Content Yet Still Wanting - Lesson 5 - A New Beginning

Introduction

What is holding us back from our new beginning?
That new beginning that we have waited all year to begin
And are going to start fresh tomorrow morning?

What is going to make tomorrow different
Than any previous day?

Will it be easier to start fresh tomorrow?
Will our obstacles be gone tomorrow?
Will our flesh be stronger tomorrow?
Will our spirit be stronger tomorrow?

Are we setting ourselves up for another fall?
One additional milestone that will probably last a week
But will most likely end within a month?

Your thoughts on New Year’s resolutions…





James 1:23-24, ‘For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.’

We forget who we are based on the promises of God.
We clearly remember who we were,
We see the results all around us,
As David said, ‘my sin is ever before me…’

What can we do to remember what manner of man we are?





1Cor. 13:12, ‘For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.’

We may have to wait until we get to heaven to see who we really are.
I believe that we can gradually know who we are becoming.

Your thoughts…





The Believer as a New Man

We have learned before that what goes into a man’s mouth doesn’t defile him,
but what proceedeth out.

We have also learned that what the heart is filled with
proceedeth out of the mouth. (Matthew 15:18)

Psalm 40:3, ‘And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.’

If we are struggling in this area is it possible
that He didn’t put that new song in our mouth?
Possibly it didn’t take root in our hardened heart?
Or is it that we are not letting it out?

Your thoughts…





Ezekiel 11:19, ‘And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:’ (16-21)

Let’s hear your thoughts… because you may not like mine…

Here the Lord talks about giving his people one heart. With a new spirit. If you don’t have a new heart and a new spirit are you possibly not one of His people?



Romans 6:4, ‘Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.’

Should walk in newness of life.
I’m not knocking resolutions
We need them we need them every day
And the clock changing to 07
Is a clear demarcation to start fresh.

What is your advice for us to walk a little newer?





Romans 7:6, ‘But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.’

Stop holding yourself back,
Serve in newness of spirit.

What might your new year’s resolution be?





2Corinthians 5:17, ‘Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.’

Your thoughts…





I believe the answer we are supposed to give is...
We can’t do it
The Lord has to.
Having said that I believe we have to let Him.

Ephesians 2:15, ‘Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;’ (14-17)

Enmity meaning hostility, hatred and bad feelings.

Should our resolution be to make peace?





Colossians 3:10, ‘And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:’ (8-10)

Renewed: changed, converted or new and improved.
It can also mean being transformed or rehabilitated.
It can be quickly or overnight.

My advice for you in your resolution is to be transformed
To be rehabilitated.
Don’t beat yourself up
Or give up after a mistake or a slip up.

Your thoughts…





Conclusion

There is nothing holding you back from your new beginning.
You have possibly been thinking about this new beginning
For quite some time,
You can start it fresh right now.

Tomorrow will not be any different than today.
The struggles will be the same.
The temptations will be the same.
You will be as weak as you are today.

It won’t be any easier.
The same obstacles will be in place.

The only thing that might change is your decision.
Decide to do what you are supposed to do.

Decide to let the Lord help you.
Decide to trust His assistance.
Decide to trust His outcomes.
Decide to go to Him when you need forgiveness.

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