Words to Live By

A Fresh Wind

Open; New Year 2019 • Sermon • Submitted 6 years ago

0 ratings

· 6 views

Your thoughts can hold you back, push you down, and feed you lies. But they can also lift you up! When we change the way we’re thinking, we change the way we’re living. Are you ready for a new direction? It starts with a new attitude. It starts with grace. It starts when you put a few Words to Live By in your heart.

Notes

Transcript

Handout

Sermon Tone Analysis

Emotion

Language

Social

View more →

Intro

Live Stream

Merry Christmas / Happy New Year

Well Completion Photos

Year End Donation

Update info in Church Center app for Giving Statements

>>> New Year has become such an odd time for so many of us. Some here love the new year. Look forward to the new possibilities that lie ahead, etc. For others… the words resolution, possibilities, optimism, etc, have begun to make you ill.

Today, I want teach a message I believe has the potential to significantly impact your life and your year above anything else that I could suggest.

Something God has been teach me over the past couple of years.

Still have a hard time living this out consistently. I’ve gotten better, but it’s still a struggle.

This discipline has the power to impact your life in ways few other disciplines can.

>>> I know that many of us lead challenging and at times difficult lives. Pass around the mic and we could be here all day.

I feel your pain — maybe not your exact pain, but I know what it’s like to be tired, worn out, frustrated, irritable...

Four kids, transitions at church, working on graduate degree, helped individuals and couples going through some incredibly painful situations — drained (spiritually, physically, emotionally).

Yet, this past year was one of the most fulfilling and exciting years of my life (husband, father, pastor)

What didn’t change:

There's nothing easier in this last year.

There was nothing less complicated.

There are more moving parts than ever before.

The schedule is busier than it ever has been.

>>> Nothing has changed about what I do, but let me tell you what changed. What is changing is the way I think about what I do.

Some are thinking: New Year, shmoo-year… positive-thinking doesn’t add a single penny to my bank account.

Others: This resonates with you.

Your thoughts matter more than you can imagine!

Your posture, even right now, it tells us so much about the direction of your life.

Your posture, even right now, it tells us so much about the direction of your life. Your thoughts matter more than you could ever imagine.

Your posture, even right now, it tells us so much about the direction of your life.

Your thoughts matter more than you could ever imagine.

BIG IDEA: Our lives move in the direction of our strongest thoughts.

If your thoughts are full of faith, full of God's truth, you are becoming more like Christ every single day.

If your thoughts are negative, toxic, polluted, I promise you, you will not live in victory. I promise you, you will struggle in your actions because your thoughts are far from God's truth.

Our lives, move in the direction of our strongest thoughts.

True regardless of your age, stage of life, income level, etc

Romans 8:5–6 NLT

5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.

Inner dialogue matters

How many of you talk to yourself? Out loud?

Chatterbox

I talk to myself all the time and sometimes, my inner dialogue is very pleasing to God. Other times, my inner dialogue can be very destructive.

Is your mind dominated by sinful, negative, critical thinking?

Or… is your mind controlled by Spirit of God? —Consistent with God honoring truth.

Give you two different sets of internal thoughts:

#1: My God is with me. My life matters. Full of faith—Mind and spirit at peace. Divine energy for the day—Amazing—Excited about future.

#2 Tired (Coffee), Why did we have all these kids? Too much to do. Extra day. Tired of job. People make crazy. Life overwhelming. Can’t ahead.

Your life moves in the direction of your strongest thoughts.

Tired of job. People make crazy. Life overwhelming. Can’t ahead.

Are excited about the direction your thoughts are taking you?

I wasn’t—My inner dialogue was more on the negative side.

Too much to do. Can’t get it all done. Can’t keep this up. Overwhelming.

What I recognized is I needed God to help change my thinking.

A Change of Thinking

Romans 12:2 NLT

2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

What I love about this is this is not me changing me.

This is God changing me by renewing my mind, by stopping the negative lies and replacing them with Godly truth.

This isn't me working to change me. This is me working to align my thoughts with God's thoughts and when I think God thoughts, God changes me not into a better version of me, but a new person. He’s making all things new.

God transforming you doesn’t begin with your actions. It begins with your thinking. Once you become a follower of Christ:

Not: Treat people better > Is: Change the way you think about people

Not: Quit cussing > Is: Change the way you think about the power and influence of your words

Not: Start giving > Is: Change the way you think about money and stewardship

Changing your thinking always proceeds changing your actions. If not, your actions are not a true reflection of your heart. God wants you to operate out of heart that is surrendered to Him. Changes from “I have to” to “I get to”.

