THE BASICS OF HOW GOD BRINGS CHARACTER CHANGE INTO OUR LIVES! by Scott Harford

3 PURPOSES OF GOD KNOW AND LOVE HIM BECOME MORE LIKE JESUS MULTIPLY IN OTHERS: KNOWING GOD & BECOMING LIKE JESUS

GOD HEART? “I HAVE LOVED YOU WITH AN EVERLASTING LOVE.” JER. 31:3 (UNCONDITIONAL LOVE) “YOU WOVE ME TOGETHER IN MY MOTHER’S WOMB.” PSALMS 139:13b (NO MISTAKES) “WE KNOW THAT IN EVERYTHING GOD WORKS FOR GOOD.” ROM. 8:28 (HE IS IN CONTROL)

THE GOOD = BECOMING LIKE JESUS!! = TRANSFORMATION “Those whom HE foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of HIS SON..” Romans 8:29

GOD’S PLAN God created man “in his own image” (Gen 1:27) TO BE LIKE HIM

ASK YOUR NEIGHBOR DID YOU KNOW ? YOU WERE MADE GOD’S IMAGE? TO BE A REFLECTION OF JESUS!!

GOD’S PROMISE: Future “WE KNOW THAT WHEN HE (JESUS) APPEARS (RETURNS) WE WILL BE LIKE HIM BECAUSE WE WILL SEE HIM JUST LIKE HE IS. 1JOHN 3:2

What GOD’S Doing Now “But we all with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror, the glory of the Lord , are being TRANSFORMED, from one degree of glory to the next.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)

IN MY EYES I DON’T FEEL LIKE / SEE THAT I AM CHANGING FROM DAY TO DAY !! (IS IT ONE DEGREE A YEAR?)

BELIEVER’S MYSTERY HOW DOES THE PROCESS OF TRANSFORMATION HAPPEN?

ASK YOUR NEIGHBOR I’M STUCK! NO CLUE HOW TO START? HAVE YOU EVER FELT CHANGE IS MYSTERY! I’M STUCK! NO CLUE HOW TO START?

SCOTT’S STRUGGLES *THE WOUND OF REJECTION - FAMILY, SELF, PEERS, 0-12 *THE STRUGGLE WITH SIGNIFICANCE - 13-18 *THE PURSUIT OF A FALSE LOVE - FANTACY *THE ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS - COLLEGE *BROKENNESS REVEALED IN ANGER, FEAR *DEPRESSION AND FAILURE TO PROGRESS *THE ROAD TO RECOVERY - INNER HEALING

IT’S A PROCESS Ephesians 4:20-24 “You however did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you have heard of Him and were taught in Him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to PUT OFF YOUR OLD SELF, which is being corrupted by it’s deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitudes of your minds; and to PUT ON THE NEW SELF, created to be like God in righteousness and holiness.”

GOD’S WILL & MINE “ For God is working (His will) in you, giving you the desire (My will) and the power to do what pleases him.”

CHALLENGES 1-3 Set Free Living JN 8:36, NO VISION = PERISH, FAIL ●VISION / GOAL – Realize, Believe, and Commit to … Set Free Living JN 8:36, NO VISION = PERISH, FAIL ●MOTIVATION – Remember WHY ? What’s my goal? Recommit, submit, and yield to Holy Spirit daily! ●WILLINGNESS – to be Real: (Am I Hiding, Faking it??) GOD - King David’s model: Read, Pray over a Psalm daily PEOPLE - Confess your need, get prayer James 5:16 “Engage your will, a decision to embrace the process.”

CHALLENGES 4-6 Do I believe God is good, and has my best interest? ●SUBMISSION – To God, His timing, His plan for me Do I believe God is good, and has my best interest? Prov. 3:5-6 Trust God, not self; Jer. 29:11 - Good plans ●PATIENCE – to wait, to trust, in tough times, Heb 6:12 Abe - faith and Patience (25 years) to receive promise ●EXPECTATION- Victory or Failure: What you believe to be true, will be true for you!!

