A Spirit Of Sameness Vs. Agent Of Change

A SPIRIT OF SAMENESS OR BE AN AGENT OF CHANGE. Two part series.

BUILD A SAFE PATHWAY TO CHANGE. CAN WE CHANGE? ARE WE TRAPPED?

Jeremiah 13: 23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin? Or a leopard his spots? Then may ye also do good, that are

accustomed to do evil.

God, you know what I was, You see what I am: CHANGE ME, PLEASE GOD CHANGE ME!

People need to see change, change that makes a difference. Change with real and genuine love and understanding. Change

that listens and hears. God give us FRESH EYES, and a NEW VISION. God help us tear down the walls and barriers that

divide your people and hinder change.

Many of God’s leaders never ACT in FAITH, but we learn to REACT IN FEAR and attack any agent of change.

Speak clear, but speak in great tenderness. Are you a student, learning and growing? Are you trapped in the

SPIRIT OF SAMENESS? How can we pray for others to change and us stay the same? Pastors fall in ruts, open ended

graves? You can change, if you want to...? Your family can change, if you want to ...? Why stay in this trap? Why get

out of this trap to fall prey in another?

We must avoid a spirit of bondage ... change, we need change.

Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15. For ye have not received the

spirit of bondage again TO FEAR, but ye have received the Spirit of adoption...

WE ARE CREATURES OF HABIT.

--- Manner or pattern of conduct.

--- The prevailing disposition or character of a person’s thoughts and feelings.

--- Mental make up.

--- A pattern of behavior acquired by repetition.

WE CAN HAVE A HABIT TO FALL INTO TRAPS AND SNARES...

Acts 8:23 For I perceive that thou art in the GALL OF BITTERNESS, and in the bond of sin.

2 Timothy 2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken

CAPTIVE BY HIM AT HIS WILL.

GOD WILL NOT CHANGE YOUR OUTSIDE UNTIL YOU CHANGE YOUR INSIDE.

THE CHANGE OF DIRECTION OF MOTION IS PROPORTIONAL TO THE MOTIVE FORCE IMPRESSED.

This is a law of nature stated by Isaac Newton. If there is little effort there will be little change of direction.

A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind, and won’t change the subject. Winston Churchill.

Plato: Nothing endures but change.

IF YOU WANT THINGS DIFFERENT, YOU CANNOT STAY THE SAME. If you don’t like what you are getting,

change what you are giving!

God grant us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, and the courage and wisdom to change

the things that should be changed, and give us the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.

If there is breath, there is opportunity to change.

1. WE ARE IN A VALLEY, A PLACE OF TRANSITION ... HEARD OF THE TERM: FUTURE SHOCK?

Future shock is a term that deals with the shattering stress and disorientation that is induced in individuals by subjecting

them to too much change in too short of time. Well, God is in charge, and our hope is not in or of this world. We must face

and embrace change. We must renew our hearts and our dreams. Change is not bad, change is not good. Change is neutral.

It is how we prepare our hearts and make ready for change. IF WE ARE NOT AGENTS OF CHANGE IN OUR CHURCHES

AND OUR COMMUNITIES WE ARE DOOMED JUST AS THE DINOSAUR.

A. IF YOU WANT THINGS DIFFERENT, YOU CANNOT STAY THE SAME.

B. WE ARE IN A VALLEY OF CHANGE.

Psalms 84:5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; whose heart are the ways of them.

6. Who passing through THE VALLEY of BACA, MAKE IT A WELL; the rain also fillleth the pools.

Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in THE VALLEY OF DECISION: For the day of the Lord is near, in the

VALLEY OF DECISION.

C. WE ARE LACKING IN AN EVALUATION SYSTEM WITH IN THE CHURCH.

I. WHAT IS NOT INSPECTED WILL NEVER ACHIEVE WHAT IS EXPECTED?

II. Anger stops change. Anger is seldom a primary emotion. Anger is a secondary emotion that comes forth out of the

primary emotions of hurt, disappointment, discouragement, and a wounded spirit. Anger will always resist change.

III. CHANGE IS SELDOM EFFECTIVE COMING FROM A CONFRONTATIONAL ATTITUDE... CHANGE IS BEST GIVEN BIRTH

FROM A CARE-FRONTATIONAL ATTITUDE. We must "COME ALONG SIDE" others and help bring about change.

IV. Recruit team members to help bring about change, your team members can use their influence and help bring acceptance.

V. Good change always comes in baby steps, slow progressive, patient, planned steps. This is why change seldom comes.