctification
• It results in proven character
• Were not usually thankful for it
• Self-esteem is a major obstacle to healing today
• Providential storm
• God brings storms to expose weaknesses in the dam
• We need to view storms as good
• Storms can lead to a nervous breakdown
• Example of Job
• Storms exposed his faulty views of God
• He passed the test
• Responses to suffering
• Hide in the hold
• Look at the dam