The Power To Change

THE POWER TO CHANGE—1 WHEN YOU’RE SICK OF BEING STUCK

The vast majority of us quit our resolutions by the second Friday of January.

Romans 7:15,19,24 NLT

I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. …

I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. ...

Oh, what a miserable person I am! ...

• Real change isn’t behavior modification. • Real change is spiritual transformation.

Romans 7:24-25 NLT

... Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. ...

**The Way to Real Change • Not “God, then me.” • Not “God, not me.” • But “God through me.” **

1 Corinthians 15:9-10 NIV

For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

**The grace that saves you is also the grace that changes you. **

• Your spiritual “why” is God’s purpose for you. • Your spiritual “how” is God’s power through you.

Zechariah 4:6 NIV “…‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.”

I am disciplined. Christ in me is stronger than the wrong desires in me.

If you change your behavior but don’t change your heart, the behavior will come back.

You’re trying to meet a need or relieve a hurt with something besides God’s grace.

2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT ... [God] said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.