TRANSFORMED – HOW TO GET CLOSER TO GOD
Message by:
Pastor Terry Crawford
Covenant Church
Shepherdstown, WV
The further away you get from God, the more your life is troubled
The closer you get to God, the more your life is transformed.
The LOST Son & LOVING FATHER: Luke 15:11-24 (ESV)
11And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
17"But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”20’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
- GET FED UP WITH MY LIFE
Luke 15:13-17
13Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!
Luke 10:27a (NIV)
He answered, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; - OWN UP TO MY SIN
Luke 15:17-18
But when he came to himself … I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.
Isaiah 59:2
your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
Psalm 51:1-4
1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. 4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
Isaiah 1:18
“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. - OFFER UP MYSELF
Luke 15:12
Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.
Luke 15:19
Treat me as one of your hired servants.
Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)
1Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. - LIFT UP MY PRAISE TO GOD
Luke 15:23-24
23let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate
Psalm 68:4
Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him—his name is the LORD.
Psalm 13:6
I will sing the LORD’s praise,for he has been good to me.
The HABIT of a Regular Spiritual Check-up:
Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves
2 Corinthians 13:5
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?
1 Corinthians 11:28
Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup.
THE FATHER’S RESPONSE
Luke 15:22-23
22Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.
- This week I will do a spiritual check up and examine my life.
- Today I am taking responsibility for my sins and not blaming others.
- I am fed up with my life far from God, so I am coming to Christ today and offering myself to Him.
