May 31 2015 Freedom To Change
/FREEDOM TO CHANGE
Romans 12:1-2
Voluntarily submit to every change God wants to make in my life and humbly ask him to remove my character defects.
Romans 12:1-2 – Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to His service and pleasing to Him, and let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind.
I. Where Do My Character Defects Come From?
- My biological inheritance.
Genetics explain predisposition but don’t excuse sin.
- My circumstances, or how I was raised.
Character defects are often attempts to fill unmet needs.
- My choices in life.
Character defects are often positive qualities being misused.
II. Why Is It So Hard To Change Them?
1. Because I’ve had them a long time.
2. Because I confuse my identity with them.
3. Because they have a payoff.
4. Because satan discourages me.
III. How Do I Cooperate With God’s Change Process?
Romans 12:2 – Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
1. Focus on changing one defect at a time.
Proverbs 17:24 – An intelligent person aims at wise action, but a fool starts off in many directions.
2. Focus on Victory one day at a time.
Matthew 6:11 – Give us this day our daily bread.
Matthew 6:34 – Don’t worry about tomorrow, each day has enough troubles of its own.
3. Focus on God’s power not willpower.
Jeremiah 12:23 – Can a leopard take away his spots? Nor can you who are used to doing evil now start being good.
BUT…..
Philippians 4:13 – I can master anything with the help of Christ who gives me strength.
4. Focus on what I want, not what I don’t want.
Philippians 4:8 – Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure. Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about.
5. Focus on doing good, not feeling good.
Galatians 5:16 – If you are guided by the Spirit you will be in no danger of yielding to self-indulgence.
6. Focus on people who help me, not hinder me.
Proverbs 27:1 – As iron sharpens iron, so people can improve each other.
7. Focus on progress not perfect performance.
Philippians 1:6 – God who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in His Grace until His task with you is finally finished.
