RENEW SERIES: THE NEED FOR RENEWAL
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WE WORSHIP AN AWESOME GOD!
WE WORSHIP AN AWESOME GOD!
WE WORSHIP AN AWESOME GOD!
We serve an awesome and all powerful God! He is beyond compare and continues to amaze me with what He has done and what He is doing in my life and the lives of others.
There are so many reasons to say that God is awesome and one of the reason that each one of us who claim Christ should be able to say is what God has done with our lives.
GOD HAS MADE ME NEW AND RENEWED MY LIFE: Just being able to speak to you today and minister here is incredible to me when I consider where I can from and what God has brought me through.
We serve an awesome and all powerful God!
When I was
What God has done with me is much more than I ever could have done and beyond what I could have imagined. THAT IS NOT ANY CREDIT TO ME BUT CREDIT TO THE FACT THAT GOD CAN TAKE EVEN THE LEAST LIKELY PERSON AND MAKE SOMETHING USEFUL OUT OF THEM.
I am so glad that God was merciful and patient enough to continue to make me into something more. I am glad that He is not done with me yet!
WHAT ABOUT YOU? Are you where you want you want be? IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD CHANGE? Are you comfortable with who and where you are? Or do you hope things will change? TODAY WE ARE STARTING A SERIES CALLED RENEW
For some of you there is a great need to know that where you are right now is not where you have to stay because:
GOD IS A GOD OF NEW LIFE AND RENEWAL, HOPE AND RESTORATION.
Through the gospel, the death, burial and resurrection, God made a way for us to be saved from sin and new life with Christ. ()
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
The greatest proof of this is what many are focused on today: the resurrection of Christ.
The greatest proof of this is what many are focused on today: the resurrection of Christ.
THINK ABOUT THE MIND BLOWING TRUTH OF THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST: God took the darkest most seemingly hopeless things we experience sin and separation from God and death and through Christ and the resurrection turned them in forgiveness, hope of being resurrected as Christ and salvation.
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.
We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.
BECAUSE CHRIST FACED THE DARKNESS OF THE TOMB, was willing to die on the cross and because He was resurrected we can face the darkest things that this life.
We face the shame, regret and the enslavement of sin that because Christ was resurrected can be forgiven and know we will be resurrected as well.
We can face the darkness of disease and sickness because we have faith that through Christ we will be resurrected to an imperishable body. ()
So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
We all know and love people who are suffering from illnesses like Parkinson’s disease (as my mother is) and cancer and Alzheimers. Or we are suffering ourselves but can know that one day we will be raised to meet Christ and will never have to face these things again.
We can face the death of a loved one in Christ and the idea of our own deaths if we have come to Christ because we know that we will be resurrected to life. (As tells us.)
because we have hope that we will be resurrected to
Through Christ’s resurrection He not only brought brought restoration but salvation and renewal for us. Through the resurrection we can have a new beginning in this life when we are born again when we have our sins forgiven, but also we have hope that death for us will not be
BECAUSE OF GOD’S GREAT MERCY WE HAVE HOPE THAT CANNOT BE TAKEN AWAY!
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
God not only wants to save you and give you hope of salvation and being resurrected to be with Christ forever but He wants to continue to take us from where we ARE AND MAKE US NEW TO BE MORE AND MORE LIKE CHRIST.
GOD IS POWERFUL TO BRING NEW LIFE
If God can through His Holy Spirit resurrect Christ from the dead then He can BRING YOU BACK TO LIFE SPIRITUALLY.
Because the same power that God through the Holy Spirit used to resurrect our Lord is at work in you and me through the Holy Spirit who lives in us ().
and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
God has promised to continue to make us new throughout our lives, if we are willing.
Phil 1:20
PHil
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
PHil 1:1
Trans: even though God has the ability to make our lives new or renew us does not mean we are willing to have him do that. Or that we realize that we need Him to do that!
Some of
ARE YOU IN NEED OF RENEWAL?
ARE YOU IN NEED OF RENEWAL?
WE CAN BE IN NEED OF RENEWAL AND NOT KNOW IT OR NOT BE WILLING TO ADMIT IT.
We may not see our need for a number of reasons; (1) We may be comfortable or too busy with where we are in life and not take the time to examine our relationship with God. (2) We may know deep down that something is not right but we do not want to admit it because we know change would be hard. (3) We might be trying to make ourselves feel fulfilled running after other things rather than God.
