“Changes”
Pastor David Moore
Old Testament reading: Joshua 1:1‐9
After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.
“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Why was Jesus born into this world? Jesus became a human, being fully God and fully human, so we would be reborn spiritually. ~D. Moore
1 Timothy 1:15: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”
New Testament reading: Ephesians 4:17‐24
So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desire; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
There is a maturing process that goes alongside four steps of changes that occur in believers of Christ.
Four steps for change:
1. Make a decision
2. Change from the inside out
3. Transform your thinking
4. By being captivated with Jesus
You have become a new person a whole new pattern of behavior. Christianity is not about behavior rights you have with God. It is about a personal relationship where God rights our relationship with Him. You become a new person in Christ before you adopt new standards of behavior. ~D. Moore
2 Corinthians 5:17: Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
Three types of people who follow the 10 Commandments:
1. Punishment averse
2. Define themselves as good
3. Want to please God
Romans 5:8: “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Colossians 3:16: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Philippians 4:8: Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy— think about such things.
“God is in charge of the great reversals—He turns us from darkness to light, from sadness to joy, from death to life.” ~Alistair Begg
This week: think about steps in your transformation as a Christian. Think about why this is all possible. And lastly, ask Christ for a new attitude and a new perspective of how to view this world. Then watch how your life changes (renewed) from the inside out. God bless.