“Embracing Change To Experience Life!” Galatians 5:1

Galatians 5:1…. “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (NKJV) “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (NKJV)

2 Peter 2:19b…. “…..For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.” (NIV) “…..For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.” (NIV) “…..For a man is a slave to whatever controls him.” (LB) “…..For a man is a slave to whatever controls him.” (LB)

You will never know the FREEDOM of being in God’s presence as long as you remain ENSLAVED. You will never know the FREEDOM of being in God’s presence as long as you remain ENSLAVED.

Work Jealousy Anger Work Jealousy Anger Pornography Various drugs Gossips Pornography Various drugs Gossips Other vices that holds them in bondage. Other vices that holds them in bondage.

“Something you find yourself doing even though it is destructive either physically, mentally, emotionally, relationally or spiritually.”

“You consistently do something you wish you wouldn’t do, but you find yourself doing it any way.”

Romans 7:15…. “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” (NIV) “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” (NIV)

Romans 7:15…. “I do not understand my own actions for I am as far from habitually doing what I want to do that I find myself doing the very thing that I hate.” (TCNT) “I do not understand my own actions for I am as far from habitually doing what I want to do that I find myself doing the very thing that I hate.” (TCNT)

Be honest, look at your life…. Be honest, look at your life…. EVALUATE the things you find yourself doing that you hate. EVALUATE the things you find yourself doing that you hate.

REALIZE the importance of the identification process. REALIZE the importance of the identification process. SUBMIT your own inabilities to make the necessary changes. SUBMIT your own inabilities to make the necessary changes.

seems more potent when people neglect their time with God and are tired physically. seems more potent when people neglect their time with God and are tired physically. We can become self-confident, instead of God-confident. We can become self-confident, instead of God-confident.

Three things we need to know about God... Three things we need to know about God...

Psalm 139:3,4…. “You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord.” (NIV) “You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord.” (NIV)

Satan seeks to destroy mankind. He makes SIN appear to be attractive. He shows how pleasant SIN and immoral conduct can be. He shows how pleasant SIN and immoral conduct can be.

The Bible does say there is pleasure in sin, but such pleasure is only momentary. The Bible does say there is pleasure in sin, but such pleasure is only momentary. The end result is not only pain, but separation from God on earth & eternity. The end result is not only pain, but separation from God on earth & eternity.

1 John 1:9…. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (NIV) “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (NIV)

implies…. “we must acknowledge that our sins is sin and admit that we committed it.” implies…. “we must acknowledge that our sins is sin and admit that we committed it.”

Once we CONFESS our sin, the character of God guarantees FORGIVENESS. Once we CONFESS our sin, the character of God guarantees FORGIVENESS.

1 Peter 1:15,16…. “ (v.15) But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; (v.16) for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’ ” (NIV) “ (v.15) But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; (v.16) for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’ ” (NIV) cf. 2 Timothy 1:9; 2 Peter 3:11; Leviticus 11:44 cf. 2 Timothy 1:9; 2 Peter 3:11; Leviticus 11:44

God desires His children to REFLECT WHO HE IS to a lost and dying world. God desires His children to REFLECT WHO HE IS to a lost and dying world.

Matthew 5:13a,14a…. “ (v.13a) You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses it’s saltiness.... (v.14a) You are the light of the world ….” “ (v.13a) You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses it’s saltiness.... (v.14a) You are the light of the world ….”

Matthew 5:16…. “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds [“erga”] and praise your Father in heaven.” (NIV)

“Good deeds” or “works” are not distinct from WORDS, but “works” connote entire “life-style” (Greek, “erga” ). “Good deeds” or “works” are not distinct from WORDS, but “works” connote entire “life-style” (Greek, “erga” ). The triumph of the Kingdom of God must be visible in the lives of its disciples. The triumph of the Kingdom of God must be visible in the lives of its disciples.

By the observation of how we conduct ourselves, others will come to understand what God is like and be drawn to Christ. By the observation of how we conduct ourselves, others will come to understand what God is like and be drawn to Christ.

“Life controlling habits” are formed at a pace almost unnoticeable. “Life controlling habits” are formed at a pace almost unnoticeable.

Bad habits are like comfortable beds – easy to get into, but hard to get out. Bad habits are like comfortable beds – easy to get into, but hard to get out.

“HABITS” will break your will. Once you allowed a HABIT to control you the Bible says, “That habit is your master.” “HABITS” will break your will. Once you allowed a HABIT to control you the Bible says, “That habit is your master.”

That habit breaks you down to the point where you don’t even try to resist anymore because you feel like you can’t break free. That habit breaks you down to the point where you don’t even try to resist anymore because you feel like you can’t break free.

Galatians 5:1…. “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery.” (NIV) “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery.” (NIV)

“Bad controlling habits” will destroy you …. “Bad controlling habits” will destroy you …. physically mentally emotionally relationally physically mentally emotionally relationally

At first, it seems very harmless. At first, it seems very harmless. Over a period of time that HABIT like an enemy begins to advance and destroy you. Over a period of time that HABIT like an enemy begins to advance and destroy you.

Once it’s full-grown, it’s domineering and controlling.

First, you must understand what God’s Word says in…

1 Corinthians 10:13…. “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful: He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. ….

1 Corinthians 10:13…. …. But when you are tempted he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (NIV) …. But when you are tempted he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (NIV)

What are the steps to victory?

Accepting the responsibility that you have a problem.

1 John 1:9…. “ If we confess our sin, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (NIV) “ If we confess our sin, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (NIV)

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (NKJV; Isaiah 41:10) Philippians 4:13….

God must become your primary source of strength. God must become your primary source of strength. Allow God to be part of your life! Allow God to be part of your life!

James 4:7…. “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (NIV) “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (NIV)

We are healed by ADMITTING our faults to one another. We are healed by ADMITTING our faults to one another.

Because the root of our problem is RELATIONAL. Because the root of our problem is RELATIONAL.

James 5:16…. “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” (NIV) “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” (NIV)

“Give us this day our daily bread.” (NIV) “Give us this day our daily bread.” (NIV) Matthew 6:11….

It’s because God wants to give you enough strength to change for one day. He wants to take you one day at a time as you TRUST IN HIM. He wants to take you one day at a time as you TRUST IN HIM.

Any victory, no matter how minor, thank God for it. When you take one defeat at a time, you will get victory one day at a time! Any victory, no matter how minor, thank God for it. When you take one defeat at a time, you will get victory one day at a time!

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Philippians 4:13…. “ I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].” (Amp)

Breaking Free From Controlling Habits Are there any “habit” or “habits” in our life that needs breaking? Are there any “habit” or “habits” in our life that needs breaking?

Remind yourself this …. “I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens and empowers me.” “I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens and empowers me.”