Change Strategy

 

Change is the most powerful tool for getting your life and other lives closer to God.

It is a weapon in the hand of a powerful leader.

A good preacher will affect the lives of many people at one service

A good pastor will affect the lives of many people that come to the church.

However, a wise leader will affect the lives of multiple generations as he learns to use change as a tool.

 

 

Mother Theresa changed the way the modern church looks at ministry.

Martin Luther King Jr. changed the way the U.S. looks upon race and race relations.

Bono from U2 is changing the way we look at AIDS and poverty.

Jimmy Carter is changing the way we look at peace

 

Constant change is here to stay – Steve Youngblood

 

The answer is strategy. Change strategy.

 

How do I change myself?

 

1.      Who am I?

a.       If I do not know who I am I cannot change.

b.      If I don’t know that I cannot manage money I won’t know I am poor.

                                                               i.      Rich dad, poor dad

c.       If I don’t know I am proud then I won’t know that God is opposing me in my ministry

                                                               i.      God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble

    1. I don’t have a drinking problem. (but why have I lost my license because of a DUI, why do I constantly blackout, why can I not keep a job?
    2. The phrase “know thyself” is attributed to at least five Greek philosophers Chilon of Sparta, Thales of Miletus, Socrates, Pythagoras and Solon of Athens as well as being written on the entrance to the Temple of Apollo.

 

(An alternative Latin rendering, Temet Nosce, appears inscribed above the entrance to the Oracle's kitchen in the motion picture The Matrix.)

 

2.      Only God can reveal to you who you are.

 

According to the Bible, even when the highest possible meaning is given to the word know, knowing God is still not merely knowing God. For it is never knowing God in isolation. It is always knowing God in his relationship to us. Consequently, according to the Bible, Knowledge of God takes place only where this is also knowledge of ourselves in our deep spiritual need and where there is an accompanying acceptance of God’s gracious provision for our need…[1]

 

3.      You are incapable of change without God We must Recognition that we cannot change by ourselves.

a.       Romans 7: 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

b.      I cannot stick to my diet

c.       I cannot stick to my New Year’s resolution

d.      I cannot keep from sin.

 

God has given us tools for change

 

II Tim1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. NKJV

 

We will not change and not effect change as long as we fear. If we fear we will not even try. The steps to change involve the knowledge that we should not fear but be filled with power, love and a sound mind.

 

1.      Power

a.       The original disciples were told not to do anything until the power of the Holy Spirit comes upon them.

b.      We can change if we do not have the power or if we do not know how to use the power.

c.       Power of God is required to do the following:

                                                               i.      Go and make disciples

                                                             ii.      Heal the sick.

                                                            iii.      Cast out demons

                                                           iv.      Pray for others

d.      But even more to

                                                               i.      Pray in the morning

                                                             ii.      Read the bible

                                                            iii.      Study the bible

                                                           iv.      Go to bible classes

                                                             v.      Call and encourage others

2.      Love

    1. Love is the diamond of the kingdom’s monetary system. It is the glue that holds everything together.
    2. “God is love” states that apostle John.  He further states that “Without love it is impossible to please God. If we say we love God and don’t love our brother we are liars.”
    3. Love is the key to discipleship

                                                               i.      It breaks down strongholds.

                                                             ii.      It destroys the works of the enemy.

                                                            iii.      It pushes back the gates of hell.

                                                           iv.      It builds families.

                                                             v.      It restores relationships.

    1. According to the Beatles “money can’t buy you love” but in the kingdom love can buy you a million things
    2. Love is the one verb that is both relational between God and man as well as man and man. For that reason the apostle Paul says, “but without love, I am nothing.” (I Cor. 13)

 

Love gives us revelation of God , which ultimately means understanding of ourselves.

 

John 14:21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”

 

The word manifest means emphanidzo in greek. It means “to cause to shine,” thus, to appear, come to view, reveal, make visible. In other words it means to receive revelation.

 

In a spiritual way, Love has value to receive revelation from Jesus himself to your life.

 

Love opens the heart for God to live in us.

 

John 14:23 23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

 

As stated earlier diamonds have great value and if we had a lot of them we would quickly find out that we have many new friends; friends that would want to be with us because we are wealthy. They would want to come to our house, eat our food, swim in our pool

 

Jesus says that if we have love He and His Father will come to our house. They will make Their home with us! What an amazing promise.

 

Love gives us the ability to ask what we want

 

John 15:9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one another.

 

Jesus himself states that whatever you ask the Father in His name He will give you!

 

Faith can move mountains but love takes us past that. We are talking about moving anything and everything at this point. We are talking about ALL.  You can move the mountain. You can change the mountain. You can color the mountain purple.

 

If we have love, the Father himself will give us ALL that we ask. This is like the magic wand of change.

 

Will the government allow you to do this?

