THE STRUGGLE FOR LASTING CHANGE

Series: Living in Grace

Title: The Struggle for Lasting Change

Text: Colossians 3:12-25

Introduction:

Example: Roomba (robot vacuum cleaner) sweeping the floor…amazing how the dirt gets under the furniture….something we do is constantly sweep our floors to get the dirt up…wouldn’t it be nice just to sweep and mop only once and that is enough!!!

In the human experience the only thing that needs to be done once and that is enough is salvation!!!!

The change that most of us need but struggle to do it…..

Most of us get set in our ways and lifestyles that it is impossible for God to change us to be more like Him.

From time to time it is good to get alone with God and seek His desire to change things in our life.

Often though we are not willing to listen to the “still small voice” of God, we have to hear the thunderous booming voice of God before we commit to change.

Sometimes God has to do something drastic to get our attention….

A young man named John received a parrot as a gift. The parrot had a bad attitude and an even worse vocabulary. Every word out of the bird’s mouth was rude, obnoxious and laced with profanity.

John tried and tried to change the bird’s attitude by consistently saying only polite words, playing soft music and anything else he could think of to “clean up” the bird’s vocabulary. Finally, John was fed up and he yelled at the parrot. The parrot yelled back. John shook the parrot and the parrot got angrier and even ruder.

John, in desperation, threw up his hands, grabbed the bird and put him in the freezer. For a few minutes the parrot squawked and kicked and screamed. Then suddenly there was total quiet. Not a peep was heard for over a minute. Fearing that he’d hurt the parrot, John quickly opened the door to the freezer.

The parrot calmly stepped out onto John’s outstretched arms and said “I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and actions. I’m sincerely remorseful for my inappropriate transgressions and I fully intend to do everything I can to correct my rude and unforgivable behavior.”

John was stunned at the change in the bird’s attitude. As he was about to ask the parrot what had made such a dramatic change in his behavior, the bird continued, “May I ask what the turkey did?”

I. Realize My Position in Christ- vs. 12

If you do not have your salvation and eternal security settled then you will always be unsettled.

You can know that you are saved...

1 John 5:13 KJV 1900

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

A. Responded to the prompting- elect

God desires for all to be saved-

1 Timothy 2:3–4 KJV 1900

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

2 Peter 3:9 KJV 1900

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

1 Peter 1:2 KJV 1900

Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

B. Reflecting the promises- holy

Ephesians 1:4 KJV 1900

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

C. Recognize the protection of God-Beloved

Romans 8:33–39 KJV 1900

Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 John 4:19 KJV 1900

We love him, because he first loved us.

Realize my position in Christ

II. Rebuild My Private Walk with Jesus- vs. 12

The following qualities developed in a persons heart, soul and mind. And only after they have been developed internally can they be demonstrated externally.

Note- bowels=the innermost being of a man, the very heart and soul of a human being

A. Mercies

The withholding of justice; overlooking an offence; not getting what I deserve.

Lamentations 3:22 KJV 1900

It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

Matthew 5:7 KJV 1900

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

B. Kindness

That temper or disposition which delights in contributing to the happiness of others.

Hebrews 13:1 KJV 1900

Let brotherly love continue.

C. Humbleness of mind

Absence of pride.

An Unknown Author-You will never think highly of yourself until you first think lowly of others.

Philippians 2:3 KJV 1900

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

D. Meekness

Ability to negotiate among others without causing friction

2 Timothy 2:2 KJV 1900

And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

E. Longsuffering

To suffer long

Note-The only place to develop these attributes is to spend time with someone that has them. The best person to spend time with that has all of these and more is Jesus Christ.

To rebuild my private walk I must walk in the footsteps of the Saviour.

The amount of time spent reading and meditating on the Word of God will determine the strength and length of the changes in my life.

The story is told of a young girl who accepted Christ as her Saviour and applied for membership in a local church. “Were you a sinner before you received the Lord Jesus into your life?” inquired an old deacon. “Yes, sir,” she replied.

“Well, are you still a sinner?”

“To tell you the truth, I feel I’m a greater sinner than ever.”

“Then what real change have you experienced?”

“I don’t quite know how to explain it,” she said, “except I used to be a sinner running after sin, but now that I am saved. I’m a sinner running from sin!” she was received into the fellowship of the church, and she proved by her consistent life that she was truly converted.

Realize my position in Christ

Rebuild my personal walk with Christ

III. Restore My Personal Relationships- vs. 13-15

A. Tolerating the differences and limitations of others-Forbearing

We need to help others become more like Christ and not like us!!

People are going to be at different places in their spiritual walk.

B. Trusting the promises of God-Forgiving

Ephesians 4:30–31 KJV 1900

And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

Ephesians 4:32 KJV 1900

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

(Heb 10:30) For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

(Rom 12:19) Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

A little boy was sitting on a park bench in obvious pain. A man walking by asked him what was wrong. The young boy said, "I'm sitting on a bumble bee." The man urgently asked, "Then why don't you get up?" The boy replied, "Because I figure I'm hurting him more than he is hurting me!"

How many of us handle forgiveness like this little boy? We endure pain for the sadistic satisfaction of believing we are hurting our offender more than he is hurting us. When we get off the bench of unforgiveness both parties can begin to realize relief from their pain.

C. Turning from the need for revenge- charity

Charity=love in action.

IV. Reveal the Proof of a Life Surrendered to God- vs. 16-17

A. Word of God makes all the difference-vs. 16

“Let the Word of God dwell”

“You will never rise above your personal time in the Word of God”

Philippians 2:5 KJV 1900

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Philippians 4:8 KJV 1900

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

B. Training others-“teaching and admonishing”

Note-parents-your greatest responsibilities are to make sure your children are saved and make sure that they are learning the Word of God.

Note-the trend in our culture is less church attendance (a direct insult to God and the church that He died for not to mention direct disobedience to the clear commands of God!!)

Note-putting that aside when you attend church less…the place that the church had in your families life is now being replaced by something that is less than the best….you see most Christians do not struggle with Good/Bad as much as they Fail to choose the Best over the Good!!

Note-when you attend church less then you have an even greater responsibility to train your family in the Truths of the Word of God…because you have forsaken the help of the pastor, youth pastor, Sunday School teacher, Godly men and women, etc….

Note-the discipleship that once was taking place in the church is no longer being completed because the parents have decided to forsake regular attendance and involvement…

C. Singing- the joy of a heart right with God will come out of the mouth.

D. The work that God is doing on the inside will begin to reveal itself on the outside-vs. 17

E. Be thankful-vs. 15 & 17

Conclusion:

We can only give thanks and reveal God in our lives AFTER- a right relationship with others (12-15); right with God’s Word (v. 16); right music (v. 16); and right work (v. 17)- “do”

What does your life reveal?

Is there evidence that I am becoming more like Christ?

Unforgiving spirit, bitterness, hatred?

Mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering?

What areas need do you know of that need to be changed in your life today?

What areas does God see that needs to be changed in your life today?