I Was Born This Way.

Steve Gentry

[0:00] God did an amazing thing providing this building for us at the perfect space, [0:07] the perfect size, the perfect price. We didn’t have to run any capital [0:11] campaigns. We had the right amount of money to pay the down payment. And what [0:16] really is, is that few other churches at six years old are able to have this type [0:23] of space and own it. When we went through purchasing the building and the [0:29] meetings that were had and the information meetings that were had, we

[0:32] expressed to you that it was probably going to cost about a hundred thousand [0:36] dollars for the moving expenses and everything that was going to take place [0:40] on top of making the down payment which we were able to make without raising any [0:44] funds because you’ve been generous and we have sought to be very good stewards [0:48] of what God has provided us as a church. And so far I just wanted to give you an [0:53] update. We have raised about sixty thousand dollars of what we kind of

[0:59] thought we were going to need which was about a hundred thousand dollars before [1:02] 2015 was over for the moving expenses. And as we have gone through moving in [1:06] and as we’ve gone through the first few months of ministry here in this space, we [1:11] were pretty accurate on our target of how much it was going to cost us. And so [1:16] what we need to do over the next few months is that we need to kind of make [1:22] a push to raise the the final forty thousand dollars in the 233 fund. So

[1:28] thank you first of all to those of you who have already given and thank you to [1:33] those of you who have also made pledges to give over the next few months in 2015. [1:40] But maybe you didn’t get a chance and you’ve only been here for a few months [1:44] since we moved here and you didn’t get a chance to participate in the 233 fund [1:49] back in the spring. Maybe it wasn’t on your radar or maybe you’ve started [1:52] coming since then but we would love for you to be a part of us, excuse me,

[1:57] helping us finish raising the money to make this move happen. So there should [2:02] be a card in the back of the seats there that are right in front of you. So if [2:08] you want to be a part of that final push to raise the final bit of money that we [2:12] have in that fund, that card is for you. And what I want you to do with that card [2:16] is I want you to take that home and I want you to pray, if you’ve got a family, [2:19] I want you to pray with your family of how God would work in your family to

[2:24] help us be, continue to be, good stewards of all of the gifts that God has given us. [2:30] You know, it doesn’t go without fees to be able to operate a space such as this [2:34] and we’ve been blessed. And every time that God blesses us, he gives us those [2:38] blessings with a responsibility to steward those blessings. And so let’s [2:43] join together and be good stewards. Alright, pray with me for a moment.

[2:48] Our Father, we are so thankful and grateful for everything that you’ve done [2:56] for us, everything that you’ve done through us, and everything that we know [3:04] that you’re going to do through the gospel in our lives. Lord, please help us [3:08] to catch a vision for what you desire to do in each and every one of our lives [3:14] this morning into the next week and into the rest of our lives. [3:19] Lord, the gospel brings life change. Without that there is no gospel. There is

[3:26] no news. There is just life as usual. Lord, may we not be a people who settle for [3:35] what we can have apart from you, but instead, they catch a vision from your [3:40] word, catch a vision through the spirit. And as we seek to have a cross-centered [3:44] life, may we catch a vision for the continuous change that you desire to do [3:49] in each and every one of our lives. Lord, may all who come behind us find us [3:55] faithful. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen. You know, for the past few weeks

[4:01] we’ve been taking a look at the different philosophies that our culture [4:06] has accepted as truth, but are really primarily at their foundation based on [4:10] lies. And we’ve been summing these philosophies up in the different phrases [4:14] that we as a people have coined that we kind of give as just short little witty [4:19] pieces of advice to one another. That maybe you’ve given them as pieces of [4:22] advice, or maybe you’ve received them as pieces of advice. But what we’ve taken

[4:26] is, is we have looked at how we need to redefine love, how we need to change the [4:32] way that we base our decision-making, how we need to really think about [4:35] judgment and discernment, and how we need to last week take a look at enduring [4:40] life in obedience to God through everything that comes our way. That God [4:46] gives into our lives the very things that we need in order to turn to Him and [4:51] be completely dependent. That He doesn’t just give us what we can handle, rather

[4:55] He gives us what we want, excuse me, what we need to change to trust Him to handle. [5:03] So this week I want to take a look at what really is a more contemporary [5:06] phrase, and that is the phrase that I was born this way. And what we use that [5:12] phrase to really note is a lack of desire, or rather a lack of ability to [5:19] make real life change. And that we don’t believe that at our root, that our lives [5:28] can totally change. I was having a conversation with a friend some years

[5:33] ago, a friend that trusted Christ as his Savior, that was seeking to follow Him, [5:37] and our conversation was all about how deep change can really go in our lives [5:42] as we follow Jesus. And he thought it was absolutely impossible for a person’s [5:47] personality to change. That’s just something that God doesn’t do, that’s just something that God can’t do.

