True Change
God never changes but I believe he is continually calling for change in our own lives
He is constantly molding us into the image of Christ
I have been asked many times, “What is the secret to change?”
The only true change I know of is that which the Holy Spirit imparts
God opens the door, He supplies the power to accomplish it but we are still agents of freewill
It is our choice to work in cooperation with the Holy Spirit and see true change in our lives
5 KEYS OF TRUE CHANGE
Acts 7:57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; 58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." And when he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 8:1 Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. 3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.
MAIN TEXT: Acts 9:1-22
Acts 9:1 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
1. REVELATION:
The Holy Spirit will convict us to change
Some sin we just do knowingly – it is rebellious sin - it is a strong-hold in our lives
Some sin we do out of ignorance – but it is still sin
For change to happen, we must get a revelation
In rebellious sin, we need a revelation of how dangerous & destructive our sin is
In ignorant sin, we need a revelation that we are grieving the Lord in our actions
Acts 9:3 And as he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" 5 And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" And the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads."
There times when the Lord has to take drastic steps to get our attention
Paul describes his experience to King Darius at Acts 26:13 at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. 14 And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ’Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
Revelation is the starting point for true change
2. REPENTANCE:
When we sin, we have only one choice – repentance
A turning away from old choices
We are commanded to confess and repent
6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" And the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." 7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one.
There is immediate repentance
He acknowledge Jesus as Lord, he acknowledges his error
Paul humbles himself right then, without delay
He yields himself to the Lord, right in front of everyone
Repentance only response to see true change
3. RESOLUTION:
a new choice, a decision, determination, a resolve
drawing our line in the sand
We must choose the will of God
8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
Paul made a choice to obey the Lord
No one else even understood what was going on
Dan 1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank;
Daniel made a resolution not to defile himself
Isa 50:7 “…Therefore I have set My face like a flint,”
Ezek 3:9 “…Like adamant stone, harder than flint, I have made your forehead; …”
Josh 24:15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
Resolution is the manifestation of true change
10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord." 11 So the Lord said to him, "Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight." 13 Then Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name." 15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake." 17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. 19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.
4. REVOLUTION:
Moving in what God has shown you
This goes beyond action – it is radical
A sudden or momentous change in a situation.
It is the outward manifestation reflecting inward change
20 Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.
Vs 20 says, he immediately preached”
There was a revolution in his actions
There was feet to his faith
When you make a decision for God, do something about it
If you have struggled with a hidden sin, find a confidant and make yourself accountable
If you have unforgiveness towards someone, find that person and bless them in a radical way
If you have resolved to committed to a stronger prayer life, then set your alarm clock
If you have resolved to stop coarse joking with worldly friends, then begin to limit those relationships
If you have resolved to not watch movies that are chocked-full of sin, then call your cable company
Luke 19:8 Zacchaeus resolved to change from greed and cheating. He promised the Lord to give half of his wealth to the poor and pay back 4 times what he had cheated people out of. – that’s revolution
In Acts 19, After the believers in Ephesus received the Holy Ghost, some who were practicing magic resolved to burn all their valuable scrolls worth 50,000 pieces fo silver. – that’s revolution
Revolution is the working out of true change
5. RELENTLESSNESS:
You can count on your resolution being challenged
The world will challenge you
The devil will challenge you
You must be relentless
A fierce perseverance, uncompromising spirit
21 Then all who heard were amazed, and said, "Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?" 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.
Paul was challenged by the Jewish scholars
These were his old peers
He increased because he persevered
What is really increased? – Godly Character
Paul’s strength was the godly character being built up in his life
Rom 5:3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Relentlessness is the propagation of true change
It turns wordly character into godly character
CONCLUSION:
Many want a Damascus Road experience
I would much rather just keep my heart open to the Lord, than have to be “knocked of my horse”
This is where True Change – when the Lord says unto us, “How long will you grieve me?”
It begins with receiving a revelation
Let that Word bring you to repentance
Then make a resolution
Let your resolve cause a revolution
Maintain a relentlessness to obey
If Paul can be changed from a terrorist of Christians to an anointed vessel of the Holy Spirit
you can be changed from glory to glory
you can overcome sin
you can increase in strength & godly character
