True Change

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;