You’ve Changed

Sept. 15

Read: Gal. 5:16-26

You’ve Changed

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Gal 5:16,22,23)

Have you ever had anyone tell you, “you’ve changed”? It is kind of a loaded statement isn’t it? You think to yourself, “have I changed in a good way or a bad way?” Whether we realize it or not, what we worship changes us. This is the problem with “idols” and it is the promise and hope of Christian faith. When we think that nothing happens to us when we worship… or that the spiritual realm has no impact on the physical realm… we both neglect the Holy Spirit and we expose ourselves to the “corruption of the world”. (cf. 2 Peter 1:4)

All of the lower / lesser gods of this world have their ways that they call for worship. The Triune God Of Christianity (Father, Son, and Spirit) calls us to worship in the correct way… the way that HE has created and designed the universe. These lesser gods are counterfeits and their worship is almost always a perversion of the true worship of the Most High God. You should not worship God Most High with the worship of lesser gods. Let me give you an example.

In Matt 6:24, Jesus says this: “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” This term “money” here is actually the word “mammon”. It is interesting to call “mammon” a potential master set out as a counter to serving God. There seems to be more to “money” than just the inanimate object of money itself. How we treat the money, use the money, think about the money, and even worship the money will shape which “master” we are under the influence of. In this way, Mammon is as much a god / or devil (the prince of greed or devil of materialism in some folklore) who is worshipped through how the money is used as it is simply a term for money. Money becomes the idol that is a vehicle for worship; and worship of any other god than God Most High has its consequences. There is a fictitious quote attributed to this character Mammon that reads, “Don’t worry, I’ll make you so poor the only thing you’ll have is money.” The downstream effects of worshipping Mammon through money are discontentment, loneliness, depression, and greed that destroys relationships. Now Paul can speak about money in a totally different way:

“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.” (Phil 4:11-12)

The same way that sticks, stones, and other trinkets can be made into idols - the real power or change comes not from the thing itself but the God / god that is behind it… and the way you “worship” using that thing. This is the difference between idolatry and true worship. This is the difference between walking in the Spirit vs. satisfying the desires of the flesh. These lesser gods feed the desires of the flesh… they leverage the flesh to war against the Spirit within you.

When we worship the Lord and draw near to the *Holy Spirit - “walk in the Spirit” - He is working out in us and through us HIS fruit. Read the opening verse again. Worship is supernatural warfare… it is transformative. Whether we realize it or not, we are asking for some sort of power or transformation to take place in us when we “worship”… and it will. What you are watching, what you are saying, what you are listening to, how you use your money, how you treat your body and what you do with your body (cf. Rom. 12 and “living sacrifice”) … all of this matters. It is so much more than just being “good” or being “bad”… it is worship and transformation! “But I say, walk by the Spirit” … the Holy Spirit of God! Then when people say, “you have changed” you’ll have nothing to be afraid of. Love you guys. - JDP

* Who can be both “quenched” and “grieved” by our actions according to the bible, cf. 1 Thes. 5:19, Eph. 4:30