Self - Adjustment


  1. INTRODUCTION:

    1. SELF-ADJUSTMENT DEFINED: THE WORLD BOOK DICTIONARY
      1. The process by which a person adapts himself to the natural or social conditions around him.
      2. The act of adjusting one’s self to the ever changing conditions in life.
    2. SELF-ADJUSTMENT THE MARK OF AN BALANCED INDIVIDUAL:
      1. An educated person’s ability to accommodate himself to constant changes of circumstances and conditions.
      2. The recognition that often these adjustments can not be made alone, but must have help from above.

  2. DISCUSSION:

    1. THE NECESSITY OF SELF-ADJUSTMENT:
      1. Human life is filled with ever changing circumstances, or extremes:
        1. From health to sickness, and sickness to health.
        2. From prosperity to adversity, and adversity to prosperity.
        3. From peace to war, and war to peace.
        4. From the extremes of summer to winter, and winter to summer.
        5. From love to hate, and hate to love.
      2. Many changes are unexpected.
      3. Comment: The sudden changes that alter one’s life are more dangerous to one’s faith than the most trying settled conditions.

      4. He who tries to pass from the summer to the winter of life without making the proper adjustments is doomed to perish.
      5. Scripture reading: Philippians 4:10-13 = "But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strngtheneth me."
    2. PAUL AN EXAMPLE OF MAKING ADJUSTMENTS IN LIFE:
      1. Paul as we have read in Philippians 4:10-13, had passed through all changes of human experience.
      2. Paul did not allow:
        1. Changes to find him unprepared.
        2. Hardships to overcome him, nor prosperity to master him.
      3. Paul words in this regards are found in Philippians 4:12 = "I know both how to be abased, and I know how to a bound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to a bound and to suffer need."
    3. THE SECRET OF PAUL’S SUCCESS IN MAKING THESE ADJUSTMENTS:
      1. Divine help made it possible for Paul to meet all of Life’s changes. Philippians 4:13 = "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
      2. The same divine strength is available to all Christians, and it is found in"
        1. The teachings of Christ.
        2. I John 2:14 = "I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one."

        3. In the example of Christ.
        4. Hebrews 12:3 = "For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds."

        5. In the communion with Christ.
          1. In prayer.
          2. Matthew 7:7-8 = "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For ever one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."

          3. In partaking of the Lord’s supper.
          4. Matthew 26:26-29 = "And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them saying, drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom."

          5. In letting the Word of God dwell and rule in our hearts.

          Colossians 3:15-16 = "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."

        6. In the cleansing made possible by the blood of Christ by walking in obedience to His Word
        7. I John 1:7 = "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."

        8. In the intercession made for us by:
          1. Jesus Christ.
          2. Romans 8:34 = "Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us."

            I John 2:1 = "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."

          3. The Holy Spirit.

    Romans 8:26 = "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."

  3. CONCLUSION:

    1. WE LEARN TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS IN THE PHYSICAL WORLD.
    2. WE MUST LEARN TO MAKE ADJUSTMENT IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM AS WELL.
      1. Adjustments to God’s way.
        1. Christ made this adjustment. Luke 22:42 = "Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine be done."
        2. We must also do as the Lord wants done. Luke 6 :46 = "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?"
      2. The becoming a new spiritual man by the baptismal birth. [Romans 6:3-5].
      3. The putting off the old man and putting on the new man. [Ephesians 4:22-24].
    3. HAVE YOU MADE THE ADJUSTMENT TO CHRISTIAN LIVING?

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