SPIRITUAL WAR 3 ADVERSARIES: SATAN, THE WORLD, FLESH STEALS, KILLS, AND DESTROYS JN 10:10 A LIER - JN 8:44 A DECEIVER - 2 COR 11:3, REV 12:9 DISEASE & SICKNESS - LUKE 9:1 SOURCE OF EVIL - EPH 2:1-3 WORLD SYSTEM - 1 JN 2:15-16 THE FLESH - GAL. 5:19-21

SPIRITUAL WEAPONS *HOLY SPIRIT POWER - 1 TIM 1:7, ACTS 1:8 *MEDITATE ON GOD’S TRUTH - JOHN 17: 17 *POSITION IN CHRIST- RIGHTEOUS 2 COR 5:15 *SHIELD OF FAITH - EPH 6:16 *NAME OF JESUS - LUKE 10;7 *WORKS OF JESUS - CROSS, RESURRECTION RANSOMED HEART APP- PRAYERS

PUTTING OFF: OLD SELF 8) COMMAND OPPRESSIVE SPIRIT– to leave 7) EXPRESS & HEAR GOD: Soul/Spirit Wound 6) CONFESS: UNGODLY BELIEFS & LIES 5) RENOUNCE: Generational sins & Curses 4) FORGIVE OTHERS - Freedom from BITTERNESS 3b) BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT - empowering 3a) RECEIVE HOLY SPIRIT- Salvation, & Adoption 2) REPENTANCE – realizing my need & God’s worthiness 1)REVELATION – of Good News / Relationship w/ Jesus Natural Man – Who I am at birth, Flesh & World will lead

PUT ON: NEW SELF 7) New Relationships – Matt 22:36-40 8) New Person – True Self, Eph 3:16 7) New Relationships – Matt 22:36-40 6) New Habits – Spirit led Gal, 5:22-23 5) New Ears – To hear God’s voice Isa 30: 21 4) New Vision – God & His Promises 2Cor 1:20 3) Renewed Mind – Truth Filled, Romans 12:1-2 2) New Heart – Softened & Responsive Ez. 36, Psa 62:8 1) Spiritual Birth – to become a new person 2 Cor. 5:17 SPIRITUAL MAN: Filled & Empowered by the Spirit,

GOD’S CHANGING ME IMMEDIATE - MY LANGUAGE HUNGER FOR INTIMACY WITH JESUS RELATIONSHIPS: FAMILY & BELIEVERS DESIRE TO HONOR GOD FREEDOM FROM FEAR FREEDOM FROM ANGER FREEDOM FROM SELF HATE BELIEVING GOD’S LOVE / LIKING MYSELF LEARNING TO LOVE AND SERVE OTHERS FREEDOM FROM SEXUAL ADDICTION

PRACTICALS * WHAT IS MY NEED OR STRUGGLE?? *PRAY FOR WISDOM: WHAT IS GOD DOING? *GET HIS PERSPECTIVE: SEARCH THE WORD *MAKE A SPECIFIC PLAN *RECRUIT PRAYER & EMOTIONAL SUPPORT *USE YOUR SPIRITUAL WEAPONS

EXAMPLE NEED: FEELING UNLOVED BY GOD PRAYER: HELP ME BELIEVE, FEEL LOVED WORD: ISA 43:4, JER 31:3, DUET 33:12 PLAN: MEMORIZE & PRAY VERSES DAILY SUPPORT: DNA LEADER & FRIEND PRAY WEAPONS: SUBMIT TO GOD, REJECT LIES IN THE NAME OF JESUS, & REVIEW POSITION

LISTEN & OBEY GOD “BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.” PSA.46:10 SEARCH ME AND KNOW MY HEART.” PSA. 139:23

YOU GOT THIS!! “ I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME!!” PHILIPPIANS 4:13

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