GOD’S PART/MY PART IN CHANGING ME
Getting a Life Re-set
“… Continue to WORK OUT your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who WORKS IN you to will and to act according to his good purpose.“ Philippians 2:12
I. GOD’S PART IN CHANGING ME — FOUR Tools God Uses
1. THE BIBLE.
“The whole Bible was given to us by inspiration from God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives; it straightens us out and helps us do what is right. It is God’s way of making us well prepared at every point…” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (TLB)
2. THE HOLY SPIRIT.
JESUS: “…The Holy Spirit–he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.” John 14:26 (NLT)
“Once the Spirit [lives within you], He will…. bring to your whole being new strength and vitality.” Romans 8:11 (PHILLIPS)
“… As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like Him.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 (TLB)
3. PEOPLE.
“Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.” Proverbs 12:15 (NLT)
“Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.” Ephesians 4:11-12 (NLT)
“Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth.” 2 Timothy 2:25 (NLT)
4. CIRCUMSTANCES.
“… To those who love God, [and] are called according to his plan, everything that happens fits into a pattern for good. [For] God… chose [us] to bear the family likeness of his Son….” Romans 8:28-29 (PHILLIPS)
“Sometimes it takes a painful [situation] to make us change our ways.” Proverbs 20:30 (GNT; TEV)
II. MY PART IN CHANGING ME — FOUR CHOICES
1. I can choose WHAT I THINK ABOUT.
“Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.” Proverbs 4:23 (GNT; TEV)
“Now your attitudes and thoughts must all be constantly changing for the better. Yes, you must be a new and different person, holy and good. Clothe yourself with this new nature.” Ephesians 4:23-24 (TLB)
“… Be transformed by the renewing of your mind….” Romans 12:2 (NIV)
Think – Feel – Act
Value of Bible Meditation: Psalm 1:1-3; Philippians 4:8; Colossians 3:16; Psalm 119:9 & 119:11.
“The secret of success is meditate on God’s word day and night and you’ll be successful.” Joshua 1:8
2. I can choose to DEPEND ON GOD’S SPIRIT.
“Take care to live in Me, and let Me live in you. For a branch can’t produce fruit when severed from the vine. Nor can you be fruitful apart from Me. … I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him shall produce a large crop of fruit.” John 15:4-5 (TLB)
3. I can choose to LISTEN TO WISE PEOPLE.
“Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.” Proverbs 19:20 (ESV)
4. I can choose MY RESPONSE TO CIRCUMSTANCES.
“When all kinds of trials… crowd into your lives… don’t resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends! Realize that they come to test your faith and produce in you the quality of endurance. But let the process go on until that endurance is fully developed, and you… become [people] of mature character, [people of integrity, with no weak spots].” James 1:2-4 (PHILLIPS)
“… We can be full of joy here and now even in our trials and troubles. These very things will give us patient endurance; this in turn will develop a mature character…” Romans 5:3-4