Making Intentional Change

This evening, we start a new series that somewhat works hand in hand with our morning series.

Our morning series is talking about how God builds the body of Christ.

Our evening series is going to focus on how we maintain what God is doing in our lives. And we are going to focus in on a topic that might surprise you.

You have heard me state that when it comes to the building of the body of Christ, it must begin with a firm foundation. And Jesus has made it clear how a firm foundation is established in our lives.

Matthew 7:24–27 NIV

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

We’ve looked at this passage many times… and most of us can quote it or at least paraphrase the text. This passage is ESSENTIAL for every believer… because Jesus reveals how we as believers can build a spiritual foundation that can make it through any and every storm.

In both situations presented, a storm was present… but the ability for the house to make it through the storm was dependent on what the foundation was built upon. This isn’t rocket science… it’s common sense. Jesus is utilizing a simple illustration to make a big point: The Key to a firm foundation… or living on solid ground… is hearing His Words AND applying His words.

And… when it comes to the building of any foundation… it is a process. It means doing the work right… and with intentionality.

There is a hotel in Garden City, KS that is right around 10 years old. It is one of the newest hotels in the area. The exterior is beautiful on the front side… but the building is no longer usable. When it was constructed, corners were cut and the roof drainage system failed. It now stands condemned and is awaiting demolition.

If we try to cut corners in our faith, we will leave room for weakness in our foundation. AND… when the storms begin to rise, that weakness will be exposed.

As stated before, our morning series is talking about building blocks… our evening series is going to talk about maintaining what God is building.

How do we maintain a firm foundation? How do we make sure we continue to build on the rock instead of the sand? Through the practice of something very important known as spiritual disciplines.

This series, Solid Ground, is all about establishing HOUSE HABITS from the Word of God that keep our spiritual foundation strong and our walk in the Lord, active.

So… what is a habit? Webster online defines a habit in this way: an acquired mode of behavior that has become nearly or completely involuntary.

Now… there are three things that stand out to me in this definition.

One: a habit is acquired. This means the habit wasn’t instantly learned… but learned over time.

Two: a habit impacts our behavior. A habit is something we do, something we express, something that is observable action.

Three: a habit can become nearly completely involuntary. A habit… is repeated so much that it becomes a part of our daily lives. We do it… without thinking about it.

But habits… don’t start out that way. All habits have a point of origin and… a reason why they started.

And… these habits shape how we live! These habits determine how we spend our time, how we interact with each other, how we conduct business, how we operate our homes, and so on. These habits… are our daily practice… and they will determine what our foundation is built upon.

So tonight, as we introduce this series, I want us to take good look at our habits and what they reveal about our walk with the Lord.

We might find that some of our habits are right on with who the Lord desires for us to be and what the Lord desires for us to do. We might also find that some of our habits are distractions in our walk with the Lord… and can cause weakness in our faith.

We all have good habits… and even some bad habits. Bad habits are easily formed but they are not easily broken… but if we desire four the foundation of our lives to be built on solid ground… then we need to talk about these daily habits and what they say about us. First, I want to look at...

How Habits are formed

Pastor, is this really necessary? We know that habits are formed through repetition… the more consistently we do something.... the more habit forming it becomes.

Yes… this is true. But I want to go a bit deeper with this point. I want to look at the why behind how regarding our habits.

Our habits have the potential to shape how our day will go. In fact, our habits formulate our daily routine… what we are used to… what we do without thinking about it.

I came across this teaching with I thought was powerful and worth sharing. Our habits are formulated either by design… or default.

What is the difference between the two? Habits by design are intentionally formed. Habits by default are reactional.

Here’s the deal: we will either live by design… or default. When we allow our habits to be formed by default, it can result in fear, worry, negativity, cynicism, prejudice, and other energy draining emotions.

Watch this: Often it is not bad intentions but no intentions that cause us to miss out on the benefits of living by design.

Our habits keep our hearts in check and force us to flourish in new areas. Bad habits are easily formed as they often conform to the culture around us and even with the culture within us. Good habits, on the other hand, are harder to acquire and maintain because they are often counter-cultural.

Our habits will have positive or negative effects on us.

Bad habits steal from you

Good habits give life to you

Bad habits limits you

Good habits liberate you.

When it comes to the habits in our lives tonight… do they reflect intentionality, or reactionary origins?

The enemy desires to shape and form your habits. He wants you to jump on the cultural band waggon with things that will distract you from the Lord. Pressure to conform… is a very real pressure.

Jesus warned against this again in Matthew 7.

Matthew 7:13–14 NIV

13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

The wide gate and broad road represents the world and its way. Everyone is doing it… there’s no “pressure” here… It is easy in appearance, tempting by design, but leads to destruction.

The only expressed intentionality here is personal pleasure: what please self.

The small gate and narrow road are a different story. It is NOT the conforming way… it is counter-cultural. It is going against the flow. It is choosing habits that do not look like the world, but come from the Word.

This path leads to life. It is not easy, and few will find it. And that line breaks my heart. I wonder how many believers today are walking on the wide path while thinking they will enter through the small gate?

So what is the answer? How do we maintain a solid ground foundation for our lives? We choose intentionality over reactionary habits. We stop conforming… and allow the Word of God to transform us.

Romans 12:1-2 says it well.

Romans 12:1–2 NIV

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

God is calling us to break free from default and start living by design. Who’s design? GOD’S DESIGN!

