Part 3 of the series "A New Beginning" by Pastor Seth Gatchell. Listen to or download the sermon mp3 at http://www.pacificchurch.com/

2. Making Changes

3. What do I need to recover from?

4. The first step to R.E.C.O.V.E.R.Y: R ealize I’m not God . I admit I’m powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and my life is unmanageable.

5. E arnestly believe that God Exists , that I Matter to him, and that he has the Power to help me recover.

6. C ommit all my life and will to Christ’s care and control .

7. O penly examine and confess my faults to myself, God, and someone I trust.

8. V oluntarily submit to every change God wants to make in my life. Humbly ask Him to remove my character defects .

9. Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him … and let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Romans 12:1–2

10. Where Do My Character Defects Come From? 1. My 2. My 3. My Chromosomes Circumstances Choices

12. How do I Cooperate with God’s Change Process? Be transformed by the renewing of your mind . Romans 12:2

13. How do I Cooperate with God’s Change Process? 1. Changing one defect at a time Focus on: An intelligent person aims at wise action, but a fool starts off in many directions . Proverbs 17:24

14. How do I Cooperate with God’s Change Process? 2. Victory one day at a time Focus on: Give us this day our daily bread. Matthew 6:11

15. How do I Cooperate with God’s Change Process? 2. Victory one day at a time Focus on: Don’t worry about tomorrow, each day has enough troubles of its own. Matthew 6:34

16. How do I Cooperate with God’s Change Process? “ Can a leopard take away his spots? Nor can you who are used to doing evil now start being good.” Jeremiah 12:23 (TLB) 3. God’s Power , not will power. Focus on:

17. I can master anything with the help of Christ who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 (JB) How do I Cooperate with God’s Change Process? Focus on: 3. God’s Power , not will power.

18. Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure … Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about. Philippians 4:8 How do I Cooperate with God’s Change Process? Focus on: 4. What I Want not what I don’t Want

19. If you are guided by the Spirit you will be in no danger of yielding to self-indulgence. Galatians 5:16 How do I Cooperate with God’s Change Process? Focus on: 5. Doing good, not feeling good.

20. How do I Cooperate with God’s Change Process? Bad company corrupts good character. 1 Corinthians 15:33 Focus on: 6. People who help, not hinder me.

21. How do I Cooperate with God’s Change Process? Two are better than one and a threefold cord is not easily broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9 Focus on: 6. People who help, not hinder me.

22. How do I Cooperate with God’s Change Process? As iron sharpens iron, so people can improve each other. Proverbs 27:1 Focus on: 6. People who help, not hinder me.

23. How do I Cooperate with God’s Change Process? Focus on: 7. Progress not perfection . God who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in his grace until his task with you is finally finished. Phil. 1:6