Doing Change God’s Way (Part 6)

Willpower And Change

Introduction

• Resolutions Require Change, but it is Hard to Change.
• Doing Change God’s Way
• Last week we discussed prioritizing change; today we will discuss the relationship of willpower and change.

I.   Willpower is Described as Self-Control or Self-Discipline in the Bible.

II.  Willpower/Self-Control is Necessary for Godly Living (Acts 24:25).

III. Willpower/Self-Control is Vital for Avoiding Sin (1 Corinthians 7:5; 2 Timothy 3:1-3).

IV.  Willpower/Self-Control is an Essential Christian Virtue (2 Peter 1:6).

V.    Willpower/Self-Control is Fruit Produced by the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-25).

VI.  Willpower/Self-Control Can be Taught and Learned (Titus 2:2, Titus 2:3-6, Titus 2:11-13).

VII. Willpower/Self-Control Can Grow Stronger with Use (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).

Conclusion

• Applications
  • Willpower is Required for Change.
  • You can Increase Your Willpower.
  • Willpower Alone is NOT Sufficient.
  • We are Weak and often Fail.
  • The Holy Spirit will Help us Strengthen our Willpower.
  • We Must Cooperate with the Spirit.
  • There is a Secret to the Use of Willpower.
• Are You Doing Change God’s Way?

Obviously, willpower and self-control are vital for accomplishing any kind of change in our lives.  This is true in both spiritual and physical dimensions of our lives (though we have seen there is a connection between the two). Doing Change God’s Way requires self-discipline.

Self control is necessary for godly living and avoiding sin.  It is an essential Christian virtue that is produced by the Holy Spirit with our cooperation.  It is something that can be taught and learned and it can grow stronger with use.  However, there is a secret about willpower that is vital to understand.  Willpower can only take us so far along the path to change; after that, our resolve begins to wane.  However, if applied in a specific way, it can be extremely effective.  What is that secret?  I’ll say more in the lesson.

I hope you will join us!  Joey