How God Changes Us.
2 Timothy 3:16-17AMP
What does God use to produce change within us? How does He do it?
2 Timothy 3:16-17AMP All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]; 17 so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.
This evening I want to give you 3 ways God changes us:
1. God changes us is through His word.
Again, 2 Timothy 3:16-17TM Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. 17 Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.
God’s word reveals truth. The very scripture you read is breathed upon by God Himself!
The story is told of a converted cannibal in the South Sea Islands. He was sitting by a large pot reading his Bible when an anthropologist approached him and asked, “What are you doing?” The native replied, “I'm reading the Bible.” The anthropologist scoffed and said, “Don't you know that modern, civilized man has rejected that book? It's nothing but a pack of lies. You shouldn't waste your time reading it.”
The cannibal looked him over from head to toe and slowly replied, “Sir, if it weren't for this book, you'd be in that pot!”
God’s word had changed his life, plus his appetite. Lol.
If you're serious about changing your life, you have to get into the Bible. P.H
Think for a moment—We get to read it, study it, memorize it, meditate on it, speak it, and apply it. Ruminate—chew the cud, or to think deeply about something.
You might say, “But my faith is weak?”
And I'll ask you if you’re reading the Bible regularly? Are you studying it? Are you— memorizing it? No? Then how do you expect your faith to grow?
Romans 10:17KJV So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
God’s word has the power to revive, Psalm 138:7a Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me;
God’s word has the power to redirect, 1 Peter 2:25NKJV For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
God’s word has the power to reward, Hebrews 11:6NKJV But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
God’s word has the power to reproduce, Luke 8:11NKJV “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
God’s word has the power to reveal, Genesis 1,2 In the beginning God created…
God’s word has the power to refute, 2 Timothy 3:16NKJV All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
God’s word has the power to get us ready, Luke 12:40NKJV Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
You might say, “Maybe it won’t work.”
Isaiah 55:11ESV so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
Are you sending the word of God before you?
2. God changes us through His Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit was mightily bestowed upon the early church to make them powerful witnesses. To increase their confidence.
Jesus stated in, Acts 1:8NKJV But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
I heard this said on Moody Radio—God moves where He’s wanted; God lives where He’s needed, respected and trusted.
The Holy Spirit gives the believer power over demons, Matthew 12:28 Jesus cast out demons by the Spirit of God.
The Holy Spirit gives us power to heal the sick, Acts 3:6-10 Peter cries, Silver and gold have I none…
The Holy Spirit gives us power to share the gospel, Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power…
The Holy Spirit gives us power to perform miracles, Hebrews 2:4NKJV God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?
Bottom line—The Spirit of God uses the Word of God to make us more like the Son of God.
These verses of scripture should produce surety within. 1 Corinthians 12:1-11NKJV Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: 2 You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
More of the gifts of the Holy Spirit are listed in, Ephesus 4:11-13NKJV And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
Given His role and honor within the Godhead, the Holy Spirit it's full of surprises. He’s your full-time helper.
3. God changes us through seasons.
Seasons offer generous plates of good times, as well as grief, heartache and pain.
Testimony—You will be made, in (during), the fire.
How do we respond (act) when a season changes?
Psalm 31:15NKJV My times are in Your hand;?Deliver me from the hand of my enemies,?And from those who persecute me.
As you wait—trust, praise and worship God.
Listen, really listen, for His help. It makes all the difference.
Learn to be a non-anxious presence in every situation. Keep a cool head. P.H
Deliverance is promised. I said, “Deliverance is promised!”
Here's a great observation given by and older king David:
Psalm 37:25ESV I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.
Sowing and reaping were some of the first laws given by God. Here it is:
Genesis 8:22NKJV “While the earth remains,?Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease.”
"There will always be a seed time, and harvest follows seedtime.” P.H
Funny thing about Seedtime. Seedtime begins when you begin. You control much of seedtime. The harvest is controlled by seedtime.
No seedtime, no harvest. That’s what Jesus stresses in the context of, Luke 6:37-38NKJV “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
Luke 6:38, is offered many times before the collection of the Lord’s tithe. However, by just applying this scripture to giving tithe, in no way gives it justice.
I believe in everything we do, Jesus wants us to be about seedtime. Giving your all, giving your best… P.H
This I know—“The way we give throughout life—determines what will be measured back to us.”
Again, this evenings text, 2 Timothy 3:15-16TPT God has transmitted his very substance into every Scripture, for it is God-breathed. It will empower you by its instruction and correction, giving you the strength to take the right direction and lead you deeper into the path of godliness. 17Then you will be God’s servant, fully mature and perfectly prepared to fulfill any assignment God gives you.
In closing, God changes us through His word, His Spirit and His seasons.
Benediction.