“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company...a church....a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past...we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude...I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you...we are in charge of our attitudes.” ― Charles Swindoll

Let God change you into a new person by changing the way you think because like it or not, so much of life isn't about what happens to you, but so much life is how you think about what happens to you.

Example: Two people, same situation > Completely different outcome

Same with stress… Stress is not about how much you have to do. Stress is how you think about what you have to do.

Stress is not about how much you have to do. Stress is how you think about what you have to do. When you recognize that God is with you, His power is real, His grace sustains you. When you're weak, He carries you. In your weakness, His strength is made perfect. Suddenly, what used to seem like stress becomes an opportunity to tap into His power. It's not about all that you have to do, it's how you think about all that you have to do.

Stress is not about how much you have to do. Stress is how you think about what you have to do.

When you recognize that God is with you, His power is real, His grace sustains you. When you're weak, He carries you. In your weakness, His strength is made perfect.

Suddenly, what used to seem like stress becomes an opportunity to tap into His power.

It's not about all that you have to do, it's how you think about all that you have to do.

2 Corinthians 10:3–4 NLT

3 We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. 4 We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.

2 Corinthians 10:3 NLT

3 We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do.

Weapons:

Prayer

Word of God

Sword of the Spirit

Breastplate of righteousness

Shield of faith

Helmet of salvation

Belt of truth

Shoes prepared with the Gospel of peace

>>> We don't have normal weapons and our weapons are powerful.

To demolish strongholds (Greek: ochyroma)

Fortress, prison,

A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament ὀχύρωμα

that in which confidence is placed

Strongholds of human reasoning...

It's a wrong mindset. It's a spiritual trap.

Satan has got you convinced that you can't, you won't, you never will. He's got you so convinced, you don't have the faith to reach out and grab what could be yours. Why? Because you are believing a lie. It is a stronghold of the evil one and the good news is that you have divine power, divine power, divine power to demolish strongholds. How do we do this?

Satan has got you convinced that you can't, you won't, you never will.

He's got you so convinced, you don't have the faith to reach out and grab what could be yours.

Why? Because you are believing a lie. It is a stronghold of the evil one.

>> The good news is that you have divine power to demolish strongholds. How do we do this?

2 Corinthians 10:5 NLT

5 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.

2cor10.

If you've got a rebellious thought, what do you do? Capture it! Shut up, rebellious thought. You're going to obey Christ.

If you've got a critical thought, what do you do? You capture it! Sit down, critical thought. I'm going to teach you to obey Christ.

You've got a negative thought, something says, "You can't, you never will," you capture it. You capture that rebellious thought. Say, "Shut up and sit down. I'm going to teach you the word of God,"

You take captive every thought and you make it obedient to Christ.

What negative thoughts are dominating your thinking?

Ideas: Can’t get it done, Not a good enough mom (Homemade cookies, store), Always battle, Inconsistent, Undisciplined, Never get ahead, Struggle weight, Not great with people, Average student, Never enough.

Always battle, Inconsistent, Undisciplined, Never get ahead.

Whatever it is, think about it quite honestly when your dialogue tips to the negative side, what is it that you're consistently telling yourself again and again? Because your life is moving in the direction of your strongest thoughts.

Whatever it is, think about quite honestly when your dialogue tips to the negative side, what is it that you're consistently telling yourself again and again because your life is moving in the direction of your strongest thoughts.

TO-DO: Carry a journal around and start recording/making notes of your self-talk

Will give you a clear picture of the direction your life is headed and why you currently feel the way you do about your future and life in general

Struggle weight. Not great with people. Average student. Never enough.

>>> Now I want you to ask yourself...

What spiritual truth will demolish your strongholds?

If you're a new follower of Jesus, you may need some help with this and this is one of the reasons why life groups are so important.

We get together with other believers and we talk around God's word and you may say, "Here's what I struggle with." Someone else may say, "Well here's actually what's true about your situation...”

Words of Live By:

I have everything I need to do everything God calls me to do.

Christ in me is more than enough.

Worry is not my master. My faith is in God and God alone.

Christ in me is more than enough.

Worry is not my master. My faith is in God and God alone.

