You are on page 1of 17

1

The Power To Change


Your Life
Study on the Fruit of the Spirit
Galatians 5:22-23

A Story

3 merchants crossing Arabian Desert


Dark, starless night
Mysterious voice tell them to stop
Stoop, pick up pebbles and put in pocket
Told to leave and not to camp nearby
Also told that in the morning, they would be both
happy and sad
In the morning, they checked their pockets and
found jewels instead of pebbles
Happy they picked up jewels
Sad, they had not picked up more when they have
the opportunity
3

The Power To
Change Your Life

The Power To Change

The Power To
Change

Power in the Bible

Power - occurs 57 times in NT


Used to describe the resurrection of Jesus
Most important thing in life Paul
I want to know Christ and the power of His
resurrection. Phil. 3:10

Paul want others to know it too


that you may knowthe surpassing greatness of
his power towards uswhich he worked in Christ in
raising him from the dead - Eph. 1:19-20

Greek dunamis, root for dynamite

Same power that raised Jesus from the dead can


be used to transform our lives

The Power To
Change Your Life

The Power To Change

The Power To
Change

Gods power will

Cancel past

Conquer problems

Nailed to the cross - Col 2:13-14


Remember no more - Jer 31:34
No condemnation in Christ - Rom 8
Forget whats behind, press forward - Phil 3:13-14
Nothing shall separate us from Gods lovemore
than conquerors - Rom 8:35-37
Boldness to face opposition - Acts 4:29-31

Change personality

New life, indwelling Spirit

Do you believe in Gods Power?


5

The Power To
Change Your Life

The Power To Change

The Power To
Change

A Partnership

A spiritual workout
Therefore my dear friends, as you have always
obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more
in my absence, continue to work out (cultivate- mkjv)
your salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God
who works in you, to will and to act according to His
good purpose. Phil. 2:12-13

Gods Part
Your Part

God provides the power


but we must flip the switch
6

The Power To
Change Your Life

Gods Part

The Power To
Change

Through His word

Change is a
Partnership
Gods Part

All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for


teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in
righteousness so that the man of God may be
thoroughly equipped in every good work.
- 2 Tim. 3:16-17

Through the Holy Spirit

You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but


by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if
anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not
belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead
because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of
righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus
from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from
the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through
his Spirit, who lives in you.
Rom 8:9-11
7

The Power To
Change Your Life

Gods Part

The Power To
Change

Through circumstances

Change is a
Partnership
Gods Part

Everything happen for a reason


And we know that all things work together for
good to them that love God, to them who are the
called according to his purpose. - Rom. 8:28

We can learn if we have the right attitude


No difference in source of circumstances

Blows and wounds cleanse away evil, and beatings


purge the inmost being. - Prov. 20:30

God whispers to us in our pleasure but shouts


to us in our pain. CS Lewis

The Power To
Change Your Life

Your Part

The Power To
Change

Choose your thoughts

Change is a
Partnership
Gods Part

Be careful how you think


Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the
issues of life. - Prov. 4:23

Your Part

What I Think What I Feel How I Act


You are not what you think you are; what you
think, you are.
Change begins with your thought patterns
Renewing of your mind
And be not conformed to this world; but be ye
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye
may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and
perfect, will of God. - Rom. 12:2

Adjust your autopilot


9

The Power To
Change Your Life
The Power To
Change

Your Part

Meditating on Gods word

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the


counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of
sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful, but
his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law
doth he meditate day and night. - Psa. 1:2

Meditation is thought digestion

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all


wisdom - Col. 3:16

Change is a
Partnership
Gods Part
Your Part

Think on these things


Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,
honest,just,pure,lovely,of good report;
if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise,
think on these things. - Phil. 4:8

10

The Power To
Change Your Life

Your Part

The Power To
Change

Change is a
Partnership

Depend on the Holy Spirit

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man


remains in me and I in him, he will bear much
fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. Jn 15:5

Gods Part

Your Part

The vine and branches

Change is an inside job


Your prayer life demonstrate your dependence
on God

Whatever you pray about show you are hooked


on God. Whatever you dont pray about is what
you are trying to do on your own.
Decisions, needs, interests, schedule, problems,
peopleeverything
11

The Power To
Change Your Life

Your Part

The Power To
Change

Change is a
Partnership

Respond wisely to circumstances

Gods Part
Your Part

Cannot control circumstances but we can


control how we respond to them
Experiences ---> 2 Bs
Bitter person
Better person
Not so much what happen to us but what
happens in us
Rejoice in our trials

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings


because we know that suffering produces
perseverance; perseverance, character and
character, hope. - Rom. 5:3-4
12

The Power To
Change Your Life
The Power To
Change

Your Part

Change is a
Partnership
Gods Part
Your Part

Josephs case betrayed by brothers, sold to


slavery
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for
good - Gen. 50:20

Paradox of producing fruit of Spirit

The fertilizer factor


Learn love by being around difficult people
Patience without trials?
Peace without storm?

13

The Change Begins NOW

Desire to change
Co-operate with God
Read, study and meditate on the Bible
Let the Holy Spirit control your life
Accept circumstances as part of Gods plan
Ask God for help
Change takes time
One More Night With The Frogs?
14

Cultivating The Fruit Of The Spirit

Love - Become A More Loving Person


Joy - The Choice to Rejoice
Peace - Peaceful Living in an Uptight World
Long-suffering - Developing Your Patience
Kindness - Putting on a Little Kindness
Goodness - Living the Good Life
Faith - The One Who Can Be Counted On
Meekness - A Gentle Approach
Self-Control - Developing Self-Control
15

See You Next Week!

The Power To Change Your Life

16

17

You might also like