[5:54] The question that we need to deal with is, is that right? How deep can the [6:00] change of the gospel go? Can it go down to the very root of how we identify [6:05] ourselves, of how we define ourselves, or are there places in our lives that are [6:10] impossible to change, even by God? Scripture paints a picture, but there’s [6:16] nothing off limits, there’s nothing off base, that the change that Jesus brings [6:22] into our lives are as polarizing as death is to life, and there’s nothing more

[6:28] extreme than death and life. And so scripture says that change is possible to [6:34] that extent. What I want to put forward to you today is that there is nothing in [6:41] your life that is impossible to change. Recently the topic of genetic [6:48] predispositions has come into the conversation as science has shown that [6:53] there are genetic components to what we desire, and sometimes even our actions [6:58] have a default mode in our lives, that we’re just kind of born into a lifestyle,

[7:04] of having certain predispositions to certain addictions, having certain [7:08] predispositions to certain feelings, having certain predispositions to [7:12] certain actions that we take in our lives, and does that though mean that [7:17] those things can’t change? The idea of change comes with an understanding, first [7:24] and foremost, that something is wrong in your life, and that you are actually in [7:29] need of change. So can you change down to the very affections that you have, down

[7:35] to the very definitions of what you think that your life is based on? You [7:42] see the conversation of what we’re born with, of how we are born, and what our [7:47] default mode in life is, is not really a conversation of what can’t change, but [7:53] more so it’s a conversation of are we born without sin? Are we born without [8:02] sin having such an effect on us, that it doesn’t go down to the core of even how [8:08] we define ourselves, of what we’re finding our identity in, of what is truth

[8:15] about us? What we’re gonna talk about today is that the gospel of Jesus Christ [8:21] actually serves as a revelation that we are born. I believe that science is right [8:28] with certain genetic predispositions, but that does not serve to show us that [8:34] we don’t need change, or that we shouldn’t change, but instead that actually [8:37] serves as a revelation to show us how deep the mark of sin that started in [8:43] Genesis chapter 3 actually goes. So look with me in Ephesians chapter 4, and I want

[8:49] to talk about this through a number of verses. I want to start in Ephesians [8:53] chapter 4 verse 17. Paul is writing to the church at Ephesus, and he writes and [8:58] says, now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as [9:02] the Gentiles do in the futility of their minds. They’re darkened in their [9:07] understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in [9:11] them due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given

[9:16] themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity, but that [9:23] is not the way you learned Christ. Assuming that you have heard about him and [9:30] were taught in him as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self which [9:36] belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, [9:42] and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds and to put on the new self created [9:48] after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore

[9:52] having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his [9:57] neighbors, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin. Do not [10:03] let the sun go down on your anger and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the [10:09] thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor doing honest work with his own [10:17] hands so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. What you see [10:25] in that narrative that Paul gives the church at Ephesus is you see a vision

[10:30] for what the gospel will do through your faith in Jesus and through your life of [10:37] following Jesus. He’s over the first three and a half chapters. He has built [10:41] a foundation of how much the gospel does in the life of those who believe in [10:48] the gospel. The power of God in finding your identity in Christ, the power of God [10:53] in redeeming you from sin in chapter 2, he marks that it is as opposite as death [10:57] is from life and that you are dead, but Jesus comes and he gives you salvation

[11:03] through faith by his grace and then he redeems you to himself so that you can [11:09] be a part of the people of God building the church of Jesus Christ, which in [11:14] Ephesians chapter 3 verse 10 he says, is the manifold wisdom of God for all of [11:20] the principalities, all of the powers in the air to see on display as the gospel [11:26] is triumphing all over the world through those who have faith and those who [11:30] gather together to be a part of his church from every race, from every ethnic

