Page! 1 of! 6 Q. Who wants to go Deeper in and with God? Surely everyone does! This Divine Destiny message shows the process and practical steps of going as deep as you want in God and become transformed into His image at the same time. PART 1 BREIF REVIEW GOD S ORINGAL PLAN: God has always wanted a people LIKE HIM to reflect Him and walk in His glory! For children of God to mature into Sons of God in HIS IMAGE and LIKENESS and a Bride that reigns with Him forever (Romans 8:19; Isa. 9:7; Rev 3:21). It s why in Genesis 1, God said: Let us make man in our image (appearance), after our likeness (character and nature) Genesis 1:26 YOUR DIVINE DESTINY Your Divine Destiny is highlighted in Romans 8:29: For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son (Christ). Image is the Greek word eikōn = Appearance, Character and Nature as in Genesis 1:26, Let us make man in our image (appearance), after our likeness (character and nature). We also covered how Predestination is not God s deciding who goes to heaven or hell but rather Predestination is a Place (IN Christ) a Predetermined Path that EVERY Believer should be conformed to Christ s image. We also shared how our High Call/Divine Destiny is for us to be confirmed to His image. Phil 3:14 - I press toward the Goal for the prize of the upward call of God IN Christ Jesus. Note: Referring to being IN CHRIST is used throughout the New Testament and over 20 times in book of Ephesians alone. The High Call is IN Christ Jesus AND Conformity to His Image! Therefore our Number 1 Goal and Highest Calling as believers is: 1. Your #1 Calling is...to KNOW Him and be Conformed to HIS IMAGE. 2. Your 2nd Calling is your MINISTRY Assignment on this earth. Knowing God (Intimacy) and become conformed to Him (His Nature) is more important than what we do for Him. Remember in Matthew 7, Jesus said that many would highlight all they did for Him we did many great things in your name but He would say depart from Me, I never knew you. That greek word for knew can also apply to close intimacy/oneness in marriage. Notice how in Matt 7:22 they were focusing on the gifts and what they did? Spiritual Gifts are NOT a sign of Spiritual Maturity they are GIFTS, not earned! We have both seen and heard of some of the most spiritually immature people move in dramatic gifts of the Spirit. The Sign of true Spiritual Maturity is the not gifts but rather the Fruit of the Spirit the Nature of God operating in us. The DIVINE Nature of the eternal Godhead LIVING IN US. It s why 2 Peter 1 declares we are Called to be PARTAKERS of HIs Divine Nature. I thought it important to expand on this for a moment. Now on to Part 2 HOW do we walk in our Divine Destiny of being conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29)?
Page! 2 of! 6 PART 2 HOW To Walk In Your Divine Destiny? Note: This us a broad overview. Each aspect could be a full message itself. You will also see several Groups of 3 in this message. The number 3 = Divine Completeness (Trinity, etc). We will look at: 1. Image of Christ - What we are to be conformed / transformed into! 2. The Process - we must understand there is a process involving our choice 3. Practical Steps to be Transformed - going much deeper with God 1. Image of Christ - What we are to be Transformed into! The Image of Christ Appearance and Likeness (Divine Nature) Mt 17:1 2, Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. 1A. Appearance Transfiguration Son of God His was transfigured into incredible Light. Jesus set the example for us to follow. He showed the pathway for children of God becomes mature Sons of God. This pathway is revealed in Matt 16:24-25, repeated in Mark 8, Luke 9, and highlighted throughout the New Testament Epistles. Also see Romans 8:19. Note: The Greek word for Transfiguration is metamorphoō that can be translated Transformation. It s also the root word for being conformed to His image in our key text of Romans 8:29. This Greek word Metamorphoō is used only 4 times in the New Testament. The first 2 times were regarding Jesus transfiguration in Matt 17 & Mark 9. The other 2 times highlight the process of HOW to be conformed / transformed into His image! We will cover those later in Part 3. 1B. His Nature = Love & Light God s Divine Nature and Glory are expressed in LOVE & LIGHT! Love and Light are the 2 most powerful forces in the universe! God just doesn t just have love He IS LOVE and He s made of Light! Conformed to Christ includes becoming Love and Light! The more of Him in us = the more Light is in and can shine through us. Once you become filled with HIM/LOVE your whole being becomes LIGHT and a transformation takes place. Both Paul and John had a revelation of this and exhorted believers to walk in God s love and light (See Eph. 5:1-2, 8; John 12:36; 1 John 1:7). Paul exhort that we are to be imitators of Him (be like Him in words and behavior/nature) as little children maturing into adults (Eph. 5:1-1). Note: Some point to 1 Cor. 15 & 1 John 3- when Christ returns we shall be like him and have a glorious body. True, but that is about OUTWARD appearance we are talking about INWARD transformation. God wants us to FIRST Become Like HIs Son INWARDLY. It s important to understand, Spiritual Maturity and Character cannot be created it must be formed, fashioned, and forged inwardly. It starts with His Divine nature growing in us like a seed filling us with His LOVE, then works outwardly in fruit, anointing and light (Transfiguration, Glorious Body)! Also see 1 Pe 2:9; Daniel 12:2-3 & 1 Cor. 15:40-42.
