Some Things Must Change

Intro:

Good evening.

This morning we discussed a very vital topic - “Some Things Never Change.”

By way of review, we talked about how GOD does not change, and consequently ...

God’s WORD doesn’t change either, and therefore …

The TRUTH also does not change.

We live in a post-modernistic society that denies those three points.

We live in a society that sounds very much like what we read in two places in the book of Judges:

Judges 17:6

Judges 17:6 NKJV

In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Likewise in Judges 21:25

Judges 21:25 NKJV

In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Another verse from Judges that looks very familiar to what we are dealing with today:

Judges 2:10

Judges 2:10 NKJV

When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel.

We are seeing the same things unfold in America today!

But make no mistake about it, regardless of what people think these days, regardless of what pop culture says, regardless of what secularism says …

Truth does not change!

Therefore, in all of these moral issues that we are seeing misconstrued today, the truth is still the truth regardless of how the majority of the culture feels about it!

So that’s what we looked at this morning.

“Some things never change.”

But tonight, we want to talk about some things that MUST change.

I want to begin by talking about ...

A phraseology that used to be a lot more common than today I think:

And it’s the term CHANGE AGENT.

When you hear that term, you probably had shivers down your spine!

“Change agent” has a very negative connotation to it, and that is that we (at least used to) use that term to talk about false teachers.

A false teacher comes along and wants to introduce instrumental music into worship - Change agent!

A false teacher comes along teaching error on fellowshipping denominations - Change agent.

A false teacher comes along teaching error misconstruing the grace of God or teaching faith only, etc. - Change agent!

And I believe we rightfully pointed those things out!

… … …

However …

Let me carefully point out to you that change … is not always a dirty word.

We need to be careful about that.

Change in the sense of changing doctrine? (Absolutely bad!)

Change in the sense of changing morality? Changing truth? (Bad!)

But brethren there are SOME things that MUST change!

And the Bible explains that very clearly, so let’s talk about some of them.

The first thing we want to talk about tonight that MUST change would be …

THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF MEN:

Isn’t that right?

Yes, the hearts and minds of men MUST change!

And to see this we need only go to the preaching of the Old Testament prophet Joel.

One of my favorite verses in the O.T. - Joel 2:13 says that the people needed to rend their HEARTS, not their garments!

They needed to have a change of heart!

Look at Joel 2:1-14 (Read in Bible).

Joel is telling the people that they have to make a change if they want to see God remove the curse, and send His blessing again!

(Don’t forget, by the way, that there is prophesy pointing to the day of Pentecost in this chapter as well).

Well, there is a verse we are going to look at under our next point in just a minute that talks about changing not only our HEARTS, but also our …

ACTIONS:

This is called … REPENTANCE.

Take a look at 2 Cor. 7, verses 5-11. (Read in the Bible)

What is Paul talking about?

Not only a change of mindset brought about by godly sorrow, but the follow through which is a change of ACTIONS as well.

Fruits worthy of repentance! (Just as John the baptizer had preached - Luke 3:8 - preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins - Luke 3:3).

Which incidentally, Peter preaches a baptism of repentance and remission of sins, too, does he not?! (Acts 2:38!)

Peter again would end up preaching in Acts 3:19

Acts 3:19 NKJV

Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

Now tell me again that change is always a bad thing ???!!

No, sometimes we HAVE to change!

It’s called REPENTANCE.

A complete 180 degree turn away from sin and toward the way that God would have us to live!

“Repent, and be converted” (Acts 3:19), or “Repent, and be baptized for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38), which are synonymous because they are really saying the same thing!

Well, we’ve spoken about God’s people who were doing the wrong things (living in sin) when we looked at the teaching of Joel and how they needed to rend their heart, not their garments.

We just saw how people needed to repent and be converted to BECOME God’s people — to become CHRISTIANS.

Now we’re going to talk about Christians who need to change …

Specifically, we’re going to talk about how ...

THOSE CAUGHT UP IN INACTION MUST CHANGE AS WELL:

That is, those who are caught up in complacency or lukewarmness or lack of growth (all synonyms for the same thing) MUST make a change.

Now the most obvious place to go for this is the lukewarm, complacent church in Revelation chapter 3 — Laodicea.

However, I don’t want to study that in detail here because I am planning on doing a series on the seven churches of Asia pretty soon.

Just remember for now regarding Laodicea - Rev. 3:19-20

Revelation 3:19–20 NKJV

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

That is NOT a verse for the sinner’s prayer — Jesus was talking to lukewarm Christians!

Focus on the fact that the lukewarm Christians needed to be ZEALOUS again as part of their repentance, and notice that the DOOR was available for them to walk back through and be faithful again!

So just a quick point there about lukewarm Christians MUST change.

There’s actually an O.T. passage that is quite similar that we will look at now as we get ready to bring the sermon to a close.

It’s found in Amos chapter 6. It’s very similar if you think about it! It’s teaching about COMPLACENCY — If we ever find ourselves complacent, we have to change! We have to repent!

(Turn and read Amos 6:1-8).

Amos goes on to offer a GRIM PICTURE of what awaited Israel for her sins!

And what was at the root of it all?

COMPLACENCY!

“Woe to you who are AT EASE in Zion!”

Conclusion:

Church, we’ve got to get to work!

I don’t know how that could be more evident, when we look at the crumble of society all around us.

Our society needs Jesus!

Something’s gotta change!

I hope that you have enjoyed this two-part sermon on some things that should never change, and other things that MUST change.

What about you?

Are there some things YOU need to change?

God knows the answer to that question, and you know as well!