The Discipline Of Change

I. "BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO CHANGE, THEREFORE THEY FEAR NOT GOD"

A. The Psalmist saw much wickedness in his life

1. He noticed their prosperity - Ps 73:3; 92:7

2. They were not in trouble as those who fear the Lord

B. His continued trials and perplexities caused him to wonder just why is there such a contrast?

1. "For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning." - Ps 73:14

2. "When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me." - verse 16

II. HE FINALLY CONCLUDED:

A. That their even and unperturbed way of life:

1. made them forget God - Is 51:13

2. "God is not in their thoughts" - Ps 10:4

B. Even we, who profess faith in God, and who worship Him:

1. Become careless in our appointments with God--be it faithfulness in our daily devotions, or in attending worship - Luke 14:16-22

2. "Woe to them that are at ease in Zion" - Amos 6:1

3. Examples: that was the attitude of the rich farmer - Luke 12:16-20; that was the same attitude of Belshazzar and his lords just before their end came - Dan 5:1-30; at the end of this world men will cry "peace and safety, then sudden destruction will come upon them" – I Thess 5:1-6; Luke 21:34-36

C. We need the stimulus of constant change if life is to attain its best results:

1. Changes challenge our being and awaken the powers within us that are dormant

2. We never know what powers God has placed into our lives until we are challenged to a change in our outlook:

3. A ten-year old boy lay in bed, paralyzed by polio. He asked his nurse to pray to God so that he would let him die. The nurse said to him: "oh no, I will not do that, you still have a good future." The boy pondered the words of the nurse and became excited over this. He began to wiggle his toes; that excited him still more. The idea struck him that he could learn to play a musical instrument with his toes. His strong desire won out and he became famous--playing with his toes

4. Helen Keller might never have become internationally famous had it not been that in spite of being deaf and dumb, she learned to speak and to read the voices of the people

III. THE DISCIPLINE OF CHANGE HAS BEEN ORDAINED OFGOD

A. To make us conscious:

1. Of our utter dependence upon God

2. For without me, "ye can do nothing" - John 15:5

B. The reason for our total dependence upon God is most obvious:

1. In His hand is our very breath - Dan. 5:23

2. "For in Him we live, and move, and have our being" - Acts 17:28

C. Those of us who are without chastisement:

1. "Are bastard, and not sons"--Paul declares - Heb 12:8

2. "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth" - Heb 12:6

D. Usefulness and fame came to men in all ages:

1. Because great changes came into their lives:

2. Joseph was taken away from his childhood environment and placed under trying conditions to make out of him a "savior of millions"--who would have perished otherwise

3. Moses left the environment of Royalty and became a shepherd for many years, and later he became one of the greatest lawgivers known among men

4. Daniel was taken captive and went to Babylon to become Prime Minister of a universal Empire

5. Changes in our lives are healthy, although we do not see the blessing at the time. This writer knows whereof he affirms, as he has passed through changes in his ministry