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Episode 002 – The Deeper Conversion.
We look around us at people wearing the label “Christian,” maybe we even look at ourselves, and wonder. Isn’t there something more? Shouldn’t life in Christ make a tangible difference in our experience and the way we live?
Yes! We are meant to have an experience of Jesus that changes more than our beliefs–It should change our perception, our desires, and the way we live in the world. And that’s exactly what scripture shows–our conversion is a transformation to a life that is deeply rooted and centered in Jesus. And that should change everything about us.
Show Notes
Show notes will not be a transcript. At least not now. You’ll find a few key bullet points, any scriptures references, as well as any other books or resources referenced.
- Conversion isn’t just deciding to believe some new things about Jesus. It’s an experience that alters our perception, plans a new desire within us, and as a result changes our behavior.
- Fruit matters. Fruit is the outward and visible manifestation of an inward reality.
- Matthew 7:15-23 “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves. You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So you’ll recognize them by their fruit. Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven. On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?’ Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!’”
- Real fruit is not the showy spiritual accomplishment we find so impressive. It’s not how well we keep up with our list of religious activities. It’s not how well we know theology. It’s the things that lead to intimacy with Jesus.
- Matthew 7:15-23 “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves. You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So you’ll recognize them by their fruit. Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven. On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?’ Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!’”
- The deeper conversion will change the way we relate to our daily needs.
- Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.”
- The deeper conversion will result in a change in our character.
- Galatians 5:22-25 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit.”
- The deeper conversion will leave us as rooted, restful people, no longer driven and striving.
- John 15:1-8. “Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me.”
- Many of us have been trained by our church experience to be Fruit Machines, manufacturing visible fruit to prove our conversion. But fruit isn’t manufactured. It grows.
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