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How Believers Change and
Grow
Dr. Marc Graham, Director
Biblical Counseling Center of Southeast
Michigan
Galatians 5:16-26 describes the
daily struggle that every believer is engaged in---a war between
the flesh and the Spirit.
I. WHAT IS THE DRIVING
CHARACTERISTIC OF THE FLESH?
A. The flesh is driven by the goal
of __gratification__ of sinful _desires_. (V.
16-17).
B. Note the list Paul gives in
verses 19-21. At the base of all of these is the goal of fulfilling
human __wants___ and __passions__.
C. Verse 17 says that this approach
to life sets up a _conflict_ with the Spirit.
D. How do we know when our desires
conflict with the Spirit? See John 14:16-17 and John
17:17.
II. WHAT IS THE DRIVING
CHARACTERISTIC OF THE SPIRIT?
A. The Spirit-controlled man is one
who has his fallen mind __renewed__ with biblical truth and
regularly decides with his __will__ to act on that truth.
(Rom. 12:2; Eph. 4:23-24)
1. The example of suffering in I
Peter 1:3-15. Peter calls upon them to deal with severe trials by
__thinking___ not ___feeling__.
B. Each of the fruits of the Spirit
in Galatians 5:22-23 requires understanding biblical truth about
that fruit and making a __decision__ of the _will_ to
act on that truth.
1. Example: Is love an
__emotion___ or thinking and acting __biblically_?
(See John 3:16; James 2:15-16; I John 3:16-18).
III. HOW THEN DO BELIEVERS
CHANGE AND GROW?
A. By first understanding God's
____purpose_____. (Rom. 8:28-29).
1. God's purpose is that we be
growing and changing to become like Jesus Christ in our
__thinking___ and ___behavior___.
2. This is why Christ has left
behind "Body #2."
a. Who is "Body #1"? (See John
1:14).
b. Who is "Body #2"? (See I Cor.
12:27; Col. 1:18).
c. Why? (Eph. 4:11-16).
B. By understanding the need for
God's ____power____. (Gal. 5:16).
1. The Christian life cannot be
lived in the __energy____ of the
___flesh____.
2. We must realize the importance of
the spiritual ____disciplines____.
a. The need to feed on the Word. (I Pet.
2:1-3).
b. Prayer---communion with God
resulting in peace. (Phil. 4:4-7).
c. The local Church---(Heb. 10:24,
the whole New Testament).
C. By understanding God's
____process____.
1. The Put-off/Put-on dynamic and
how it works. (Eph. 4:22-24).
a. The old man is
___desire-driven/feeling-oriented____. (Eph.
4:22).
b. The new man is
____truth/principle-driven______. (Eph. 4:24).
c. This change occurs by the
renewing of the __mind____. (Eph. 4:23).
d. Knowledge of
the___Word____ is required. (Rom. 12:2; John
17:17).
e. Biblical growth is life
___transformation____ resulting from a knowledge of Biblical
principles. (Rom. 12:2).
f. Sinful ___habits___ are
addressed through a deliberate strategy of carrying out Biblical
principles in daily life. Christlikeness does not develop by
accident.
g. No matter how stubborn the habit,
the flesh can be ___rehabituated__ with Biblical truth by
the power of the Spirit.
h. It is crucial that we not merely
___put-off__. We must also ___put-on___. In other
words, it is not enough to cease sinful behavior. We must replace
it with righteous behavior. To leave a vacuum results in reverting
to the old habit worse than before (Luke 11:24-26).
i. Help the counselee understand
that the first few weeks in changing any habit is war! However, the
battle will lessen if they persevere. Many quit during the first
few weeks because they believe that it will always be this hard.
Give them hope by helping them understand that the struggle will
lessen as the godly habit takes hold.
2. A proper response to the
consequences of sin. (Gen. 4:6-7; Ps. 51).
3. Proper handling of trials. (I
Pet. 1:6-7-God knows that some things can only be learned through
suffering).
4. Solving conflicts biblically.
(Matt. 18:15-18; I John 1:9; James 5:16).
CONCLUSION:
It is God's will that believers be growing and changing into
Christlikeness (2 Cor. 3:18). There is no growth without knowledge
of the Word of God. But this knowledge is not to be a mere
intellectual exercise. The renewing of the attitude of our minds is
with a view to application of the Word to daily living, resulting
in righteousness and true holiness (Eph. 4:23-24). As counselees
make progress, encourage them! Share with them examples of others
who have conquered difficult habits. God can help them do so, too!
Design homework that is simple and clear, focusing on ways that
they can see progress immediately. This will excite them and
encourage them to stay with the process of change that God wants
them to make. Remind them that the flesh will rear up its ugly head
from time to time. This should not discourage them, but deal with
it Biblically when it occurs and get right back to pursuing
godliness. Use Jay Adams' booklet Godliness Through Discipline as a
homework tool for explaining this process.
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