[11:34] group, from all peoples, all tongues, all tribes, all over the world. God is building [11:39] his church. Then here in chapter 4 he makes a little bit of a change and he [11:47] comes right into your life and he begins to unpack how you personally and [11:53] specifically can be a part of that. He says in the beginning that he’s given all of [11:59] the offices of the church to train you, the people of God, to do the work of [12:08] ministry. Then in verse 17 he shifts and he says if you’re going to be doing the

[12:15] work of ministry, getting the gospel out into the world, making disciples of Jesus [12:20] Christ, it’s going to require something very important. It’s going to require [12:27] change. Everybody loves change until they’re the person that needs to change. [12:33] We’re very good at seeing what other people need to change. We’re very good [12:37] at going to someone’s house and saying, oh my goodness, did they even try to [12:40] decorate? They need to change this. If you come to my house, no, I didn’t try. It’s

[12:47] not worth it. But I was asked what my design style was one time and I said [12:52] blank and sterile. I’m going for doctors office chic. But the reality is that [13:01] we’re very good at identifying where other people need to change. We’re very [13:07] good at identifying what everybody else’s problems are but then as the [13:13] scope begins to come and become a mirror into our lives, that’s where we [13:17] start saying, now wait a second, that’s just who I am. That’s just the kind of guy I am.

[13:27] It’s just the kind of person I am. These are all ways of saying I was born that way. [13:36] What the scripture tends to do is it begins to take a look at how we are born [13:40] and it begins to use phrases about what is true about you from worth like sinful, [13:46] dead, doing nothing. Then the gospel comes in and the gospel says life, abundant [13:55] life, repentance, birth, change. We love to treat those things as if they’re [14:05] some type of ethereal reality that’s mystical, it’s kind of off-limits from

[14:09] what’s going on every day and the things that I’m committed to and the things [14:13] that I’m doing and the practices that I’m going about. What we do when we [14:18] do that is we actually become people who pretend to have a form of godliness, [14:24] the book of Timothy says, but denying the actual power thereof. What Paul is [14:32] saying in this is that if you still have the exact same mindset as a person who [14:39] doesn’t have faith in Christ, what does that say about your faith in Christ?

[14:42] Because that is not the way that you learned Christ. So what is the problem [14:48] then? Number one, the issue really is that behind every sin is a lie. Behind every [14:56] single sin is a lie. It is true that change is difficult. Change is the most [15:01] difficult thing that you will ever endure in your life, but change is [15:04] something that you need. Change is something that you need to personalize. [15:09] Change is something that you need to have the Word of God and the Spirit of

[15:13] God and the Church of Jesus Christ become a spotlight into your life of [15:18] what needs to happen for you to be made into a disciple. Do you see the key of what [15:24] Jesus says when he says go and make disciples? [15:26] Jesus brings this audacious assumption into our lives that we’re not already [15:30] disciples. [15:32] How dare he? That you need to actually be made into a disciple.

[15:38] But oftentimes we show up as though I am a disciple.

[15:46] Are you?

[15:50] What the gospel says is, yeah you find your identity as a gospel, but it’s a [15:54] process. [15:56] It’s a life. It’s a walk. [15:59] It’s a journey of change. It’s a journey of growth. [16:06] It’s a journey of life.

[16:12] Verse 17, he gives us a list of things that are true of the Church of Ephesus [16:18] before they came to faith in Christ. [16:21] Between verses 17 and 19, he does not give us a list that are the attributes of [16:26] someone that’s becoming more like Christ. Instead, he’s giving the attributes of [16:30] someone that says, I don’t need change. [16:34] I’m good. I don’t need growth.

[16:37] I’m fine. But then in verse 20, he throws the gauntlet of change and in asking and [16:44] making that statement that that is not the way that you learned Christ, he’s [16:48] throwing the gauntlet of change and making a specific statement that you [16:51] need to live what you have learned about Jesus. [16:57] If you’ve learned it, then live it. [17:00] This is not just some academic exercise. The beliefs are important, but the

[17:05] lifestyle that follows the beliefs are just as important.

[17:10] So where are you growing? Where are you changing? [17:14] As I said, I do believe that we are born with certain genetic predispositions and [17:18] we see this as time goes by and as we learn more and as God allows us to see [17:24] more about biology, that those genetic predispositions link to our genes to [17:29] a bunch of different things. I truly believe that I have a genetic [17:32] predisposition to being a little bit heftier than some of you.

[17:38] But that is no excuse for me to go to Golden Corral every night.

