Ugly in the Middle
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Handout
Handout
How many of you know someone that needs to change?
How many of you like SITUATIONS to change especially junk ones?
How many of you like change in general?
How many of YOU like to change personally?
I’ve got news for you...
If you are gonna stay around Jesus, you are GOING TO CHANGE!
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
If we are truly submitted to and focusing on Jesus, we are being changed & transformed.
Good news, we are being changed from one level one DEGREE of glory to another
The truth is that we are being changed from glory to glory
But it feels like we go from glory, to GORY, to glory!
Just like when hair is growing out, sometimes it feels like nothing is happening. Sometimes it really goes through an UGLY phase
- (The way some of you are looking right now, I can tell you haven’t radically changed your hairstyle in MANY years)
Don’t quit in the ugly transition of change
If we don’t stop, we will get to our destination.
Wherever there is a confluence, there is a current and sometimes rapids.
Don’t be surprised if you encounter rapids and challenges along the way.
Enemies of Change:
Enemies of Change:
Peer Pressure
Peer Pressure
5 Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; 6 not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.
Not everyone is going to be happy about the changes in our life or the way in which you are changing
Especially those that we used to sin with or for
Butterfly change Meme
(Some changes can TRIGGER PEOPLE)
Clinton to Trump Meme
Not everyone changes at the same rate or in the same area
-Which is why we have a hard time having compassion for one another’s season(s) of change - Even other Christians and family members
Not everyone is going to rejoice in your success (or your relationship with Jesus)
12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
Put a healthy distance between yourself and the dream stealers and the change resistors in your life
The Cost:
The Cost:
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
We have to remember where Jesus was going when He took up His cross.
If we do the same, why would we have a different destination?
We can all deny ourself THINGS - But can we deny ourself?!
Change to the new almost always involves death for the old
Butterfly chrysalis Image
We can’t love our past more than we love our future or we will never go there.
Current:
Current:
There is a constant current of habit that tries to draw us back from change
11 As a dog returns to his own vomit, So a fool repeats his folly.
Don’t fight the current - Get out of the current
Stay in the current and you will get exhausted and succumb to it
Some currents require that we would simply stand up on solid ground
Submit to the Word of God COMPLETELY by DOING IT!
47 Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. 49 But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”
Fear:
Fear:
10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Each of those things the devil does is scary and possibly traumatic - causing fear.
The devil wants to convince us that God is the thief
God is the Great Exchanger
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Giving up to & giving to God will never make you less!
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
32 “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
All of these things are difficult to do if we are afraid of God & what He will take from us.
it is no wonder that:
There are 1,086 Verses in the Bible that say “Do Not Fear”
As we go through seasons of constant change remember this verse:
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Just One Thing:
Just One Thing:
We can’t afford to stop just because it gets ugly in the middle - our destiny & those around us depend upon it & need us to continue to change.
The world needs me to be more like Jesus!
Discussion Questions:
Discussion Questions:
If people receive a purple heart for bravery, what would other color hearts represent?
What are your general feelings about change (positive, negative, scary, etc)? How do you think those feelings affect your approach and ability to change?
Please read Matthew 16:24-25 and share what this scripture means to you and what practical application you have for this scripture in your life.
What is the greatest area of change that the Holy Spirit “has His finger on” right now in your life? Are you experiencing any enemies of change - if so, what are they?