Sermons

Summary: We are commanded to grow in grace. Real growth demands effort and a good plan. Will we stay the same and refuse to change?

THE SAME OLD SAME OLD VS. CHANGE

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

WHAT IF A CATERPILLAR DESIRED TO STAY A CATERPILLAR? CHANGE: Let us look at complete metamorphosis. There are four stages of growth. EGG, LARVA (CATERPILLAR), PUPA (COCOON), ADULT (BUTTERFLY.) Maybe use the frog: egg, tadpole, frog with a tail, ADULT FROG.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HIT A BRICK WALL? DO I HAVE TO STAY THE SAME?

Jeremiah 13:23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.

A LEOPARD DOESN’T CHANGE ITS SPOTS: a bad person never changes their character. To keep the same way of thinking. To keep talking negative, one cannot change their innate nature without purpose, plan and effort. This means a person will not be corrected nor refined.

A person could change their thinking patterns, an opinions or feelings. But this requires a HOLY DISSATISFACTION. One has to open their eyes and heart and be honest. If we refuse to change our attitudes become trapped with little to no progress. THEN WE ARE DOOMED TO STAY THE SAME.

We have many options. Let us look at two options.

STAY THE SAME: To remain the same level, rate or standard, constant, unchanging, no growth, something that is firm, no challenge, no improvement, same status. No change, HINDERED, NO ADVANCEMENT.

CHANGE: to make different, alter, modify, replace, to make better, transformation, adjustment, shift, to advance.

SPIRITUALLY IS GROWTH POSSIBLE? DEFINE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PROBABILITIES, POSSIBILITIES?

WE MUST NEVER STOP GROWING AND LEARNING TO BE BETTER.

A FOOL REFUSES TO CHANGE… A WISE PERSON WHEN THEY RECOGNIZE A BETTER WAY AND THEN WELCOME THE CHANGE THAT IS NEEDED. ONE CAN NEVER CHANGE FOR THE BETTER WITHOUT CHANGE… I HAVE A PERSONAL GUARANTEE LIFE IS GOING TO CHANGE. NO ONE CAN STOP CHANGE. WE NEED TO WELCOME HEALTHY MATURING CHANGE.

People develop a tendency to fear change. Change is neither GOOD nor BAD… Change is neutral. How many promise TO CHANGE and yet stay the same? An alcoholic or drug addict promises to change? POLITICIANS running for office seem to always promise change?

2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

GROWTH: to the process of increasing, improvement, develop, maturity, expand, progressive.

REAL PERSONAL GROWTH IS DEVELOPING A PROCESS OF UNDERSTANDING YOURSELF --- THEN PUSHING SELF TO REACH YOUR HIGHEST POTENTIAL. SELF-IMPROVEMENT.

LET US BE REAL AND EVALUATE WHERE WE ARE --- WHAT CHANGES DO WE NEED TO MAKE TO OUR BODY? OUR DIET? OUR BRAIN AND THINKING PATTERNS? DO WE NEED TO CHANGE OUR VALUE SYSTEMS IN THE LAST DAYS? DO YOU NEED TO CHANGE YOUR WORDS, OPINIONS AND ACTIONS?

Have you ever driven a STANDARD TRANSMISSION? There is a gas petal, a clutch and a gear stick. If you are driving to Cincinnati you cannot stay in first gear? There is a second gear? Etc. HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE RUNNING THEIR BRAIN IN NEUTRAL AND THEIR MOUTH IN PASSING GEAR?

ARE WE AT AN IDLE WAITING DOING NOTHING TO BRING IMPROVEMENT?

Idle MINDS and LONG TONGUES pose great danger to our nation, our families and our churches.

Job 14:13 O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! 14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.

SANCTIFICATION? TO CLEAN UP? IS THIS ACTION A ONCE AND FOR ALL WITH BRAGGING RIGHTS, I HAVE ACHIEVED… OR IS GROWTH, IMPROVEMENT, DEVELOPMENT AND CHANGE A PROGRESSIVE ADVANCEMENT ONE DAY AT A TIME.

Good healthy growth can be uncomfortable and very scary. Why do we tend to be anxious and fear healthy change and growth? COULD THE CONTROL ISSUE COME INTO PLAY TO HINDER CHANGE? Are we so afraid of change that we love where we are… if you are not happy here? WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU WILL BE HAPPY OVER THERE? God has a plan, still water tends to grow stagnant.

IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CORRECT AND BRING CHANGE TO PEOPLE THAT ALREADY KNOW EVERYTHING…

Proverbs 15:22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established. 23 A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!

At best counseling is a band aide. People will listen and then do what they wanted to… they refuse to heed good advice and then their plans fail. To grow and change we need to take good counsel. Listen, learn and change.

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