Verse 2 tells us that with the renewal of our minds comes the ability to test and approve what God’s will is for our lives - His good, pleasing, and perfect will.

God has an INTENTIONAL plan for all of our lives! This plan is not something we can live out accidentally or by happenstance… His plan is lived out intentionally!

Therefore, we must intentionally break free from the pattern of this world… break old habits being the habits of this world… and be transformed by His Word and way. He wants to renew our minds!

Sounds great! Let’s go! I’m all in! But… what exactly do I have to do? How does a person switch from default habits to design?

Again, it is easy to fall into bad habits… not so easy to break them. So intentionality is the key… as we look at…

What House Habits Look Like

Go back to Jesus’s words in Matthew 7 regarding foundations. He specifically said that whoever hears His words and puts them into practice are those who build on solid ground.

Godly house habits is placing Jesus’ words into practice in our lives. These habits will look different and sound different then what we see and hear in the world. They are not the default habits of this world… but are the habits God designed for us to live out… habits that lead to life, freedom, peace, joy, etc. Habits that result in the building of a firm foundation.

In the coming weeks, we will talk about more of these particular habits in detail. But for tonight, there are two important things we need to establish regarding these habits.

Jesus intends for His followers to live out these habits… DAILY.

If your spiritual house habits are only exercised on Sundays and Wednesdays… then you are not living out your faith, you’re simply attending a local spiritual event.

Church services are incredible opportunities to be in the Words together and to worship together. But if your faith is limited to these services, you are missing out on a great deal regarding what God has to offer!

Jesus said, in Luke 9:23, that if we desire to be His disciples, we must deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Him.

Luke 9:23 NIV

23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

I want us to see the emphasis on the word, daily. He did not say weekly when you attend church. He did not say when it was convenient for your life or schedule, He said DAILY. We need to be faithful in these habits every single day… faithful in picking up the cross and following Jesus.

Jesus made another reference to daily habits in His example prayer found in Matthew 6:11 where He prayed

Matthew 6:11 NIV

11 Give us today our daily bread.

Daily bread… not day old or week old bread. Effective, intentional, biblical house habits are carried out on a daily basis. This is how they become a habit! This is how we get to a place where we do them without hardly even thinking about it!

Bottom line, Jesus desires for His followers to be DISCIPLINED in their walk with Him!

What does it mean to be disciplined? Defined it means orderly or prescribed conduct or pattern of behavior

So is Jesus trying to control what we do and say? No… Jesus is trying to help us build our lives on a foundation that will not give way or crumble. His ways are the BEST ways. He came to this earth that we might have life to the full.

Bad habits rob us of that life. Godly habits keep us in the things of God.

If we desire to formulate Godly behavior within our lives, it means we must intentionally choose to carry out daily disciplines. We need to run our race as if only one will get the prize.

Paul uses this illustration in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

1 Corinthians 9:24–27 NIV

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

What race is Paul referring to? The race or track that God has laid out before us. How do we run this race with strength and power? By going into strict training - carrying out important disciplines - we will use on the track. What happens if we do not feel like training? We need to strike a blow to our bodies… and push through. ONLY THEN will new habits begin to emerge.

I’ve shared this story with you before… but it’s a good story and very applicable to what we are talking about.

Stronger Men’s Conference had a couple of MMA guys on the stage they were talking to. And one of them was asked how is it he wins fight after fight… what was his secret. And I’ll never forget his answer.

The fight, he said… is won not in the arena… but in the weight room. The fight is won in the daily disciplines he works through to keep his body in shape, his mind focused, and his goals in front of him.

Wondering through life day to day without these things can leave a person… lost. But God has called us to be intentional in our faith, to seek Him out, and to live in His ways.

If we leave our foundation unchecked and wait for a storm to come before doing anything to strengthen our foundation… it will be too late.

If the fighter didn’t train before putting on the gloves… if Paul did not train before running the race… the would inevitably fail.

And maybe you have been facing some difficult things and have wondered why God has failed you… but maybe the issue is… you failed God. Maybe you skipped out on some of those daily disciplines and then found yourself in a difficult storm.

The good news is… God is here… and God wants to help you… but you must begin by changing some of your habits.

Closing

So tonight, we open these altars with this prayer focus: God, help me break the bad habits and to intentionally pursue Godly habits.

We cannot leave our relationship with the Lord to chance. We will either pursue Him or we won’t. We will either conform to the world or be transformed by the renewing of our mind.

God has great things in store for you. Now is the time to apply His ways.

Listen… owning a treadmill will not cause you to lose weight. Turning it on and doing the work is the only way to make that goal a possibility.

Coming to church does not make you a daily believer. Walking in His ways… on the narrow path… is the way to new life.

Jesus has given us all we need… it is up to us to put it into practice.

One last illustration. We all know it is important to go to the dentist. Although I don’t like it, I go because I know it is important for the health of my teeth.

Every time I go, they hand me a new tooth brush and tooth paste. They give me instruction for good dental hygiene then send me on my way.

IF I want strong, healthy teeth, I have to open that bag, use that tooth brush DAILY… and follow their instructions. Having the tooth brush is not enough… USING the tooth brush is how we get results.

So what habits need to change… in your house… in your life?

Tonight, we pray for God to begin to help us make some intentional changes as well as develop daily, biblical habits that will draw us closer to Him.

I truly believe God is going to change us through this series… but it won’t happen on accident. We must be intentional in pursuing this change. Will you join me in prayer in these altars tonight?