(4) We might be too comfortable as a follower of Christ and/or have lost our zeal for Christ. (5) It is possible that we have gotten involved in sin and it has pulled you away.
Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
JUST LIKE ISRAEL WE MAY FALL INTO NEEDING RENEWAL
Through our Bible reading this year we have seen the nation of Israel (especially in Judges) drift away from God spiritual and then be renewed back to Him. This happened to Israel many times but it also happened to individuals.
Israel often trusted in other things rather than God only to realize that there was nothing that can compare to God. They had to learn the hard way that nothing can replace or fulfill like serving the one who created them with all their hearts.
The nation of Israel is a parallel to our lives at times. God placed their story in scripture to show that He should be our God and no other and that He loves us.
ThROUGH CHRIST WE CAN BE SAVED AND RENEWED TO GOD
he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
While many here today may need to hear about what it mean to be renewed to a passionate relationship Christ, other need to hear how God saves us through Christ and gives us a different kind of renewal.
Through Christ we can be forgiven of our sins and be made new through the Holy Spirit that happens through “the washing of regeneration” or baptism when our sins are washed away () and we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit. ()
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF RENEWAL?
THROUGHOUT HISTORY GOD’S PEOPLE BOTH COLLECTIVELY AND INDIVIDUALLY HAVE MANY TIMES BEEN IN NEED OF SPIRITUAL RENEWAL.
Israel is shown in scripture over and over again to have been in desperate need of renewal. The book of Judges that we recently read is one of the best examples of that.
It wasn’t just that the nation needed renewal but the individuals within the kingdom needed renewal.
At any given time there are people within a group of God’s people or even an individual congregation that need renewal.
But in any case, it does not matter how much the renewal is needed, unless the group or individual sees their need for renewal there will be no change.
So how do we know if we are in need of renewal or how do you know if you are in need of renewal?
(ill: someone needing to change and not knowing it…)
It is easy to look at others or someone else and say what they need. It is much harder but much more productive to look within ourselves and ask the hard questions that might indicate we have something to change. Are you willing to do that?
It
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU NEED SPIRITUAL RENEWAL IN YOUR LIFE?
IF YOUR FAITH IS BORING:
If you are bored with your faith and spiritual walk and you do not expect it to get any better. (If we are ever bored it is not God’s who is boring it is you. God is always doing awesome things in and through the lives of His people. It is not that He isn’t working, it is likely that it is you are not doing anything.)
Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
If we lose our zeal we need to ask why and realize that God intends that we are zealous with our faith and work for Him.
YOU HAVE LITTLE INTEREST IN GOD’S WORD:
If the idea of reading God’s word and knowing Him more through it is not appealing and you constantly let other things get in the way. (The yearly reading might be an indicator)
But if God is your greatest love then studying His word should be a love for us as well. This is true because it is His message to us but also a large part of our connection to Him.
IF YOU HAVE LOST YOUR SPIRITUAL ZEAL:
Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
When you lose your zeal for Christ, His church and His teaching and living out what He says then something is wrong.
When you lose your zeal for Christ, His church and His teaching and living out what He says then something is wrong.
If we lose our zeal we need to ask why and realize that God intends that we are zealous with our faith and work for Him.
IF YOUR PRAYERS ARE INFREQUENT AND COLD
Do you have any excitement and interest in connecting with your Heavenly Father through prayer?
Christ
IF YOU HAVE LITTLE DESIRE TO TO TELL OTHERS ABOUT CHRIST
Do you feel a desire and any obligation to tell other about Christ, salvation and what an awesome thing it is to follow Him?
It should be hard to not want to tell others about Christ everything that He has done for your life.
IF THE IDEA OF SERVING OTHERS IS NOT VERY APPEALING
If we are not concerned with serving others then it may be that we have become so focused on ourselves that we have forgotten that the greatest command is loving God and then loving our others as ourselves.
IF YOUR CONVICTIONS ARE NOT AS SOLID AS THEY USED TO BE OR ARE BARELY THERE
It is one thing for our convictions to shift or change as we study God’s word and find truth that contradict what we already thought.
It is a bad thing when our convictions begin to crumble because of compromise and taking the easier way or neglecting to stand up for or live by them.
IF YOU ARE FINDING YOURSELF LESS AND LESS HOPEFUL
Or if you are putting all your hope on temporary things that do not deliver and you are continually being disappointed.
SO TO HELP TO THINK ABOUT IT LET ME ASK A FEW QUESTIONS:
Are you in love with God? Do you love studying His word? Are you passionate about serving others and doing good works? Do you love the body of Christ even with it’s imperfections?
