Holiness brings CHANGE
Series: Summer Nights In The Gospel
Speaker: Debbie Gould
Date: 9th January 2016
Passage: Luke 18:9-14
00:00:00 --> 00:00:11 today we will explore more closely at the why, the what and the how of change. The deep spiritual
00:00:11 --> 00:00:20 change that brings our character more and more in line with God's character. Well, why are we
00:00:20 --> 00:00:29 concerned about change? We are made in the image of God. We were made to be God's image on earth.
00:00:29 --> 00:00:38 We are God's representatives. We are to display his likeness. God created man in his own image.
00:00:38 --> 00:00:45 In the image of God, he created them. Male and female, he created them. But there's a problem,
00:00:45 --> 00:00:54 isn't there? Because the problem is that we now have a broken image because humanity has rejected
00:00:54 --> 00:01:06 God. So we try to live our lives our way and we mess things up. We struggle to be God's image on earth.
00:01:07 --> 00:01:16 And God's verdict is all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Then enter in Jesus.
00:01:16 --> 00:01:23 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
00:01:25 --> 00:01:32 Scripture tells us the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory,
00:01:32 --> 00:01:41 the glory of the one and only who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. Jesus is the glory
00:01:41 --> 00:01:53 of the Father. He makes God known in this world. He is God in human form. And so he shows us what it
00:01:53 --> 00:02:02 means to be the image of God and to reflect God's glory, to reflect his love, his goodness, his beauty,
00:02:02 --> 00:02:12 his purity, his judgment, his splendor, his power, his wisdom and his majesty. Jesus reflected all of these
00:02:12 --> 00:02:24 things in his actions, in his attitudes and in his thoughts. Now I know that many of you here would love to
00:02:24 --> 00:02:33 reflect the image of Jesus in what you say and do and in your attitudes. But many of us also understand
00:02:33 --> 00:02:44 there is a problem and we cannot do so on our own. Now many of you would actually know that I have been
00:02:44 --> 00:02:53 learning ballroom dancing for some years. The world ballroom champions, Arunas and Katusha,
00:02:54 --> 00:03:01 I say that specifically for Sam for a way that he pronounced it this morning. Arunas and Katusha,
00:03:01 --> 00:03:12 for me to watch Arunas and Katusha glide around a dance floor or to watch the power and the intricacy
00:03:12 --> 00:03:23 of their quick step, the speed of which they go, for me is absolutely fantastic. Now I appreciate
00:03:23 --> 00:03:30 that not everybody likes ballroom dancing. But let me share with you that the point here
00:03:30 --> 00:03:40 is I have watched Arunas and Katusha for hours, not all at once. But I have watched videos of them,
00:03:41 --> 00:03:46 I have watched their footwork, so I'd concentrate watching their routines and watch their footwork.
00:03:46 --> 00:03:51 I have then watched their footwork. I have watched their footwork. I have watched their footwork. I have
00:03:51 --> 00:03:59 watched the videos, how they use their body to sway. All of this I know is very foreign to all of you,
00:03:59 --> 00:04:06 but these are all very, very important if you're doing ballroom dancing. Now I have also listened to their
00:04:06 --> 00:04:16 lectures. I've learned a huge amount. I've actually watched their choreography. I've also watched their
00:04:16 --> 00:04:24 musicality, which is actually how they interpret the music in their dance. Just as a side issue,
00:04:25 --> 00:04:30 dancing is the visual of the music that you're listening to. That's what it's meant to be.
00:04:30 --> 00:04:36 So now you can watch some dancing and have a different view of it. But that's what it's
00:04:36 --> 00:04:41 meant to be. And I've watched their musicality and I've learned heaps and heaps and heaps from
00:04:41 --> 00:04:50 Arunas and Katusha. The problem is I will never dance like Arunas and Katusha as much as I can watch
00:04:50 --> 00:05:00 them for hours and hours. I also would like to be like Jesus. I can observe him in my life.
