How does God change us? How does the change process happen? Some of you are visiting today because you have seen a change in your neighbor or friend or boss or son or daughter that’s been so radical you’re thinking, “There’s something up!” Have you ever thought about how the change takes place?

There are two extreme thoughts, neither of which are Biblical.

One extreme is this that the change that takes place is all God. God does everything. All we have to do is kind of kick back on the couch and with this theory, if I don’t change, if I don’t transform, then it’s God’s fault. He messed up and He doesn’t have to hold me accountable at all. God blew it.

Another extreme says that God saves me but then it’s all up to me to change.

I’ve got to work and I’ve got to do and I’ve got to transform my behavior and my personality. It’s work, work, work, do, do, do!

“Can you ever change and do what’s right? Can people change the color of their skin, or can a leopard remove its spots? If so, then maybe you can change and learn to do right.”  Jeremiah 13:23 CEV

God’s part is His power. Our part is our cooperation. We cooperate in this process of change but God’s power through His Holy Spirit controls the process. We cooperate, God controls it. It’s God’s Spirit in us that does the changing and we do the cooperating. If you miss this you miss some big stuff. Because God wants to change us and if you miss out on this process you miss out on everything God intended you to be.

Learning From Jonah 3 & 4

 

1. Don’t Quit – Take a 2nd Chance

"1 Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: 2 "Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you." 3 Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh ."  Jonah 3:1-3 NIV

Jonah had a reluctant change of heart. His change of heart was not life changing for him, but it was going to be forhis enemies.

We change the feelings we have about people quit often, but that doesn’t mean we have had a change of heart or a change of mind. That happens when we begin to love those that we didn’t love. To show compassion on those who are our enemies.\

2 . Obey God’s Call – Leave the Results Up to Him

 

"Now Nineveh was a very important city-a visit required three days. 4 On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: "Forty more days and Nineveh will be  overturned." 5 The Ninevites believed God. ……10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened."  Jonah 3:3-4 & 10 – NIV

Here is a situation where there the whole population of a city needed God’s forgiveness and a second chance. A chance to start over.

God used Jonah despite his heart condition. Jonah did not start loving his enemies even though he carried out God’s command. Jonah loved Jonah and his people.

3. Seek a Change of Heart – Don’t comply

"1 But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. 2 He prayed to the LORD, "O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 3 Now, O LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live." Jonah 4:1-3 – NIV

 

Let me get very practical with you, you say, “How do I know that God’s working in my life?”

A test that I use all the time, my measuring stick, is Galatians 5 “When the Holy Spirit controls our lives, He will produce this kind of fruit in us love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

I think we have a need and the need is to change. 

 

 

God is more concerned about His plan and our heart – than our comfort