 

Love is not a feeling. Love is a decision. Change will ultimately start from the same decision that love starts from.

 

For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten son that whosoever shall believe on him shall eternal life. John 3:16

 

God CHOSE to love us. It was a decision that He made before we were born. But change starts from that same decision. We make a decision to change because we know that our changed life will add value to this world.

 

The final tool for change is self-control. It is one of the most difficult but it is also one of the fruit of the spirit.

 

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

 

Egkrateia = self-control (the virtue of one who masters his desires and passions, esp. his sensual appetites)

 

II Tim1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. NKJV

 

 II Tim1:7For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. NAS

 

Sound Mind = Sophronismos

  1. an admonishing or calling to soundness of mind, to moderation and self-control
  2. self-control, moderation

 

  1. Sound mind, Self-Control, Discipline
    1. The first step in effecting change in your self is the ability to self-control or self-discipline
    2. Are you disciplined?
    3. Do you pray regularly?
    4. Fast?
    5. Study?
    6. Practice Solitude?
    7. Keep from anger?
    8. Manage money?
    9. Manager your diet?
    10. Tithe? Give another 10% over your tithe?

           

Discipleship is trying to effect change in other people, preferably change for the Kingdom of God.  So how do we first disciple ourselves and effect change in ourselves?

 

Change is a powerful tool to bring us closer to God.

Are you sinner? Then repent and God will change you

Are you always late? Then change and set your alarm clock

Are you overweight? Then change with a diet.

Are you not being paid enough? Then change with higher education

Do you have a bad attitude? Then CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDE!!!

 

 

Admin

 

 

 

 

 


Presence                      Self-actualized       Spiritual minded but no earthly good

                                    Wisdom                  No Job, No balance, Time management issues

 


                                    CEO                       Dead

                                    Perfectionist             Homeless

                                   

 

 

 

Diagram of Maslow's hierarchy of needs.
5. Actualization
4. Status (esteem)
3. Love/belonging
2. Safety
1. Physiological (biological needs)

 

 

Compare to Maslows Hierarchy

 

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is a theory in psychology that Abraham Maslow proposed in his 1943 paper A Theory of Human Motivation, which he subsequently extended. His theory contends that as humans meet 'basic needs', they seek to satisfy successively 'higher needs' that occupy a set hierarchy.[2]

 

  1. Basic Needs – food, sleep, breath, water
  2. Safety – Security, Protection, comfort, protection from crime
  3. Social – Belonging, acceptance, friendship, intimacy
  4. Esteem – Recognition, status and titles, respect, self-esteem
  5. Self Actualization – Max potential. I have found my purpose and destiny.

 

As leaders, we need to pursue a life that is administered correctly and full of the presence of God. This is the life that Jesus had.

 

Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

 

 

Proverbs 9

Invitations of Wisdom and of Folly

1 Wisdom has built her house; (in the Kof G quadrant)

    she has hewn out its seven pillars.

    2 She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; (Meat not milk, new wine not old)

    she has also set her table. (she is prepared and thinking ahead)

    3 She has sent out her maids, and she calls (She is forward thinking and hospitable)

    from the highest point of the city. (the farthest corner of admin and presence)

    4 "Let all who are simple come in here!" (she cries out)

    she says to those who lack judgment.

    5 "Come, eat my food

    and drink the wine I have mixed.

    6 Leave your simple ways and you will live;

    walk in the way of understanding.

 

Are we listening???

 

The answer is strategy. Change strategy.

 

  1. Shake yourself up.  Resist inertia.
    1. Wake up early on a Saturday and go for a walk.
  2. Ask Challenging questions
    1. Where are you going?
  3. Think creative thoughts.
    1. Paint.
    2. Do puzzles
    3. Answer riddles
  4. Get out of your comfort zone
    1. Scuba Dive
    2. Parachute
    3. Go to Pat Fryer’s evangelism class
  5. Consciously break habits and routines.
  6. Fast (that is breaking a habit)
  7. Master new skills
    1. Set up your own computer network
    2. Learn to speak a new language
  8. Learn from mistakes and the mistakes of others
    1. Study leaders
  9. Find a mentor
    1. Get a leader to commit to you for 6 months
  10. Surround yourself with opposites. (ouch)
    1. If you are I, learn from C
  11. Learn to listen
    1. Even Children can be more observant
  12. Know that successful people are not born successful. They must work it.
  13. Volunteer
    1. Volunteers are 25% more satisfied with their jobs, have a better work ethic, and are more persistent in working toward long-term goals and rewards.[3]
    2. Nursing homes
    3. Jail ministry
  14. The past is not the future. Recreate your future.
  15. Learn to sleep and rest your mind
  16. Exercise
  17. Memorize the word of God.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


[1] Boice, Foundations of the Christian Faith page 23

[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow's_hierarchy_of_needs

[3] Johnson, Beebe, Mortimer, and Snyder 1998