Seasons of change in our lives Sunday, May 3rd
Opener:
Good morning everyone, we want to welcome you to our Sunday morning Service. So thrilled you joined us here this morning!
This morning we are talking about seasons and change. Of course, many of you that are watching this program are located here in the wonderful state of Wisconsin. As you know, here in Wisconsin, we enjoy four seasons of different kinds of weather. This weather can change at a moment’s notice. In fact, there is a saying that Wisconsinites are familiar with: If you do not like the weather today, just wait a few minutes. Of course, this is implying that the weather can change instantly. I can remember a couple years ago here in Clintonville, it was spring time and we had a snow storm come through. It was just wild. I went to the local kwik trip and they had plowed their lot and the snow pile was like 15-20 feet high.
Not only does the weather change, the jobs that we work at also can change. As I reflect on my career in the corporate world, there was a common thread, if you will, and that was that things were constantly changing. Look around in our world today, this past March and April have been way different than probably any March or April that you have ever lived through.
Change can bring a lot of mixed feelings. Sometimes change is really good and healthy. Whereas other times, change can seem drastic and not very helpful at all. There is one thing that we can be assured, that change is inevitable.
We can all agree that the key to having a successful walk with the Lord, is to be willing to change. In order for this change to happen, we need to be completely committed to Him. It is important that we do not just talk about talking steps closer to the Lord, rather, that we take action and do it. This morning we are going to talk about some of the enemies of change, the process of change and how we can change in a healthy more positive way.
I. Enemies of change
A. Excuses
a. The first and probably the hardest thing that prevents people from making changes are excuses.
b. Your mind may be filled with thoughts of “ I can’t do that” or “ I am not that capable of (You fill in the blank)”
c. Several years ago, prior to my surgery, I was lifting weights. I would work out with a friend of mine named Joe and he was a wonderful workout partner. He would always push me to do more.
d. In my mind, I thought well if I can just lift the bar with some weights, I am good. Joe would challenge me, He would keep putting more weight on the bar.
e. After several years of training and pushing myself, I was able to bench press 315lbs.
f. So, how did I do it? Well I wouldn’t let my mind tell me that I couldn’t do it. Many times people quit before they even start. They start making excuses.
g. While this was a physical feat, I have also pushed myself spiritually.
h. Fasting is one of those areas that I struggled with. I had every excuse in the book not to fast. One time, I challenged myself to fast for 7 days and I was able to do so through the power of God.
i. In fact, the bible says in Philippians 4:13(NKJV) 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
j. Do not let excuses stop you from being the very best version on you! Repeat!
B. Discouragement
a. If the first enemy of change does not get you. The next one is right around the corner. That enemy is discouragement.
b. Discouragement is common to every person that walks the earth. When dealing with discouragement, we may feel like we are the only ones going through it, but that is simply not true. We have all struggled with discouragement a time or two in our lives! Including myself!
c. Discouragement is a feeling of defeat, it is a feeling of hopelessness which then begins to then sap out all of our energy.
d. Discouragement really keeps us from doing what we need to do in order to get better. That is to face our problems head on.
e. When we are feeling discouraged, our main goal is to be comforted at any cost. This comfort can lead one down a sinful path.
f. Jesus does not want us to be in discouraged. In fact, He wants us to be encouraged in Him. The bible says in John 14:1(NKJV) 14 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
g. So dear friend, if you are dealing with discouragement here this morning. Pray this prayer with me.
i. Dear Lord, please grant me peace of mind and calm my discouraged heart. Lord, it feels like I am being tossed around in a torrential storm. It’s hard for me to find balance and I am constantly worried. Lord, give me the strength and clarity of mind in order to find my purpose and to walk in the path that You have laid out for me. I am placing my trust in you Lord. That you will bring me out from this darkness and into Your Marvelous light. Jesus, thank you for leading and guiding me through this storm in my life. In Jesus name. Amen
C. Interference
a. The third agent that works to oppose change is interference.
b. To give you a football analogy. The term pass interference is used when there is a penalty that occurs when a player interferes with a wide receivers ability to make a fair attempt to catch a pass.
c. Let me say this, the enemy of our souls is always looking for ways to run interference in our lives.
d. These interferences are not things that we have control over. So the question becomes “What do we do when we experience these inferences.”
e. While we cannot control what comes at us, we need to focus on things that we can control such as: our thoughts, our attitudes, how we respond to others, and the way we conduct yourself.
i. So if you fail at your interference response, What should you do? Well it is simple, Repent, and get back on track! The bible says in Proverbs 24:16(NKJV) 16 For a righteous man may fall seven times And rise again, But the wicked shall fall by calamity.
