Something Has to Change

Sermon Notes:
Speaker: Dr. Kevin Horton
December 31, 2023
The New Year’s resolutions are a good recognition of our need for change.
Sadly, they are doomed to failure.
What can be done to bring about change in my life? How can I see long-term
change in this messed up life of mine?
1. I need a new life!
Ephesians 2:1-3
What is God’s solution? _______________________
2. Embrace your new identity-the battle for control
Now that your new believer in Christ do things get easier? ___________
Why?
2 Corinthians 5:17 Ephesians 2:4 - 5 Ephesians 1-13-14
The Holy Spirit of God came into our lives and then seal us. This guarantees
our salvation! This occurred when we heard the truth and believed.
Now do things get easier? _______
Why?
Galatians 5:16-24
We are now in a battle for control… the flesh versus the Spirit.
3. How do I bring about permanent change? How do I get victory in this
battle that wages in my mind and spirit?
We need to recognize a few more things in this battle for control of my mind:
Philippians 3:12-14
• We have not arrived!
• Forget your past failures once you’ve confessed them to God.
Sometimes God will make it clear that before you can be totally freed from your past failures, He want you to do a couple of hard things:
1. You might need to go and ask somebody for forgiveness.
2. You might need to make restitution.
3. Then: we put our failures in the past because they are forgiven and gone
4. Then: we press on to the goal which is to be more Christlike every day
We cannot let the past grip us unless God has something that we must deal with from the past. Then we let it go.
It is a war!
Battle 1: Let Go and Believe in Jesus for a New Life.
Battle 2: Wage War against your old ways. It takes a lifetime… but works!
Real change is the battle to believe… leading to a battle for control… leading to a life of value.