Embracing Life's Reset: Transformation Through Christ

We are in the changed live business, the transformation of lives, helping people become what God always intended them to be, the transformation of life. And Saddleback is not about buildings. It's not about our size. It's not about music. It's not about the messages. It's about changed lives. People wanna go where their lives get changed. [00:02:57]

This transformation has many, many different kinds of names. It's called salvation. When you first step across the line to open your life to the love of God, it's called sanctification, which are the steps you go in growth of maturities. You become the woman God wants you to be, or the man God wants you to be, that's called sanctification. [00:03:44]

Now, a good prayer that you could pray is the one that David prayed in Psalm 51. In Psalm 51, he asked God to create a new heart in him, create a clean spirit, do some new work in him. And in Psalm 51:10, I love this verse particularly, in the message paraphrase where David says this, "God make a fresh start in me." [00:15:46]

You are a product of your past, but you are not a prisoner of your past. You might write that one down. In fact, you might tweet that one. Rick says, "You're a product of your past. You have been shaped by the good and the bad and the ugly things in your life, but you're not a prisoner of it." [00:18:21]

Nothing becomes transforming until it becomes specific. You don't just say, "God, I want you to change me." And God's gonna say, "Specifically, what do you have in mind?" Change what? What do you want changed? Okay. You can't change a generality. So don't just say, "God change me." Don't say change me. [00:21:21]

Now, the more specific you are about what you want God to change in your life, the easier it's gonna be for God to do it and to help you and to do it faster. Now, what I've done on your message notes is I've created a little checklist to jog your memory. Where do I need help? What would I like to change in my life? [00:22:32]

Find some people to support my reset. You wanna find some people to support my reset. You can't do this by yourself. Something as big as a total life change, a reboot, a reset. You're not gonna do it on your own. If you could, you would. But you can't. So you won't. You haven't done it because you've tried in the past by yourself. [00:41:04]

Community is God's antidote to discouragement and defeat and failure. If you're discouraged, I know why, you're not in community. You're not in a small group all the time. If you feel defeated, if you feel like a failure, it's because you don't have people around you who are giving you a true perspective. [00:43:56]

We must get rid of everything that slows us down or slows down our progress. 'Cause we wanna make progress in our lives, "Especially those sins that just won't let go." That's those habitual things that hold on to. We'll talk about those. We must be determined to run the race that is ahead of us. [00:53:41]

I will rebuild you with priceless jewels and I will reset. There's the word. I will reset your foundation with sapphires. What you talking about? It's a metaphor saying, I'm gonna rebuild you. I've not forgotten you. I've never stopped loving you. We're gonna rebuild you, your life and your city. [00:58:51]

He said, "Put your heart right, Job, reach out to God and get rid of all the evil and wrong from your home. All that junk that's in your home, you need to clean it out, eliminate it. Then face the world again, firm and courageous." And he says, if you do that, here's the promise. [01:00:51]

"When someone becomes a Christian," you invite the Lord into your life. "He becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun." That's what you call a real fresh start. That's called salvation. So, whether I've already done the first step or I need to do the first step, all of us can take the next step in a reset of our lives. [01:02:40]