The Real You

It seems like the "Real You" keeps changing in each season. Maybe it is because I have faced many seasons and God keeps teaching me how to look at my life and His plan. We know we learn through our experiences, our survival, and persistence in what we face.

Sometimes as leaders, we are taught the Do’s and the Don’ts of leadership. But in my life, I find what I do as a leader comes from what I do personally at home when no one is watching in my quiet times.

God has good, pleasing, and perfect plans for His children. He wants us to be transformed people with renewed minds, living to honor and obey Him. Because He wants only what is best for us and because He gave His Son to make our new life possible, we should joyfully give ourselves as living sacrifices for His service.

ROMANS 12:1-2: Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies? I encourage you to surrender yourselves to God to be His sacred, living sacrifices. And live in holiness, experiencing all that delights His heart. For this becomes your genuine expression of worship.
I know we have heard many sermons and lessons on these verses. But I pray we have new understanding, and everything changes when we truly obey and live this to His fullest.

What should be our response to God’s mercies, His miracles in our lives, His voice as He chooses us to be a servant, a leader?

1. Surrender Yourselves to God

The first big step is to give all my everything to God. This is surrender to God to be His sacred, living sacrifices.

• The real you always comes from a heart surrendered. 

According to God’s law in the Old Testament, a priest would kill the animal, cut it into pieces, and place it on the altar. Sacrifice was important, but God made it clear, obedience from the heart was much more important. Religious ceremonies or rituals are empty unless they are performed with an attitude of love and obedience. “Being religious” (going to church, serving on a committee, giving to charity) is not enough if we do not act out of devotion and obedience to God. *(I Samuel 15:22; Psalms 40:6)

• Surrender as living sacrifices. 

This means to lay aside our own desires, giving our energy and resources to Him, trusting Him to guide us. We are forgiven, and we are grateful.

• Surrender is daily. 

His mercies are fresh each day. Every day there is preparation for service.

2. Live in Holiness Experiencing His Delight

We find God’s way as we worship Him.

• This becomes our genuine expression of worship. 

Worship brings us into His Presence, and He can continue to show us His love. His plans for our lives are given when we are in His presence.

• His ways become what is best for us. 

It is easy to get caught up in our plans, our agenda, but our personal dedication and commitment is what He is looking for.

3. Be Inwardly Transformed by the Way You Think 

(Verse 3-4) Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in His eyes.

We are taught all of our lives “to think big” and learn to be independent. But Paul knows this journey will lead us on the wrong path.

• Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world. 

These can be selfish and corrupting. This transformation must go deeper than behavior and actions. One translation is: “Don’t be squeezed into the mold of this present age.”

• Allow God to transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. 

I have seen many accept Christ, but it became a challenge to have a new mindset. As pastors and leaders, we always encourage everyone to get into the word of God, learn what their new master says, join a small group and study, study, and learn daily. We must do our part to be open to Him and to learn His ways so we can become “His leader” and do it His way. I found out a long time ago, I can have a good idea but when I allow Him to transform my thinking, the good idea can become a God idea as He will give us a “better” idea.

• Being transformed is a life-long process. 

His words keep changing us. It is possible to avoid most worldly customs and still be proud, selfish, and arrogant. When the Holy Spirit renews and redirects our thinking, we are truly transformed.

• Don’t evaluate yourself by worldly standards of success and achievements. 

We can think more highly of ourselves. Sometimes we don’t realize we are depending on the applause of others and their standards rather than depending on God’s approval.

4. You Will Know God’s Will in Your Life 

As I look back, I have asked and been asked so many times, “How do I know God’s will?” And this is huge! This can change everything, our relationships and future. God’s word will give you His way to live as we follow. He keeps speaking His plan to us.

Let’s review:

   A. Surrender Everything as you grow and move into His plan and future.   

   B. Live a holy pure life in His power.

   C. Change your mind set by the work of the Holy Spirit. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a life satisfying and perfect in His eyes.

Conclusion:

We have shared today about the “Real You”. As leaders, I think we desire to be the “Real Deal” and the one our Lord keeps changing to be like Him. As we move in these steps, we will automatically be ready for His instructions and plans. We will DO because of who we are becoming! As we honor and obey Him, God’s will in our life will be good, pleasing, and perfect. We will become the leader that changes our world.