[17:43] There’s no excuse for gluttony. [17:46] There’s no excuse for my sinfulness.

[17:51] Just because we’re born with certain things being different than what God [17:56] gives us as his vision for us in his word, it’s not an excuse for us to continue [18:01] in those if God has specifically forbidden them. [18:04] And that’s the truth that the gospel brings into our lives. Paul is saying [18:08] that when you were feudal in your thinking, you would believe that you are [18:13] the authority in your life, but as you’ve come to Christ, it’s not what you’ve

[18:16] learned. You’ve learned that God is the authority in your life and when you [18:19] learn that, it changes the way that you live. [18:21] It changes your perspective on life. It changes the way that you need to follow [18:27] Jesus.

[18:30] The fact of the matter is the idea that comes with an understanding that there’s [18:34] something wrong with the way that you are in your sin brings with it an [18:39] understanding that you live the way that you do ultimately because you like it. [18:45] Because as you follow Jesus, as you learn to live what it is that you actually [18:51] believe about Christ, you begin to uncover that you are steeped more in sin [18:56] than you ever thought you were before.

[19:00] As Israel had this great tendency in the Old Testament, they constantly shift [19:05] towards false gods. The answer is they shifted towards false gods because they [19:09] liked it. Because they believed the lie that they didn’t need the real God in [19:14] their lives telling them what to do.

[19:19] The issue is that God aids us through finding out more about general [19:26] revelation and things such as genetic predisposition so that we will [19:30] understand even deeper our need for redemption from our sin. Not so that we [19:37] can revel in it. [19:39] And I say this understanding that we are in a culture that’s beginning to use [19:43] those genetic predispositions to even question even our sexual identities,

[19:48] even our gender identities. And those are real issues in lives of real people [19:52] who are really struggling to say how do I define myself when I feel that this is [19:59] really who I am. When I feel that this is what I should base the definition of who [20:04] I am on. And if you’re in here I want you to understand that that is a legitimate [20:09] feeling. You need to be honest about that. That is a real struggle. But the fact [20:19] of the matter is that the gospel wants you to give hope in your struggle. To

[20:25] find the hope of real life change that you were not meant to find your identity

[20:35] in your sexual preference. You were not created to find your identity even in [20:41] your gender. You are meant to find your identity in who God is for you and who [20:49] God has revealed himself to be for you in the person and work of Jesus Christ. [20:56] That we are all born with misconceptions and Jesus comes to tell us the truth. [21:03] That’s what he means when he says I am the truth. I am life. I am the way. He’s [21:10] saying that you need to look to him for your identity and in nothing else.

[21:16] Because if you don’t begin there with him and you seek to change apart from him [21:22] you will find nothing but disappointment and frustration. So our goal this morning is not just to tell you to change who you think you are. [21:31] Our goal this morning is to tell you who you really are and that is only found in Jesus. [21:36] The fact that he loves you. The fact that he died to make a sacrifice for your sin personally. [21:42] The fact that he rose to give you hope in new life. Look at what Jesus says in John chapter 8 verses 34 and 35. [21:49] Jesus answered them. The crowd around him says truly truly I say to you everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.

[22:00] You know why you struggle so much to obey God?

[22:05] Because sin enslaves you.

[22:10] He says the hope is the fact that the slave does not remain in the house forever but the son remains forever. [22:18] Jesus is saying that your sin does not have to be the eternal definition of who you are.

[22:28] The things that are going on in your life that contradict what God says your life should be about. [22:34] That doesn’t have to be who you are because that’s not eternal. Jesus is. [22:39] Then he says if the son sets you free you will be free indeed. [22:44] But the problem is that sin deceives us into thinking we can’t change and shouldn’t have to change. [22:53] We sin because we believe the lie that we are better off without God. [22:56] When we resist the changes that God reveals is needed in scripture the lie we are embracing is that we are okay without God working in our lives.

[23:05] That’s the lie of verse 22. [23:07] In verse 22 the apostle Paul says that we are without Jesus corrupt through deceitful desires.

[23:17] Have you ever found yourself denying sin even though you just saw yourself doing it? [23:21] You say it’s not really a problem.

[23:25] Well that’s why. Sin doesn’t come up and say hey here I am. [23:31] Sin lies to you. Sin brings you excuses for it. [23:34] Sin brings you justifications. [23:38] Sin comes to you and says here’s why your situation is so different than everyone else’s. [23:43] Here’s why it’s okay for you. It is a deceitful desire. [23:47] It convinces you that you need something in your life other than what God can bring you. Why?

