Pastor Gus Brown’s message summary for Sunday, October 19, 2014:
Change is always a very difficult thing, but in some situations, change is necessary. In those situations, we need to be able to take some of the garbage out of our lives.
When it comes to change, it may often involve surrendering something. There is an adjustment period to the newness within change. We need to be able to get accustomed to it. When you accept Jesus Christ, there will be a lot of change. He wants to work within us, for we are His workmanship.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.
Ephesians 2:10
For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.
Philippians 1:6
I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Two things to consider about change: Either you will change as a believer or you will grieve the Spirit, who wants you to change, or you will not change at all because you are unsaved.
Titus 3:5
He saved us—
not by works of righteousness that we had done,
but according to His mercy,
through the washing of regeneration
and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
Change is a renewal, a renovation–a complete change for the better.
Isaiah 1:18-20
18 “Come, let us discuss this,”
says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they will be as white as snow;
though they are as red as crimson,
they will be like wool.
19 If you are willing and obedient,
you will eat the good things of the land.
20 But if you refuse and rebel,
you will be devoured by the sword.”
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
Isaiah 5:20-21
20 Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who substitute darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who substitute bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter.
21 Woe to those who are wise in their own opinion
and clever in their own sight.
Jeremiah 23:14
Among the prophets of Jerusalem also
I saw a horrible thing:
They commit adultery and walk in lies.
They strengthen the hands of evildoers,
and none turns his back on evil.
They are all like Sodom to Me;
Jerusalem’s residents are like Gomorrah.
Ezekiel 16:49-50
49 Now this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, plenty of food, and comfortable security, but didn’t support the poor and needy. 50 They were haughty and did detestable things before Me, so I removed them when I saw this.
A person must decide to allow God to change oneself. Change must come through Him in order to bring one closer to the Lord. Change comes by something influencing you other than yourself. It can come from God or it can come from Satan; therefore, be aware of how you are influenced by this change.
If you are walking with the Lord, He is going to have an impact on you. He will change you. If you are living with God, He will change you.
Life is about adapting to God’s ways, and not God adapting to yourself.
Change is adjusting yourself to new situations or circumstances. It can sometimes be difficult or painful, but it is still necessary in order to live for Jesus Christ.
God wants to change you to bring things into the proper perspective through the use of your skills and your good judgment. He develops them for you in order for you to use them in a proper manner.
Change is for the purpose of:
- A change in your structure
- A change in your function
- A change in your identity
Identity: the condition or fact of being the same or exactly alike; sameness, oneness; united by identity or interests. With this definition, how closely are you identifying with Jesus Christ? Can people identify you with Him?
John 5:19
Then Jesus replied, “I assure you: The Son is not able to do anything on His own, but only what He sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does these things in the same way.
1 Peter 1:16
…for it is written, be holy, because I am holy.
In order to identify with Jesus Christ, change has to take place.
2 Peter 1:5-7
5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, 6 knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, 7 godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
Self-control is a distinct characteristic for a believer in Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:8-9
8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 The person who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins.
The Christian life consists of a continuing, unending work of change.
James 1:2
Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials.
When you choose to surrender a part of the old life over to the Lord, there will be a change because you have allowed Jesus to live there now instead of yourself.
Romans 6:6
For we know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that sin’s dominion over the body may be abolished, so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin.
Ephesians 4:22
You took off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires.
Colossians 3:9
Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices.
God is not going to change Himself to please you.
James 1:17
Every generous act and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights; with Him there is no variation or shadow cast by turning.
Malachi 3:6
“Because I, Yahweh, have not changed, you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed.
Psalm 102:24-27
24 I say: “My God, do not take me
in the middle of my life!
Your years continue through all generations.
25 Long ago You established the earth,
and the heavens are the work of Your hands.
26 They will perish, but You will endure;
all of them will wear out like clothing.
You will change them like a garment,
and they will pass away.
27 But You are the same,
and Your years will never end.
Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
To change is to surrender your life to Christ. Who has the power in your life? Who are you saying “Lord, Lord” to?
Change is taking out the garbage in your life…it’s time to do it now. Some garbage is not to be left in the house overnight. It’s got to go now, or else.
Don’t give up on change because it is hard or difficult. (Satan will tell you and try to convince you that you can’t change.) Don’t just put up with the smell of old garbage that needs to be put out. God will enable you and give you the ability to stand and make the change necessary in your life.
Luke 1:37
“For nothing will be impossible with God.”
Philippians 4:13
I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.
Mark 9:23, 10:27
23 Then Jesus said to him, “‘If You can?’ Everything is possible to the one who believes.”
27 Looking at them, Jesus said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God, because all things are possible with God.”
Genesis 12:1
Go out from your land,
your relatives,
and your father’s house
to the land that I will show you.
Genesis 37:26-28
26 Then Judah said to his brothers, “What do we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? 27 Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay a hand on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh,” and they agreed. 28 When Midianite traders passed by, his brothers pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him for 20 pieces of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took Joseph to Egypt.
Change can be messy, dirty work. It is far from enjoyable; yet, it is necessary in order to live for Jesus Christ.
Akron Alliance Fellowship 