Growing through discipleship Point 3
Jan 20, 2022 | by Teacher Michael Carter
We grow as disciples through Conversion – Psalm 19:7
Principle: Conversion is the process of change and transformation. Matthew 18:1-3
Application: Follow and obey the word and the Spirit of God to put off some things and to put
on some things. Colossians 3:5-14
Conversion is necessary after you get saved in order to grow with God and in the faith
It starts with being born again. John 3:3 It’s not about nationality, genealogy or religion. It’s about getting your nature changed through being reborn of the Spirit of God. Galatians 6:15 When we repent and ask God to forgive us, and invite Jesus into our hearts as savior, the Spirit of God enters in and recreates our spirit and causes us to be reborn of the Spirit of God. John 3:6
The necessity to be reborn of the Sprit of God is the result of Adam’s sin in the garden.
God told him that if ate off of the tree he world die in Genesis 2:17. This was a spiritual death, not physical. And because he was the first man, spiritual death was passed down to humanity Romans 5:12. Therefore, if anyone desires to be a child of God and a citizen in His kingdom, they must be reborn of the spirit of God into it. Ephesians 2:19 / John 3:5-8
Becoming born again is the beginning of a wonderful journey with God and the faith
God is no longer just your creator; He now is your father Galatians 4:6. Yet, and although you were reborn in your spirit, your body and soul are still the same. Your spirit was converted, now it's your soul that needs to be converted Psalm 19:7.
Discipleship through conversion impacts your thinking and your behavior. Conversion changes you. anchors your soul, empowers, and causes you to be Christ-likeness.
When we do not walk in the process of conversion, we don't grow and remain the same.
After getting saved, many don’t submit to discipleship through conversion. So, they don’t change and grow. Their behavior and lifestyles are no different from the world. They still act like they did before they got saved. They may be religious or walk in forms of Godliness, but aren’t experiencing power, growth or change. This makes their faith non impactful and unfruitful. So they simply live carnal or as worldly Christians. Romans 8:5-8
Not good; and it positions you to miss Jesus when He returns to catch the church away.
Matthew 24:3-13 /1st Corinthians 15:51-53 /1st Thessalonians 2:19 /1st Thessalonians 4:13 -18 When He returns, He is not looking for a worldly living carnal church. Ephesians 5:27 He is returning for those who are looking for Him, and living set aside lives. Hebrews 9:28 You want to be converted, living right when He returns to be caught away with Him.
Choose to be discipled through conversion, and experience the influence of God, growth and transformation.
It causes us to be good witness to the world of the influence of God on our lives. It causes us to be lights shining in a dim world, and salt that preserves what is good. Acts 1:8 / Matthew 5:13-16
Discipleship through conversion is the process of sanctification. 2 Corinthians 6:17-18
The word sanctification means to be set apart for holy use. When we got saved, God reserved a set apart place for us to position ourselves in. However, to occupy and walk in it, we have to come out of the world’s ways and lifestyles and set ourselves apart unto God. Conversion is the the process of sanctification through change. It leads to holiness and Christ-likeness.
Conversion is the process of change and transformation.
- “He who rejects change is the architect of decay”. ~Harold Wilson
- “Change will not come if we wait for some other person, or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”~ Barack Obama
- “God grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change, the courage to change the one I can, and the wisdom to know it's me” ~ Author Unknown
Conversion is the process of putting off and putting. Colossians 3:5-14
This text begins by telling us to mortify. This term means to subdue or to die to. Romans 6:1-6
We do this by rejecting and dying to these areas of our lives that are sin or displeasing to God. This is the application of taking up our cross Luke 9:23. Taking up our cross is us being on the cross, dying to those areas of sin, and asking God for forgiveness and strength to overcome them.
To put off is the application of mortifying our lives and actions according to the word.