[23:56] I think Jesus gives us an understanding in Luke chapter 5 verse 39. [24:01] He says no one after drinking old wine desires new. [24:07] For he says the old one’s good. [24:11] That one had some stank on it.

[24:19] He says you don’t then look and say oh I want the new stuff. [24:22] If you get used to drinking the old stuff he says the new stuff’s kind of you’ve gotten your taste buds used to a certain thing. [24:28] You’ve gotten your grip on the bottle feels right on this one. [24:32] That one was just not contoured right. [24:35] So you’re drinking that old wine and Jesus says you’ll come face to face with the reality.

[24:41] That new wine is exactly what you need. [24:45] You say I’m good. [24:48] I got nothing that’s in need of change. [24:51] Look at my life. I’m doing all right. [24:55] I’m not suffering. I’m not in any pain. [24:58] I’ve seen some success.

[25:01] Everything’s going great. [25:03] My kids are making great grades. [25:05] My wife loves me. [25:06] I’m on a new fitness plan. [25:08] I’m doing CrossFit. [25:09] I mean everything’s going absolutely great.

[25:11] And in the meantime you’re not addressing anything about the spirituality that’s going on in you. [25:17] The fact that your life has nothing in it that God says this is what it looks like to grow in faith in Jesus. [25:23] You’re saying I’m okay. I’m fine. [25:26] But you’re not.

[25:29] If your life, your commitments and everything that you’re doing have nothing to do with the life and the mission of Jesus that is found in here. [25:37] Then here’s the key you need to understand. [25:38] You are not okay.

[25:42] And you need to be honest about that.

[25:47] God doesn’t say when you get okay come on over. [25:51] He says come because you’re not okay.

[25:56] But understand that when you come to Jesus you won’t stay that way for long. [26:01] Change is necessary. [26:04] Many of you are buying a lie.

[26:07] You need change but you resist because you’re drinking an old life. [26:13] You’re drinking those old routines. [26:16] And you aren’t getting any closer to Jesus. [26:19] And you’ll even say things like man I’m just not feeling it in my relationship with Christ. [26:25] I read the Bible and I get nothing. I try to pray and all I can think about are cheeseburgers.

[26:31] I just don’t know what my deal is.

[26:36] I do.

[26:39] There are changes that you need to do, practical changes that you need to make in your life. [26:43] And you try to pretend that Christianity isn’t about those changes.

[26:49] You try to pretend that it is God’s job to impress you. [26:53] And then you’ll make those changes when he gives me that shekinah glory moment when I see a triple rainbow or something.

[27:04] And he says I sent you my son. He died on a cross. [27:07] There was a resurrection. What more do you need? [27:12] The fact is that nothing is going to change you except for repentance.

[27:18] You see the reality this morning is that you have probably placed some barriers in your life and said there are certain parts of me that are off limits to change. [27:26] Number two this morning, understand that there is no part of your life that is off limits to change. [27:31] No part. [27:33] There’s absolutely nothing going on in your life that God can’t look at and say you need to change this immediately. [27:38] He says that is not the way that you learned Christ. [27:41] He’s beginning to shine a light into your life and saying there is a way that you have learned Christ.

[27:47] There is a way that you have learned about the changes that you need to make in your life about the things that you need to do. [27:54] But note what he says in verse 21.

[27:59] Assuming that you’ve heard.

[28:04] Assuming that you’ve heard. [28:05] What Paul is writing there is he’s bringing an understanding that there are certain people in the church of Ephesus that haven’t really believed. [28:14] He’s saying some of you are darkened, you’re feudal in your thinking just like the Gentiles are. [28:19] But the reality is that you haven’t truly believed the gospel.

[28:26] And our response might be well don’t judge me but we covered that two weeks ago.

[28:32] What Paul is actually coming into their life saying with that assuming that you have heard is he’s saying that if there is no change then have you learned Christ at all.

[28:44] But the fact of the matter is friends that trust can bring change.

[28:51] See you need to trust Jesus that he’s telling you the truth when he says that you can change and you need to trust Jesus when he tells you that you can change. [28:59] One of the problems with us is that we believe that we’re moral enough.

