Theme: Be the difference – wherever you go

Changing makes the DIFFERENCE Sermon: Changing makes the difference   Date: 24 November 2013 – morning service Preacher: Pastor Francois van Niekerk Text: 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NLT) ‘So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord – who is the Spirit – makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image.’ Introduction God does not expect us to change ourselves. If we were able do that, we would not need Him. We can change our outward appearances, location, jobs and even our habits but that does not mean that we have changed. Real change starts in the heart and only God can change hearts! However, He does need us to will to co-operate. Let’s make the slogan of our lives I will to will the will of God. Such an attitude jumpstarts godly change in hearts and lives. People notice the change God brings and it can make a great and godly difference in their lives. This is what He wants – that the change in us will ultimately make a difference to others.

of CHANGE Main points Power of change If you want to get noticed, change! of CHANGE

Before & after Think of the before and after photos of people who had makeovers …

Before & After … or lost weight. Change is a powerful force. People notice changes in our lives.

Are you willing to CHANGE? Are you willing to change?

Things CAN CHANGE 2. Things can change! It is important to believe that things can change. When something carries on for a long time, it can create the perception that it will never change. Think of the Berlin wall.

The Wall The Fall The building of the 155 km concrete wall, to replace the wire fence erected in 1961, started in 1965 and was completed in 1975. On 9 November 1989, after 28 years, it fell. Many people never saw the fall of the wall coming, because it was in place for so long. They simply did not believe that it could change, but it did! Many other things that may feel as though they will never change do actually change.

Example: Typhoon Haiyan that hit the Philippines on 7 November 2013

Before Typhoon Haiyan Before …

After Typhoon Haiyan After … Seasons change, people change, circumstances change. And so can you and me. We must have faith in God for change. Remember, if things don’t change they stay the same. God wants us to have hope for change. With Him all things are possible and He is ready to work His wonderful change in us.

Are you willing to CHANGE? Are you willing to change?  

The goal of CHANGE To be like Jesus 3. The goal of change The question we need to ask is, ‘What is the goal of change?’ For believers the answer is to be transformed into His image. We are not expected to change to please people, but to look more like Jesus. To be like Jesus

2 CORINTHIANS 3:18 (NLT) ‘So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord ‒ who is the Spirit ‒ makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image.’ ‘So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord – who is the Spirit – makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.’ (Emphasis added) 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NLT)

ROMANS 8:29 (NLT) ‘For God knew his people in advance, and He chose them to become like His Son, so that His Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.’ ‘For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.’ (Emphasis added) Romans 8:29 (NLT) God’s plan and purpose is to work His wonderful process of change in us to become more and more like Jesus – to be transformed into the image of His Son. This does not happen by our efforts but by yielding to the Holy Spirit. Godly change is a process of grace. The world is hungry to see that real change is possible. The world is hungry to see more of Jesus! The goal of godly change is transformation into Christlikeness resulting in us bringing change in others.

How to CHANGE 4. How to change We cannot change in a sustainable, godly way by our own strength. Our efforts will only lead to condemnation. So, what brings godly change?

What brings godly change? Sustainable change and conformity to the image of Christ comes by the hand of God. It comes by the power of the Holy Spirit and by personally meeting Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18). Examples of supernatural change are:   Saul – 1 Samuel 10:9. Paul – Acts 9 (the purpose of the change in Paul included leading people from darkness to light and from death to life). Change happens on a continual basis as we look into the perfect law of liberty and put it into practice. ‘But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.’ James 1:25 (NKJV) Meeting Jesus Christ

What brings godly change? We need to engage with God’s Word. As we spend time reading and studying God’s Word (also called the perfect law of liberty) and become doers of His Word, it will result in sustained change. Meeting Jesus Christ Engaging with God’s Word

What brings godly change? Change comes by right association, when exposed to the correct role models and life coaches. Wrong lifestyles and change will result from running with the wrong crowd and getting exposure to wrong role models. Bad company corrupts good character (1 Corinthians 15:33). Good company promotes godly change and builds great character. The more time we spend with godly leaders, mentors and friends, the more they will influence our lives positively.   To see godly change we need to yield and surrender. We must work with God and not resist or rebel. Arrogance and stubbornness that rejects the need for change or refuses to bend and therefore resists change, will hinder God’s process of transformation. We must be humble and childlike in order to be moulded and shaped by God, like clay on a potter’s wheel. Let’s work with the Holy Spirit. When we persist in complying we will see change in our lives. Sudden change is the exception to the rule. Real change that remains is the result of long obedience in the same direction. Application: Do you need to see change in your world, yourself or your relationships? Let it start with you. Respond to God’s call for change with a tender heart. I believe change brings change and makes a difference! Instead of just longing for change, you can instigate change by changing first. Change sparks change! Have you changed for the better after you met Jesus? Have you continued to change? Have you changed to be more like Jesus during the last year? What areas in your life need change? Will you surrender and commit to engage with God’s process? Meet with Him, be humble and childlike, engage with His Word and commit to obey it and walk with the right people. The godly change in you will catch the attention of those around you. It will give them hope that they too can change and is the beginning of them being different! The more you change to look and act like Jesus, the more others will long to have the same. The change in you will make the difference! Meeting Jesus Christ Engaging with God’s Word Making the right associations

PRAYER ‘Lord, I give You the right to change my heart. I repent of all hardness of heart and stubbornness. I come as a child and surrender my heart to You. I will respond to Your voice and Word and obey. Amen.’ Prayer: Lord, I give You the right to change my heart. I repent of all hardness of heart and stubbornness. I come as a child and surrender my heart to You. I will respond to Your voice and Word and obey. Amen.