Do you love studying His word?
Are you passionate about serving others and doing good works?
Do you love the body of Christ even with it’s imperfections?
Are you frequently and boldly in prayer, pouring out your heart to God?Are you bored?
Are you bored? Yes, bored. Are you bored in your walk with Christ? If so you may not be
Do you feel like you know God more and are closer to Christ than you were last year or five years ago, or ten years ago?
Do you think more about the cares of this life, you home, money, possession and maintaining them, or other things than you do about Christ, His word, His work and being with Him for eternity?
ARE YOU EVER AMAZED BY GOD AND WHAT HE IS DOING? When was the last time God amazed you?
THE REASON FOR A SERIES ON RENEWAL
The reason for this series: THERE CAN BE TIMES AND MANY REASONS THAT WE DRIFT AWAY FROM CHRIST BEING OUR NUMBER ONE PASSION AND WE NEED RENEWAL.
In this series we will seek to answer the question of how do we find renewal? How do we:
Renew our passion for prayer, love for God’s word, our hope, conviction, zeal for telling others and God’s work.
TRANS: BUT FOR THIS LESSON we are going to look at King Josiah who realized both his personal need for renewal and that of those around them.
KING ASA and KING JOSIAH: These two kings are great examples of spiritual renewal because they demonstrate not just the actions needed but the heart that is needed.
Something that King Josiah demonstrates is a starting point of spiritual renewal. That is by “seeking the Lord.” ()
and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: The Lord is with you while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. For a long time Israel was without the true God, and without a teaching priest and without law, but when in their distress they turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was found by them.
King Asa
As we start a study on renewing our spiritual lives Josiah is one of the greatest examples in the bible of one who had conviction to begin getting himself and those around him back to God.
- As we start a study on renewing our spiritual lives Josiah is one of the greatest examples in the bible of one who had conviction to begin getting himself and those around him back to God.
- (He did this in the midst of a nation that had gone far from God. They had stopped worshipping him. The Law of God had been lost and forgotten.)
When you are studying one of the kings of Israel, you find that the bible will put him in one of two categories; either he “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord” or he “did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.” (each of us)
The majority of kings would fall under the latter category. When you study one of the good kings there is usually a lesson to be learned from their lives.
Even though none of us are in such a high position, when our lives are over, we will also fall into one of those two categories.
Just like the kings it will not matter how popular or important or rich we were what will matter is if we did what was right in God’s sight.
(This is a reminder that what is most important is our relationship with God. One of the beliefs that we have the hardest time following in our lives is that if we will put God first, everything else will be taken care of. Too often we cannot let go trying to get everything straight before we worry about the spiritual things, which we feel as if can wait.)
When you look at the priorities in Josiah’s reign you see his search for and action for God being #1.
Josiah was a king who did what was right in God’s sight. He is an amazing study because typically an apple does not “fall to far from the tree” and many of the kings are characterized by another phrase that follows “he did evil in the sight of the Lord”, “as his father had done.” () Like Josiah’s father Amon did.
Interestingly Josiah’s grandfather did the opposite being evil even though Hezekiah was his father and was faithful.
Instead, 34:2 says Josiah walked in the ways of David his father…b/c his own father was evil in God’s sight,
And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David his father; and he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.
(Appl: no matter what has happened in the past in your life or who your influences were, it is never too late (as long as we are alive) to realize what is most important and seek what is right and start or renew your spiritual life.)
Where Josiah’s renewal started is when he began to seek the Lord.
I. Josiah began to seek the Lord V3 (realizing the need for God)
Josiah began to seek the Lord V3 (realizing HIS need for God)
in the eighth year of his reign, “while he was yet a boy,” he began to seek the Lord.
For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet a boy, he began to seek the God of David his father, and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherim, and the carved and the metal images.
2 Chron
He was 16 at this time. He was crowned king at 8 and this was in the eighth year of his reign. (Perhaps Josiah felt overwhelmed like Solomon. Regardless, there is nothing more he needed. He could have been focused on a million other things)
- (Perhaps Josiah felt overwhelmed like Solomon. Regardless, there is nothing more he needed. He could have been focused on a million other things)
It is easy to be focused on a million things other than God. Whether you’re talking about children or adults, all need to realize their need for God. So many put their trusts in material gain and feeling so comfortable that God has faded to the background and only when a catastrophe happens, whether widespread or person do people start to seek God.)
