Imitation or Transformation?

Text: Acts 19:11-20

THE GOD OF THE SPECTACULAR

Extraordinary miracles

Healing

Evil spirits cast out

The Usurpers

Pretenders seeking personal gain

Seven Sons of Sceva

Subdued and overpowered

Fled naked and wounded

The Impotence of Imitation

But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of, money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. 2 Tim 3: 1-5

The Importance of Transformation

In Believers

The enslavement to sin is broken

The abandonment of sin and its practices is embraced

There is a dramatic change in the attitudes and actions of the born-again Christian

The pursuit of holiness is fervently sought even at great personal cost

The Impact of Transformation in Us

To the Community

The community will witness the power of God

The fear of the Lord will fall upon them

Jesus will be magnified

The reality of truly changed lives will be abundantly evident

The gospel will be proven powerful and relevant

Are you holding to a form of godliness, but denying its power to truly transform you? or Are you radically transformed, and publicly and fervently pursuing holiness no matter the cost?