[29:04] I’ve never done anything that bad. I’ve never knocked off a liquor store or anything. [29:09] So I’m not that bad. So there’s really not much that needs to change in my life. [29:13] That’s a lie. That’s a deceitful desire that’s going on inside of you. [29:17] There’s a necessity to trust that God can change a person. [29:20] There’s a necessity to trust that Jesus is telling the truth when he says that you need change. [29:25] Jesus is telling the truth that apart from him you’re enslaved to sin.

[29:29] The only way that you’re going to find out what those sins are is when you let the light of God’s word and the joy of God’s spirit through the church of Jesus Christ shine into your life. [29:37] In the gospel there is a promise of total change. [29:41] Look at what Ezekiel 36 26 says about people that need change. [29:45] Centuries before the gospel of Jesus actually happened. [29:48] Here’s what he says. He says and I will give you a new heart God says. [29:52] And a new spirit I will put within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

[30:00] So for me and you to be able to go anywhere further in this conversation I need to establish one baseline for us. [30:09] When you do not have faith in Christ if you’re in here and you’ve already come to faith in Jesus Christ before you came to faith in Jesus Christ you had a heart of stone. [30:19] And if you’re in here I want you to understand something very clearly. If you do not have faith in Jesus Christ you have a heart of stone.

[30:27] So when you feel nothing for the gospel no joy no happiness no longing for Christ. [30:35] There’s never been a day where you said I’m so glad that I have faith in Jesus Christ because he’s taken me from life to death. [30:41] I think Ezekiel 36 may be identifying your problem. [30:46] If you feel nothing that’s what stone feels.

[30:53] As a rock it feels nothing. That may be your issue.

[30:59] When you feel actual longing for sin rather than longing for Christ and you can’t wait until you can get another taste.

[31:12] That’s saying something about the condition of your heart and in the scriptures heart is an analogy for the core essence of who you are.

[31:23] Your whole life is stone where God is concerned. [31:27] But he says here’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to do something. This is a prophecy about the future. [31:31] He says I’m going to take your heart of stone and I’m going to put in a heart of flesh. [31:36] That sounds a little bit different. [31:39] In other words I’m going to soften you towards the things of God. [31:44] I’m going to give you feeling. I’m going to give you nerves. I’m going to give you emotion. I’m going to give you spirit.

[31:49] I’m going to give you life. [31:52] This is what a heart of flesh is and this includes identity. [31:56] This includes your orientation. This includes your preferences. [32:00] This includes your genetic predispositions. [32:02] This includes your commitments. This includes your instincts. [32:06] This includes your personality.

[32:08] This includes absolutely everything in your life. [32:13] He wants to change you down to the root of who you are. [32:17] And Jesus became the fulfillment of that prophecy in Ezekiel.

[32:22] Paul Tripp describes the way in a few different books that we go about change.

[32:31] The tree is circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular circular [32:58] to with our hearts of stone change our behavior modify our practices stop doing [33:07] something and start doing something new not find my identity in this but try to [33:12] find my identity in this sometimes we just try to staple those apples and we’re [33:15] like I still don’t feel anything that’s because what Jesus wants to do in your [33:19] life is far deeper than the core of what you’re doing he wants to deal with why

[33:25] you’re doing it he wants to deal with the roots of that tree and if the tree [33:32] is dead the only thing that’s going to bring it new life is to cut it down [33:36] uproot everything and plant a new one and that’s how Jesus takes you from death [33:42] to life he wants to rewrite the entire script of your life the entire story [33:48] that you’re telling everything that you’re doing apart from him is up for [33:53] where faith in Jesus is concerned because he wants to change it to his

[33:56] life rather than yours physical spiritual it’s all the same then we have [34:03] another problem I’ve heard it said by well-meaning people I don’t want to [34:07] focus specifically on actions I want heart change the motivation behind that [34:13] statement is a good one and it’s almost correct because the focus is on faith [34:19] the problem is that we create a false dichotomy that acts as though the [34:23] physicals not involved that acts as though you can change without actually

[34:30] changing anything about the way you live that doesn’t even make sense the fact of [34:36] the matter is that in John 3 Jesus comes to a religious leader named Nicodemus [34:39] and he looks to him and he says the change is so significant you need to be [34:42] born again Nicodemus was all been out of shape over that because it made no sense [34:46] you want me to crawl back up in my mama Jesus is like oh boy now Jesus is [34:56] talking about the changes as if you’ve experienced a new life it’s complete

