Life's Healing Choices - Week 5

The Transformation Choice
Message by Pastor Terry Crawford
Covenant Church

Key Scripture Reference
Matthew 5:6 NIV84

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Note 1
In choosing righteousness, we are also choosing not to hunger and thirst for unrighteousness. Only righteousness brings fulfillment and happiness

Scripture Reference 1
Romans 12:1-2 NIV84

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Note 2
TRANSFORMATION CHOICE:
Voluntarily submit to every change God wants to make in my life and humbly ask him to remove my character defects.

Note 3
Change is not painless. Going from single to married takes adjustment and dying to ourselves. Giving birth to new life means going through labor and delivery. Growing pains from puberty to adulthood leave emotional scars and baggage. Removing cancer to get to health is painful and there has to be a recovery period.

Scripture Reference 2
Genesis 32:11 NIV84

Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, and also the mothers with their children.

Scripture Reference 3
Genesis 32:24-31 NIV84

So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.” Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip.

Note 4
As we passionately, actively hunger and thirst for righteousness, as we wrestle with God and hold on with perseverance, even through the pain of change, God transforms us from trespasser, claim jumper, enemy, lost to sons and daughters.
We have a new name (God Rules / Prince of God) and a new walk.

Prayer
Prayer: Have you made the Transformation Choice? Do you hunger and thirst for righteousness or are you still filling yourself with ho ho’s and no no’s? Are you wrestling with God, holding onto him with all your might? Have you asked him to make the changes He wants to make in your life?