Changed, Part 3: Not Everybody Will Like The New You

Introduction- When People Don’t Like Your Changes

At SchoolOfSelfImage.com, Tonya Leigh said on episode 282 of her podcast:

When you start to change and transform in your life, there is one thing I can guarantee: there will be people in your world who do not like it. 

Maybe you started a new business and you’re seeing a new level of success, but your friends think you’re showing off. Perhaps you decided to leave a relationship that wasn’t working for you and other people have some opinions about that.

There have been so many occasions in Tonya’s life where people have given her an ultimatum. I could either stop growing and sit with them, or I could choose myself and leave them behind.

Now, this isn’t to say that it’s not uncomfortable or even sad to leave people behind, but I choose myself every time.

So, when people don’t like your changes, all that matters is that you like your changes. Do you like who you’re becoming? And are you willing to feel the discomfort of other people’s rejection in order to keep stepping into more of her?

You’ve Changed: Negative Reactions to Personal Growth

by Vibe Shifting

When you make that decision to make positive changes in your life and start working to actually make them happen, it can seem a bit overwhelming at first. Especially when so many of the people in your life don’t understand. And what’s worse, rather than being excited and supportive, or at least just accepting that you’re evolving as a person, they growl in disapproval, snarling that “you’ve changed!” And you end up on the receiving end of unwarranted hostility from family members and friends who pressure you to change back. So what gives? Why is this transformation that you’re so proud of seen as such a bad thing by everyone around you?

When you start making changes in your life, either through your actions or your ways of thinking, it causes ripple effects that spread outward and touch everyone you know. When you make a big change, it forces other people to change as well; they now have to completely revise how they interact with you and how they think about you. And that’s really uncomfortable. You used to be predictable, and now, all of a sudden, you’re not (how dare you!).

When people get frightened like this, getting backed into that corner of having to deal with your changes head-on, then can get pretty vocal about their disapproval. They can even get down-right nasty sometimes, which can cause you to start questioning your own decisions and the wisdom of your new path in life. 

Transition To Body- After Three Years Proclaiming The Gospel…

Galatians 1:11–18 ESV

11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days.

Body- Some People Don’t Like Saul Because…

Proclaiming The Gospel Is Provocative (Acts 9:22-24)

Acts 9:22–24 ESV

22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ. 23 When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him,

provocative- serving or tending to provoke, excite, or stimulate

Romans 10:14–17 ESV

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

{

Proclaiming The Gospel Is Provocative (Acts 9:22-24)

}

Proclaiming The Gospel Is Perilous (Acts 9:23-24)

Acts 9:23–24 ESV

23 When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him,

2 Corinthians 11:32 ESV

32 At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of Damascus in order to seize me,

Illustration:. Some false brethren & sisteren within the church hatch plots/scheme conspire & collaborate with emeries of God…

The Acts of the Apostles Escaping by the Skin of His Teeth (Acts 9:23–5)

Bernard Shaw, renowned Irish playwright, critic, and socialist, best known for his contributions to British theater, once said that the biggest compliment you can pay an author is to burn his books. Someone else has said: ‘A wolf will never attack a painted sheep.’ False Christianity is always safe; real Christianity is always in peril. To suffer persecution is to be paid the greatest of compliments because it is the certain proof that people think we really matter.

The biggest compliment you can pay a preacher is to conspire to silence him or her

perilous- involving potential loss or injury

Left For Dead In Lystra

Acts 14:19 ESV

19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.

Persecution in Philippi

Acts 16:19–24 ESV

19 But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. 20 And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. 21 They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. 23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

Almost Assassinated In Thessalonica

Acts 17:5–10 ESV

5 But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. 6 And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, 7 and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” 8 And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. 9 And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go. 10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue.

Acts 9:16 ESV

16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”

John 16:33 ESV

33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Heirs With Christ Provided We Suffer With Him

Romans 8:17 ESV

17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

If We Endure, We Will Also Reign With Him…

2 Timothy 2:12 ESV

12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;

2 Timothy 2:13 ESV

13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.

The Father is With His Children…

John 16:32 ESV

32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.

{

Proclaiming The Gospel Is Provocative (Acts 9:22-24)

Proclaiming The Gospel Is Perilous (Acts 9:23-24)

}

Proclaiming The Gospel Brings Partnership (Acts 9:25)

Acts 9:25 ESV

25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.

Disciple (pupil)

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. μαθητής

one who is rather constantly associated with someone who has a pedagogical reputation or a particular set of views, disciple, adherent

Ephesians 4:15–16 ESV

15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

{

Proclaiming The Gospel Is Provocative (Acts 9:22-24)

Proclaiming The Gospel Is Perilous (Acts 9:23-24)

Proclaiming The Gospel Brings Partnership (Acts 9:25)

}

Transition To Close- You blind me with your love

Differences by Ginuwine

My whole life has changed (my whole life has changed) Since you came in (since you came in) I knew back then (I knew back then) You were that special one (you were that one) I'm so in love (so in love) So deep in love (so deep in love) You make my life complete(you complete me) You are so sweet (are so sweet) No one competes (no one competes) Glad you came into my life (my life) You blind me with your love (love) With you I have no sight (no sight)

Change by J. Cole off the 2016 Album “4 Your Eyez Only”

Yeah, my intuition is telling me there'll be better days I sit in silence and find whenever I meditate My fears alleviate, my tears evaporate (mmm) My faith don't deviate, ideas don't have a date But see, I'm growing and getting stronger with every breath (mmm) Bringing me closer to Heaven's doors with every step (mmm) As we speak, I'm at peace, no longer scared to die Most niggas don't believe in God and so they terrified

It's either that or they be fearing they gon' go to Hell Asking the Father for forgiveness got 'em overwhelmed ("Please, God, I want to go to Heaven") As if He's spiteful like them white folks that control the jail (mmm) See, I believe if God is real, He'd never judge a man Because He knows us all and therefore He would understand (mmm) The ignorance that make a nigga take his brother life The bitterness and pain that got him beating on his wife (mmm), like

I know you desperate for a change, let the pen glide But the only real change come from inside But the only real change come from inside But the only real change come from- (ooh) In cemeteries or in chains I see men cry But the only real change come from inside But the only real change come from inside But the only real change come from- (ooh, oh, woah)

Close

Luke 22:2 ESV

2 And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people.

Acts 2:23 ESV

23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.

Acts 5:33 ESV

33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them.

Isaiah 53:1–12 ESV

1 Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? 9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. 11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.

Psalm 118:22 ESV

22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.