Forgiveness: The Wonder Drug
Luke 11
1And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
2And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
3Give us day by day our daily bread. 4And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us.
Matt 18:21
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
23Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
24And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
25But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
26The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
27Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. 28But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. 29And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
30And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. 31So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. 32Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
33Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? 34And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. 35So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
Today we explore the topic Forgiveness: The Wonder Drug
The story of Amy Biehl is fascinating. She wins a Fulbright Scholarship to work in the anti-apartheid movement South Africa and is murdered in riot. After years of grief, her parents Linda and Peter quit their jobs and move to South Africa to try to complete the work their daughter started.
Eventually Amy's parents meet two of their daughter's killers, who are now full of remorse. The two young men, who have been pardoned through the Truth & Reconciliation process, try to atone for their crime by doing public service for a foundation the Biehls established in Amy's name. Amy's parents forgive the two killers and they become friends, so much so that the young men address Amy's mother as "Mom."
Exceptional though the Bielhs are their experience is an unusually dramatic example of a rule that applies to everyone: Forgiveness is good not just for the person who is forgiven, but also for the person who forgives. www.beliefnet.com
Traditionally, we think of forgiveness as a blessing extended to the transgressor. It eases his or her conscience. The usual thinking with respect to the person who does the forgiving is that they are engaged in a gallant self-sacrifice. In this traditional view, the forgiven person benefits while the forgiver gains nothing. But what if forgiveness is just as important for the person who forgives as for the person forgiven? What if it's in your self-interest to forgive, because you will be better off?
Clinical psychologist, Everett Worthington, Jr., author of "Five Steps to Forgiveness: The Art and Science of Forgiving." is a professor at Virginia Commonwealth University and a pioneer in forgiveness research. Professor Worthington has found that people who won't forgive the wrongs committed against them tend to have negative indicators of health and well-being: more stress-related disorders, lower immune-system function, and worse rates of cardiovascular disease than the population as a whole. In effect, by failing to forgive they punish themselves.
Unforgiving people are also thought to experience higher rates of divorce. This also reduces well-being, given that married men and women consistently do better on most health barometers, including longevity.
In contrast people who forgive, Worthington finds, may have better health, fewer episodes of clinical depression, longer marriages and better "social support," another indicator of well-being. This latter means forgiving people get along better with others, who in turn come to their aid in social-support situations.
In effect then forgiveness is like a wonder drug!
Forgiveness research is a comparatively new field. Psychologist Kenneth Pargament of Bowling Green University says that while psychology has long studied the coping mechanisms that people use to deal with anger, resentment, and desire for revenge when they are wronged, only recently has forgiveness become a common subject of research. This is true despite the fact that in some cases, forgiveness is the ultimate form of coping.
A study at the University of Northern Iowa of psychological treatment plans for adult women who had been victims of childhood incest found that those who went through forgiveness therapy experienced less anxiety and clinical depression than a control group. Gains for the forgiveness group also persisted after the therapy ended.
A study of elderly women, published in the journal Psychotherapy, found that those who scored well on a standard test of forgiveness traits had higher self-esteem and fewer episodes of anxiety and depression compared to those who scored poorly.
Research is beginning to say that, in most cases, most people will be better off if they forgive others for wrongs experienced during life--anything from small transgressions to horrific tragedies such as suffered by Linda and Peter Biehl. Forgive others because it's good for you. And if you make the world a more peaceful place in so doing, that's a nice bonus.
The Mayo Clinic advises that when you don't practice forgiveness, you may be the one who pays most dearly. By embracing forgiveness, you embrace peace, hope, gratitude and joy.
The benefits of forgiving someone
Researchers have recently become interested in studying the effects of being unforgiving and being forgiving. Evidence is mounting that holding on to grudges and bitterness results in long-term health problems. Forgiveness, on the other hand, offers numerous benefits, including:
Lower blood pressure
Stress reduction
Less hostility
Better anger management skills
Lower heart rate
Lower risk of alcohol or substance abuse
Fewer depression symptoms
Fewer anxiety symptoms
Reduction in chronic pain
More friendships
Healthier relationships
Greater religious or spiritual well-being
Improved psychological well-being
Why do we hold grudges and become resentful and unforgiving?
The people most likely to hurt us are those closest to us — our partners, friends, siblings and parents. When we're hurt by someone we love and trust — whether it's a lie, betrayal, rejection, abuse or insult — it can be extremely difficult to overcome. And even minor offences can turn into huge conflicts.
When you experience hurt or harm from someone's actions or words, whether this is intended or not, you may begin experiencing negative feelings such as anger, confusion or sadness, especially when it's someone close to you.
These feelings may start out small. But if you don't deal with them quickly, they can grow bigger and more powerful. They may even begin to crowd out positive feelings. Grudges filled with resentment, vengeance and hostility take root when you dwell on hurtful events or situations, replaying them in your mind many times.
Soon, you may find yourself swallowed up by your own bitterness or sense of injustice. You may feel trapped and may not see a way out. It's very hard to let go of grudges at this point and instead you may remain resentful and unforgiving.
Luke 6: Love for Enemies
27"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 30Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. 34And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. 35But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
The processing of events has a great deal to do with the capacity to forgive. How you file away events will greatly influence whether you are able to get past them in the future. Sometimes we record the events in such a manner as to make it extremely difficult for us to respond positively in the future.
The turn the other cheek admonition is therefore a call for us to filter developments from a perspective of love and caring for others. We need to be especially careful to take into account the circumstances that could have led to the wrong being committed.
What could have led the actor to commit the action? If you do this from a position of love for others then your recording of the event might not be as tightly wrapped up with resentment, hate and a spirit of un-forgiveness.
How do I know it's time to try to embrace forgiveness?
When we hold on to pain, old grudges, bitterness and even hatred, many areas of our lives can suffer. When we are unforgiving, we pay the price over and over. We may bring our anger and bitterness into every relationship and new experience. Our lives may be so wrapped up in the wrong that we can't enjoy the present.
Other signs that it may be time to consider forgiveness include:
Dwelling on the events surrounding the offence
Hearing from others that you have a chip on your shoulder or that you're wallowing in self-pity
Using the bad experience to paint new experiences
Being avoided by family and friends because they don't enjoy being around you
Having angry outbursts at the smallest perceived slights
Often feeling misunderstood
Drinking excessively, smoking or using drugs to try to cope with your pain
Having symptoms of depression or anxiety
Being consumed by a desire for revenge or punishment
Automatically thinking the worst about people or situations
Regretting the loss of a valued relationship
Feeling like your life lacks meaning or purpose
Feeling at odds with your religious or spiritual beliefs
The bottom line is that you may often feel miserable in your current life.
2 Cor 2:
Forgiveness for the Sinner
5If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you, to some extent—not to put it too severely. 6The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for him. 7Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.
Nine Steps to Forgiveness - Frederic Luskin, Ph.D.
1. Know exactly how you feel about what happened and be able to articulate what about the situation is not OK. Then, tell a trusted couple of people about your experience.
2. Make a commitment to yourself to do what you have to do to feel better. Forgiveness is for you and not for anyone else.
3. Forgiveness does not necessarily mean reconciliation with the person that hurt you, or condoning of their action. What you are after is to find peace. Forgiveness can be defined as the "peace and understanding that come from blaming that which has hurt you less, taking the life experience less personally, and changing your grievance story."
4. Get the right perspective on what is happening. Recognize that your primary distress is coming from the hurt feelings, thoughts and physical upset you are suffering now, not what offended you or hurt you two minutes - or ten years -ago. Forgiveness helps to heal those hurt feelings.
5. At the moment you feel upset practice a simple stress management technique to soothe your body's flight or fight response.
6. Give up expecting things from other people, or your life, that they do not choose to give you. Recognize the "unenforceable rules" you have for your health or how you or other people must behave. Remind yourself that you can hope for health, love, peace and prosperity and work hard to get them.
7. Put your energy into looking for another way to get your positive goals met than through the experience that has hurt you. Instead of mentally replaying your hurt seek out new ways to get what you want.
8. Remember that a life well lived is your best revenge. Instead of focusing on your wounded feelings, and thereby giving the person who caused you pain power over you, learn to look for the love, beauty and kindness around you. Forgiveness is about personal power.
9. Amend your grievance story to remind you of the heroic choice to forgive.
What if the offender is you?
Many people find it difficult to forgive themselves. They carry a burden of guilt with them continually. A failure to forgive yourself has the same implications for ill health, lack of happiness and challenging inter-personal relations.
A survey conducted by the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan found that nearly three-quarters of respondents felt God had forgiven them for their sins. Incidentally, only 52 percent had forgiven someone else. The survey also supported the contentions that older people are more likely to forgive than the young, and that older people who forgive are rewarded by improved health. "The benefits of forgiveness seem to increase with age," psychologist Loren Toussaint, the lead researcher, said.
Are you among the 75% who believe that your sins have been forgiven? Or are you lumbering under the load of guilt?
Psalm 25: 7Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD.
Psalm 32:
1Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
2Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. 3When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. 4For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. 5I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.
Psalm 86:5 You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you.
Jeremiah 31:34
And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
What if I'm the one who needs forgiveness?
It may help to spend some time thinking about the offence you have committed and trying to determine the effect it has had on others. Unless it may cause more harm or distress, consider admitting the wrong you have done to those you have harmed, speaking of your sincere sorrow or regret, and specifically asking for forgiveness — without making excuses.
But if this seems unwise because it may further harm or distress, don't do it — it's not about making yourself feel better by apologizing. You don't want to add salt to a painful wound. Also, keep in mind that you can't force someone to forgive you. They will need to move to forgiveness in their own time.
In any case, we have to be willing to forgive ourselves. Holding on to resentment against yourself can be just as toxic as holding on to resentment against someone else. Recognize that poor behaviour or mistakes don't make you worthless or bad.
Accept the fact that you — like everyone else — are not perfect. Accept yourself despite your faults. Admit your mistakes. Commit to treating others with compassion, empathy and respect. And again, talking with a brother or sister, mental health provider or trusted friend or relative may be helpful.
Forgiveness of yourself or someone else, though not easy, can transform your life. Instead of dwelling on the injustice and revenge, instead of being angry and bitter, you can move toward a life of peace, compassion, mercy, joy and kindness.
1 John 1 is both challenging and at the same time a source of freedom for Christians.
5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[b] sin.
8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[b] sin.
That applies to persons who are in Christ. To be in Christ the following is required:
You must hear the good news of Jesus, His atoning sacrifice for our sins and His resurrection. Rom 10:14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
You must also believe the good news.
Heb 11: 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Faith is not enough. We are called to act on our belief and to make a decision to no longer let sin reign in our lives but to seek to live in obedience to God. This is the very important act of repentance.
Luke 13: 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.
You then have to confess Jesus as Lord of your life. This is a public declaration of your belief that Jesus is the Son of the Living God:
Rom 10: 8-10 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
Another major step is that you must be baptized for the removal of our sins. This is a step that is either left out completely or is comprised in attempts to make salvation more convenient.
Gal 3:26 For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus. 27For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ.
At that point you have put on Christ and you are in Christ. Good things happen when you are in Christ. Burdens are lifted from your shoulders. You experience the blessings that come from forgiveness and should find it easier to be forgiving in turn.
If you are in Christ then you must learn to forgive yourself. If God is able to forgive you why are you so determined to hold on to your guilt?
Failing to forgive is unhealthy mentally, physically and spiritually. Forgiving is a wonder drug. Make a wise choice!
Sunday 28 June 2009
The slippery slope of Christianity with Lessons from Mountain Climbing
Many Christians fall away. Others fail to remain consistently faithful. Yet, others simply go through the motions and fail to grow.
The Christian walk is not without its challenges. Today, we discuss: “The slippery slope of Christianity with Lessons from Mountain Climbing”
While we recognize the challenges that Christians face in their walk and even liken it to navigating a slippery slope we want to take the opportunity to draw 3 lessons from Mountain Climbing that will help us on our journey.
The first lesson that we can draw from mountain climbers is that they recognize the dangers and challenges. They fully understand that one mistake could cost them their lives as well as the lives of their colleagues. Consequently, mountain climbers set about their task with seriousness and respect. This is not an idle walk in the park. This needs focused attention and a deep-seated understanding of the implications of each step.
It is this reverence for the craft that keeps successful mountaineers alive. They come to the process without misconceptions. They know that this is serious business. They know that self-discipline and the discipline of their colleagues is essential for their survival. The consequences of error are dire.
As Christians when we make our trek through life we also need to stop and reflect on the implications of our walk. We need to identify and respect the dangers. We ought to come to grips with the fact that danger lurks at every step. We also need to be fully conscious that falling is a real and present threat. We should also be mindful of the fact that falling could be fatal to our souls – eternally.
Unfortunately, many Christians come into the fold unaware of the challenges that the walk presents. They set off unprepared and ill-equipped. All too often they slither down the slippery slope and are lost.
Many of us can recite names of those who were a part of the brotherhood and have fallen away. They failed to navigate one or the other of the many pitfalls that are on the slope that we must climb as we make our Christian walk. Brethren, we need to open our eyes and ears to the dangers that face us as Christians. We cannot be naïve and careless.
As Philippians 2:12 reminds us:
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.
2Tim 3:10 You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Brethren, let us not approach our salvation sloppily. Let us understand that we are up against principalities. We run the risk of losing our salvation if we are not careful. We need to be continually on full alert. Things that appear safe on the surface might have many dangers underneath. In plain terms, WATCH YOUR STEP!
The second lesson from Mountain Climbing is the trouble they go to learn how to set about mountain climbing. People do not just go climbing mountains without in-depth preparation. Not if they hope to survive. Successful climbers devote themselves to studying their craft. They seek every opportunity to learn more about what works and what does not. They know that their very life depends on their knowledge and experience.
As Christians, we need to adopt a similar approach. We need to be hungry for knowledge about how to attain our salvation and how to protect the salvation of others. We need to crave more information about what actions lead to salvation and what can lead us away from God.
I am struck by the case of Nadab and Abihu.
Exodus 24: 1And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the LORD, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off.
2And Moses alone shall come near the LORD: but they shall not come nigh; neither shall the people go up with him. 3And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do.
Leviticus 10
1And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. 2And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.
Consider Brethren the fact that Nadab and Abihu grew up in house of the Aaron the High Priest. In today’s language: Dem born and grow inna di Church (They were born in the church and grew up in the church.)
They would have seen many many sacrifices being performed by Aaron. The information would surely be available to them as to how to perform a sacrifice that was pleasing to God. Yet for some reason they opted to use a strange fire.
The error cost them their lives. Remember, these young men were part of the select group that was invited to go with Moses to worship the Lord from afar. They would have been consistently in the assembly. They were in the lineage of the Levitical priesthood. Yet, God killed them because of their failure to do things the proper way. Their ignorance or carelessness cost them their lives.
We need to understand that length of service or frequency of attendance or family connections are not enough to guarantee our salvation. We need to learn what it is the God wants us to do and how He wants us to do it. We must then be disciplined to do it just as He commands.
I need to point out also that Nadab & Abihu were not killed in a brothel or in a drunken stupor in a bar. They were killed while they were offering what they considered to be their service to God. On the surface their intention appears to have been good.
What is God thinking today about your efforts to serve Him?
Is your service going up as a sweet savour? Are you running the same risk as Nadab by offering wishy washy, 3rd grade service?
Are you giving your best to the Lord or just left-overs?
Knowing what pleases God and what displeases Him is critical if we are to successfully climb the slippery slopes of Christianity.
The 3rd and final lesson that we draw from mountain climbing is the fact that climbers go to great lengths to put in place measures to keep them from falling to their death.
Climbers today have access to a range of sophisticated devices that help to keep them safe. They take care to seek these out and to put them to use in their climbs. Some of these need practice before they can be used effectively and climbers spend time getting comfortable with the protective devices.
Climbers also see the value of teamwork in their climbs and descents. In many instances, their lives are in the hands of one or more of their colleagues. There are also situations in which one man’s fall can bring down the entire group.
What about us as Christians? How diligent are we in seeking out things that can keep us from falling? What safety devices do you have in place today?
Climbers put on their boots something called a crampon to give them better traction in the ice and snow. I suggest that our walk will be steadied if we are consistently in fellowship with the brethren. If you come to worship and fellowship with your heart in it, you might slip but your fall will be stopped and you will be brought back on your feet.
I am sure you can cite examples from your own life or the life of others where unsteadiness or even a fall was corrected by the love and caring of one or more members of the brotherhood.
People feed off your faithfulness and dedication and so when it is your turn to be in need of support they are only too willing to reach out to you.
Get yourself engrained among your brothers and sisters. That is one of the most powerful safety devices for the Christian. No one will want to see you fall. Remember, one person’s fall can bring down others.
Climbers use an Ice Axe to secure them as they strive for higher ground. For the Christian, I suggest that dedicated Bible Study and attendance at Bible Study sessions is our equivalent of the Ice Axe. The way to reach for higher ground spiritually is through Bible Study.
Devote yourself to the study of God’s word and you will achieve spiritual growth while lowering the risk of falling.
Climbing groups now rely heavily on a principle called belaying. Belaying is the technique of controlling the rope so that a falling climber does not fall very far. Someone plays the role of the belayer. He feeds and pulls in the rope for each climber as needed. He is in turn anchored to a belay…. i.e. some secure place.
There are tons of rules and practices that must be observed precisely for the safety of all parties. The belayer has to be on high alert and responsive to impending falls. Delaying in belaying is a no-no. It can cost lives or serious injury.
Today, I make the appeal for belayers to step forward in this congregation. It is not feasible for the evangelist to be alert to every potential fall and to be sufficiently responsive to arrest the fall.
We need belayers. We need sisters and brothers who will be constantly on the alert for potential danger and to step in to avert it.
We need to become more familiar with the rules of Christian belaying.
How to spot impending danger
How to move to avert that danger.
What do we say or do not say
In climbing, climbers have an equal role to that of the belayer in making belaying work.
We need to be more willing to signal that we are having challenges.
We need to communicate that we may be about to lose our footing to a belayer that we are comfortable with.
We need to realize that when we act alone we risk not only our souls but the souls of others.
If you are here this morning and you have never made a conscious decision to change the way you live in respect of obeying God’s will for your life;
If you have never confessed publicly that Jesus is Lord of your life;
If you have never been baptized for the remission of your sins;
then you are climbing the slippery slopes of life without any support or protection. You can correct that right now but responding to the invitation as we sing in a moment.
If you are a member of the household of God – young or old, new Christian or stalwart, I implore you to take these 3 lessons from mountain climbing:
1. Respect the fact that the Christian walk is dangerous. Be alert and careful.
2. Go to great lengths to learn as much as you can about what works well and what does not work. Find out more about what God would have you do and how you ought to do it through dedicated Bible study.
3. Seek out devices and ways that can keep you safe. Let us set up belaying systems in our congregation to arrest the fall of those who might slip.
Eph 6: 10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
The Christian walk is not without its challenges. Today, we discuss: “The slippery slope of Christianity with Lessons from Mountain Climbing”
While we recognize the challenges that Christians face in their walk and even liken it to navigating a slippery slope we want to take the opportunity to draw 3 lessons from Mountain Climbing that will help us on our journey.
The first lesson that we can draw from mountain climbers is that they recognize the dangers and challenges. They fully understand that one mistake could cost them their lives as well as the lives of their colleagues. Consequently, mountain climbers set about their task with seriousness and respect. This is not an idle walk in the park. This needs focused attention and a deep-seated understanding of the implications of each step.
It is this reverence for the craft that keeps successful mountaineers alive. They come to the process without misconceptions. They know that this is serious business. They know that self-discipline and the discipline of their colleagues is essential for their survival. The consequences of error are dire.
As Christians when we make our trek through life we also need to stop and reflect on the implications of our walk. We need to identify and respect the dangers. We ought to come to grips with the fact that danger lurks at every step. We also need to be fully conscious that falling is a real and present threat. We should also be mindful of the fact that falling could be fatal to our souls – eternally.
Unfortunately, many Christians come into the fold unaware of the challenges that the walk presents. They set off unprepared and ill-equipped. All too often they slither down the slippery slope and are lost.
Many of us can recite names of those who were a part of the brotherhood and have fallen away. They failed to navigate one or the other of the many pitfalls that are on the slope that we must climb as we make our Christian walk. Brethren, we need to open our eyes and ears to the dangers that face us as Christians. We cannot be naïve and careless.
As Philippians 2:12 reminds us:
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.
2Tim 3:10 You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Brethren, let us not approach our salvation sloppily. Let us understand that we are up against principalities. We run the risk of losing our salvation if we are not careful. We need to be continually on full alert. Things that appear safe on the surface might have many dangers underneath. In plain terms, WATCH YOUR STEP!
The second lesson from Mountain Climbing is the trouble they go to learn how to set about mountain climbing. People do not just go climbing mountains without in-depth preparation. Not if they hope to survive. Successful climbers devote themselves to studying their craft. They seek every opportunity to learn more about what works and what does not. They know that their very life depends on their knowledge and experience.
As Christians, we need to adopt a similar approach. We need to be hungry for knowledge about how to attain our salvation and how to protect the salvation of others. We need to crave more information about what actions lead to salvation and what can lead us away from God.
I am struck by the case of Nadab and Abihu.
Exodus 24: 1And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the LORD, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off.
2And Moses alone shall come near the LORD: but they shall not come nigh; neither shall the people go up with him. 3And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do.
Leviticus 10
1And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. 2And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.
Consider Brethren the fact that Nadab and Abihu grew up in house of the Aaron the High Priest. In today’s language: Dem born and grow inna di Church (They were born in the church and grew up in the church.)
They would have seen many many sacrifices being performed by Aaron. The information would surely be available to them as to how to perform a sacrifice that was pleasing to God. Yet for some reason they opted to use a strange fire.
The error cost them their lives. Remember, these young men were part of the select group that was invited to go with Moses to worship the Lord from afar. They would have been consistently in the assembly. They were in the lineage of the Levitical priesthood. Yet, God killed them because of their failure to do things the proper way. Their ignorance or carelessness cost them their lives.
We need to understand that length of service or frequency of attendance or family connections are not enough to guarantee our salvation. We need to learn what it is the God wants us to do and how He wants us to do it. We must then be disciplined to do it just as He commands.
I need to point out also that Nadab & Abihu were not killed in a brothel or in a drunken stupor in a bar. They were killed while they were offering what they considered to be their service to God. On the surface their intention appears to have been good.
What is God thinking today about your efforts to serve Him?
Is your service going up as a sweet savour? Are you running the same risk as Nadab by offering wishy washy, 3rd grade service?
Are you giving your best to the Lord or just left-overs?
Knowing what pleases God and what displeases Him is critical if we are to successfully climb the slippery slopes of Christianity.
The 3rd and final lesson that we draw from mountain climbing is the fact that climbers go to great lengths to put in place measures to keep them from falling to their death.
Climbers today have access to a range of sophisticated devices that help to keep them safe. They take care to seek these out and to put them to use in their climbs. Some of these need practice before they can be used effectively and climbers spend time getting comfortable with the protective devices.
Climbers also see the value of teamwork in their climbs and descents. In many instances, their lives are in the hands of one or more of their colleagues. There are also situations in which one man’s fall can bring down the entire group.
What about us as Christians? How diligent are we in seeking out things that can keep us from falling? What safety devices do you have in place today?
Climbers put on their boots something called a crampon to give them better traction in the ice and snow. I suggest that our walk will be steadied if we are consistently in fellowship with the brethren. If you come to worship and fellowship with your heart in it, you might slip but your fall will be stopped and you will be brought back on your feet.
I am sure you can cite examples from your own life or the life of others where unsteadiness or even a fall was corrected by the love and caring of one or more members of the brotherhood.
People feed off your faithfulness and dedication and so when it is your turn to be in need of support they are only too willing to reach out to you.
Get yourself engrained among your brothers and sisters. That is one of the most powerful safety devices for the Christian. No one will want to see you fall. Remember, one person’s fall can bring down others.
Climbers use an Ice Axe to secure them as they strive for higher ground. For the Christian, I suggest that dedicated Bible Study and attendance at Bible Study sessions is our equivalent of the Ice Axe. The way to reach for higher ground spiritually is through Bible Study.
Devote yourself to the study of God’s word and you will achieve spiritual growth while lowering the risk of falling.
Climbing groups now rely heavily on a principle called belaying. Belaying is the technique of controlling the rope so that a falling climber does not fall very far. Someone plays the role of the belayer. He feeds and pulls in the rope for each climber as needed. He is in turn anchored to a belay…. i.e. some secure place.
There are tons of rules and practices that must be observed precisely for the safety of all parties. The belayer has to be on high alert and responsive to impending falls. Delaying in belaying is a no-no. It can cost lives or serious injury.
Today, I make the appeal for belayers to step forward in this congregation. It is not feasible for the evangelist to be alert to every potential fall and to be sufficiently responsive to arrest the fall.
We need belayers. We need sisters and brothers who will be constantly on the alert for potential danger and to step in to avert it.
We need to become more familiar with the rules of Christian belaying.
How to spot impending danger
How to move to avert that danger.
What do we say or do not say
In climbing, climbers have an equal role to that of the belayer in making belaying work.
We need to be more willing to signal that we are having challenges.
We need to communicate that we may be about to lose our footing to a belayer that we are comfortable with.
We need to realize that when we act alone we risk not only our souls but the souls of others.
If you are here this morning and you have never made a conscious decision to change the way you live in respect of obeying God’s will for your life;
If you have never confessed publicly that Jesus is Lord of your life;
If you have never been baptized for the remission of your sins;
then you are climbing the slippery slopes of life without any support or protection. You can correct that right now but responding to the invitation as we sing in a moment.
If you are a member of the household of God – young or old, new Christian or stalwart, I implore you to take these 3 lessons from mountain climbing:
1. Respect the fact that the Christian walk is dangerous. Be alert and careful.
2. Go to great lengths to learn as much as you can about what works well and what does not work. Find out more about what God would have you do and how you ought to do it through dedicated Bible study.
3. Seek out devices and ways that can keep you safe. Let us set up belaying systems in our congregation to arrest the fall of those who might slip.
Eph 6: 10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
The 7 A’s of Transformation: Combating the Fear of Success
The 7 A’s of Transformation: Combating the Fear of Success
Most of us would be reluctant to agree that we do NOT want to be successful. Yet on close examination most of us will find that some of our actions are designed to frustrate our drive for success.
These negative actions are more prevalent in some of us than in others. Indeed, some of us are actually being restricted by a fear of success. We proclaim success and even work hard at it but side by side with those thoughts and actions we sabotage our own success.
There are numerous reasons why we sabotage our own success. Much of it has to do with how we perceive ourselves. Some of that is in turn driven by what others have said about us and expect of us that we have taken on board.
When self-doubt abounds in our lives rest assured some part of us is busy sabotaging our efforts at achieving success. We do not associate success with the image that we have of ourselves. Consequently, we push it away and run from success.
But nearly everyone is guilty of thinking thoughts, saying things or taking action that set them back. In our Time Mastery training we encourage persons to log how they use their time 24/7 for 30 days. When you do that you will learn how you really spend your time and from that you can determine whether you are working for success or sabotaging success.
Is there something that is consuming huge chunks of your time that is not adding value?
On the other hand, is there something that truly needs your attention but the log will show gets precious little of it?
When you look at how you spend 168 hours each week, can you honestly say that you are not sabotaging your success? Can you genuinely make a case that you are in fact maximizing the use of your God-given time and talents?
Take a moment to reflect on key areas of your life. Are you secretly guilty of undermining your own progress? At work, at school, in a relationship, with your spouse, with your spiritual development, with your career, building wealth, taking care of your health, enriching your life, experiencing the true joy of living……
Those negative actions might be as a result of a sub-conscious Fear of Success. Whatever the cause, we will make great strides towards achieving success when we combat them.
We want to share a simple 7-step framework for combating the negative actions that undermine your push for success in all facets of your lives. It is called the 7 A’s of Transformation. The key to overcoming actions that frustrate your drive for success is to transform your thinking. You have become a Transformational Thinker….you need to have a renewed mind if you are to embrace success to its fullest.
#1. Access
Open your mind to new information
Ezra 7: 8 Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king. 9 He had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was on him. 10 For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.
11 This is a copy of the letter King Artaxerxes had given to Ezra the priest and teacher, a man learned in matters concerning the commands and decrees of the LORD for Israel
Search diligently for ideas that support transformation
Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Put yourself in a position to intercept empowering thoughts and concepts
Eccl 1:12 I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 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!
Open dialogue that has the potential to support transformation.
Acts 17: 16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.
#2. Accept
Seek to fully grasp the concept before rejecting it
Proverbs 15:31: He who listens to a life-giving rebuke will be at home among the wise.
Acts 17:18 A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, "What is this babbler trying to say?" Others remarked, "He seems to be advocating foreign gods." They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. 19Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean." 21(All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)
Accept the potential of any incoming information to be of transformational value.
Prov 1: 5 let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance-
Jeremiah 7:24: But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward.
Be careful not to let the source of the information detract from its potential for transformation.
James 2: 8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself,"[a] you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
Accept that was is – IS! Accept the facts and move on. What is done is done. Now it is time to respond appropriately.
#3. Assess
Conduct gap analyses of yourself
– What works and should be reinforced?
– What is dysfunctional or in need of improvement?
2 Cor 13: 5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.
-Keep this process of assessment going
-Be brutally frank with yourself.
#4. Adjust
Identify the modifications that are required from the gap analyses
James 1: 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
Prioritize the changes that need to be made.
Do not work on too many areas at the same time.
Use the 5-point Action Plan:
• What is wrong?
• What do I want to replace it with?
• What are the steps to getting that done?
• What mechanisms will I use to support the change?
• Who will provide support and in what way?
#5. Announce
Declare your commitments
– Affirm
– Afform…. Ask empowering questions. Ask the reverse of negative thoughts and let the answer come to you. “I am so clumsy”….”Why am I so agile?” Just ask and wait for the answer. Do not actively seek to answer the questions yourself.
2 Corinthians 5:7 We live by faith, not by sight.
Communicate to others
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Luke 12: 8 "I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. 9But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God.
Consistently put yourself in a position where you cannot back down
1 Kings 18: 21 Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." But the people said nothing. 22 Then Elijah said to them, "I am the only one of the LORD's prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. 23 Get two bulls for us. Let them choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. 24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The god who answers by fire—he is God."
Get your support crew excited and ready to support your transformation
Ezra 10: 1 While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a large crowd of Israelites—men, women and children—gathered around him. They too wept bitterly. 2 Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, one of the descendants of Elam, said to Ezra, "We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the peoples around us. But in spite of this, there is still hope for Israel. 3 Now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all these women and their children, in accordance with the counsel of my lord and of those who fear the commands of our God. Let it be done according to the Law. 4 Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it."
#6. Apply
Let the transforming concepts and principles apply to ALL aspects of your life
– Transformation needs to be all pervasive not compartmentalized
Col 3:12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Pursue reinforcing actions
Matt 7: 7"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 9"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
Celebrate successes…recognize even small victories.
Focus on the positive
Phil 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
#7. Align
Align yourself with like-minded persons
Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Ensure that you put a support group in place - Stay in the middle of the pack.
Build effective networks… proactively develop a network of friends and colleagues who can assist you in achieving your goals.
Avoid naysayers and negative influences
2 Cor 6:14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
Learn from experts….people who have been there and mastered the area that you are addressing.
I John 1:3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete.
Finally, the most important move towards success is to be in Christ. The framework for getting into Christ is:
Hear the Gospel message…Christ died for your sins so that you can be reconciled to God. (Rom 10:17)
Believe…that the Gospel message is in fact true act on it. (Rom 10:10)
Repent…decide to change your ways (Luke 13:3)
Confess….announce your acceptance that Jesus is Lord indeed (Rom 10:10)
Be Baptised… for the washing away of your sins (Acts 2:38)
Walk… in the newness of life (1 John 1: 5 -7)
Most of us would be reluctant to agree that we do NOT want to be successful. Yet on close examination most of us will find that some of our actions are designed to frustrate our drive for success.
These negative actions are more prevalent in some of us than in others. Indeed, some of us are actually being restricted by a fear of success. We proclaim success and even work hard at it but side by side with those thoughts and actions we sabotage our own success.
There are numerous reasons why we sabotage our own success. Much of it has to do with how we perceive ourselves. Some of that is in turn driven by what others have said about us and expect of us that we have taken on board.
When self-doubt abounds in our lives rest assured some part of us is busy sabotaging our efforts at achieving success. We do not associate success with the image that we have of ourselves. Consequently, we push it away and run from success.
But nearly everyone is guilty of thinking thoughts, saying things or taking action that set them back. In our Time Mastery training we encourage persons to log how they use their time 24/7 for 30 days. When you do that you will learn how you really spend your time and from that you can determine whether you are working for success or sabotaging success.
Is there something that is consuming huge chunks of your time that is not adding value?
On the other hand, is there something that truly needs your attention but the log will show gets precious little of it?
When you look at how you spend 168 hours each week, can you honestly say that you are not sabotaging your success? Can you genuinely make a case that you are in fact maximizing the use of your God-given time and talents?
Take a moment to reflect on key areas of your life. Are you secretly guilty of undermining your own progress? At work, at school, in a relationship, with your spouse, with your spiritual development, with your career, building wealth, taking care of your health, enriching your life, experiencing the true joy of living……
Those negative actions might be as a result of a sub-conscious Fear of Success. Whatever the cause, we will make great strides towards achieving success when we combat them.
We want to share a simple 7-step framework for combating the negative actions that undermine your push for success in all facets of your lives. It is called the 7 A’s of Transformation. The key to overcoming actions that frustrate your drive for success is to transform your thinking. You have become a Transformational Thinker….you need to have a renewed mind if you are to embrace success to its fullest.
#1. Access
Open your mind to new information
Ezra 7: 8 Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king. 9 He had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was on him. 10 For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.
11 This is a copy of the letter King Artaxerxes had given to Ezra the priest and teacher, a man learned in matters concerning the commands and decrees of the LORD for Israel
Search diligently for ideas that support transformation
Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Put yourself in a position to intercept empowering thoughts and concepts
Eccl 1:12 I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 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!
Open dialogue that has the potential to support transformation.
Acts 17: 16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.
#2. Accept
Seek to fully grasp the concept before rejecting it
Proverbs 15:31: He who listens to a life-giving rebuke will be at home among the wise.
Acts 17:18 A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, "What is this babbler trying to say?" Others remarked, "He seems to be advocating foreign gods." They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. 19Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean." 21(All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)
Accept the potential of any incoming information to be of transformational value.
Prov 1: 5 let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance-
Jeremiah 7:24: But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward.
Be careful not to let the source of the information detract from its potential for transformation.
James 2: 8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself,"[a] you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
Accept that was is – IS! Accept the facts and move on. What is done is done. Now it is time to respond appropriately.
#3. Assess
Conduct gap analyses of yourself
– What works and should be reinforced?
– What is dysfunctional or in need of improvement?
2 Cor 13: 5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.
-Keep this process of assessment going
-Be brutally frank with yourself.
#4. Adjust
Identify the modifications that are required from the gap analyses
James 1: 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
Prioritize the changes that need to be made.
Do not work on too many areas at the same time.
Use the 5-point Action Plan:
• What is wrong?
• What do I want to replace it with?
• What are the steps to getting that done?
• What mechanisms will I use to support the change?
• Who will provide support and in what way?
#5. Announce
Declare your commitments
– Affirm
– Afform…. Ask empowering questions. Ask the reverse of negative thoughts and let the answer come to you. “I am so clumsy”….”Why am I so agile?” Just ask and wait for the answer. Do not actively seek to answer the questions yourself.
2 Corinthians 5:7 We live by faith, not by sight.
Communicate to others
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Luke 12: 8 "I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. 9But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God.
Consistently put yourself in a position where you cannot back down
1 Kings 18: 21 Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." But the people said nothing. 22 Then Elijah said to them, "I am the only one of the LORD's prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. 23 Get two bulls for us. Let them choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. 24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The god who answers by fire—he is God."
Get your support crew excited and ready to support your transformation
Ezra 10: 1 While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a large crowd of Israelites—men, women and children—gathered around him. They too wept bitterly. 2 Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, one of the descendants of Elam, said to Ezra, "We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the peoples around us. But in spite of this, there is still hope for Israel. 3 Now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all these women and their children, in accordance with the counsel of my lord and of those who fear the commands of our God. Let it be done according to the Law. 4 Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it."
#6. Apply
Let the transforming concepts and principles apply to ALL aspects of your life
– Transformation needs to be all pervasive not compartmentalized
Col 3:12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Pursue reinforcing actions
Matt 7: 7"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 9"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
Celebrate successes…recognize even small victories.
Focus on the positive
Phil 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
#7. Align
Align yourself with like-minded persons
Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Ensure that you put a support group in place - Stay in the middle of the pack.
Build effective networks… proactively develop a network of friends and colleagues who can assist you in achieving your goals.
Avoid naysayers and negative influences
2 Cor 6:14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
Learn from experts….people who have been there and mastered the area that you are addressing.
I John 1:3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete.
Finally, the most important move towards success is to be in Christ. The framework for getting into Christ is:
Hear the Gospel message…Christ died for your sins so that you can be reconciled to God. (Rom 10:17)
Believe…that the Gospel message is in fact true act on it. (Rom 10:10)
Repent…decide to change your ways (Luke 13:3)
Confess….announce your acceptance that Jesus is Lord indeed (Rom 10:10)
Be Baptised… for the washing away of your sins (Acts 2:38)
Walk… in the newness of life (1 John 1: 5 -7)
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