I'm not easily offended. I am full of the unconditional, unstoppable, unquenchable love of God.

My God is with me. He will never leave me. He will never forsake me.

What I want to encourage you to do is seek God first every day. If you put God first every single day and you spend time with him and you pray for just a few minutes, if you feed on His word and then you speak aloud what He says is true, that discipline, Words to Live By, can completely change your thinking.

WORRIED: Because of Christ, I'm not anxious about anything. I cast my cares on God because He cares through me. I have the peace of God dwelling in my heart and ruling my mind, day-in and day-out.

DON’T KNOW GOD’S WILL FOR YOUR LIFE: My life belongs to God. Daily I seek Him and daily He directs my step. I know His voice and He leads me to His perfect will.

LACK CONFIDENCE: My confidence is in Christ and Christ alone. Because His spirit lives within me, I can do everything He calls me to do.

INCONSISTENT IN YOUR TIME WITH GOD: I love the living and dwelling presence of my good God. Praying is as important to me as breathing. God's word nourishes my soul. I depend on His presence every moment of every day.

>>> This may seem silly at first, but you say it over and over again and what happens? You are consistently speaking what is true and God is renewing your mind. He's changing the way you think.

Just because it sounds cheesy doesn’t mean that it isn’t true

Just because you don’t currently feel it, doesn’t mean that it isn’t true

Your feelings don’t determine what is and isn’t true in your life—God’s Word does that

MY WORDS TO LIVE BY IN 2019

My Chatterbox:

Inconsistent

Terrible at finishing

Bad at relationships

Not succeeding at home, at work, at school

Jesus is first in my life. I exist to serve and glorify Him.

I love my wife and will lay down my life to serve her.

My children will love God and serve Him with their whole hearts. I will nurture, equip, train and empower them to do more for His kingdom than they can imagine.

I love people and believe the best about others.

I am disciplined. Christ in me is stronger than the wrong desires in me.

I am growing closer to Jesus every day. Because of Christ, my family is closer, my body is stronger, my faith is deeper, my leadership is sharper.

I am anointed, empowered, equipped and called to reach people far from God.

I am creative, innovative, driven, focused and blessed beyond measure—because the Holy Spirit dwells within me.

I develop leaders. That’s nothing something I do. It’s who I am.

My words, thoughts and imaginations are under the power of Christ. I take all thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ.

I wake up with purpose, direction and meaning every day of my life.

Pain is my friend. I rejoice in suffering because Christ suffered for me.

I bring my best and then some. It’s what I bring after I do my best that makes the difference.

The world will be different and better because I served Jesus today.

Close

>>> Day-in, day-out. Declare it. Again and again until I believe it.

I'm the righteousness of God in Christ, Jesus.

I'm called to make a difference in this world.

I have the mind of Christ.

I have the same spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwelling inside of me. That makes me powerful for the kingdom of God.

>>> That's why with every bit of excitement, passion, and spiritual enthusiasm I have, I would love to invite you to join me in going before God and letting Him change us into new people by changing the way we think. No longer placing our confidence in strongholds and deceptions from the enemy, but set free by truth.

John 8:32 NLT

32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

You know the truth and the truth will set you free. When you declare it over and over and over again, you might just get to the place where you believe it. Satan is a father of lies. Jesus is the author of truth and when you know the truth, the truth will set you free. That's why these are words to live by.

Scratch Sheet

Just because it sounds cheesy doesn’t mean that it isn’t true

Just because you don’t currently feel it, doesn’t mean that it isn’t true

Your feelings don’t determine what is and isn’t true in your life—God’s Word does that

TO-DO: Carry a journal around and start recording/making notes of your self-talk

Will give you a clear picture of the direction your life is headed and why you currently feel the way you do about your future and life in general

God transforming you doesn’t begin with your actions. It begins with your thinking. Once you become a follower of Christ:

Not: Treat people better > Is: Change the way you think about people

Not,

Not: Quit cussing > Is: Change the way you think about the power and influence of your words

Not: Start giving > Is: Change the way you think about money and stewardship

It’s not you working to change you > It’s allowing God to align my thoughts with His thoughts, and when I think God thoughts, God changes me not into a better version of me, but into a new person. He’s making all things new.

Negative Thoughts:

Philippians 4:8 NLT

8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

**Altar Call & Close

“Anything under God's control is never out of control.” ― Charles Swindoll

Related Media

Related Sermons