Page! 3 of! 6 It not so much about us bring IN Christ (Self-focused). It s about who CHRIST IS IN US! = Christ Focused. We must decrease He must increase! We are to be Christ vessels possessed, consumed and filled by Him. It is transformation of our behavior unto the NATURE of HIM that is part of the Full Gospel! We are to be the fragrance of Christ everywhere we go. It s Christ IN us the hope (promise) of glory. Col. 1:2. The Focus is not us living FOR God, the Focus is Christ Living IN and through us - by HIS grace. Grace is much more than unmerited favor it s the LIFE/Nature of Christ in us! (Divine Empowerment). Grace is the Divine Empowerment of God IN us with HIS Life (2 Peter 1:2). 2: It s a Process We are Predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29). Predestined = PATHWAY & PROCESS unto Transformation. Understand Transformation is a Process a Journey involving your cooperation (not a default advancement). Today s Distorted Grace message says Jesus dd it all therefore all you need to do is enjoy the benefits. Yes, He made the way, but we must still walk the path conforming us into the image of Christ. Thus, the distorted Grace message has kept many at the Gate of Salvation" and missing out on a glorious journey and all God has for them! 3 THINGS SHOW THE PROCESS A. Tabernacle of Moses (3 Levels) The Predestined PATHWAY/ PROCESS was foreshadowed in the Tabernacle for Moses. God s Tabernacle = Symbol of the Journey the Christian Life is Destined to Be! Our Christian Journey is one from faith to faith and from glory to glory. Just as the Tabernacle has different levels of Holiness and Glory = so does our walk with the Lord. And there are degrees of the FULLNESS of Christ IN US depending on our level of Surrender TABERNACLE OVERVIEW (See DIAGRAM Next Page) LEVEL 1: OUTER COURT The Gate = Salvation is like Entry into the Outer Court Note: One gate = only one way in = Jesus is the Gate (John 10:9) Brazen Alter Place of Sacrifice Basin Cleanse and Wash = washed by Water of the Word LEVEL 2: INNER COURT - HOLY PLACE Lampstand The Bread of His Presence Altar of Incense LEVEL 3: MOST HOLY PLACE His Shekinah Glory dwelt
Page! 4 of! 6 Ark of Covenant HOLY OF HOLIES Altar Incense Bread of His Presence Lampstand INNER COURT (THE HOLY PLACE) Laver/Water (Washing) OUTER COURT Brazen Altar (Sacrifice) THE GATE (ONE WAY IN) Tabernacle Note: Salvation is the Gate/entry way into the Outer Court. Salvation is vital, beautiful and transformational but salvation and going to heaven are NOT the goal! Salvation is the way back to God s Original Intent to have a people in His Image and likeness! (Gen. 1:26) Salvation is the 1st Step to walking into your Divine Destiny! The Tabernacle represents a Journey from Glory to Glory (2 Cor. 3:18) There are degrees of the fullness and the glory of Christ IN US depending on our level of Surrender. God wants us to Journey into the Holy Place and ultimately into the Most Holy place of His Fullness! Yet so many are stuck back in the outer court and wondering why they are living mundane Christin lives and spiritually immature. You weren t created to be saved you were created to be a Bride - who is like Him in His image and likeness! The GOAL is NOT going to HEAVEN The GOAL is a HEAVENLY PEOPLE LIVING NOW Representing Him and RELEASING HEAVEN ON EARTH! B. Seed of Christ (Process) The Seed of Divine Destiny in you! 1 Peter 1:23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable [seed], through the living and enduring word of God. Eternal life is not us living a long time forever. Eternal life is the Eternal one (Christ) taking up residence INSIDE of us and becoming the LIFE of the Believer. God the Father has planted the SEED of His Son (Christ) in us He expects it to Grow into a Harvest that is the fullness of HIS SON in US. We are destined to mature into the the FULL MEASURE of the Christ. Eph. 4:13 [The Five-fold ministry is for] the Equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine. God put CHRIST IN US His Expectation is CHRIST THROUGH US unto Fullness.
