Sunday Sermon, 10/20/2024

CHANGE IS POSSIBLE

Romans 7:15, 19, 24 not long ago “I don’t really understand myself, for I

want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. …  19 I don’t want to do what is

wrong, but I do it anyway. ... 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! 

Though we have the right intentions, we actually have the wrong strategy.

Real change is not behavior modification. Real change is spiritual

transformation.

Many people believe when it comes to change that it's going to be God,

then me.

“It's God, not me.”

The correct one is actually “God through me.”

1 Corinthians 15:9–10 “For I am the least of all the apostles—I do not even

deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted God’s church. 10 But

by God’s grace I am what I am, and the grace that he gave me was not

without effect. On the contrary, I have worked harder than any of the other

apostles, although it was not really my own doing, but God’s grace

working with me.”

The same grace that saves you is the same grace that changes you.

For change to be spiritual transformation it has to be spiritual. For it to be

spiritual transformation, it has to be empowered by God's Spirit and not

your willpower.

Your spiritual why is God's purpose for you.

You want a spiritual how.

Zechariah 4:6 "'It's not by might, it's not by power, It's by my Spirit,' says

the Lord Almighty."

Philippians 2:14–15 “Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so

that you may be innocent and pure as God’s perfect children, who live in a

world of corrupt and sinful people. You must shine among them like stars

lighting up the sky,”

“ I am disciplined and Christ in me is stronger than the wrong desires in

me.”

No matter where you're tempted, our God will always give you a way out.

Real change is always God through you.

If you only change your behavior but don't change your heart, the

behavior will come back.

Real and lasting change is a reflection of God's power through you.

Why is it that you haven't changed? It's because you're trying to meet a

need or relieve a hurt with something besides God's grace.

The heart of your power is always God's grace. "My grace is everything

that you need."

God says, "My power works best in weakness."