Whether you’re talking about children or adults, all need to realize their need for God. So many put their trusts in material gain and feeling so comfortable that God has faded to the background and only when a catastrophe happens, whether widespread or person do people start to seek God.)
- (Whether you’re talking about children or adults, all need to realize their need for God. So many put their trusts in material gain and feeling so comfortable that God has faded to the background and only when a catastrophe happens, whether widespread or person do people start to seek God.)
No matter what stage you are in life now is the time to seek God and renew your spiritual life.
C. No matter what stage you are in life now is the time to seek God and renew your spiritual life.
Josiah’s story is amazing because took action in seeking God despite his father legacy and a nation that was so deep in idolatry that it had let the temple go to ruins and the law to be lost. (Can you imagine what it would be like no one knew were a bible was and people hardly talked about it anymore…)
Yet in the midst of this Josiah took action to seek God. We live in a country, like Judah at this time, more than anything needing to get back to God, but the difference is we have the word right in front of us the only thing left to do is take action and zealously follow it. (Why are we not adamant about it? We have failed to see the need 2 seek God?)
Yet in the midst of this Josiah took action to seek God. We live in a country, like Judah at this time, more than anything needing to get back to God, but the difference is we have the word right in front of us the only thing left to do is take action and zealously follow it. (Why are we not adamant about it? We have failed to see the need 2 seek God?)
Josiah’s search changed his life and nation for the better and His search was not in vain. (it is true of our lives as well…if we will seek God…)
D. Josiah’s search changed his life and nation for the better and His search was not in vain. (it is true of our lives as well…if we will seek God…)
- He had began to get the temple back in order and this is what happened;
Josiah’s began to make a change. (realizing renewal takes change)
Josiah’s search for God was not in vain and He discovered what was most needed to understand God’s will and way.
And Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. And Shaphan the secretary came to the king, and reported to the king, “Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house and have delivered it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the Lord.” Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king. When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes.
2 Kings 22:
2 Kings 22:
Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king. When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes.
The book of the law was discover and Josiah had it read. After its reading he tore his clothes in anguish. There are two lessons that we could get from this;
(1) if you seek God, He will be found; (2) if we our lives are not according to his word we need to change.
(1) if you seek God, He will be found; (2) if we our lives are not according to his word we need to change. OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN SCRIPTURE THIS TRUTH IS TOLD!
You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
This is God’s message to each one of us personally as well. Jesus said, “seek and you will find, knock and the door will be open unto you.)
Josiah’s reaction is what is most important and a timeless example to all who desire to renew their spiritual lives. -
Josiah realized the seriousness of the people living their lives contrary to the word of the Lord. Josiah was distraught about the Sin of his nation
We need to understand that if we are not where we need to be spiritually then the consequences are great therefore there is nothing more important.
C. How do we feel about our spiritual lives? When we see how it is and then how it should be, does it cut us to the heart and make us want to change?
How do we feel about our spiritual lives? When we see how it is and then how it should be, does it cut us to the heart and make us want to change?
Josiah did not just notice the nation but himself. Look at what he says in , Josiah was penitent.
He did not just think of the sins of others, but his own. For us to change we must look into our own lives. (How many times have you heard a sermon and thought, oh so and so needs to hear this, while you miss the application in your own life…)
- (How many times have you heard a sermon and thought, oh so and so needs to hear this, while you miss the application in your own life…)
Notice what Josiah does after the reading of the book…
In He gathers all the elders and people of Jerusalem and personally makes a covenant in front of them and they do the same!
His relationship with God was in the right place after this even though the nation would fall. The prophets told him, the people would fall. Their sin was `going to bring its harvest. But because Josiah was such a good man, and he wept because of the people’s sin, and he turned to the Lord, God would delay his punishment until after Josiah’s reign was over and he had died.
- The prophets told him, the people would fall. Their sin was `going to bring its harvest. But because Josiah was such a good man, and he wept because of the people’s sin, and he turned to the Lord, God would delay his punishment until after Josiah’s reign was over and he had died.
YOUR PERSONAL RENEWAL WILL HAVE AN IMPORTANT IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF OTHERS. (Trans: Josiah did not just hear, he was affected and motivated to change…)
(Trans: Josiah did not just hear, he was affected and motivated to change…)
Josiah’s began to make a difference. (Realizing the difference renewal makes.)
Josiah was already in the process of reforming the nation spiritually, but look at what he did after the discovery of the Law of God.
