Friday Mar 29, 2024

What does it take to change?

We have focused a good deal with the question of if the Philippians slave girl had changed once Paul commanded the spirit of divination from her. What does it take to change is the question I am asking. It is not a miraculous “poof” and the change happens and a life is on a better track. There has to be a wanting for change and then a dedication to change. Philippians 3:20-21

Change is a hard thing for anyone to accomplish. There is no way one post on this subject is going to be an outline for change. This post cannot meet everyone’s needs for change. There is no “one size fits all mentality”. Young souls need encouragement for change. More mature souls require admonishment and reprimand. The reason why a person wants to change is also important. One thing that remains constant is the fact that change of any type needs the interventions of the LORD and prayer. There also needs to be an understanding that sin plays an important part for the reason of change. There needs to be a decision as to what needs to be changed, and just how much there is a willingness to do that change. The beginning is found in the Word of God.

All humans are Fallen Beings. Sin damages the relationship we seek between us and the LORD. It is our sins that bring the distortion into the relationship that cause us to be selfish and even self-centered. Sin controls our heart and our actions. We have a sin problem that needs to be changed by the LORD God. “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18).
Change comes about by the power of the LORD God. Even with our sinful nature, we as humans still have value and worth to the LORD since we are created in the image of Him. We have been blessed because the LORD sent His only son to die for us while we were yet sinners. Jesus Christ allowed our sins to be placed on Him so we could be forgiven. He is our sinless sin offering. It is because of the death and Resurrection of Christ that we are made righteous. So we can stand fully adequate to stand before God. We are equipped with the righteousness of Christ and filled with His Spirit, and touched by his grace.

Philippians 3:20-21 gives us this hope; “ For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.”

We know that Jesus is the Resurrection, and the life; he that believes in Him though were dead, yet shall he live. Whosoever lives and believes in Jesus shall never die. (John11:24-26). Change comes about by the power and the grace of the LORD God. When the change does come by the grace of the LORD God then there should be evidence of that change. There should be a difference in how we act, think and how we view our Lord. We have to have a new conviction in our heart. First we have to confess our sins. Along with confessing our sins we need to accept the grace of the LORD God and the acceptance of the forgiveness of our sins. Then we have to repent that is to change the mind for the better and hate the sin. Acts 3:19 tells us; “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;”

We know we can change and become a new creature, the old things are passed away and all things become new. All things are of the LORD God, and have been reconciled to the LORD God by Jesus Christ. The LORD God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself. (2 Corinthians 5: 17-19).

We are to be able to present our bodies as a living sacrifice that is holy, and acceptable unto the LORD God. We do this by not conforming to this world. We are to be transformed or changed by the renewing of our mind, so we may prove that we may prove what good, acceptable and perfect will of God is. It is given to every man that we do not think more highly than we ought to think; but to think soberly according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith. (Romans 12:1-3). It is by bringing the Word of God into our lives when change can transpire.

Change cannot take place if there is no vision, without a vision people will perish, those that keep the law of the LORD is happy. (Proverbs 29:18). Those who want to change must always acknowledge the authority of the Word of God. When a person is trying to change they need to have help from the LORD first and those who honestly follow Him next. There needs to be someone who can pray for the change and the person. We have received spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.

Change should be welcomed since we were chosen by Him before the foundation of the world, and we should be holy and without blame before Him in love. We have been predestined as the adopted children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according by His grace. We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. He has abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself. That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him. It is also through Him we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3-7).

Cite Article Source

MLA Style Citation:

Holstein, Joanne “What does it take to change?.” Becker Bible Studies Library Jan 2015.< https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2155,>.

APA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015, January) “What does it take to change?.” Becker Bible Studies Library. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2155,.

Chicago Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015) “What does it take to change?.” Becker Bible Studies Library (January), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2155, (accessed).

joanneholstein

Joanne Holstein is a Becker Bible Studies Teacher and Author of Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians. She is a graduate of Psychology/Christian and Bible Counseling with Liberty University. She is well-known as a counselor to Christian faithful who are struggling with tremendous burden in these difficult times. She is a leading authority on historical development of Christian churches and the practices and beliefs of world religions and cults.
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