[35:00] transformation it’s complete life revolution God is the God of both [35:08] spiritual and physical he’s the God of all things and so understand that your [35:14] actions do matter in life change they will represent what is going on inside [35:20] of you if your actions never change then has anything on the inside really

[35:28] changed second Corinthians chapter 5 verse 17 the Apostle Paul says it this [35:33] way in a very popular verse he says therefore if anyone is in Christ he’s a [35:36] new creation that’s what Jesus is talking about in John 3 is the old has [35:40] passed away behold the new has come he then goes on to inform us that our [35:47] identity has changed which will change our actions and we will become messengers [35:52] of Jesus he says that heart change that recreation will change the way that you

[35:59] actually live your life it will change all of your pursuits it will change all [36:02] of your purposes and will certainly change your mission the passage in [36:09] tells us three things that God desperately wants to do in our lives in [36:14] verse 23 look in verse 23 he says he wants to renew us in the spirit of our [36:20] minds so he wants to take our thoughts and put his thoughts in verse 22 he says [36:25] that we need to put off the old self then in verse 24 he says that we need to

[36:34] put on the new that phrase for put off and that phrase for put on is the same [36:41] type of phrase where you put something down and then pick something up as a [36:45] physical attribute that the gospel change is going to actually have some [36:51] changes in the physicality of your life it’s not just some mystical reality [36:57] where you look at all the change that’s happening in my life up in the air I [37:02] can’t really define it for you Paul Trippen another one of his works he said

[37:07] you want to know if someone’s really changed well you’ll know they’ve changed [37:11] when they change and the problem is that we want to pretend there’s change [37:17] without it being able to actually point a finger at a specific thing and say [37:20] there’s change so what has changed about you can you think of anything if you’re [37:29] struggling you need to begin the process it’s going to be a hard process of change [37:35] most of our problem is with self-reliance that we’re not seeking to be

[37:39] changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ self-reliance will prevent us from [37:44] changing because when we seek to pick and choose what and where your life needs [37:50] to change according to your wisdom rather than God you’re being self-reliant [37:55] saying well where should I change this week well I’m gonna focus on this no no [37:59] no don’t want to focus on that over there no no no not that no no no no no [38:05] no no I’ll come home earlier from work that one that’s attainable that’s not

[38:15] the spirit that’s self-reliance as you picking and choosing Philippians 2 13 [38:23] tells us the reality that we don’t get that option he says in verse 13 of [38:27] chapter 2 to the church of Philippi he says for it is God who works in you [38:30] both to will and to work for what his good pleasure so when you’re face to [38:38] face with the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Word of God and you see a place that [38:41] needs to change and your response is not today that’s disobedience because that

[38:51] means the spirit of God’s actually showing you where your life needs to [38:54] change and you’re just saying absolutely not who’s the god of that identity you [38:59] are self-reliance will force you to minimize sin and it will force you to [39:04] hide sin and it will force you to hate the consequences of your sin more than [39:08] you actually hate the sin itself hating consequences is not hating sin hating [39:13] consequences do not lead to life change hating consequences just leads to you

[39:17] down the hatches I don’t need change thirdly this morning the big issue in [39:25] your life is that you need to find your identity in Christ over finding your [39:28] identity itself you will cleanse no sin from your life that you have not first [39:35] recognized as being pardoned through the cross in other words you will change [39:41] when your identity changes look at what he says down here in verse 25 he says [39:48] having put away falsehood so he calls sin deceitful desires and then he says

[39:54] the gospel comes in shuns a light into your life and you put away falsehood so [39:58] you put away the lies you put away the deceit that was convincing you that you [40:02] don’t need change and you put on the new self which has the freedom to be honest [40:08] about your struggles because guess what it’s all been pardoned by the cross I [40:11] can be honest about anything that I’m not struggling in guilt over there’s a [40:16] struggle with guilt and shame that forces you to lie he tells us in Ezekiel

[40:23] chapter 36 verse 27 one verse after the verse about your heart of flesh being [40:28] put in by the by the Spirit of God he says I will put my spirit within you and [40:33] will cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules you see [40:42] what this prophecy is saying it says that when the Holy Spirit of God through [40:46] the cross of Jesus Christ comes into your life and gives you that heart of [40:50] flesh you’re gonna walk in a new direction you’re gonna walk in a