Before he discovered the Law of God, He set about the task of rebuilding the temple of God in Jerusalem, since it was now in ruins. After He took it even further;
- After He took it even further;
1. The people were gathered to the temple. There Josiah read to them from the book of the Law. The king stood by the pillars of the temple and made a covenant to walk after the Lord and keep His commandments and testimonies and statutes with all his heart and all his soul. The people joined w/ him in the covenant. 23:2, 3
2. Josiah started a crusade to pull down the altars to the idol gods and burn them with fire. He came to the altar at Bethel, where Jeroboam made Israel sin. 23:15
And the king went up to the house of the Lord, and with him all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the priests and the prophets, all the people, both small and great. And he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the Lord. And the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people joined in the covenant.
Moreover, the altar at Bethel, the high place erected by Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, that altar with the high place he pulled down and burned, reducing it to dust. He also burned the Asherah.
3. He demolished its stones, ground them to dust and burned the Asherah.
When he turned he saw the graves that were there on the mountain. He had their bones dug up and burned them on the altar. Vs. 16
And as Josiah turned, he saw the tombs there on the mount. And he sent and took the bones out of the tombs and burned them on the altar and defiled it, according to the word of the Lord that the man of God proclaimed, who had predicted these things.
2 Kings
His actions fulfilled the promise God made several hundred years earlier when the prophet of God went down to Bethel to preach against the altar to idols.
Josiah’s actions are so important because it shows his conviction motivated him to change things but also it shows that if you want to make a change you have to act to impact change.
B. Josiah’s actions are so important because it shows his conviction motivated him to change things but also it shows that if you want to make a change you have to act to impact change.
(If you do the same things you will get the same results. It is foolish to feel as if just because we feel like things need to change that they will. We have to change what is going on to see real results.)
- (If you do the same things you will get the same results. It is foolish to feel as if just because we feel like things need to change that they will. We have to change what is going on to see real results.)
Notice the 2 major things that He did to try to turn the nation back to God.
C. Notice the 2 major things that He did to try to turn the nation back to God.
1. “Josiah GOT RID OF; He got what was corrupting the nation out by doing everything he could to destroy the false gods and false worship.
Appl: Is there anything that we need to take out of our lives or homes that are corrupting our hearts and minds.
- A: Is there anything that is not inherently wrong that has become wrong because we are letting it get in the way of our personal devotion to God?
Is there anything that is not inherently wrong that has become wrong because we are letting it get in the way of our personal devotion to God?
- (What I realize that we did too much when we were young was let TV, video games & recreation have too much of our time and not put enough into devotion to God.)
2. He did everything He could to restore the worship and devotion to the one true God. He gave the people opportunity to draw themselves close to God again. It was still their choice but He led them in devo. to God.
Are we leading our family in having a meaningful relationship with God? Do we study the bible in front of them? Do we have studies with them? Do we pray with them? (Just as the disciples asked teach us to pray, many desire to know)
Are we giving them every opportunity to grow? Are we giving ourselves every opportunity to grow?
We need to be willing to do whatever it takes to put first things first. We need to be upset about what is wrong as say no more, now is the time to make a difference.
- ; never be lacking in zeal…put Christ in first place
And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
Is Christ preeminent in your life?
Con:
A. Make a decision today to start really seeking God and His will for your life and just as the word says when you seek God with the intention to change He will be found and as you see what you need to do to be pleasing in your life, don’t hesitate to change.
B. Perhaps like Josiah this morning you know things are not right and you are ready to make a change in your life. Maybe you have never committed your life to Christ and you are tired of living without hope and only for yourself. Come today believing in Christ as your savior, repent of your sins, confess that you believe in Him and be baptized to wash you sins away.
gives us the truth that in one respect we are (or at least should be) in a state of constant spiritual renewal after the image of our creator.
gives us the truth that in one respect we are (or at least should be) in a state of constant spiritual renewal after the image of our creator.
Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
This coincides with the truth that while our bodies are daily getting older our inner beings, our spirits are being renewed on a daily basis as we are constantly being made more and more like Christ. (This of course is dependent on our willingness.
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
2 Cor
SPIRITUAL RENEWAL INVOLVES CHANGE IN THE SPIRIT OF YOUR MIND
and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,
EPH
to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,
assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,
While this verse indicates that the initial putting off of the old self but also the renewal that happen when the spirit of our minds or mindset changes through Christ.
