2. Therefore, if anyone is in Chirst, the new creation has come; The old has gone, the new is here! 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.

3. 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

4. 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?

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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!

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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