EMBRACING CHANGE - BY DR BRENDAN KIRBY
" This year in 2009 we are moving into seasons of change – in more ways than one. In our economy (a recession may be coming), our education (uncertain rewards), our employment (may soon be up to ~8%), our markets (presently unstable) and our sport (recently our cricket team lost!) there will be many changes.
- How do we manage when so many things around us seem to be changing?
- How can we become people who embrace change graciously and in our stride?...."
[Photo: Pastor Brendan & Helen Kirby]
1. The Apostles were willing to change: Acts 13: 1 – 3 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.
Barnabas and Saul (later called Paul) changed where they were to live, their lifestyle and their cultural preferences (from Jewish to inter-national) – all for the sake of the Kingdom of God.
a) Sometimes we take it for granted when our leaders leave their jobs or their families behind for the sake of the Lord’s work. Do we really appreciate them for their ongoing sacrifices?
I Cor 9: 19 – 23 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.
b) Am I willing to change the way I do some things so that I can reach out to those around me in a more effective manner? For example, how I relate to the poor, those from a different cultural background? Etc.
2. The Jews were unwilling to change:
At Antioch in Pisidia, Paul preached a sermon in Acts 13: 16 – 41 outlining faith in Jesus Christ to Jews and people from other nations. He finished his speech with a quote from Habakkuk 1: 5
Acts 13: 40, 41 “Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you: 41 “Behold, you despisers, marvel and perish! For I work a work in your days, a work which you will by no means believe, though one were to declare it to you.’ ”
Some of the Jews who heard Paul and Barnabas’ preaching were unwilling to believe:
Acts 13: 45, 46 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. 46Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.
The lack of willingness to change led to these people hardening their hearts in their stubbornness, and they then opposed and persecuted the apostles – they were unwilling to receive God’s word.
c) Have we ever found in ourselves a tendency to resist change because of our routine or because of the way we want things to stay?
Why are people unwilling to change?
- Cannot see a way ahead – things look like a labyrinth (Ps 62: 8);
- Too hard – like looking up Mt Everest or trying for a 4 minute mile (Heb 10: 13);
- Complacent – things are not too bad the way they are (Zeph 1: 12);
- Always looking Back – were are the “Good ol’ days?” (Eccl 7: 10);
- Fear – unsure of the unknown – fear of failure, fear of what people might think;
- Deceived – do not think they need to change – cannot see any reason;
- Wrong values – they do not see the benefits that the change will bring;
- Wrong priorities – unwilling to change the major priorities in life;
- Resist Change – prefer things to remain the same to be familiar, “We’ve always done it this way”;
- Takes effort – building the momentum to change is too hard, to develop the emotion, the desire, the discipline is too hard – cannot overcome the inertia of the present;
- Lack of knowledge – do not know how to change;
- Stubborn bad habits – getting caught by a habit that is hard to shake off.
d) Now is a good time to begin to ask ourselves: “Do I have a positive attitude to change? Do I value what I can become, more than what I am now?”
But there some things in life that we should not be willing to change!
Heb 13: 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever! Mal 3: 6 “I am the Lord, and I change not.” God is not changing – He is immutable – His Word is not changing (Isaiah 40: 8) – His standards do not shift with the economic downturns!
Our core values of salvation by faith in God through Jesus Christ (Eph 2: 8, 9), worshipping God in the Spirit (John 4: 24), honouring the Word of God (II Tim 3: 16, 17) and walking in love (IPet 4: 8) are unchanging! Moral values as outlined in the bible are unchanging (I Cor 6: 9; Eph 5: 5)! There is no such thing as “keeping up with modern times” when it comes to moral values (Gal 6: 7). God does not accept “gay” marriages.
God is looking for a people who will be obedient to His word, and be willing to change and grow in holiness when necessary. But God is also looking for a people who will stand up strong for what is right without compromise and without shame or fear – let us be courageous for the Lord, amen!
Remember that in the midst of uncertainty and confusion, when change seems to be destabilizing many things and many hearts around us – we have a sure foundation that cannot be shaken, amen! The Lord is our Rock and our Refuge – He is our “very present help in our time of trouble”. We can trust and rely upon Him, amen! Though heaven and earth be removed, I will not fear, because You are with me, thank You Jesus!
3. People from Other Nations were willing to change:
The Gentiles embraced the Word of God:
Acts 13: 42 – 44 So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. 43Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. 44On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God.
The people were willing to change and embrace the gospel. They were willing to:
- repent – to have a sincere heart change of priorities;
- acknowledge the reality of God and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ;
- receive the Word of God by which we are saved.
Repentance facilitates change in our lives!
The Word of God reveals our need to change from our own ways – in order to follow Jesus. We believe the word of God and then repent in order to align our lives with the Word of God.
Repentance is a good word, amen!
Repentance is like entering a quarantine zone – everyone who desires to enter into the “house” (laboratory) must have a sterilizing shower so as not to bring in any disease or germs. Likewise, in order to enter God’s house which is perfectly clean, we need to have a “repentance shower” where our sins are washed away by the blood of Jesus. No shower – no favoritism – no partiality – no entrance into God’s house! We must repent – there is no other way to cleansed of sin apart from the blood of Jesus Christ, the perfect Lamb of God. Repentance is a willingness to accept a change in values and a change in priorities in life.
e) Do I see the importance of repentance in my people’s lives? Am I afraid to challenge the people I love to repent for fear of offending them?
4. Are we willing to change?
The world around us is changing every day – “Change is here to stay!” Are we willing to move on with these changes and adapt to the things happening around us? Can we adapt to a changing environment? Yes. Should we adapt to changing morality? No.
Does God want us to change our attitudes and actions in some areas? How can we begin to change?
The Word of God is the change agent – we must receive the Word of God and believe it!
I Thess 2: 13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.
We need to be willing to change our values, our priorities, our time management and possibly even our career goals – for the sake of a higher eternal calling.
f) The bottom line is: Am I willing to change?”
5. What are the benefits of change?
- Self Belief – able to improve after making some initial changes;
- More Confidence – to begin to tackle bigger challenges;
- No Regrets – when we do our best we can stand tall – “Twenty years from now we will know we did our best, that we held nothing back”;
Great Opportunities are made from being willing to change and do our best!
Eg. USA Hockey team beat the best team in the world in the 1980 Winter Olympics – they were willing to change, to take on a new challenge, to be rebuked and have their faults and failings exposed – for the sake of getting to the place of having an opportunity to become excellent – to become the best in the world – if only for a short time!
God is looking to us. He is relying upon us. Can God trust us to change and grow to become the people He needs us to be, so that He can fulfill His vision and plan of salvation for many millions of people in this world? God needs many more churches planted and grown.
Are we willing to say, “Yes Lord, here am I. Send me. I will be come a life group leader, I will become a better mentor, I will become a worship leader, I will be a preacher and an evangelist, I will be a church planter one day – for You Lord, amen!”
CONCLUSION:
God wants us to change so we can share in His holiness – so we can become more like Jesus – less and less selfish, and more and more God-centred. Such changes require receiving the Word of God, believing it, and acting on it with sincere repentance and a desire to change to honour God.
By Dr Brendan Kirby
Hope Adelaide, Australia
