CHANGE TO PLEASE GOD
ROMANS 6:1-13
Introduction:
God makes it possible for you to change your life after you have received Jesus Christ as your Savior. The following Scriptures show us how the Lord works in our lives enabling us to make adjustments in our lives in order to bring honor and glory to Him.
In salvation we were separated unto Him as chosen vessels, to become instruments of righteousness instead of tools of the devil.
I. WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING
Philippians 2:12-13, “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
A. By obeying the Word of God.
1. Don’t let sin reign in your life, Romans 6:12, “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.”
2. You determine who you will obey, Romans 6:16, “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”
a. Choose to serve the Lord as Joshua did, Joshua 24:15, “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.’
b. You can’t straddle the fence, Matthew 6:24, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
3. Sin promises liberty, but delivers slavery, 2 Peter 2:18-19, “For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 19While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.”
B. By allowing the Lord to do His good pleasure [to work] in your life, Ephesians 1:5, 9, 11,
1. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children, v. 5, “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,”
2. Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, v. 9, “Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:”
3. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, v.11, “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:”
II. I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST
Philippians 4:13-14, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. 14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.”
A. Through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue, 2 Peter 1:3-4,
1. He has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, v. 3, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:”
2. By His promises we might be partakers of the divine nature, v. 4, “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
B. Through the sufficiency of our God, 2 Corinthians 3:5, “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;”
CONCLUSION
The Scripture says, “Thy people shall be willing,” Psalm 110:3, “Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.” Are we willing to do God’s will in our lives?