Sunday, August 22, 2010

God's Part & My Part In Changing Me

Discipleship Series (5)
Rev. Johnny Wong

12Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. ~ Philippians 2:12 - 13

I. GOD’S PART IN CHANGING ME—3 TOOLS HE USES

1. GOD USES THE BIBLE
16The whole Bible was given to us by inspiration from God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives; it straightens us out and helps us do what is right 17It is God’s way of making us well prepared at every point.... ~ 2 Timothy 3:16 - 17 (LB)


2. THE HOLY SPIRIT
11And 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. 8:11

18As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like Him. ~ 1 Cor. 3:18 (LB)


3. CIRCUMSTANCES
28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. ~ Rom. 8:28 - 29

30Sometimes it takes a painful situation to make us change our ways.
~ Prov. 20:30 (GN)


II. MY PART IN CHANGING ME—THREE CHOICES

1. I can choose WHAT I THINK ABOUT
23Be careful how you think. Your life is shaped by your thoughts.
~ Prov. 4:23 (GN)

23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. 25Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
~ Eph 4:23-25
Rom. 12:2 Think Feel Act

Value of Bible Meditation: Psalm 1:1 - 3
Phil. 4:8, Col. 3:16, Ps. 119:11, Joshua 1:8

2. I can choose TO DEPEND ON GOD'S SPIRIT MOMENT BY MOMENT
4Take care to live in Me and let Me live in you. For a branch can’t produce fruit when severed from the vine. Nor can you be fruitful apart from Me. 5"I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him shall produce a large crop of fruit. ~ John 15:4 - 5 (LB)

3. I can choose MY RESPONSE TO CIRCUMSTANCES
2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ~ James 1:2 - 4

3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. ~ Rom 5:3 - 4

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