You will experience genuine change if you accept the Perfect Gospel with Sound Faith.
1) There are things that seem like changes, but are not real changes
| The Israelites of the exodus from Egypt experienced a most drastic change in their circumstance and conditions. From slavery to freedom, from the slaves of Pharaoh to God’s people, they went through the most dramatic change of conditions in history. However, were they really changed? From the day they left Egypt, they saw that God was always with them, protecting them with pillars of cloud and fire. But before long, at the bad report of the land they had heard by 12 spies sent by Moses, they betrayed God, crying “Let’s return to Egypt!” This was proof that they were not truly changed. |
》Scripture Prayer
(Exodus 13:21-22) 21 And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. 22 The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.
(Numbers 14:1-5) 1 Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. 2 And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! 3 Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4 And they said to one another, “Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” 5 The Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the people of Israel.
》Pray that the Word may become the Conclusion.
1. We try to find the cause of our unhappiness in our circumstances and conditions rather than in ourselves, who are incomplete beings. Consequently, we strongly wish for our circumstances and conditions to change, believing our problems being solved and our wishes being fulfilled is the result of the Gospel. But in the end, even if our circumstances and conditions change, we will meet our limit and most certainly complain to God if our hearts remain unchanged. Let us pray that our hearts may change through the power and grace of the Gospel.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
2. Although they say that they have been saved by grace, there are Christians whose heart has never left the world. The gospel is sure to change the heart of a person, their inner being. If the Gospel cannot change me, it is no longer the Gospel to me. But when God gave His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross for sinners, He made their sinful beings new. The core of that renewal is the change of the sinner’s heart. Let us earnestly pray for that wholehearted change that is acceptable to God.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)
2) True change: Lordship, Love, and Freedom
| When we know the aspects of true change, we can examine ourselves to see if we are truly changed by the Gospel. First, who is the Lord of my life? In the important moments of my life, we can ask the question: who makes the decisions? Second, who is the love of your life? Love, to the very core of it, requires all of the heart, will, and even life itself so it is impossible to love two different beings at the same time. You cannot love God and the World. Third, is the truth setting you free? The Bible says that we get life by following the Word of God. Before the Word of God that gives us life, are you living with a sense of freedom, or a sense of bondage? We know that the Word of God is true and that we must live by them in obedience. However, as we read and hear the Word of God, we so easily give in to compromise and give up at a certain level, seeing our inability to live by them. |
》Scripture Prayer
(1 John 2:15-16) 15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world
(John 8:31-33) 31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”
》Pray that the Word may become the Conclusion.
1. The world steals the love of souls for itself, by stimulating love for self, preventing the love of God to remain in the heart. Love can only be given wholly to one being so whomever or whatever is being loved, one will be truly loved and the other used as a means. Do I love God? Or am I using Him as a means for my satisfaction and well-being? Let us honestly examine ourselves and pray.
I do not receive glory from people. But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? (John 5:41-44)
2. True freedom finds those who have cut off all windows to compromise and have set the conclusion in their hearts. “I’m probably going to lose to temptation and fall into sin again.” In the heart that has left the door open to sin, there is no freedom. Let us proclaim, ” I cannot live apart from the truth!” and make the decision to live in the freedom of the truth.
For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. (2 Corinthians 13:8)
3) Change of Values
| People move according to their values. They sense happiness and sadness, satisfaction or dissatisfaction according to their values. if the Gospel has become a reality, those values are sure to change. The question is: what makes you happy? What makes you sad? |
》Scripture Prayer
(Psalm 89:15-18) 15 Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face,16 who exult in your name all the day and in your righteousness are exalted.17 For you are the glory of their strength; by your favor our horn is exalted.18 For our shield belongs to the Lord, our king to the Holy One of Israel.”
(Habakkuk 3:17-18) 17 Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord; will take joy in the God of my salvation.
》Pray that the Word may become the Conclusion.
1. In what circumstance do you feel happy or loved by God? When do you feel sad or powerless? Those who know the Gospel have found joy from an unchanging source. Let us pray that we may become people who rejoice not in people or the world but in the God of Salvation.
You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound. (Psalm 4:7)
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