MONDAY MOTIVATION: A CHANGE OF HEART
Dec 17, 2018
How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a movie about a change of heart.
How many of you love Christmas?! Everything from the decorations, the lights, the gifts, the songs, etc.
In the story of the Grinch Who Stole Christmas the Who’s love Christmas.
(Click the image to play the movie clip)
I love the sheer abandon with which the Who's celebrate Christmas. They put everything, body and soul, into celebrating it - they are singing (worship) and laughing, and enjoying one another. Fun.
Isn't that how Christmas should be? Fun! It's a celebration, but we let Satan steal our joy with all the things that should make it fun and joyous.
Sometimes we start getting critical: why are they decorating so early, did you see how they decorated their house - who cares and why have an opinion? We are stressed from decorating, Stressed over buying presents.
If this is the happiest time of the year we should look more like The Who's, unfortunately we look more like the Grinch.
(Click the image to play the movie clip)
Why is the Grinch so angry? Why is he so jealous? Is it really that noisy? He is high above on Mt. Crumpit. Why does it matter to the Grinch if The Who's have roast beef? He is jealous. Jealousy is defined as, "feeling resentment against someone because of that person's rivalry, success, or advantages."
Philippians 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,
Consider others. Jealousy says " What about me?" We have to learn to rejoice when good things happen to other people. Trust God. He knows what is best for you.
Let's see if we can find out why he was so jealous.
(Click the image to play the movie clip)
It was his heart. He has a small hard heart.
Proverbs 4:20-23 My son, pay attention to what I say;
turn your ear to my words.
21 Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them
and health to one’s whole body.
23 Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it. (For out of your heart flows the issues of life.)
Out of your heart flows the issues of life…….
It isn’t your dad……..it’s your heart
It isn’t your mom……..it’s your heart
It isn’t that you were abused………it’s your heart
It isn’t that you were poor………..it’s your heart
It isn’t that your parents are divorced……… it’s your heart
It isn't that you were adopted..........it's your heart.
See when we are hurt, abused, divorce happens satan write something on your heart.
He writes shame, condemnation, rejection, unloveable, hopeless, humiliated, confused, disappointed, disillusioned, forgotten, despised, dumb…………..
Out of our heart flows the issues of life.
The condition of the heart tell you everything you need to know about yourself.
Out of the Grinch's hurt, jealousy was written on his heart and he was jealous of the Who’s. When you are jealous you can’t rejoice when good things happen to others, if you are miserable you want everybody to be miserable.
(Click the image to play the movie clip)
You might be asking why was the Grinch so jealous? Why did he want everybody else to be miserable. There are 3 reasons.
- We are all born sinners. We are born with heart issues.
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
We are not born perfect and our mom didn't mess us up potty training.
We were not born with a clean slate - this is what the world teaches. If you believe the worlds way then you get to play the victim and blame everybody else. Most people live their lives this way.
We were born sinners. This means you have to take responsibility for you life and either choose Jesus and let him pay the price for your sin and you live a fulfilled purposeful life and you go to heaven or
You pay the price for your sin and live a crazy selfish life and spend eternity away from God.
James 3:14-16
14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
How do you overcome sin? Surrender you life to God. This is why Jesus came.
- We have all had stuff done to us.
People have done stuff to us physically or said things to us to hurt us emotionally. Some were physically abused and some have been sexually abused and some emotionally abused but we have all been abused at some level.
Luke 17:1 Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come,……….
Everybody has been hurt. But if you choose to live offended the offense will grow and take over your life.
Proverbs 18:19 A brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city; disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.
How do you overcome bitterness? Walk in forgiveness. Choose to forgive.
- We have all hurt people. Out of our hurt we have hurt people.
Mark 7:21. For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance, and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man unclean.
If you play the victim, you will not take ownership for hurting people, because nothing is your fault.
It's our hearts that are the problem. We have connect groups that will help you walk in Freedom.
How do you transform your heart? Only God can change a heart.
- Invite the Holy Spirit to show you.
Psalm 139: 23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Ask the Holy Spirit to put His finger on an area that needs to change.
- Invite the Holy Spirit to change you.
Psalm 51:10:11 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
- Invite the Holy Spirit to fill you.
Ephesians 5:18
Do not get drunk on wine. Which leads to debauchery (bad or immoral behavior that involves sex, drugs, alcohol, etc) But instead, be filled with the spirit.
As you allow the Holy Spirit to change your heart you will have an affect on those around you.
Hurting people hurt people.
Healed people Heal people.
(Click the image to play the movie clip)
Here is my prayer for you this season -
Ezekiel 36:26-27
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and. E car cup to keep my decrees.
Dear Jesus
Thank you for dying on the cross
and making a way for me to come to God.
I receive this extravagant gift
and ask you to come into my heart
and be the Lord of my life.
I give you all of me
and ask You to turn my life around
for the glory of God.
Forgive me of my sin,
fill me with your Spirit
and help me to live the life
You died to give me,
In Jesus' Name, Amen