00:05:00 --> 00:05:10 In action in the gospels. I can study his life, the life he lived. I can look at the way he loved.
00:05:11 --> 00:05:21 I could try very hard to imitate Jesus. But at best, that would lead only to a small,
00:05:21 --> 00:05:29 short-lived improvement. And even then, I suspect that the short-lived improvement,
00:05:30 --> 00:05:39 self-improvement, I might add, will cause me to be very proud. I need help. Trying to imitate Jesus
00:05:39 --> 00:05:50 on my own will only leave me feeling like a failure. I can't be like him on my own. I can't match up.
00:05:50 --> 00:05:59 I need rescuing and I need forgiveness. The great news is that Jesus is not
00:05:59 --> 00:06:09 only my example. Jesus is my redeemer. He is the one who actually can make me new.
00:06:09 --> 00:06:19 If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone. The new has come. Well, what does this
00:06:19 --> 00:06:29 mean? It means that we are recreated in the image of God. It means in this new life that we all have,
00:06:29 --> 00:06:39 we have been given, we can grow like Jesus, reflecting God's glory, because God is in the
00:06:39 --> 00:06:45 business of change. It's not going to happen overnight, but that's the business that God's in.
00:06:47 --> 00:06:57 All the good effort that we can muster and all the obeying sets of rules will not bring lasting change,
00:06:57 --> 00:07:02 but change comes from when we're turning to Jesus and obeying him.
00:07:03 --> 00:07:10 So we understand the why we need to change. It's because we are made in the image of God,
00:07:10 --> 00:07:19 that we are the image bearers of the creator God. But left to ourselves, we are unable to make
00:07:19 --> 00:07:31 any long-lasting changes that would reflect God's glory. So what then stops us? Well, for us to be
00:07:31 --> 00:07:41 growing in the image of God will mean that we need to understand ourselves and our own motives before
00:07:41 --> 00:07:51 long-lasting change can occur. Ask yourself, why do you want to be a better person? Why do you want to
00:07:51 --> 00:07:59 be a better parent, a better spouse? You want to hold your temper? You might want to have more compassion?
00:08:01 --> 00:08:09 Of course, the righteous answer would be, because I want to reflect God's glory. I want to be like
00:08:09 --> 00:08:18 Jesus. And we all know that with our head. But let's just be truly honest between you and me and each
00:08:18 --> 00:08:27 other. Let's be truly honest with ourselves just for a moment and examine whether there might be
00:08:27 --> 00:08:39 another reason why we want change. Is it to prove yourself to God? For God to give you
00:08:39 --> 00:08:48 his approval and to say that you are a good person? That God would bless you in a special way
00:08:48 --> 00:08:59 because of the good that you do? There are many in this world that believe just being a good person
00:08:59 --> 00:09:04 is sufficient to God to welcome you into his kingdom.
00:09:04 --> 00:09:16 Or you may well know that we have been saved by grace alone, but by doing some extra good things,
00:09:16 --> 00:09:22 somehow God is going to love you that little bit more.
00:09:24 --> 00:09:33 I cannot tell you how many times throughout the years of doing ministry where I have sat one-to-one
00:09:33 --> 00:09:43 with people talking about the gospel. And I asked the question, why do you think God would let you
00:09:43 --> 00:09:51 into his kingdom? I cannot tell you how many times people have said to me, because I am a good person
00:09:51 --> 00:09:56 and I have kept the Ten Commandments. Now, when people say they have kept the Ten Commandments,
00:09:57 --> 00:10:01 what they're actually saying is, I have not murdered anybody. Because seemingly,
00:10:01 --> 00:10:10 the only commandment people actually remember is, thou shalt not murder. Sadly, what they don't
00:10:10 --> 00:10:16 ever, I have never in all the years I've done ministry, I've never had somebody say,
00:10:16 --> 00:10:22 I have kept commandment number one, to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul
00:10:22 --> 00:10:28 and all your mind. I've done that perfectly. I've never heard somebody say that. In actual fact,
00:10:28 --> 00:10:37 it never gets mentioned. Now, you might want to change and be a better person so that you can prove
00:10:37 --> 00:10:49 yourself to others. You might be a people pleaser, unable to say no. You hate people thinking ill of you,
00:10:49 --> 00:10:58 and so you work very hard for people to love you and affirm you, but then behind closed doors
00:10:58 --> 00:11:07 and with your family, you behave in a different manner. Consider a Christian who goes to a prayer
00:11:07 --> 00:11:15 meeting. They go to the prayer meeting because it's expected of them. They might go to the prayer
00:11:15 --> 00:11:21 meeting because they don't want to be rebuked by their friends who are also at the prayer meeting.
