...

GRACIOUS TRANSFORMATION OF GODLY TRAVELLERS FOR A GLORIOUS TRANSLATION

Romans 12:1-2; Matthew 25:13-14; Hebrews 11:5-6.

Christian Travelers Network | christian travel groupsWe have been talking about transforming grace, and greater grace for greater glory, and this morning, we are talking about the gracious transformation of godly travellers travelling from earth to heaven, waiting for the time when we will be translated from earth to heaven at the Rapture. Everything we do on earth, if we miss that glorious translation all will be in vain, that was why Jesus says, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26).

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2).  As you belong to Christ, and claim to be born again, be ye transformed. “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.” (Matthew 25:13- 14). When we are not watchful, we are careless, but we are warned to be watchful. The kingdom of God is like a man travelling into a far country. Christ, our Saviour and King of kings has travelled to Heaven already, and we are following in His footsteps as pilgrims and travellers on earth, and as we move with Him every day, we leave more of the world behind us. We are facing one direction, no turning back, no turning back. And as we get older by the grace of God, we leave more and more of the world behind us as travellers. “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of  them  that  diligently  seek him.” (Hebrews 11:5-6). Enoch had heard about Adam and Eve, who sinned and died as a result of that God pronounced the death penalty on the whole of humanity. But Enoch singled himself out. Show me a man who wants to get to heaven, that individual singles himself out. A preacher who wants to get to heaven and take others with him to heaven will single himself out of the multitudes. A pilgrim who is travelling to Heaven has to be different from the multitudes who are going to Hell. There are places where we must not find a gracious and godly believer. If you are going to get to glory, there are some despicable and inglorious places we must not find you. Enoch was married, had children, neighbours and society people around him, and yet he pleased God. He made God the priority of his life. The people who are going to make it at the Rapture are not men-pleasers, not society pleasers but only one thing in view to please God alone by the life you live, prayer you make, and the direction you go. You have gracious transformation and a godly traveler, and then you will have a glorious translation.

  1. THE GRACIOUS TRANSFORMATION OF GUILTY TRANSGRESSORS

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Ephesians 4:22-25,28-29

The Lord has to take the guilt away. You owe a debt that you cannot pay, while HE paid the debt that HE did not owe. He paid your debt so that He can the guilt and condemnation away from you, and give you that gracious transformation so that you will go through life with a grateful heart.

(i)      The Reconciliation and Gracious Transformation of Sinners – 2 Corinthians 5:18-20, Ephesians 2:16-18, Romans 12:1-2, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God  was  in  Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:18-20). You were at enmity with God, you are in darkness, and He is Light. You are guilty and dishonest, while He is perfect, holy and righteous. And then you are reconciled with God. You are the one to change and get reconciled with Him, for GOD will not change. You are the one to change the direction of your life, repent and be reconciled to the Holy God in Heaven. He sent Jesus Christ to reconcile us back to God and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. He takes us the punishment in our reconciliation with Him. It is on record that you are a sinner even because of that single sin. No matter your good deeds, wealth, or kindness to others, that past sin is still there. That sin has to be settled and reconciled with God through Jesus Christ. He is the Son of Man and the Son of God. He is the One that holds the hand of a sinful man and reconciles with the hands of God that Christ alone holds. Then when you are reconciled with God, you will not continue in those sins that made God angry in the past against you. God does not change. “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor  effeminate,  nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous,  nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). As Bible Preachers, we must mention and preach against fornication and adultery in public. Sinners who do not repent, continue in sin, go to Church regularly, and even preach the Bible will not inherit the kingdom of God.

(ii)     The Restoration and Gracious Transformation of Backsliders – Psalm 51:1- 2,7-12; Luke 22:31-32; James 5:19-20, Galatians  6:1,2,5.  Backsliders are the people who slide back. They slide back little by little, that hypocrisy, covering up, old sinful ways come in. What backsliders need is to have restoration. A backslider can remain in a great position like David the king of Israel. There are not many Nathans on the Pulpits today who can confront the highly placed people who have backslidden. But after Nathan confronted David, see his prayer for restoration, “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness:  according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.” (Psalms 51:1-2,7-12). When you have gone back to sin, you must have sorrow, lose the assurance of getting to Heaven, and have the condemnation of sin. So to have good and heavenly joy back, you must repent and be sorrowful for your backsliding.

(iii)    The Repentance and Gracious Transformation of a City – Jonah 3:1-10, 4:11; Matthew 11:20-21,28-30; Acts 8:5-9,12. An individual can repent, a family can repent and turn unto the Lord, and a whole city can repent and turn unto the Lord. “And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying, Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee. So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days’ journey. And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn everyone from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger that we perish not? And God saw their works that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.” (Jonah 3:1-10). Jonah a call, command and commission to do in Nineveh. He wasn’t encouraging, exciting, entertaining, or motivating them in their sinful ways. Pity those preachers who turn their pulpit to entertaining and motivational talks instead of calling those sinners unto repentance towards God. No matter who you are, you are to repent, turn from your wickedness and believe the word of God for you to have restoration and forgiveness of sins. We live in a world where you preach repentance, and people are angry at the preacher, but the city of Nineveh did not do that, they repented at the preaching of Jonah. Restoration comes to the people who turn from their evil ways.

