The Power of Habits (Jesus Habits Series)

The Power of Habits, Jesus Habits

Everybody develops habits.  Some habits are good.  Some habits are bad.  We should definitely work on stopping those bad habits.  The best habits we can possibly have are Jesus habits.  We develop the best habits possible when we follow the example of Jesus.  Jesus had absolutely no bad habits.  He is the perfect example of successful abundant living.

The following are my Bible study notes based on my pastor's sermon.  You are invited to watch, listen, and worship with us here.

Today's Bible context is threefold:  Romans 7, Galatians 2:20, and Galatians 4:19.

Or do you not know, brothers and sisters (for I am speaking to those who know the Law), that the Law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives? ² For the married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he is alive; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband. ³ So then, if while her husband is alive she gives herself to another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress if she gives herself to another man.

⁴ Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you also were put to death in regard to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. ⁵ For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were brought to light by the Law, were at work in the parts of our body to bear fruit for death. ⁶ But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.

⁷ What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? Far from it! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “You shall not covet.” ⁸ But sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead. ⁹ I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin came to life, and I died; ¹⁰ and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me; ¹¹ for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me, and through it, killed me. ¹² So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

¹³ Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me? Far from it! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by bringing about my death through that which is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.

The Conflict of Serving Two Masters

¹⁴ For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am fleshly, sold into bondage to sin. ¹⁵ For I do not understand what I am doing; for I am not practicing what I want to do, but I do the very thing I hate. ¹⁶ However, if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, that the Law is good. ¹⁷ But now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin that dwells in me. ¹⁸ For I know that good does not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. ¹⁹ For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. ²⁰ But if I do the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin that dwells in me.

²¹ I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. ²² For I joyfully agree with the law of God in the inner person, ²³ but I see a different law in the parts of my body waging war against the law of my mind, and making me a prisoner of the law of sin, the law which is in my body’s parts. ²⁴ Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? ²⁵ Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin. - Romans 7:1-25

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. - Galatians 2:20

My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you. - Galatians 4:19

We can copy the habits of Jesus.

 For I gave you an example, so that you also would do just as I did for you. - John 13:15

A student is not above the teacher; but everyone, when he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher. - Luke 6:40

We will resemble Jesus when we copy his habits.  When people see us, they will see Jesus in us.  We become what we repeatedly do.  Half of all the things we do every day are the result of habits.

Successful people do consistently what others do occasionally.

Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him. - Colossians 2:6

We must be consistent in our Christian walk. To become more consistent, we need the power of Christ Jesus, a system, and accountability.  Daniel had a system.  He prayed.

To develop good Jesus habits. . .

1.  The life of Jesus must live in us.

Two people have to die for us to become a Christian.  Jesus had to die for you.  You have to die to yourself. We die to ourselves so Jesus can live through us.  We die to sin, to self, even our safety if it comes between you and Jesus.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. - 2 Corinthians 5:17

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2.  The habits of Jesus must be formed in us.

Is Christ being formed in you?  

Jesus is fiercely loyal.  He pursues you consistently.  Don't turn Him away.  Turn to Jesus.

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Developing Jesus Habits