If Only We Would Stop
Fighting Him!
Psalm 119:5
January 27,
2013 PM
Pastor Craig
Ledbetter
I.
Introduction (Psalm
119:5)
A.
We all know we NEED
to change
1.
Not the husbands we
are supposed to be, or the wives we need to be.
2.
We know that we are
a mess - Messed up bad
3.
I am amazed at how
many people won’t admit it
4.
But it is the truth
– this world is twisted and lost
5.
It all goes back not
to just our rearing, but because we were born wrong
B.
That’s why Jesus
came – to save us, and change us
1.
New birth – enable
us to become born all over again!
2.
A Changed life –
whether at 6 years old, or 60
C.
By the way, only HE
can change us!
D.
So, What’s STOPPING
Him from working?
II.
Background
- What Hinders Us from Changing? (Psalm 78:40,41)
A.
The nation of
1.
They had been freed
from the slavery of Egypt, had passed through the Red Sea, been fed with Manna 6
days a week, every week for months and months now; had
2.
Yet still they were
the same pagan, idol worshippers they had been in
3.
Sure they wanted to
get to this place that “flowed with milk and honey”
4.
But God wanted to
change them
5.
They wanted to
change their address – where they would live
6.
But God sought to
change their hearts!
B.
C.
So they ended up
fighting Him. Blocking Him and hindering Him from working in their lives.
1.
They LIMITED the
Almighty!
2.
They STOPPED the
all-powerful
3.
They FRUSTRATED the
wisest of all beings!
D.
What stops God from
having His way in us today?
1.
The Devil (Zechariah
3:1)
2.
Our Own Nature
a.
Fear of Change –
afraid of change – of actually being different
b.
Resistance to Change
- Stiff Necks – Not willing to be changed/different than their fathers (Psalm
78:6-8)
c.
Apathy About Change
– Not Important to Us (Psalm 10:4)
d.
Unbelief – just not
believing that God even CAN change you!
E.
What is God working
into your life? Stop frustrating Him. Stop fighting Him. Stop kicking against
the pricks!
III.
Message
A.
God’s Work
1.
To Change
Us (2Cor 5:17; 3:18; Romans 8:29)
a.
We are His
workmanship (Eph 2:10)
b.
Just as the heavens
are (Psalm 19:1)
2.
To Make Us
Perfect (Heb 13:20,21; Psalm 138:8) – that’s His
Goal
a.
He doesn’t work
half-heartedly. He is not doing just His time and then heading home to watch
some TV programme at the end of the day – He never stops working on us
b.
He sets out to make
us PERFECT, Like Jesus (Romans 8:29)
1)
His way of thinking
2)
His peace
3)
His love and
compassion
4)
His reactions
c.
There is no greater
need in our lives than to be transformed, to be conformed to the image, shape,
life of God’s Son
3.
He Starts
the Work (Philp 1:6)
a.
He started it before
you were born
b.
And thank God, if
you will let Him, He will FINISH the work
c.
He is the author and
the finisher of that work (Heb 12:2)
4.
God Knows
What He is Doing (Psalm 18:30; Acts 15:18)
5.
Works from
the Inside Out (Philp 2:13)
a.
Religion works from
the outside in
b.
Philosophy works
from the brain outward
c.
Only Jesus can work
from within the deepest darkest parts of the human heart, and change every part
to the very tip of every finger, and to the very tip of our tongue!
d.
He cleans up the
heart
e.
He cleanses our
filthy minds
f.
He changes our wants
and desires
g.
He is a great
spiritual surgeon!
6.
Does
everything FOR us (Psalm 57:2)
7.
It always
hurts before it helps (John 15:2)
B.
My Work
1.
I have a part in
this. It is not all automatic.
2.
It is not something
my parents can do for me, or my priest, or my pastor!
3.
I Have to
Desire God’s Work In Me (Psalm 10:17)
a.
Desire to be changed
(Romans 12:2)
b.
For godliness
(1Timothy 6:11)
c.
To be like Jesus
(Psalm 17:15; 1John 3:2)
d.
God cannot change a
man who doesn’t want to be changed – i.e., is too proud to be changed!
4.
I Need to
Believe God Can Change Me (John 6:28,29;
3:16-18,36; Mt 9:27-30)
a.
Believe that God CAN
change you – can start all over with them
b.
Some of you need to
get back to believing that God CAN change that husband of yours, or wife, or
wayward child!
c.
Believe that it will
be better when I am changed (Luke 22:31,32)
5.
I Need to
Humble Myself (2Chron 7:14; 34:27; Isa 57:15;
Matthew 18:4; 23:12; James 4:6,7)
6.
Finally, I
Need to Accept the Changes – Actually Enjoying
them!
a.
b.
What is God working
into your life?
1)
Singleness right now
2)
Tears – last only
for a night, joy is coming in the morning
3)
Hardships
4)
Constantly wrestling
against spiritual enemies
5)
Discouragements,
set-backs, delays
c.
Stop frustrating
Him. Stop fighting Him. Stop kicking against the pricks!
d.
Let Him have His way
with thee!
IV.
Conclusion
A.
We all
know we NEED to change
1.
Not the husbands we
are supposed to be, or the wives we need to be.
2.
We know that we are
a mess - Messed up bad
3.
I am amazed at how
many people won’t admit it
4.
But it is the truth
– this world is twisted and lost
5.
It all goes back not
to just our rearing, but because we were born wrong
B.
That’s
why Jesus came – to save us, and change us
1.
New birth – enable
us to become born all over again!
2.
A Changed life –
whether at 6 years old, or 60
C.
So,
What’s STOPPING Him from working?
1.
Fear of Change –
afraid of change – of actually being different
2.
Resistance to Change
- Stiff Necks – Not willing to be changed/different than their fathers (Psalm
78:6-8)
3.
Apathy About Change
– Not Important to Us (Psalm 10:4)
4.
Unbelief
D.
What Is God Trying to
Do, That You Need to LET Him Do?
1.
Change You
- Transformation
2.
Perfect You
3.
Finish What
He Started
4.
He Works
from the Inside Out
5.
He Does
everything FOR us (Psalm 57:2)
6.
It always
hurts before it helps (John 15:2)
E.
What Must YOU Do?
Change your stubbornness into determination!
1.
Desire the
Work
2.
Believe God
Can Change You
3.
Humble
Yourself
4.
Accept the
Changes – Actually Enjoy them!