I love that Christ is central in all of this change business. Otherwise, I would be a hopeless mess! Reminds me of Rom 11:36:
"For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen."
Chapter 13: Fruit
1—Real Heart Change
The heart- who we are at the core (172), the seat of
motivation (173).
Jesus emphasized the centrality of heart obedience (173).
The Heart in the OT
1 Sam 16:1-13 God looks at the heart, not the outward
appearance.
“When you examine your life, how much emphasis do you place
on your heart?” (174).
Jer 31:31-34, Eze 36:24-28—the promise of a new covenant,
which involves a new heart
“And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my
decrees and be careful to keep my laws” (Eze 36:27). “It is a voluntary
obedience froma heart that has been transformed and captivated by the Redeemer”
(175).
The Heart in the NT
Eph 1:15-19
A Case Study (taken from Paul’s life as written about in
Acts 16 and Philippians)
1.
Heat
a.
What is your situation?
2.
Thorns
a.
What are your responses in difficult situations?
b.
What cravings and beliefs rule your heart?
c.
What consequences do you face after sinful
actions?
3.
Cross
a.
What changes lives, inside and out? What rules
the heart and produces godly responses?
b.
Philippians reveals who God and Christ are and
what He has done and is doing and how that changes the way we see things and
live life:
i. 1:2:
grace & peace are ours through Christ
ii. 1:6,
2:13: a faithful, sovereign God
iii. 1:19:
the Holy Spirit of Christ
iv. 1:20-21:
confidence in the resurrected Christ
v. 2:1-11:
Christ’s humble service for his people
vi. 2:1-8;
3:10-11: identifying with Christ’s sufferings (If he suffered, why do I think I
wouldn’t? Suffering should not be avoided. It is redemptive and proof of my
union with Christ.)
vii. 2:9-11,
16: trusting in the exalted Christ (If he was exalted, so shall I be one day!
This world is not my home.)
viii.
3:1-9: resting in the work of Christ for me
ix. 3:12-14:
Christ’s secure hold on my life
x. 3:20-21:
Christ’s return and my transformation
xi. 1:1,5,14,24;
2:19; 3:17; 4:10, 18: the example of others
xii. 1:9,19:
others’ prayers
xiii.
2:12-13: God enables us to change
xiv. 4:4-7:
true worship of God
xv. 4:8-9:
meditating on the truth
c.
What changes your life? What rules your heart?
4.
Fruit
a.
What specific good fruit do you observe?
i. 1:3-11:
love and prayer for others
ii. 1:12-13,15-18:
concern for Christ’s reputation, not his own
iii. 1:3:
thanksgiving
iv. 1:6,12,19-26;
2:9-11; 3:13,20-21: courage
v. 2:1:
encouragement, comfort, and fellowship with Christ and the Spirit
vi. 2:2-4:
humility, tenderness, compassion
vii. 2:12-18:
pursuit of holiness and difficulty
viii.
4:11-12: contentment, not acting like a victim,
though he has been flagrantly sinned against
ix. 2:19-30:
godly emotions in struggle
b.
What specific good fruit do you observe in your
life?
c.
What good effects result from the way Paul
handled his situation?
i. 1:13:
people are evangelized
ii. 1:14:
Christians are encouraged to be bold
iii. 1:19:
believers are encouraged to pray
d.
What good effects result from the way you handle
your situation?
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