 

  1. THE GODLY TRAVELLERS WITH GROWING THIRST

Hebrews 11: 8-10,13-16; 1 Peter 2:11-12,21

Enoch had that one desire and thirst to make it on the final day. The only thirst that a believer has, is to see God on the final day, and the bubbles of this world will not carry him away. Godly travelers are not passionate about the things of this world, but they are passionate and hungry for God.

(i)      The Good Thirst of Pilgrims for God and Godliness – Psalm 63:1-2; Matthew 5:6-8; Psalm 4:3-4; 2 Peter 3:9-14. When we are born again and travelling to Heaven, there is only one passion in our heart, to make the Rapture and get to Heaven. “O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.” (Psalm 63:1-2). My soul thirsts for God, and not for anything that will feed the flesh and starve the soul. “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness:  for they shall be filled.”  (Matthew 5:6).  The people that  thirst and hunger after righteousness shall be filled.

(ii)     The Growing Thoughtfulness and Passion for Glory – 2 Peter 1:3-7,11; Philippians 4:5-8; 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4; Luke 12:42-48. They are thoughtful in the choices that they make in life. They will not choose anything that will take Heaven away from them. They will not go in any direction that will take the opportunity of getting to Heaven away from them. The more we grow in the Lord, the more thoughtful we are. You are thinking about when Christ will come, and the glory that will follow the Rapture. Do you think of this in your lifestyle, conduct, prayer and all that you do? If you are a true child of God, every day draws you closer to God and increases your distance from the world. “Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all  understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are  lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians 4:5-8). Are you moderate in dressing, character, and interaction with the people of the world? Any check on your utterance, moderation in your behaviour, walking and talking as people who want to get to Heaven, moderate in your wedding ceremonies, moderate in burial ceremonies? No evil thing or sinful practice in this list. The area of our thoughtfulness is on righteous, pure and good things.

(iii)    The Great Thoughts and Plans of God for the Godly – Isaiah 55:7-13; Jeremiah 29:11-13; Titus 2:12-14; Ephesians 5:26-27. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me,  when  ye  shall  search  for  me  with  all  your  heart.”  (Jeremiah 29:11-13). The thought of God about you is that you will get to Heaven after your life on earth and that Calvary will not be in vain in your life. And you must match your thoughts and plans with those of God. God expected end for the children of Israel when they left Egypt was to get to the Promised Land. After God saved us, healed and worked miracles in our lives, His expected end for us is to get to Heaven at last. We must match our plans with the plans of God.

  1. THE GLORIOUS TRANSLATION BEFORE THE GREAT TRIBULATION

Hebrews 11:5-6; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he  had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:5-6). Enoch was translated before the Flood in Genesis chapter 6. Noah entered the Ark with his family who found grace in the sight of God before the Flood came to sweep the whole earth away. We will be translated before the Great Tribulation. The Rapture is to make us not to see death. When the Rapture happens and the Lord takes the believers away, the people of the world will be looking for us, and they will not find us, for we have gone up to be with the Lord. Those who are displeasing God in their behaviour, character, doctrines, and preaching will not go in the Rapture. Those who favour the unrighteous and belittle the righteous will not go at the Rapture. But people like Enoch who pleases God at time will be translated before the Great Tribulation begins.

(i)      The Glorious Translation for the Transformed – Hebrews 11:5-6; Luke 18:8b; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17; 1 John 3:1-33. “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” (Hebrews 11:5-6). What does it mean to be the lonely righteous in the midst of the multitude of unrighteousness? This was what Enoch was, he was lonely without feeling the loneliness of standing out of the crowd. This is what it takes to make the Rapture, that we stand out from the multitudes of people.

(ii)     The Great Tribulation for the Transgressors – Matthew 24:21-22; Luke 21:25- 26,34-36; 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12; Revelations 6:15-17. All the hypocrites, unholy and shallow Deeperlifers will go through the Great Tribulation after the Rapture. “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” (Matthew 24:21-22).

(iii)    The Glowing Trophy for the Triumphant – 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; 2 Timothy 4:7-8; James 1:12; Revelations 3:11-12. The people who will wear the Crown of life will be the people who are triumphant. From the gracious transformation, they will come into the glorious translation, and they will glow forever and ever. “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8). Paul fought a good fight in his lifetime. Paul fought against compromise even in Peter, an Apostle before him. It is the people who can fight sin, corruption and compromise in any country where you that will be translated on that glorious day. Paul was to establish holiness, and sanctification in every way, the winds blew, the fighters against holiness came to him, but he continued until he finished his course and kept the faith. The faith that came to you through our Pastors and Overseers, have you kept that faith? Have you kept the Church, your lives and your families deeper in faith and holiness? Paul was sure of glory before he died. There are some believers who are not sure of glory even on their deathbeds. For Paul, there was no doubt in him. The Lord is coming, the next thing we are looking for is the Rapture of the church. After we have gone, there will be the Great Tribulation on earth. Pray that you will not go through that Tribulation. But you will be caught up, and go up with the Lord in glory, but there must be a gracious transformation, and you will be godly travellers so that you can partake in that glorious translation.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Previous post GREATER GROWTH THROUGH THE GRACE AND GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT
Next post RISING BY GRACE TO REIGNING IN GLORY
Seraphinite AcceleratorOptimized by Seraphinite Accelerator
Turns on site high speed to be attractive for people and search engines.