I’m In Transition

Text: Mt . 3:13-4:11

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
(2 Co 3:18). NKJV

Right now is either your starting point or your staying point. The Decision Is Yours!

There’s never a moment in your life that you are not transitioning. Key to understand

When we transition from one season to the next… there is a death to what was… therefore we grieve.

Stages of Grief in Transition:

Shock/Denial
Anger
Depression
Bargaining
Acceptance

Grief turns out to be not a state but a process. Grief is like a winding road where any bend may reveal a totally new landscape. — C.S. Lewis

During these transitional periods, as we enter into new unknown territory, we often feel confused, frustrated and disoriented. We can easily become skeptical and apathetic during this season.

However, when we successfully make that transition from what was to what is… we can celebrate. Renewed energy and excitement

No one can avoid transition. So it is important that we know how to deal with it!

Remember - We serve an amazing God who loves us and has the best plan for us!

Jeremiah 29:11 says: “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Lessons From Jesus's Transition

Mt 3:13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?"

15 But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him.

16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.

17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

4:1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.

3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." 4 But He answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD.' "

5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: 'HE SHALL GIVE HIS ANGELS CHARGE OVER YOU,' and, IN THEIR HANDS THEY SHALL BEAR YOU UP, LEST YOU DASH YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.' "

7 Jesus said to him, "It is written again, 'YOU SHALL NOT TEMPT THE LORD YOUR GOD.' "

8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me."

10 Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND HIM ONLY YOU SHALL SERVE.'" 11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

1) To successfully navigate transition I must sincerely Embrace repentance

Vs 13 Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptizedby him… vs 15 it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness."

John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance

John said, “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Mt 3:11)

Repentance - metanoia - to change one’s way of life as the result of a complete change of thought and attitude with regard to sin and righteousness

We weaken repentance when we simply make it about our sins. (That is part) Repentance is a total transformation from our ways, culture, thinking, identity, to his ways, culture thinking and identity. Begins with a change in your thinking.

Rom 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

What got you here will keep you here if you choose to hold on to what needs to be transformed!

What season do you need to repent from… what season are you living in denial from… what season are you still grieving over?

2) To successfully navigate transition I must saturated in His Spirit.

vs 16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

3 Things Jesus Needed in Transition
- An open heaven
- The anointing that remains
- The Affirmation of the father

What did you do this week that you needed Holy Spirit’s help?
Holy Spirit is released when we get out of our boat named comfort

3) To successfully navigate transition I must seek to follow His Voice.

4:1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness

Transition means you are entering new territory and you need a guide

Jn 16:13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

- He will Come
- He will Guide
- He will Speak
- He will Tell

The Supreme Voice is only heard in Prayer!

Psa 25:4 Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; 5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Isa 45:2 I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. 3 I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.


4. To successfully navigate transition I must stand upon His word!

Three times Jesus says "It is written" "It is also written" "It is written"

How did he know what was written… He lived in the Word

Psa 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

5. To successfully navigate transition I must be still and know He is God

vs 11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

Phil 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Walk slowly in transition or you may hurt yourself!

Conclusion

1. Share a time when you thought you would never make it; how God brought you through; and what you learned from it.

2. Share why we must maintain a humble and teachable spirit of repentance at all times.

3. Give an example of a transition when God was taking you in a direction that most everyone else did not agree with.

4. Why is it important to walk slowly in dark times? Why is it hard to walk slowly.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.

— PSALM 46:1-5 (ESV)


THE PRAYER

Heavenly Father, everything around us is shaking. Even as our economies are struggling, COVID is still stalking us, and our nations and communities are fractured and polarized, we choose to take refuge in You. You are not a distant God who is unable to empathize and sympathize with the plight of Your creation. In fact, You are “…a very present help in trouble.” As our whole world trembles in fear, we reach out to You by faith, in praise and prayer, and we receive the life-giving streams of peace and security which only Your presence and power can bring.

Lord, we cry to You today: Freshly fill us with Your peace, that we might become ambassadors of Your peace to a world wracked by terror and anxiety. As the world’s governments grasp for answers, we ask You to establish the government of Your Kingdom in our cities, communities, and nations. In the name of Jesus, we cry out for streams and rivers of Holy Spirit awakening to be released into every one of the world’s continents.

We refuse to be moved any longer by fear, despair, depression, or anger. The thick darkness suffocating our planet is not an indicator of our doom. A new day of revival and transformation is dawning, but it is simply too dark to see it yet. Your promise to help us at dawn is greater than COVID, economic chaos, persecution, polarization, or anarchy. We stand on the promise of Your divine help today.

Heavenly Father, help us, we pray. The forces of destruction can only be held at bay by the release of Your mighty Word. We stand before Your throne, on behalf of our nations, crying out: Lord, heal our lands from this pandemic, unemployment, injustice, and division. There is no answer but You. As governments totter and nations tremble, we cling to You. We rise up with millions of other Christians around the world, in the darkness of this dark hour, and we cry out to You. We cannot be moved when we stand on Your Word. Therefore, we speak to the mountains of peril and pain which are casting dark shadows over the peoples of our world, and we command them to MOVE! Be uprooted from our planet, and be eradicated, in Jesus’ name. In this mighty name of Jesus we pray. Amen.