Process of Change

Memory Verse: 2 Timothy 3:16-17

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

1) You Can Change!

2) Three Levels of Problems

a. Feelings Level (emotions, and feelings)

b. Doing Level (thoughts, words, and actions)

c. Heart Level (thinking, reasoning, emotions and will)

3) Your heart, God’s Target

a. We are made up of two parts

§ Outer (physical)

§ Inner (spirit, soul, minds, emotions, will)

b. The real you is the Heart. It is the core of who you are. Therefore, real change begins there.

c. Described in a variety of ways in Scripture

§ The mind as the center of thinking and reason

§ The emotions, and

§ The will.

§ The heart is the depository of all wisdom and the source of whatever affects speech, and conduct

d. Humanity cannot understand their own hearts fully (Jeremiah 17:9)

e. Humanity cannot cleanse their own hearts (Proverbs 20:9)

4) Prone to Wander…

a. Luke 6:43-45

§ Fruit equates to behaviors

§ Root equates to the heart

b. People and circumstances are not the cause of our actions. We are!

c. Matthew 23:25-26

§ Outside cleansing

§ Inside cleansing

d. Changes that do not focus on the heart will not last

e. Changes that are drawn out by intimidations, manipulations, instilling guilt, raised voices, also will not last. When the pressure is relieved, the changes will revert (Adapted from Paul Tripp)

f. Your heart is revealed by your

§ Thoughts (Matthew 15:19; Mark 7:20-23

§ Words (Matthew 12:34; Luke 6:45)

§ Actions (Matthew 15:18-20; Mark 7:20-23)

5) New Heart – Ezekiel 36:26-27

6) When a problem arises, sit down and evaluate the problem in the following manner (Adapted from Wayne Mack).

a. First, discern the different levels of the problem

§ Evaluate your feelings

§ Evaluate your actions and behaviors

§ Evaluate your attitudes and beliefs

§ Evaluate the frequency, duration and past history of this problem.

b. Second, discover the Biblical way of handling this problem.

§ What does God want you to do about this problem?

§ Write down the specific things you should do to solve the problem God’s way.

c. Third, specifically confess to God what you have been doing wrong and decisively commit yourself to do what is right.

d. Fourth, discipline yourself and actually put the Biblical course of action into practice.

§ Do what the Bible tells you to do regardless of how you feel.

§ Structure your life for change.

§ Eliminate those things that encourage unbiblical action or thinking.

§ Add or continue those things that encourage Biblical action and thinking.

§ Exercise immediate restraint at the point of temptation (Proverbs 17:14; James 1:13-15; 4:7).

§ Ask some godly person or persons to help you overcome your problem (Heb. 10:24, 25; Gal. 6:1, 2)

§ Commune with Christ your Savior and Lord by prayer, Bible study, meditation (Isaiah 40:31; John 15:1-6; II Tim. 3:16, 17; Heb. 10:24, 25; James 5:16-18).

§ Practice the new pattern of action consistently and constantly (Luke 9:23; 1 Tim. 4:7; Heb. 5:14).