00:11:22 --> 00:11:27 And really, what they really, really want to be doing is they want to be at home watching TV
00:11:27 --> 00:11:35 and not being at the prayer meeting. Now, do you think God is actually going to know the heart of
00:11:35 --> 00:11:40 that person and whether they really should be at the prayer meeting or should be back home
00:11:40 --> 00:11:49 watching TV because their motive is not with pleasing God. Their motive is with pleasing the
00:11:49 --> 00:11:56 people around them. You might want to change so that you prove something to yourself.
00:11:57 --> 00:12:04 You want to tell yourself that you're a good person, but your sin causes you to be ashamed
00:12:04 --> 00:12:13 because you expect something better of yourself. For example, if you have a problem with anger and when
00:12:13 --> 00:12:23 you get angry, the sin is an offence against you, against your own self-esteem. It is not an offence
00:12:23 --> 00:12:34 against God. To want to change for these reasons will not bring lasting change. Trying to impress God,
00:12:34 --> 00:12:44 trying to impress others or just trying to impress yourself puts you at the centre of the change.
00:12:45 --> 00:12:58 It makes change all about me looking good. It's about my glory, not God's. And that is pretty much
00:12:58 --> 00:13:11 the essence of sin. Sin is living life my way for me instead of living God's way for God.
00:13:13 --> 00:13:23 You see, behaviour can change, but the motives and the desires may be unchanged. That is not holiness.
00:13:23 --> 00:13:33 Often it means rejecting God as Lord and wanting to be our own Lord or wanting to be our own saviour.
00:13:35 --> 00:13:44 Pharisees do good works. They reject bad works. And does that save them? Let's read out of Luke.
00:13:44 --> 00:13:49 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else,
00:13:49 --> 00:13:56 Jesus told this parable. Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax
00:13:56 --> 00:14:02 collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, God, I thank you that I am not like other people,
00:14:02 --> 00:14:09 robbers, evildoers, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and I give a tenth of
00:14:09 --> 00:14:18 all I get. But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven,
00:14:18 --> 00:14:25 but he beat his breast and he said, God, have mercy on me, a sinner. I tell you that this man,
00:14:26 --> 00:14:32 rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves
00:14:32 --> 00:14:42 will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted. And when you pray, do not be like
00:14:42 --> 00:14:48 the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen
00:14:48 --> 00:14:58 by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. Gospel repentance includes
00:14:58 --> 00:15:11 repenting of good works done for wrong reasons. Allow me to say it again. Gospel repentance includes
00:15:11 --> 00:15:21 repenting of good works that have been done for wrong reasons or with wrong motives. We need to repent
00:15:21 --> 00:15:30 repenting of trying to please ourselves and to become our own saviour. We all would love
00:15:30 --> 00:15:39 to follow a list, a tick-the-box type of Christian life, but that would be called legalism,
00:15:39 --> 00:15:50 not discipleship. Legalism is attractive for two reasons. First, it makes holiness manageable.
00:15:51 --> 00:15:57 A heart wholly devoted to God is a tough demand.
