Renovation of the Heart Session 8: Transformation of our Will

Review Transformation into the image of Christ Evil Battle Within To be transformed into what God wants us to be we must practice self-denial Transformation from inside out: – Thoughts- “Mind of Christ” – Feelings- “Rejoicing in the Lord” – Choices/Will- “Obeying Christ”

Introduction What is the most important thing in your life? What is the “one thing” that you really live for? What do your thoughts, feelings, and choices say about what you find most important?

Where are choices made? Does God care about our choices? Why is it often hard to make the right decisions in life and faith? Our decision center has been referred to as our “heart,” “spirit” or “will.” A person with a good heart is someone who has learned to make good choices. It is not a true statement to say, “I have a good heart, I just make the wrong choices.” Christians strive to be individual who make good choices according to what Christ wants.

Our Character FeelingsThoughts Choices Character

Our Character is our true inner identity which is determined by what we think about and allow ourselves to feel and is ultimately revealed by our choices and behaviors. Our Character is ultimately revealed by what we do and feel without thinking. In order for a person to change they must first change their thinking and learn to control their feelings before any choices and behavior will change. This is assuming faith in Christ displayed in self-denial, submission, and obedience to His will.

“Not my will but yours be done” The Christian life is about having one’s personal will become the will of God. The goal is to have all our decisions be made in the “mind of Christ” and according to His will. Transformation of our hearts means that we are willing to make decisions based on what God wants. This involved self-denial. “Single-minded and joyous devotion to God and his will, to what God wants for us—and to service to him and to others because of him—is what the will transformed into Christlikeness looks like.” –Dallas Willard

“Not my will but yours be done” “We find the Christian life so difficult because we seek for God’s blessing while we live in our own will. We should be glad to live the Christian life according to our own liking.” –Andrew Murray Man’s true will is found in the will of God. When we connect our will fully to God’s will there is no longer any conflict. Trying to do God’s will while still doing ours is impossible.

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Romans 6: “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. 14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.”

WWJD—Phil 2:1-11 “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

WWJD—Phil 2: “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Hebrews 12:1-2 1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

What is the “one thing” you live for? Our will should be to do what the Lord’s wants for our lives—full surrender. Simplicity of our faith leads to the one thing— Obeying the Lord Jesus Christ We battle what others will for our lives. Many want Jesus as savior but not Jesus as Lord. Lord’s Prayer

VIM and our Choices Vision: How do we know what the will for our lives is? What is the vision for our choices discovered? – Scripture – Prayer – Counsel Intention: Do we really want to live according to the will of God or according to our own will? Means to transform our will/choices – Scripture learning – Prayers of self-denial and guidance – Fasting – Worship – Service

Our Character FeelingsThoughts Choices Character

Review Thoughts- Developing the mind of Christ through Scripture study and thought control Feelings- Developing joy in the Lord through reliance on Christ to provide strength Choices- Obeying Christ by conforming to his will through Scripture study and prayerful submission.