Pastor Wayne Cordeiro
November 12, 2006 - W0646

The process of conversion can turn something seemingly useless into something useful. For example, a gust of wind can be bothersome because it stirs up dust and dishevels our hair and clothing. At the same time, the electrical energy it creates as windmills convert that same wind becomes something of value.

The same is true with life. God designed our lives in such a way as to convert something from the lower strata to something higher, something better. For instance, plants take carbon dioxide we exhale (which is poison to us) and uses it to convert it into oxygen. Undrinkable salt water evaporates from oceans and become clouds. Eventually those clouds produce rainfall which is absorbed in the ground, filtered into underground wells, and finally converted to the water we drink. It’s a process:

GOD’S HIGHEST DESIGN IS  CONVERSION.

The food cows eat progresses to four stomachs through a process of regurgitation until it finally converts to the milk we drink. Similarly, God designed people to go through a process of conversion as well. He transforms unclean lives into redeemed ones because the Bible says: “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live”. (Ezek. 33:11) God wants to convert lives in order that we might live.

And sometimes a point of conversion can even be a simple hug. At New Hope, we hug everybody and I’ve seen people converted not just in soul but in lifestyle as well. They may be uncomfortable at first (with all the hugging we do). However, just as the prodigal son received an embrace from his father, a hug is like God welcoming someone home. It can be a conversion point that changes doubt, bitterness, and loneliness into confidence, joy, and hope. Just a simple hug.

In Biblical times, Nehemiah and Ezra lead the rebuilding of a city that had been destroyed. Yet after resurrecting some of the walls they paused and the people began to cry and despair at the massive destruction that still needed to be repaired. Ezra consoled them by saying that progress had been made and “This day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength” (Neh. 8:10). Converting grief to joy is our strength and others will see that strength within us.

So what is joy? It is not a silly and giddy feeling. It is a stalwart confidence, a steady assurance, and a deep conviction that no matter what the dire circumstances God will bring about something good. So how do we convert grief into joy? Here are three simple principles to help us. The first is…

1.     TRAIN YOU EYES TO SEE HIS PRESENCE.

It is so easy to focus on problems which soon take on a negative spirit that overwhelms us. However, when we focus on His presence it is refreshing. “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord”. (Acts 3:19) When you can see His presence it changes our attitude, our countenance, and our spirit.

The Bible gives us an example in Luke 24 of how seeing His presence changes everything. On the way to Emmaus, two of Jesus’ followers were lamenting and complaining about His Crucifixion how their hope of deliverance was now lost when Jesus suddenly joined them. They didn’t recognize Him and as they continued to complain and despair as Jesus listened while He walked with them. When they finally recognized their new companion was indeed Jesus resurrected, their spirits instantly lifted and they ran to tell everyone the good news. Jesus was with them as they felt hopelessness and when they were joyful. At what point did conversion take place? His presence was with them the whole time, yet the switch from despair to joy happened when they recognized Him.

Some months ago when we set up church in the park, there was a threat of stormy weather conditions. So I prayed for good weather. Still it poured and poured Sunday morning. I complained and grumbled to God and the Lord spoke to me and said that I was more concerned with the weather (the problem) rather than focusing on His presence.

It is God’s presence that makes life glorious because even if it didn’t rain, if His presence was missing everything would have been for nothing. So always look for His presence in all circumstances. How do we do that?

·        LET THE ETERNAL DEFINE THE TEMPORAL.

Remember, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (Heb. 10:23). For example, the vows of our marriage are more eternal than the everyday ups and downs. Suppose your spouse was late for an appointment with you. You might mistakenly conclude that your spouse doesn’t love you otherwise they would have been on time. That would be a temporal response. However, the Bible says we must hold fast the confession our hope without wavering. In other words, an eternal response would be because he/she loves me there must be a good reason for being late.  

We might say that’s great, but what do we do if we are facing something more than tardiness like going bankrupt, losing a job, house, or family?

2.     LOOK FOR OPTIONS THAT TELL YOU WHAT YOU CAN DO, NOT WHAT YOU CANNOT.

Never run out of options. If you lose your job and find it difficult to find a job you want, you could pump gas. Yet if your first thought that comes to mind is, “Me, pump gas?” maybe the problem is really your pride. And even if the problem is death itself, your option is to be with Jesus forever. Just never run out of options because when you do and you’ve lost hope, it opens up a way in for the enemy.

According to the Bible, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good …” (Gen. 50:20). This means that God can turn everything ultimately into good if you let Him by always looking for options. Having options means we still have hope. “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28). Remember, God is faithful to His promise and will work with us if we keep looking for positive options. Finally, we can…

3.     CONVERT PAIN INTO WISDOM.

“… even though Jesus was God’s Son, He learned obedience from the things He suffered” (Heb. 5:8 NLT). Even Jesus learned wisdom from His pain. All of us have paid for our mistakes. Yet what is worse than making a mistake is not learning from them. Think about it, we’d be so wise if we could extract one gem or lesson from each experience.

There was a business executive who because of a mistake lost a million dollars for his company. He thought he’d be fired for sure. Instead, his boss told him that he could not afford to fire him because his million dollar mistake was essentially the cost of his training. He learned a valuable lesson from that experience and worked hard to become one of the best innovative businessmen around.

It is the same principle with us. We are not only saved but being saved – it’s an ongoing process The Bible even refers to it this way: “… the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47). It is so refreshing to be around someone who is being saved because that person is like a conversion machine. He can turn grief into joy and is strengthened because of it. That’s how God designed us to be.

Let me conclude with this story. There was a mother who struggled to persuade her young son to practice the piano. She decided to take him to a concert featuring a master pianist hoping that that would inspire him. Just before the concert began, her son slipped away and made his way to the beautifully majestic grand piano on stage. To his mother’s horror, he began playing “Chopsticks!” The master pianist quickly came on stage and whispered into the child’s ear to continue playing and began playing alongside the young boy. Together they made beautiful music and received a standing ovation at the end. The master pianist converted a mistake into a masterpiece.

In the same way, the Bible says: “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28) If we recognize God’s presence in all things we will convert grief into joy and it will be our greatest strength.

God’s highest design is conversion. Nothing is wasted because He is able to convert what is otherwise useless into something productive. The ways we can help to convert grief to joy is to first train our eyes to see His presence even in the midst of tragedy. Second, look for options in every situation. And finally, convert your pain into lessons of wisdom. If you follow those three simple divine principles, it will help you convert grief into the joy of the Lord which is your strength.

Study Questions.

1.      Why do you think God designed life to be a process of conversion?

2.      Can you remember a time when your hope wavered and your response was not defined eternally?

3.      Recall a circumstance in your life when you wondered where God was in whatever you were struggling with. Were you focused on the problem or on the Lord? What have you learned from that experience?

4.      How do you discern options in difficult situations?

5.      Have you always learned lessons from painful experiences?

6.      What was most helpful about today’s lesson?

"All scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong with our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.” (2 Tim. 3:16-17 NLT)

 Sermon Notes Ministry: Debbie Chang, Doreen Rabaino, Leighton Loo,

                                                Jay Tsukayama & Rhonda Pang