Overcome Change

Overcoming Change

We will all see changes in our lives and understanding how to react to that change in a Biblical way allows us to maintain our Faith in Christ. Understanding that we all have the tendency to falter and ability to fail maintains a humble heart and allows the love of Christ to make us whole. We will see today that there are those in times of change that remain faithful, those that falter, and those that fail. We will see How Christ dealt with each of these after His death. As you are graduating into change whether it be high school to college, high school to work, college to work, the loss of a loved one or life partner, understanding how those closest to Christ reacted to life change will allow us to adjust our lives to serve Christ in every moment.

Introduction

Change is going to happen, its unavoidable.

When you're finished changing, you're finished.

Benjamin Franklin

The Bible gives us a perfect example of how life changes

Ecclesiastes 3:1–15 ESV

1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. 9 What gain has the worker from his toil? 10 I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. 12 I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; 13 also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man. 14 I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him. 15 That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away.

As we begin today we must understand that change is inevitable. Jesus was preparing his disciples for change in

Matthew 26:31 ESV

31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

In this Scripture Jesus was letting the disciples know that this was it, all these things He had been talking about were about to happen and that their world over the next couple of days would be completely turned upside down. Graduates, your lives are about to be turned upside down, you are about to enter a world that is fast paced, and waits for no one. You are entering colleges where they will push theories on you about evolution and how God could never exist, some of you are entering the Military and are going to be challenged both physically and mentally and in just a few short weeks will be challenged to be a completely different person. Some of you are leaving college and entering the work place where sometimes it is easier to hide your faith for fear of losing your job. Your lives are about to changes. How do you deal with this change? Who will you be in this change? Lets look at the very people who were with Jesus every day and see how they dealt with the changes. In the Scriptures we will reference we will find that there are 3 behaviors that can take place when a Christian is going through change there are those that are faithful, those that falter in their faith, and those that fail in their faith.

Faithful in change

Turn with me in your Bible to

Luke 24:13–26 ESV

13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”

There are many sermons on the Read to Emmaus and many of them focus on the lack of faith that these disciples had. I want to challenge that with a very important aspect. These disciples just saw Jesus nailed to a cross and His very life leave his body, yet they were still ready and willing to say they were His disciples. For these ment that could have meant death, it could have lead to persecution but they still stood faithful. As they were going through the changes in their lives and in the world the message of Christ went with them. Are you in this group? When your friendships are challenged in college and your faith challenged which one will win? When you are given the ultimatum to keep your job or keep your Faith, which will win? When you have to make difficult statements to ones you love will your Faith win?

On April 20, 1999 Cassie Bernall was asked if she was a Christian. Her answer was going to decide her fate. As a gunman held the gun to her head we can only imagine the thoughts she was having the fear she faced. In that moment she said Yes and the gunman ended her life. She is remembered today from the Columbine shooting and her faith has been a turning point for many young and old people to give their lives to Christ in hopes that they might have that same type of faith. Just like the disciples on the road to Emmaus we must maintain our hope in Christ and Faith and understand that standing on the truth of the Word of God is what provides for us. You may lose your job for your faith, you may lose your friends for your faith, you may even lose your life for your faith. Understanding that nothing can happen to you that God does not already know and have a plan for is what will allow us to maintain that Faith.

What happens though when you don't fall into this group? You see there are those Christians who are not willing to take a loud or firm stance but they also aren't willing to leave their faith. They are the quiet group who keep to themselves and at the Christians that I place in the Christians who Falter category.

Falter in Change

Can you be a Christian and be afraid of persecution? Can you take the less vocal approach and just stay to yourself? What if you have questions and you aren't sure where you completely stand in your faith? You believe Jesus is the Son of God, but you question how God can love everyone while making such hard lines on issues. You question your own faith and whether you are a Christian because you feel like you shouldn't have these questions. When challenged in your faith you aren't willing to say you are not a Christian but you may soften your biblical stance so others will still like you. Does this mean you are not a Christian? Well lets answer that with Scripture. Turn with me in your Bible to

John 20:24–30 ESV

24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” 26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;

