REGENERATE

(MAY 13, 2023-LAST YEAR)

STEP 12 REGENERATE

Because of our new lives in Christ, we carry God's message of reconciliation to others and practice these biblical principles in every aspect of our lives.

2 Corinthians 5: 17-18

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.

What does regenerate mean?

It means to change radically and for the better.

To generate or produce anew.

To help give you context to the word regenerate, let me share with you some Words that will help you to understand.

Invigorate, reconstruct, recreate, reestablish, reinvigorate, rejuvenate, reproduce, change, exhilarate, inspire, produce, reanimate, reawaken, refresh, renew, renovate, restore, revive, uplift.

How many RE words did you count? (Smile)

In the Bible, the word, regeneration means the importation of divine life, which is manifested in that radical change in the moral character of man, from the love and life of sin, to the love of God, and the life of righteousness.

2 Corinthians 5:17. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old is gone, the new is here!

1 Peter 1: 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living, and enduring Word of God.

As I have been doing these 12 steps studies with you, I have learned how important the prefix RE means to us now.

It basically means again, (or again and again), to indicate repetition, or with the meaning “ go back“.

Now, unless you’re weird, like I am, you may want to know what the opposite prefix of the word RE means?

Such as unbuild, unregenerate, unrestore.

(It means not, or do the opposite of.)

I hope you get the point?

By the way, there are over 500 RE words used in the Bible.

That must be significant for us to read and understand from the word of God. Amen?

Let me stop here at this point, and ask you a few questions about the steps that we have gone through. 12 of them to be exact.

Does all of this teaching and learning cause you to want to do something more for Jesus Christ?

Is there anything better in our lives that we can do other than share Jesus Christ, that has an eternal significance to it?

According to the Bible, you and I must pick up our cross daily and carry it.

Luke 9:23 says. Then he said to them all: whoever wants to be my disciple, must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

That does not mean we take a vacation, or a break from our recoveries. EVER!

We must not ever spectate in our recoveries, but participate in our recoveries.

Jesus Christ died so that you and I can have a real and abundant life. (John 10:10)

That is of eternal significance.

BIBLICAL WEAPONRY:

Bible

Accountability partner/sponsor/mentor

Prayer time daily, and consistently

This recovery/discipleship meeting weekly

Disengagement from those things that squander our ability to live a regenerated lifestyle according to God's word

VERIFICATION OF REGENERATION

Recognition of your new life daily

A strong desire to share this new life with others who have struggled like you did previously

REGENERATION-ACTIVITY

We share this message of regeneration and reconciliation, because of God’s word in our hearts!

We practice all of these biblical principles, in every aspect of our lives as well.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

What things happened in your life before that caused you to want regeneration?

What changes have occurred in your life now that have been a direct result of regeneration?

How will you continue to tell others, as well as show a regenerated lifestyle now, and in the future?