We’re turning from them, casting them down. You’ve stopped and are dealing with them as something dead to you. Notice that they are areas of our flesh and the world. We are to repent and grow out of these areas. Also, notice we are to choose and do this ourselves; God will not make us do it. However, and thankfully, He will straighten us in the process. 2nd Corinthians 4:7
This process is not just about what we are putting off to correct; it’s also about what we are putting on to grow and become our very best and Christ-like. Galatians 3:27 As we put off and reject some things, we are to yield and put on Christ. Often it’s new things or sometimes the opposite of what you put off. As we put on, we are strengthened to put off. This helps us to become our best, Christ-like and imitators of God as His children. Ephesians 5:1
We do this by exchanging our perspective of our selves with who God declares we are in his word.
a good example of this is Gideon in Judges 6. An angel appeared to him, declaring who God called him to be. Judges 6:11-12
However, Gideon's opinion of himself was a little different than who God created and called him to be. Judges 6:15.
Gideon needed to put off the opinion and perspective he had of himself, and put on God's declaration of who he is. Herein also is the power of God's affirmation. Affirmation is associated with who we are. Gideons problem was the need to be affirmed.
He knew God could move. His problem was whether God would use him. Judges 6:36
The acts of putting out flees weren't about his lack of faith in God, it was about his doubt that God wanted to use Him.
Once Gideon received affirmation from God he put off or exchanged his original perspective of himself, and put on God's perspective of himself. He led the campaign to victory and later became a judge in the nation. This is the power of conversion. It is the power of putting off and putting on. It will elevate you according to who God declares you are in His word.
This will assist and cause you to become Christ-like and the best rendition of yourself.
Thankfully, who we can become is not based on our past, ethnicity, gemology or others opinions.
Its based and principled in who God has design, created, called and declared we are in His word. Even if we don't see ourselves in that manner at the time, God's word is still the same. Its up to us to put off, or reject that negative narrative and perspective we have and put on or exchange it for who God declares we are in His word. This is the process of conversion.
Here are just a few examples of putting off and putting on.
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You’re putting off being out of control; and putting on temperance, self control
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You’re putting off sexual and fleshly sins; and putting on self control and holiness
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You’re putting off hate, malice, bitterness and lying; and putting on forgiveness, love and truth
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You’re putting off negative false characterizations of you; and putting who God says you are.
It’s not easy. But that’s’ why we yield to the strength of God to empower us to do it. It is a process of accepting and yielding to God’s strength and word. Romans 6:13-19 In the process, we become our very best and grow in Christ likeness.
Discipleship through Conversion is a cornerstone in our relationship with God and faith
In point I we talked about learning and applying the word of God. In point 2, we looked at developing a prayer life. It is our submission and application of the word of God and our response to the prompting and convictions of the Holy Spirit that defines the process of sanctification and conversion. Ephesians 5:26-27 / Psalm 19:7. It will change and empower your life.
Be led by the word and the Holy Spirit; follow and obey; and be converted.
Don’t look for ways to compromise or ways justify wrong doing, bad choices or your flesh. That undermines your growth and transformation. Put those things off, and put on Christ. And reject false characterizations of you that don’t line up with the word of God. Except and put on who God says you are. Conversion changes, empowers and transforms us into Christ-likeness.
Principle: Conversion is the process of change and transformation. Matthew 18:1-3
Application: Follow and obey the word and the Spirit to put off some things and to put
on some things. Colossians 3:5-14
Click here for questions
Click here for point 4
Growing Through Discipleship – Matthew 28:18-20
Point 3 - We grow as disciples through Conversion – Psalm 19:7
Point 3 test questions
1. According to John 3:3 what did Jesus tell Nicodemus he had to do to enter the Kingdom of God?
2. According to Romans 5:12, what was passed down to humanity from Adam’s sin?
3. When you became born again, what part of your nature changed?
4. What part of you nature needs to be converted?
5. According to 2nd Corinthians 6:17-18, when we become born again, how should we interact with the world?
6. According to Acts 11:26, what does the word Christian mean in that text?
7. According to Colossians 3:5-14 what is the process of conversion?
8. According to 2nd Corinthians 3:18, our lives are what from glory to glory?
9. What did you learn and glean from this point?
10. How will you apply this point in your life?