Dear reader: The purpose of this work
“Reflections On The Transforming Power of God” is to glorify God the Father,
God The Son And God The Holy Spirit, to encourage believers in their walk, and
interest others to pursue Him. If you are encouraged by what you read herein or
become interested in a deeper understanding of God, please contact us at: stevelampman@comcast.net
Transforming Power; The Work Of God On Behalf Of Man
It was by the grace of God that Steve was
brought to a saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It was by God’s
longsuffering that he has been sustained in that faith. Steve became a Christian
on November 17, 1961 when as a young marine on liberty he came upon a street
meeting held by Open Air Campaigners for Christ in the city of Los Angeles,
California. For the remaining three years of his enlistment after coming to
faith, Steve immersed himself in various books and studies concerning his
relationship with Christ.
During those three years he worshipped at Granada Heights Friends Church in La
Mirada, CA. Sunday mornings and the Church of the Open Door in Los Angeles, CA.
Sunday evenings. Steve was encouraged by three families who were members of
Granada Heights Friends Church and nurtured his faith. To these three families
he will forever be grateful.
Those three years were a tremendous blessing to Steve, and it was the
foundation gained in those three years that sustained him through several
tumultuous years during which he walked away from a faithful walk with the Lord
and lived as a prodigal son. But thanks to God, Steve was still a son, and as
the prodigal of Luke 15:8-22 was never disowned by the Father. In 1985, after
living a life of riotousness that almost destroyed him, Steve surrendered to
the authority of God and has since been in service of his Lord and Savior,
Jesus, the Christ.
Steve readily acknowledges that it was and is only the grace of God that
allowed him to remain alive during those years and by His love that Steve was
brought back to fellowship with Him. This grace and love, Steve believes, is
best spoken of in Romans 8:28-29: “And we know that all things work together for
good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his
purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to
the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and who he called, them
he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”
It is confirmed in this passage that each child of God is being conformed
(being changed) to the image of Jesus Christ. First, however, God calls that
person out of the world into a loving relationship with Himself, making him a
son. He justifies that person so that they may have fellowship one with the
other and also that justification makes it possible for him to eventually be in
the very presence of God.