D. Always looking back
a. While, I am sure there are many more things that stop us from changing. The last thing that we are looking at here this morning is, always looking back.
b. Let me say this, If you are always looking back, you will NEVER move FORWARD!
c. Looking back stops you from seeing what is coming ahead. Stops you from seeing the dangers, stops you from seeing the blessings!
d. Whether the things in your past are good or bad. We cannot focus on those things. We cannot let our past mistakes define who we are , at the same token we cannot live on yesterdays acts of obedience.
e. We need to live to follow God today. We need to be obedient in our lives today!
f. A great illustration of this was when the children of Israel were in the desert and they would get just enough manna for the coming day. They could not eat yesterday’s manna as it would go stale.
g. You cannot live on yesterday’s blessings. You need to continue to press forward in your life.
h. The apostle Paul sums this up best in Philippians 3:14 (NKJV) 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
II. Process
A. Takes time
a. After talking about some of the pitfalls of change. Let’s talk a bit about the process of change.
b. Change is just that, a process. We live in a world that wants things to happen instantaneously. However, change takes time! So you have to be patient with yourself and others because we are all at different levels of this process.
c. The change that God is looking for, is not on the outside, rather, it is change that starts on the inside which then is evident on the outside.
d. If you just clean the outside of a cup and not the inside, well, I would not be wanting to use a cup like that.
B. God has a purpose
a. God has a purpose for bringing change in our lives.
b. Yes, we can easily look at all the negatives, but how about looking at the positives and trying to take away whatever lesson there are.
c. It is God’s desire to keep us moving forward. To take us to the next level.
d. The bible says in 2 Corinthians 3:18(KJV) 18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
e. God is taking us all on an amazing journey. On this journey, He will be taking us from glory to glory.
f. In other words, there are no negatives in following the Lord. While there may be difficult times, we will overcome those times by the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
C. Sanctification
a. That leads us into this next term: sanctification. You may have heard this term used before.
b. Sanctification simply means: to be set apart.
c. Set apart from what you may ask?
i. Well, we are being set apart from the world. Separated from sin, and dedicated unto God in our lives.
d. When you and I are living a consecrated, a sanctified life, we are fully surrendered and committed to God. This is a process that takes time.
e. I can remember when I first became a Christian, One of the things that I really did not understand why people had to give 10 percent of their money to the church.
f. I struggled with this tremendously. It was so interesting because whenever the offering plate came around, I was convicted. I felt bad that I was not contributing.
g. One day, I had enough. Now if you have ever been convicted by the Lord, you know that is not a fun place to be.
h. So I began tithing 10 percent of my income. And I can tell you I have seen so many different miracles and provisions in my life. It has and continues to be phenomenal!
III. How to change
A. Thinking
a. We talked about the enemies of change, and how that change is a process. Now we are going to talk about some practical ways that we can change.
b. The first step in changing really starts in the way that we think.
c. When we change the way that we think, we will change the way that we live.
d. The bible says in Romans 12:2(NKJV) 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
e. In other words, Paul is instructing us to not be complicit in the evils of this world. To not think as a worldly person thinks.
f. Rather, to be transformed by renewing our minds. Replacing our negative thinking with Godly thinking.
g. Paul further instructs us in Philippians 4:8 (NKJV) 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
B. Focus on the positives
a. Thinking on the good things is the first step to bring about change in our lives. The next step is to focus on the positive.
b. While we all know that we each of have weaknesses in our lives. We should not be focusing on these weaknesses. Let me say this, “If you only see your weaknesses, you will never see the positives.
c. Therefore, we need to focus on the positives in our lives.
i. To focus, means to magnify, to make large.
d. Positive people have made up their minds to enjoy their lives. Positive people focus on the possibilities not on their problems.
e. Positive people are grateful for what they have and not complaining about what they don’t have!
f. Set your mind on the good. Expect things that are going to work out for you!
g. I love the what Romans 8:28 (NKJV) 28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
C. Change your habits
a. The final way that we are looking at bringing about change in our lives here this morning, is to change our daily habits.
b. I have heard it said that it 21 days to make a habit.
i. Habits are things that we do on a regular basis that we find difficult to change.
c. Habits are not all bad. There are many healthy or good habits that we can have in our lives. For instance, eating healthy, maintaining proper hygiene, spending time outdoors, and spending time with family.
d. Some healthy daily spiritual habits would be: spending time in God’s Word, time in prayer, forgiving others, dependence on the Holy Spirit and obeying God’s voice.
e. Let me say this, the small actions that we do every single day begins to add up over time.
f. Over time these habits really define who we are and what is important to us.
g. A great way to change for the better is to work on changing your bad habits and continuing to do your good habits.
Closing:
As we close here this morning, change is inevitable. Whether that change is happing in the world around us, whether that change is happing in our workplace, or in our homes. Change is going to happen. That is not the questions. The questions is “How are we going to respond to that change? Are we going to embrace positive changes or are we going to fight them?” It is when we embrace positive changes, that we will see spiritual growth take place in our lives. As believers, we need to be committed to changing our lives for the better. Getting rid of any bad habits and embracing the good ones. God wants to take us from glory to glory. He wants us to be the best version of us. One that is fully committed to following Him.