00:15:58 --> 00:16:05 But a list of 10 rules that we just do and tick off, we can cope with that.
00:16:06 --> 00:16:11 And second, legalism makes holiness an achievement on our part.
00:16:11 --> 00:16:15 You might say, yes, I was saved by grace.
00:16:15 --> 00:16:26 But I am the godly person that I am today because I have kept all these spiritual disciplines or a code of conduct.
00:16:28 --> 00:16:33 No one likes to think that they are a legalist.
00:16:34 --> 00:16:39 But I can tell you all of us struggle in this way somehow.
00:16:40 --> 00:16:43 So we know what stops us from change.
00:16:43 --> 00:16:45 It's our motives.
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 It's our sin.
00:16:47 --> 00:16:50 So how then does change occur?
00:16:50 --> 00:16:52 Because that's what we really want.
00:16:53 --> 00:16:55 How do we encourage change?
00:16:55 --> 00:17:04 Well, we have to take seriously our sinful nature and seriously our need for the Saviour.
00:17:05 --> 00:17:07 Look with me at Psalm 32.
00:17:08 --> 00:17:12 Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
00:17:12 --> 00:17:19 Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
00:17:20 --> 00:17:25 David knew the freedom that comes from knowing his sins are forgiven.
00:17:26 --> 00:17:33 We have the added blessing of understanding more fully that it was the blood of Jesus
00:17:33 --> 00:17:40 who came into the world to deal with our sin because we could not and cannot save ourselves.
00:17:41 --> 00:17:49 Our sinful nature, our wrong motives, our self-reliance is all dealt with at the cross.
00:17:49 --> 00:18:03 And whether we like it or not, our sin will cripple us and hinder how we live each day if it is left unrepentant.
00:18:03 --> 00:18:06 Look at verse 3 and 5.
00:18:06 --> 00:18:36 We learn from these verses that confession of our sin is essential.
00:18:36 --> 00:18:42 Here was a man who was chosen by God to be the king of Israel.
00:18:42 --> 00:18:45 A man after God's own heart.
00:18:45 --> 00:18:55 A man who was loved by God and protected by him when he was pursued by King Saul who wanted to kill him.
00:18:55 --> 00:18:57 What does he do?
00:18:57 --> 00:19:06 He commits adultery and then he lies about it and then he tries to cover up his sin.
00:19:07 --> 00:19:09 He then has a man killed.
00:19:10 --> 00:19:13 David knew what it was like to be lost.
00:19:14 --> 00:19:19 But he also knew what it was like to be forgiven.
00:19:20 --> 00:19:25 Friends, we need to be careful not to minimise any of our sin.
00:19:25 --> 00:19:30 We can fall into the trap of thinking, it's not too bad.
00:19:31 --> 00:19:34 There are other sins that are far worse than mine.
00:19:35 --> 00:19:41 And so we would never take the responsibility for our own sin.
00:19:41 --> 00:19:45 You might not have the same sins as King David,
00:19:45 --> 00:19:52 but any sin will inhibit the change that we are longing for in this new year.
00:19:53 --> 00:19:57 True repentance grieves over sin.
00:19:57 --> 00:20:02 It will never minimise the sin and it will never blame others.
00:20:03 --> 00:20:05 It is ownership 100%.
00:20:05 --> 00:20:11 We also need to be careful of not wanting to hide our sin.
00:20:12 --> 00:20:19 As we see in the psalm, David physically was ill because of keeping silent.
00:20:20 --> 00:20:25 Unfortunately, hiding our sin is due to our pride.
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 Another sin.
00:20:28 --> 00:20:30 Sin begets sin begets sin.
00:20:30 --> 00:20:36 We hide, we pretend, and we don't seek help.
00:20:36 --> 00:20:38 It's self-reliance.
00:20:39 --> 00:20:45 The real problem is we love our reputation more than we hate our sin.
00:20:47 --> 00:20:50 True repentance lets nothing get in the way.