[40:53] different path is you will walk in God’s way you’ll walk in a new identity [41:06] doing different things than you would without Jesus friends let me ask you a [41:13] personal question what do you do in your life that you wouldn’t do if Jesus [41:19] wasn’t in your life what do you do simply because Jesus is in your life [41:26] that apart from Christ you wouldn’t already be doing it friends we need to [41:33] walk in newness of life the liar in verse 26 excuse me in verse 25 he doesn’t

[41:42] just start not lying note what the text says the change is so big that he [41:48] speaks the truth why because now he realizes that every person is his [41:52] neighbor so it’s not just that he stops lying because it’s a rule he starts [41:56] loving this is so you’re lying was because you didn’t love people so you [42:01] don’t just not lie you start telling the truth in love because they are your [42:05] neighbors look he says you can be angry and then not give into that anger then

[42:12] verse 28 he gives the most polarizing change that I think we see in all of [42:18] these verses he says let the person that was struggling and stealing let him [42:25] stop it he says I’m gonna job and work to earn what he has then he says so that [42:37] he can share with others who are in need you see that text gives us so much [42:45] hope because it tells me that the change that God wants to bring into our lives [42:50] is so much bigger than what we would think because we would think oh my

[42:53] goodness you used to steal for a living and now you’ve got a job and you pay [42:57] income taxes that’s pretty crazy I mean that would be that would be phenomenal [43:03] that would be revolutionary to me but the vision that Paul’s having he says no [43:08] that is not the limits to the change that God wants to bring even his [43:13] motivation for having a job isn’t selfish anymore because why do you [43:17] steal you steal because you’re selfish because life’s all about you because

[43:23] your God and he says when the real God comes in you see his generosity he goes [43:28] down to the core of who you are and why you do everything and he changes you to [43:33] the extent that you not only don’t steal you not only go and get a job you not [43:39] only pay your income taxes but you now start a new fund in your life so you can [43:45] be generous to everyone who has need just that’s a life revolution because it [43:54] Jesus and it ends with a person who truly loves others more than he loves

[43:59] himself so when we say things like I was born this way what we’re really saying [44:10] is life’s all about me and I am the God of it and the vision for change that [44:17] the gospel has for us here is what he had already said in the book of Ephesians [44:24] chapter 2 verse 10 gives us the beauty of the gospel and he tells us he says [44:31] for we are God’s workmanship think about that see for most of us we’re still our [44:42] own workmanship Paul says when you have faith in Jesus you’re not the foreman of

[44:50] crew anymore says you are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus for [45:00] something for good works but note which God prepared beforehand it’s all of grace [45:09] it’s all given by God it’s all for God it’s all from God that we should walk in

[45:20] friends change is not only possible but change is exactly what you get from the [45:27] gospel of Jesus Christ real change is not typically overnight but when you [45:35] trust in Jesus we have real hope and real steps to be restored to God’s vision [45:44] for our lives no matter what your struggle do you have room in your life [45:50] for change or is your life all filled so that all you can do is all the stuff [46:01] that you already had planned and going on without Jesus friends I don’t want

[46:08] you to hear that your family needs to change I don’t want you to hear that [46:14] your friends need to change I don’t want you to even hear that your pastor needs [46:18] to change he does you need to change you every day you need to get closer to [46:30] Jesus than you were yesterday problem most of our lives is number one we don’t [46:35] think that that’s true most of the time the number two we’ve so over complicated [46:40] our lives there’s no real room for it is friends repent of that turn from your

[46:51] sin and trust Jesus the band comes up I want to transition into a time of [46:57] communion is all about change about the change of death to life we come face to [47:07] face every Sunday morning with the reality that Jesus died so that we could [47:13] live his body was broken that’s what the bread represents his blood was shed [47:18] that’s what the cup represents and he did that so that we would come face to [47:24] with the one thing that makes it abundantly clear that something is wrong

[47:29] and Jesus had to do something because of it and out of love he did so when you [47:36] eat and when you drink you’re literally saying that my life has need and Jesus [47:46] can fill that need and only Jesus can fill that need friends if you’ve trusted in Christ when you [47:55] come to one of the stations in the back or one of the stations in the front I want you to come [48:00] with a realization I want you to come proclaiming Jesus is enough Jesus needs to change me and I’m [48:08] gonna trust him for it when you’re ready come