See Thomas was a disciple but he was very skeptical. Thomas required physical proof and needed to talk to Jesus and to touch Jesus to know that it was real. This did not make Thomas unfaithful it simply meant that he had some growing to do. You see Jesus revealed himself to Thomas not to make him feel bad but to allow him to grow in his faith. As you leave for college, marines, jobs, or whatever else you are going to do in your life it is vitally important to understand that it is ok to have questions. It is ok to Falter in your faith because Jesus will be there if you are listening to redirect your heart, and mind, and soul. Faltering in your faith is repairable, but it takes time. You must surround yourself with those that will help encourage and promote growth in the faith. You will be challenged in this, professors, friends, bosses, peers, drill sergeants they will all if not Christians challenge your faith and you must understand that if you falter you can always get back up. Surround yourself with those who help build your faith and don't walk away from it. Have questions, seek answers, but never walk away from your faith. Jesus will if given the opportunity show you his love for you and the Spirit in growth will make clear the answers to many of your questions. But what happens if you aren't in the first two groups and you walk away completely. Is that the end for you? What if you aren't Faithful, you did falter, but now you have failed?

Fail in change

What happens when you have completely walked away from your faith? Is it over for you, can you never return? As someone who has personally been in this group I want to tell you, there is hope. I cant tell you the status of your heart and your salvation. I can however share with you personal experience and Biblical experience how Jesus is always ready to restore those who fail. Turn with me in your Bible too

Matthew 26:31–35 ESV

31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 33 Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” 34 Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” 35 Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.

Matthew 26:69–75 ESV

69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” 71 And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” 73 After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.” 74 Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

Have you ever failed in your faith? Are you still in a state of Failure? I'm going to share with you this morning a small portion of my testimony that I pray will help any of you who are in failure or who might experience failure to see how all of us can be just like Peter.

In 2011 I was introduced to my wife by her sister, at that time I was the youth minister here and had been for almost 6 years. I understood what it was that God required of me as a Christian and how I should live my life. During the time dating my wife I gave in to sinful desires to have sex outside of marriage. This lead to my wife becoming pregnant. At first I believed that we could keep it all under wraps and didn't need to say anything to anyone. I then moved on to thinking OK how can I make this right? That was a short lived thought that lead to me disqualifying myself from what God might have planned. I decided that I could not be used by God and that I was too much of a sinner to even be in church at all. I gave my faith away and walked completely away from who I knew God wanted me to be. Over the course of 6 years I continually gave myself to sinful desires driving further and further away from the man that God had called me to be. I gave into sinful desires such as drinking, smoking, cussing, and even pornography and in a few short years didn't recognize the person that I had become.I certainly was not the Godly head of my house, I allowed my sin to lead into my attitude with my wife and children, I was continuously mad about things and had a discontentment with life in general. While I was thankful to be a father and a husband I couldn't understand why I was so bad at both. This lifestyle lead to my wife leaving me for a period and me needing to evaluate life. In that time I finally had to come to terms with how I had failed my faith, how I had failed the one who gave his all for me. I began to go back to church and began to move my life back towards Christ. In doing this God allowed me to have my family back and to begin to be the father that I should be and the husband I should be. You see I started to see that just because I failed didn't mean I had to remain a failure. Over the years God continued to work on my heart bringing me back and restoring my faith and one afternoon Ken called and asked me if I would preach homecoming. I was scared, but honored, worried but excited. I knew in my Heart this was the moment that Peter had experienced with Jesus

John 21:15–17 ESV

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

You see Jesus restored Peter, Three times Peter denied Jesus and Three times Jesus restored Peter. I found my life restored when I turned back to Christ. As you are going through life there will be failures. There is not a person in this room that has not experienced those failures or is not experiencing them right now. The issue is not failing the issue becomes will you turn back to Jesus. I was on a road of destruction for me, my family, and my faith. I had all but given in to the devils desire to destroy me when Jesus showed up and told me that He would restore me. Today I still make mistakes, today I still struggle with certain questions in the faith, but I am thankful for a God that restores.

Through the three attitudes Christians can have during change or trials I'm not sure where you are at. One thing I can say for certain is that Jesus showed up to each one and offered them the path towards faithfulness. Thomas was restored though he faltered, Peter was restored though he failed, and Cleopas and an unnamed disciple were strengthened in their faithfulness. No matter which of these areas you are in or what changes you are in, Jesus is there and ready to provide teaching to the faithful, strength to the faltered, and restoration to the failure. As you all move on into your next chapter in life I pray that you will consider where you are in this road and look to Jesus for the next turn.