3. The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun- scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well- watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Isaiah 58:11

4. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. Isaiah 58:12

6. A New Creation [1] Real change starts with new life, not just a new leaf.

7. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17

8. Some seek change through obedience. Tim Keller says it this way: “Religion says, ’I obey; therefore I am accepted.’ Christianity says, ‘I’m accepted, therefore I obey.’”

9. We believe, “If I change, then God will like me more.”

10. As we studied last Sunday, our acceptance and subsequent change is affected by the work of Jesus Christ. His work causes my acceptance before God.

11. I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. I devoted myself to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven. What a heavy burden God has laid on men! Ecclesiastes 1:12-13

12. I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind. What is twisted cannot be straightened; what is lacking cannot be counted. Ecclesiastes 1:14-15

13. I thought to myself, “Look, I have grown and increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.” Ecclesiastes 1:16

14. Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind. For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes 1:17-18

15. A New Creation [2] Real change is a process, not a destination.

16. Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6

17. Our life is one of growth. The transformation we encounter because of the gospel is how God is constantly shaping our lives to mirror Jesus.

18. Day by day, God wants us to grow in our knowledge and connection with him.

19. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18

20. Like Moses, the only way to reflect God's glory is to catch a glimpse of it. When a believer sets their eyes on God, then life will be in the process of transformation.

21. Transformation happens in a moment to secure a person eternally, but it is consistently happening moment by moment to change that person daily.

22. A New Creation [3] Real change is letting go and grabbing hold.

23. God doesn’t force anyone to change, but he calls us to change.

24. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24

25. Here are some of the reasons why change is difficult for people: a. Because we are stubborn b. Because we are comfortable c. Because we are afraid d. Because change hurts e. Because we lack power

26. HOW? HOW? HOW? ROMANS 1:16 … the gospel is the power of God for salvation ROMANS 12:2 … but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.