Ablaze: Change of Habits

Pastor Tim Phillips's Sermon

  Sunday, May 7, 2006 at the Family Life Center

I Kings 18:16-39

  Introduction

Today we continue our sermon series for Ablaze Phase Two—Fueling the Fire. The first week we talked about a Change of expectations, 2) Change of attitude, 3) Change of Habits

Change of Habits…kind of makes you nervous just thinking about that doesn't it? In fact, although there are “good” and “bad” habits we are not talking about changing the good. So, this message really starts off with a negative slant.

  Pain at the Pump

Change of Habits…I think we have all changed a few recently. I saw an article in the paper called “Pain at the pump.” Higher gas prices are causing people to change their driving habits. They are: trading in SUVs for hybrids, slowing down and driving less aggressive, driving less, using mass transit, car-pooling, exploring alternative fuels, and using the situation to make political statements.

On the news the other night they gave tips for driving that would help save gas. My 16 year-old daughter with her brand new driver's license watched the program with me. Afterward, I asked her, “Which of those tips apply to the way you drive?” She looked a little guilty. She is a very good driver but I see that with her confidence she is starting to pick up some bad habits.

Habits! There's that word again! Just saying it makes you feel guilty. Study habits, work habits, spending habits, eating habits, drinking habits—not a very comforting conversation!

  Elijah's audience

What does God's Word have to say about habits?

Let's take a look at the story of Elijah on Mt. Carmel . The typical study of Elijah's experience on Mt. Carmel is focused on—Elijah's experience on Mt. Carmel ! You would think he was the only one there! Today as we discuss habits we will look at Elijah's audience—the nation of Israel . They have been summoned by Elijah and King Ahab for a national moment of decision.

The nation of Israel had gathered for the big show down but what was it really about? Israel was stuck in the quagmire of indecision. Their king, King Ahab, who was controlled by his domineering wife, Queen Jezebel, had led his people away from the true God to idolatrous worship of Baal and Asherah.

Now Elijah stood before them and called them to account: ““How long with you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people said nothing.”

I disagree. The people spoke loud and clear! In their silence they were denying the true God and violating the first commandment. In their silence they were “committing adultery” by worshipping Baal and Asherah. The people of Israel were in conflict. They were being asked to choose between God and false gods. They were being asked by Elijah to change a habit.

To avoid pain in their daily lives, the Israelites followed the wickedness of their King and Queen. As a matter of convenience they abandoned the truth for a lie. They avoided temporary pain but in the end this habit would cause them eternal pain.

  Our Habits

This story is a microcosm of the conflict we, as modern day people of God, are also involved in. Our daily lives are filled with moments of decision. The choices we make, on a routine basis, are habits.

It seems that our habits come about as we choose a behavior repeatedly to avoid pain. I put my keys on the same hook every day to avoid the pain of losing them. We avoid the pain of spending a lot of money when we drive differently.

Sometimes in our efforts to avoid pain we develop habits that actually cause more pain. Drinking to drown your sorrows can spread that pain into the lives of everyone who cares about you. So why is it that we don't change our bad habits? I believe the reason is that we don't realize the impact they have.

    The Impact of our Habits

In Stephen Covey's book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, the author quotes a saying about habits, “Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.”

The insight of this quote shows us the depth of impact our habits have. Thought, action, habit, character, destiny. Wow!! At a Promise Keepers event I once heard these words of wisdom, “Don't bring anything into your life that you don't want repeated in the lives of your children.”

Our habits have a huge impact on our life and the lives of those around us. God's servant Elijah made it very clear to the people in his audience. ““How long with you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people said nothing.”

After an incredible demonstration of God's power Elijah's audience finally saw the light. There is only one God and no false god has the power to save them.

What about you? Do you see your habits for what they are? What pain are you trying to avoid? What pain do your habits create?

A Heart Attack

Jerry was a heavy smoker until he had his heart attack. He knew that if he didn't quit he would die—so he quit! He saw the problem his habit created and then he found the power to change it.

  Power to change!

What can give us the power to change a bad habit? Guilt? Pain? A reward? The power to change can only come from one source—Jesus!

Psalm 121

  1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—
       where does my help come from?

  2 My help comes from the LORD,
       the Maker of heaven and earth.

  Our help comes from the Lord! Jesus took the guilt of our sin on himself. He is the “Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world”. Jesus did not choose a behavior to avoid pain. Instead He lovingly gave himself as payment for our sins on that excruciating cross. When Jesus rose from the dead He won a victory over sin, death, and the devil. As a result we who believe in Him have an eternal reward in heaven where there is no pain to avoid. Heaven is God's free gift to all who trust in Jesus as their savior.

  As we reflect on His great love for us, it helps us understand our true identity—that we are people precious to God. This thought helps us to act like people who are loved and valued—secure and filled with joy and hope. We no longer desire to hide our pain with destructive habits because we know we have a loving Father in heaven who desires to heal us and comfort us.

Where do we start? Four Steps

First , we pray for God to help us see our habit for what it is: What pain am I trying to avoid? What pain am I causing?

Second , know that God's word says,

1 John 1:8-9 

  8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Confess your sins and ask for forgiveness for the pain you have caused. Rejoice in the forgiveness God gives you in Jesus' name!

  Third , Pray for God to give you healing from the pain you are avoiding.

  Fourth , Pray for God to give you strength to overcome this bad habit. Remember what He did on Mt. Carmel to deliver the Israelites from their bad habit. He can and will do the same for you!

  Psalm 34:17-19 

  17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
       he delivers them from all their troubles.

  18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
       and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

  19 A righteous man may have many troubles,
       but the LORD delivers him from them all;

Think back to how God delivered the Israelites when they were slaves in Egypt, think about how he has delivered us all from the pain of eternal punishment for our sins—how He sent Jesus to die for us on the cross. This same God will come and help you with the struggles you face in changing habits! May the God of all mercy, who loves you more than you will ever know, guard your hearts and minds and give you peace. Amen!

Copyright 2006 Gloria Dei Lutheran Church