How Do You Deal With Change?
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Change is part of life. How do you handle change? Do you handle it? Avoid it? Hold on to what was for as long as you can? In this message “Dealing With Change” in our Change Your City series, we’re going to look at why we might be feeling like we can’t make a difference in our city because we haven’t dealt with personal change first.
Matthew 4:1313 He went first to Nazareth, then left there and moved to Capernaum, beside the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali,
Jesus didn’t visit other cities to preach and heal…. he moved to where he ministered.
We are looking at what holds us back from changing our city… why we need to deal with personal change in order to change our city.
Jesus could not DWELL in Capernaum without completely leaving nazareth
Jesus could not move into His calling without leaving His childhood.
Likewise, we cannot dwell in our calling when we are dwelling on our past.
Dealing with change:
If we fail to deal with the change that happens in our lives we can find ourselves listening to our past OVER listening to Jesus in our present.
What is your Nazareth? (For Jesus it was His childhood)
Nazareth – guarded one. – we can look at this definition 2 different ways.
- 1 – Step Up – we are the guarded one like Jesus. protected in our infancy of Christianity. At some point we need to realize through the authority of Jesus we have a mission. to bring the love of Jesus to those who can’t get it themselves. There can be an attitude of wanting to stay guarded.
Ephesians 3:11-1211 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.
- 2 – Let it Go – we have something we are guarding from our past. we haven’t let go of. It could be sin, it could be comfort, it could be anything that was in a past season that you are holding onto. It’s what is preventing you from changing your city with full effectivness.
Matthew 19:16-2216 And someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do so that I may obtain eternal life?” 17 And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 Then he *said to Him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not give false testimony; 19 Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man *said to Him, “All these I have kept; what am I still lacking?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be [a]complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.
Doing Life Together –
What does this scripture mean to you? The possessions was a specific heart issue to the rich young ruler. I want you to put yourself in this mans shoes and think about what would Jesus tell you about. Is there something you need to let go of? Doing life together is a discipleship moment. They are meant to challenge you and cause action in your life with accountability. Share with someone near you and be accountable. Follow up with them this week on how they are doing.
Matthew 4:13And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali,
The next key word – Move, Dwell, or live… depending on your Bible Translation.
i wanted to see where else this exact word is used.
Eph 3:17That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
This word dwell means move in. not visiting. not temporary. He moved in.
In dealing with change one of the hardest parts is being all in. It’s less risky for us to try or test a new season while being anchored to what’s comfortable rather than Jesus.
Hebrews 6:19We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,
An anchor has 2 positions:
- on the boat secure or
- in the depths of the ocean grabbing on to what we cant fully see or comprehend.
You do not have hope connected to Jesus when you have a pessimistic attitude of “we’ll see what happens”You aren’t dealing with change. You are waiting to see if the change is acceptable for you to move in.
In the change of seasons is where God works on us the most. It’s painful sometimes.
When we are dwelling on the past – we fail to dwell in the present – Jesus left his hometown in order to dwell in Capernaum.
When we personally fail to change we hurt 3 places.
1 – Ourselves
We hurt our growth in Jesus
2 – Our Cities
We hurt people close to us by not sharing peace, love joy, the authority in our prayers
3 – Our Church
Our Church Vision will fail unless we all step up. The cross, a lighthouse and our vision have two parts. that we build a strong relationship with Jesus. and that we reach out to people in our city.
Next Steps
I challenge you – be all in to seeing your city changed.
What does that look like for you? Inviting a neighbor or coworker to your backyard for a BBQ. bring up your life in Christ. Ask if you can be praying for them?
Maybe its inviting loved ones from out of state to start a Lighthouse community with you. Watch the message on zoom together and do life together.