00:20:52 --> 00:20:59 Allow me to give you one last reason why we might not wish to repent and change.
00:21:00 --> 00:21:04 And basically, it's because we don't want to.
00:21:05 --> 00:21:11 Truth is, sometimes we want the consequences of our sin to disappear,
00:21:12 --> 00:21:15 but we want to hold on to the sin itself.
00:21:16 --> 00:21:25 Now, I know a family close to our family that are in a really difficult financial situation.
00:21:26 --> 00:21:28 There is much debt.
00:21:28 --> 00:21:31 There is mismanagement with money.
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 There is compulsive purchasing.
00:21:34 --> 00:21:36 There is addictions attached to it.
00:21:37 --> 00:21:41 There is a desire for the change to be out of debt,
00:21:41 --> 00:21:45 but when there are solutions put before them,
00:21:45 --> 00:21:51 and where hard decisions have to be made to cut back,
00:21:52 --> 00:21:54 change does not come.
00:21:55 --> 00:21:57 They're not made.
00:21:57 --> 00:22:01 Because the change of the situation is wanted,
00:22:01 --> 00:22:03 but without any change in behaviour.
00:22:03 --> 00:22:11 They want all the bills to disappear with no change in the way that they are living life,
00:22:11 --> 00:22:14 or no change in the way that they shop,
00:22:14 --> 00:22:16 or no change in the hobbies that they have.
00:22:16 --> 00:22:18 But they want the bills to go.
00:22:18 --> 00:22:25 The key to change is continually returning to the cross.
00:22:26 --> 00:22:31 A changing life is a cross-centred life.
00:22:31 --> 00:22:33 In Colossians we read,
00:22:33 --> 00:22:38 But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death,
00:22:38 --> 00:22:41 to present you wholly in his sight,
00:22:41 --> 00:22:44 without blemish and free from accusation.
00:22:44 --> 00:22:47 At the cross we find hope,
00:22:48 --> 00:22:52 for we see the power of sin has been broken,
00:22:52 --> 00:22:54 and the old nature has been put to death.
00:22:54 --> 00:23:00 At the cross we find grace, power and delight in God,
00:23:01 --> 00:23:04 who we need to overcome our sin.
00:23:05 --> 00:23:07 And here at St Paul's,
00:23:07 --> 00:23:11 we have been encouraged time and time again
00:23:11 --> 00:23:14 to preach the gospel to ourselves daily.
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 When we go to the cross,
00:23:17 --> 00:23:21 we see that God died for us.
00:23:22 --> 00:23:25 And if you live for people's approval,
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 or for your career,
00:23:27 --> 00:23:29 or for your possessions,
00:23:29 --> 00:23:32 or control of anything else,
00:23:32 --> 00:23:34 and you don't make it,
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 or you mess up,
00:23:36 --> 00:23:39 then you will be left feeling afraid,
00:23:39 --> 00:23:41 downcast, or bitter.
00:23:42 --> 00:23:46 But when you let Christ down,
00:23:46 --> 00:23:48 as we do,
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 he loves us still.
00:23:50 --> 00:23:53 He doesn't beat us up,
00:23:54 --> 00:23:56 because he has died for us.
00:23:56 --> 00:23:58 He died for you,
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 and he's died for me.
00:24:00 --> 00:24:02 The secret of change
00:24:02 --> 00:24:05 is to renew your love for Christ,
00:24:06 --> 00:24:09 as you see him crucified in your place.
00:24:09 --> 00:24:15 How are you going to encourage this change?
00:24:15 --> 00:24:18 Well, fortunately for us here at St Paul's,
00:24:18 --> 00:24:21 all we need to do is to look at our core values.
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 That's where change occurs.
00:24:24 --> 00:24:27 We need to spend time in God's word,
00:24:27 --> 00:24:30 and to allow God to speak to us,
00:24:30 --> 00:24:33 and to transform us into his image.
