Scarred 3

 

www.TheDavidAlliance.com 

 

TDAgiantslayer@gmail.com 

 

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I have a lot of scars on my body… and I mean about 100 plus. Some are cool, all of them tell a story, but if they are simply self serving for my own glory… I am missing the point. Paul in Galatians talks about circumcision and wether those scars are right nor not… or what is exactly the motivation. 

 

Gal 6:12 Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 

Gal 6:13 Not even those who are circumcised obey the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your flesh. 

Gal 6:14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 

Gal 6:15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. 

Gal 6:16 Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God. 

Gal 6:17 Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. HOLY SCARS

Gal 6:18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen. 

 

Gal 6:15  Can't you see the central issue in all this? It is not what you and I do--submit to circumcision, reject circumcision. It is what God is doing, and he is creating something totally new, a free life! 

 

 

The Bottom line is “are we being Changed”  ARE WE MORE LIKE CHRIST!

 

Tough Questions

1. Have you changed – become more like Christ- then you were last year at this time.  *knowing more does not equal change.
2. If you continued to do the same things you have done this past year would it make you more like Christ?
3. Did you change friends this past year?
4. Did your habits change this year?  Better or worse?
5. Did your goals change?  To be more like Christ or more successful.  

 

If we are serious about changing then we must be willing to take well thought out steps to do so.  It does not happen by accident.  Entropy is the only change that happens by accident, and it never gets pretty!

 

Ladies aren’t you glad fashion changes?

 

But aren’t you  glad you can change in your spiritual walk?

 

How do you change?

 

1. Don’t underestimate your ability to change and to grow.  Most people overestimate what they can do in a few days.  They underestimate what they can do in a year or even a lifetime.  

 

The Disciples were under Christ tutelage for 3 ½ years and still didn’t quite get it until after he left and even then it took them a long time.   

 

2. Rule #2 if we want to change we must change what we are doing – whoa!  Remarkable!

 

Duh!  But here is the problem.  We must first change how we think.

What do we put in our mind

Who are we around that puts stuff in our mind

How do we get the old stuff out of the mind – work on getting new stuff in!  

 

Paul said to renew our minds!  

 

3. Change for teenagers almost always comes from adding new friends and subtracting old ones!

 

You cannot change behavior without changing your friends… 

 

 

4. It’s easier to change if you have an unchanging core!

I can change knowing that God is unchanging and lives in me!  

 

5. You must keep the pressure on!  

Don’t give up!  

Paul says to keep striving, pushing, leaning forward!  

 

6. small daily changes have the most profound affect.  Folded piece of paper.

 

7. Anyone can learn to change.  If you do not learn how to change you will fall into the trap that you can’t.  Then you think that life just happens and you are along for the ride.  You then do not take responsibility for your life and you believe you are powerless and it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.