What has God begun in you? Do you want him to be done or do you want him to finish what He started? What God has begun in you is a work of transformation
Transformation is a life-long project. It is redemption and revitalization – it’s a remodel! It is healing, it’s an overhaul, it is the work of salvation and what that work does is re-create who you are - it transforms you from the inside out to make you like Christ.
Philippians 1:6
He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; (NKJ)
II Corinthians 5:17
if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (NKJV)
For new things to come, you must abandon the old, the old nature. You have to let it die!
This is what the old nature looks like:
1. Rivalries: competition; opposition; conflict
2. Conceit: Arrogance
I celebrate when you lose…I celebrate when you fail. I secretly want you to! At all cost, I want to outdo you!!!
That’s my old self – and I have to let that die! The old nature is a mind-set that says “I matter most.” "No one is going to love me and take care of me and meet my needs, so I have do it." "If I don’t no one else will!"
But repentance says: I’m dead to that!
II Corinthians 5:16-17
from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (NKJ)
"New" means, I have crucified the old attitude of ME FIRST. I’m going to trust God to love me and take care of me and meet my needs – I’m no longer going to do it! You abandon the old attitude…the old way of thinking! Abandon means – you leave and never return
I grew up on a farm North of Fort Worth – across the creek at the back of our property was an old Ranch. My grand-mother grew up there. When I was a kid, my cousins and I would go exploring and walk thru the old farm house – it was falling apart because it had been abandoned
This is what abandonment looks like:
1. to give up to control or influence
2. to withdraw protection or support
3. to give up with the intent of never again claiming a right or interest
Abandonment means my selfish life is over, my self-focused party has come to an end. It meansI no longer live there, I moved out and I’m not coming back! I’ve abandoned it! I don’t drive by. I don’t come for a visit! I’m dead to it! It’s in the past! It means nothing to me now!
Here’s why – because, when I drive by or come for a visit I stir up old feelings and affection for my past, and if I’m not careful I will begin to long for it again.
Where there is no maintenance – no upkeep – no care – the house falls apart and falls in
Self-abandonment means I don’t maintain my own plan. I give less care to my own plan - I allow it to cave in and die so I can be FULLY ALIVE and AWARE of SOMETHING NEW ---- GOD’S PURPOSE and CALLING for my LIFE!