00:24:33 --> 00:24:38 Prayer needs to be our priority,
00:24:38 --> 00:24:42 over and above other activities we choose.
00:24:43 --> 00:24:49 When we realise that God is the great change agent
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 in our lives,
00:24:50 --> 00:24:53 then prayer will move up the priority list.
00:24:54 --> 00:24:57 Prayer needs to be our reflexive voice
00:24:57 --> 00:24:59 when temptation comes.
00:25:01 --> 00:25:04 Just when a child is playing by themselves,
00:25:05 --> 00:25:08 they're very happy in their own little world.
00:25:09 --> 00:25:11 But when danger comes,
00:25:11 --> 00:25:13 the first thing that child will do
00:25:13 --> 00:25:15 is to look for mum or dad
00:25:15 --> 00:25:18 to make sure that they're safe.
00:25:18 --> 00:25:22 The same has to happen with us.
00:25:22 --> 00:25:24 When temptation comes our way,
00:25:25 --> 00:25:27 what we reflexively need to do
00:25:27 --> 00:25:29 is to look to the Father
00:25:29 --> 00:25:31 to see that we're safe.
00:25:38 --> 00:25:40 Treasuring Jesus together
00:25:40 --> 00:25:44 will also inevitably help us change
00:25:44 --> 00:25:46 by reminding us,
00:25:46 --> 00:25:49 reminding one another of the truth,
00:25:49 --> 00:25:52 by modelling Christian change
00:25:52 --> 00:25:54 and holiness for one another.
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 We've got a responsibility
00:25:55 --> 00:25:57 to live holy lives
00:25:57 --> 00:26:01 because my life is going to help you
00:26:01 --> 00:26:03 live your life and vice versa.
00:26:06 --> 00:26:09 God is at work in each of us.
00:26:11 --> 00:26:13 And so we can encourage each other.
00:26:14 --> 00:26:16 We can provide accountability
00:26:16 --> 00:26:18 for one another.
00:26:19 --> 00:26:21 And when we worship God together,
00:26:21 --> 00:26:23 we are reminding ourselves
00:26:23 --> 00:26:27 that God is bigger and better
00:26:27 --> 00:26:32 than anything that sin offers.
00:26:33 --> 00:26:35 Worship isn't just affirmation
00:26:35 --> 00:26:37 that God is good.
00:26:38 --> 00:26:42 It's an affirmation that God is best.
00:26:42 --> 00:26:45 We remind our hearts of God's goodness,
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 his majesty,
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 his love,
00:26:48 --> 00:26:48 his grace,
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 his holiness,
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 and his power.
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 That's what happens
00:26:51 --> 00:26:53 when we meet together here on a Sunday.
00:26:54 --> 00:26:56 All of that is happening all at once.
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 How wonderful.
00:26:58 --> 00:27:01 And we also have the opportunity to serve.
00:27:02 --> 00:27:04 Now, we often make the mistake
00:27:04 --> 00:27:08 of thinking that fulfilling an act of service
00:27:08 --> 00:27:11 shows change in our hearts.
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 But in fact,
00:27:12 --> 00:27:14 it's a means of grace
00:27:14 --> 00:27:17 that God uses to change us.
00:27:18 --> 00:27:20 Serving God and others
00:27:20 --> 00:27:24 help redirect us outwards.
00:27:24 --> 00:27:28 And it takes the attention away from ourself
00:27:28 --> 00:27:30 as we focus on another.
00:27:31 --> 00:27:34 Friends, change is possible.
00:27:34 --> 00:27:37 And it's possible because of Jesus.
00:27:39 --> 00:27:41 May this 2016
00:27:41 --> 00:27:44 be a year
00:27:44 --> 00:27:47 where all of us here at St. Paul's
00:27:47 --> 00:27:49 grow and change
00:27:49 --> 00:27:52 into the likeness of Jesus.
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 Amen.