Page! 5 of! 6 Christ Life enters us in SEED form and it is meant to GROW and increase into His Image. It s a journey and process it does not happen overnight. Like the how Water and Sun bring forth the LIFE from the SEED. Water = Symbolizes Word of God Sun = Symbolizes God s Presence The more of God s Word and His Presence = the more growth of Christ in us. C. The ButterFly (3 Levels) Gal 4:19 - My little children, for whom I travail again (in prayer) until Christ is formed in you. Formed = morphoō = to morph into the same nature Both Formed and Conformed involves a transformation from immature to adult. Spiritual maturity is a process. Like from a caterpillar to a Beautiful Butterfly! Tabernacle & Butterfly Parallel Outer court = Born - crawling - Destined to be a ButterFly! Inner Court = Cocoon - where Transformation takes place! Most Holy = Fullness of ButterFly! The Pattern of our Spiritual Growth Process is shown in: A. Tabernacle of Moses B. Seed of God = Child of God C. The transformation of a Butterfly 3. HOW Are You Conformed/Transformed into Christ's Image? Practical Steps HOW to advance in your Christian Journey going Deeper In God. An invitation to the Greatest Journey ever! THERE ARE REQUIREMENTS TO GET INTO THE INNER COURT STAGE 1. OUTER COURT = LIVING SACRIFICE & CLEANSED 3A. Brazen Altar = Place of Sacrifice = dying to self / Take up Cross / Follow Him Mt 16:24 25 - If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. The True GOSPEL of Jesus Christ = Death to the SELF LIFE that CHRIST may LIVE WITHIN. The True GOSPEL involves the High Call of following His example! Taking up our Cross means dying to self = we then fine true newness of life (Rom 6:4). Only the Crucified Life will experience and walk in true Resurrection Life now! The Cross is not just an instrument of death but a Gateway to the Fullness of LIFE!
Page! 6 of! 6 STEP 1. Become a Living Sacrifice - Die to Self = Alive to Christ Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service [what you should do!] Seed Example: True Life comes from death. The outer husk of the Seed must die and fall away so that LIFE within it can Spring forth out of the Earthiness and towards the Heavens itself LIFE in the Heavens. That s God s plan for us the power of our soul/flesh/natural living to be broken so that the SEED CHRIST the LIFE can come forth! The Power of LIFE is in a SEED - that pushes for growth. If we LIVE FOR SELF then the Seed Christ remains a Seed The work of the Cross is driving OUT that Self life = His increase and our decrease. Dying to Self is the first step to Christ increasing in us growing and dominating us (Glorious Life)! Q. Are you willing to LOSE your Life in order to have Christ? The measure of our resistance with be the measure of His shallowness in us. The Measure I m willing to Lose My Life = will be the Measure of the Fullness of the Life of Christ in me. The Measure of the Fullness of the Life of Christ in me = will be the Measure of the Effectiveness of the Holy Spirit through me in every area of life. Sacrifice and Prayer also opens the doors for the Light Heaven to be released in our lives. 3B. Basin of Water Sanctified by Washing with God s Word Throughout Scripture God s Word is referred to as Water to cleanse and purify. Eph 5:26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the Word To Sanctify means to set apart, dedicated and devoted unto God. Also to treat as holy. Also cleansing was required before the Priests could go into God s Holy Place / Inner Court (Ex. 30:17-21). Psalm 24 - Who may stand in His Holy Place? He who has Clean hands and a Pure heart Sacrifice and Sanctification/Cleansing ourselves in full devotion to God s opens the door to the deeper things of God and ushers us into the INNER COURT of God s dwelling Place. Christ made the way for us but it s now up to us to follow Him - also laying our lives down as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1), be fully devoted to Him, washing ourselves with His Word (Eph. 5:26). CONTINUED NEXT: We go into the INNER COURT = 3 Practical Steps to be Conformed/Transformed into the image of Christ.