Bible Study with the Cincotti’s – Agent of Change – 03/02/2025
Today’s Bible Study, Authored by Arthur Cincotti.
Listen to our Bible Study Discussion at: Agent of Change Audio Podcast
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Agent of Change
“But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.” Acts. 17:6
We have been focusing our studies, recently, on transformation. “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.”
II Cor. 3:18
“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first born among many brethren.” Rm. 8:29
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of you mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Rm. 12:2
The above verses speak of personal transformation. We are beginning to see the value in transformation and living a lifestyle of repentance. The highest form of government is self-government; that is to say, submitting oneself to the authority and rule of God, which is the only way to live and flourish in the kingdom. We have talked about how we should make, as a vital part of our prayer life, Psalm 139:23,24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.” (eternity)
Most of the times, when we contemplate change, we are thinking about outward change. How can I change my circumstances? How can I change my situation? How can I change the hearts of the people around me? How can I change the world that I live in.
Pr. Bob Costello loves to say, “I’ve learned two things in seventy five years; I can’t save anyone and I can’t change anyone.” That’s a powerful lesson. Only God can change the heart and any attempt on our part to accomplish that is witchcraft. Witchcraft’s aim is to control people and circumstances, bending them to our will. Even when change seems to us, from the outside looking in, to be noble or positive, our efforts to convince, cajole, and even manipulate people into change is legalism at best. They may conform for a little while, but until a heart transformation takes place the change will only be temporary. As soon as circumstances confront them they will drift back to their old ways.
We have to be careful of this in ourselves first and determine if transformation has taken place or if we are simply applying will power to change an ugly habit. This will most likely require us to get in touch with the root problems behind the outward manifestation, such as fear, envy, bitterness, unforgiveness, etc. This is a life long journey which may have many markers along the way such as counseling, deliverance, or a supernatural encounter with God that burns away the dross. I can’t help think of Isaiah 6, when the prophet says (vrs 5) “So I said: ‘Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts.’” That’s an encounter! Vrs 6,7 go on to say, “Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said: ‘Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged.’”
Make no mistake, our sin is taken away in Christ alone, but it’s the refiners fire that shapes us and molds us into His image, often times contrary to our wills. Heb. 1:3, “…when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” And Heb. 12:6 says, “For whom the LORD loves He chastens.”
As much as our personal salvation and sanctification is important to God, He has a higher purpose; He is nurturing and purifying His bride, the church, which is the corporate body of all believers, and the invitation is still open to all to enter the ark. The late Pr. Harry Reeder, who did a radio broadcast titled “Conversations”, frequently said that the gospel is not for cultural transformation but for the transformation of individuals who will subsequently go out and transform the culture.
So how do we transform the culture without cajoling, convincing and/or manipulating?
We start with prayer of course. Paul asks the church in Thessalonica to, “…pray for us, that the word of the Lord my run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you. II Th. 3:1
John Wesley was pretty emphatic that God doesn’t do anything apart from prayer. I’m not sure how I feel about the scope of that statement, but I will say that it is a privilege to partner with God in what He is doing in creation, and our first point of contact is through prayer. Ps. 2:8 is beautiful in this regard,
“Ask of Me, and I will give You.
The nations for Your inheritance.
And the ends of the earth for Your possession.”
Should we do something after we pray???
Yes; take our transformed lives, and our being transformed lives and put them on display before the world. Engage the culture around us. For instance, Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, “I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.”
I Cor. 5:9,10
In this way we become agents, even catalysts for change in the lives of people around us. Consider this example:
Suppose that before knowing Christ and being changed by the gospel, you entered confrontational situations with anger and accusation, foul language and personal attack. These were all manifestations of your fallen nature. It probably stimulated a response of similar ugliness. This is the natural course of events when two fallen, self-absorbed entities clash. No surprises here.
But now, having been transformed, you initiate a different approach. You are apologetic if necessary, seeking to reestablish peace with a gentle spirit. This may not instantaneously change the other person but it can and will change the narrative. If they knew you before then they will instantly see the contrast and recognize that a change has taken place. It may take many encounters with the same people to make an impact on them.
Always remembering that only God can change the person we follow up with intercessory prayer and ask God rescue that person from the bondage of sin. This is a war of attrition and we may need to apply great faith and patience which are fruit of a spiritually transformed life.
Paul writes, again to the church at Corinth:
“You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.” II Cor. 3:2,3
Jesus calls us to be salt and light. Salt doesn’t change the food but it certainly changes the flavor. Light doesn’t change the room but it does reveal what is there.
As we step out into a very lost world realize that the battle belongs to the Lord; the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds. We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God was pleading through us. But God gives the increase.
Give Him the glory when the world begins around you begins to turn right side up!
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