1. PEOPLE WHO DON’T CHANGE TO GOD’S WAYS CHANGE MORE AND MORE TOWARD THE WORLD’S WAYS.
Romans 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Romans 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
2. WHY WON’T SOME PEOPLE CHANGE ?
A. THEY LIKE WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
Romans 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
2 Thessalonians 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
B. THEY FIT IN BETTER WITH THEIR FRIENDS WHO DON’T CHANGE.
Ephesians 6:6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
C. THEY TRY TO CHANGE, BUT DON’T HAVE THE STRENGTH TO CONTINUE.
Psalm 88:3-4 For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave. I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength:
D. THEY SEE THEMSELVES AS MORE MORAL THAN SOMEONE ELSE.
Luke 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
Matthew 7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
E. THEY DON’T THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THEM.
Revelation 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
F. THEY DON’T THINK GOD WILL BE UPSET OF THEY DON’T CHANGE. BUT GOD GAVE HIS COMMAND, AND IT IS IMPORTANT.
Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
G. THEY DON’T LIKE THE IDEA THAT THEY NEED TO CHANGE IN ORDER TO PLEASE ANYONE.
Psalms 55:19 God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.
WHAT EXCUSES DO THEY USE ? AND THEY REALLY BELIEVE THEM THEMSELVES ?
3. WHAT SPECIFIC THINGS CAN GOD DO TO MOTIVATE THEM TO CHANGE ?
God gives each person the ability to accept or reject His ways. But, if a person who says that they accept His ways becomes a bad example of them, and brings disgrace upon the ways and Name of the Lord, He can bring them trouble.
A. HE CAN BRING TROUBLE TO THEM.
- CHASTENING.
Hebrews 12:6-7 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
- PUNISHMENT.
1 Samuel 16:15 And Saul’s servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.
Job 23:16 For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:
B. BY HIS PROMISE TO STRENGTHEN THEM.
Isaiah 50:2 Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is My hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at My rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst.
1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.