I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. … 19I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. … 24Oh, what a miserable person I am! …
Romans 7:15, 19, 24 NLT
• Real change isn’t behavior modification.
• Real change is spiritual transformation.
… Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. …
Romans 7:24-25 NLT
The Way to Real Change
• Not “God,
me.”
• Not “God,
me.”
• But “God
me.”
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. 10But 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. 1 Corinthians 15:9-10 NIV
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.
“…‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.” Zechariah 4:6 NIV
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.
… [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. 2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT