Therefore, if anyone is in Chirst, the new creation has come; The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Cor 5:17 NIV Last Week: What does it mean to be “in Christ?” How does one get to be “in Christ?” To be “in Christ” is to get started.

Letting Go! Therefore, if anyone is in Chirst, the new creation has come; The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Cor 5:17 NIV

The struggle of letting go. My heart Christ's home- Robert Boyd Munger Our lives are like a house Jesus comes in a cleanses us Quick clean up- Looks better quickly Somewhere; one closet that nobody can open Contains things we used to cherish Grown old and not good for us We still cling to them John Geiman; saw wife Newspaperleft out Threw it in the shower Did I just see you put a newspaper in the shower?

Fear keeps us clinging to the familiar What will my life be like if I let it go? What will my life be like if I say goodbye to friends that are bad influences? What will make my life fun now? We cling to what is unhealthy, simply because we know it. It is predictable.

We cannot imagine a new life Think Different! Faith stretches us to try the new Faith gives us eyes to see what we cannot see. It is work to let the old go, and to fashion new. Key concept: We cannot change ourself- We need God.

The old has gone! What exactly left us? We are no longer “slaves to sin.” Rom 6:17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. We used to be trapped in sin, with no choice. The death of Christ on the cross set us free. Now, we have a choice to be obedient to Christ Love is always a choice! Never forced!

Transformation of the Mind Rom 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform 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. NIV

Transformation of the Mind Transform= change from old to new What do we intentionally shed? Transforming our mind is not our job! The text does not say “Transform your mind.” The text says “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” It is the job of the Holy Spirit

Transformation of the Mind Understanding the pattern of this world 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. The Pattern of this world Me! Me-centered I'm in control This is NOT the issue of value, but of selfishness

Let God transform your mind: Understand the pattern of this world Gal 5:16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Let God transform your mind, Understand the pattern of this world The world is in conflict with the Spirit 19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.

Let God transform your mind, Understand the pattern of this world The world is in conflict with the Spirit 19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.

Understanding the Pattern of this world Gratifying the cravings, thoughts of the flesh Eph 2: 1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Understanding the Pattern of this world The appearance of wisdom Col 2:20 Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: 21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 22 These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

Understanding the Pattern of this world We cling to our shame 1 Peter 5:8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, The roll of the devil- (evil) To take you away from God To devalue you To shame you

Understanding the Pattern of this world We cling to our shame Get started on a road to forgiveness Pursue it “Forgiving what you will never forget” Dr. David Stoop Do the work to “Let it go” I know nothing about this Don't walk the valley alone Find a therapist Read quotes

The task Mk 8:34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Deny self Take up cross- be crucified with Jesus Follow This is a life long process

So What? When a person is “in Christ” spiritual things begin to happen. God's Holy Spirit begins to transform a person The key is to “let it go” whenever the Spirit prompts Open the closet door, Identify “the patterns of the world” House cleaning is hard work! Do the work Deny yourself; Take up your cross, choose to follow