That mindset change continues to happen as we continually know Christ more and more and the Holy Spirit works in our minds and hearts to change us to be more like the image of our Creator. ()
also indicates that renewal comes in part from the transformation of the mind. The word of God and the Holy Spirit are powerful to convict the heart and change the mind if there is a willingness. In other words if you are humble enough to receive the God’s word to apply to you and open enough to be influenced by the Holy Spirit’s leading.
states that meekness is needed to
Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
Receiving God’s word requires meekness. If you are not meek you will not consider that you need it.
RENEWAL IS NOT JUST A ONE TIME EVENT BUT A CONTINUAL PROCESS
In one respect renewal or the process of being made new is not just a one time commitment event or spiritual revival. (That is true as well.) But spiritual renewal is being made more and more and more every day into Christ’s image.
There can be a spiritual renewal at one point in time but that should just be the spark that starts the fire that burns every day to be more like Christ than the day before. It should be the starting point to having a daily attitude that God still has work to do on me and I still have work to do for Him!
THE NEED FOR RENEWAL CAN BE FOR US TO COMMIT TO RETURNING TO OUR PREVIOUS COMMITMENT AND PASSION FOR CHRIST.
The church at Ephesus had a need for renewal to return to the love and passion they had for Christ at first. They needed to renew that commitment, repent and do the works they did at first that came out of their love for Christ.
That may be what some of you need today is a personal renewal to return to the passionate, zealous relationship you had with Christ you had a first that resulted in excitement for His words and doing His work.
THERE IS A VERY IMPORTANT POINT HERE:
TRUE RENEWAL HAPPENS WHEN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST IS FIRST!
We can make the mistake of getting the idea of revival or renewal backward wherein we think that it is all about doing more and being more active with seemingly spiritual behavior.
But seemingly religious activity that is not out a loving relationship with Christ and love for others is empty.
Further, when our effort at renewal are only focused on our activity and not our hearts it will not last. We will soon return to what is easier because our motivation (which is more for ourselves than God or others) will run out.
When we renew our relationship with Christ as our first and most important love and we keep Him there our motivation will both be right and sustaining.
“Chadash (kadash) is a beautiful, refreshing word, which means “to renew,” “to repair,” or “to restore.” Carpenter, E. E., & Comfort, P. W. (2000).
Carpenter, E. E., & Comfort, P. W. (2000).
Carpenter, E. E., & Comfort, P. W. (2000). In Holman treasury of key Bible words: 200 Greek and 200 Hebrew words defined and explained (p. 150). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
Made New
Collins Thesaurus of the Bible B Renewed
The renewing of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5); the renewal of your mind (Rom. 12:2); renewed in the spirit of your minds (Eph. 4:23); renew our days as of old (Lam. 5:21); renewed daily (2 Cor. 4:16).
TRANS: after this happens sometimes, like Israel, we can lose sight of the passion and focus that we first had for Christ
Renewed
Coming back to a right relationship with Christ and having a renewed passion and focus on the things of Christ.
()
TRANS: when this happens the continual growth and continual renewal is possible
Continual Daily Renewal
Con
says after we put on the new self (which happens when we are saved, being baptized into Christ () our new self “is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.”
says that our inner self is being renewed day by day.
Every day we are being renewed and made more and more and more like Christ - if we are continually growing in Him!
HILLS AND VALLEYS BUT NOT DESERTS
We all have our ups and downs spiritually. We have times when we feel like we are on a spiritual mountain where we are as passionate as we can be. Then we have times when we fell like life has driven us down into a valley and we are tired but still cling closely to God.
But when we are in a desert and we have become comfortable with the spiritual drought we are living in because we have put our focus on other things then we are not in a good place and need renewal.
RENEWAL AND REMOVAL
In preparing your heart for renewal you may need to remove some thing from it.
Scripture demonstrates many times that what often preceded renewal of a right relationship with God was removal.
; ,
Josiah’s removal of idolatry
As Josiah removed Idols, you may need to remove the idols from your life and heart.
You cannot renew you heart to God while you are in love with something else
You cannot renew your hope when you are still hoping in other things more than God
You cannot renew you love for God’s word when you refuse to make time for it.
WHAT COMES BEFORE RENEWAL? REALIZING A NEED FOR IT!
If we need renewal how will we realize it. What will come before it? How will we know?
Taking the example of Josiah and Asa as examples we see what happened before they both came to spiritual renewal and they led their nation to the same.
There is a seeking after God realizing that He and His will can be found.
There is the reading of God’s word and conviction
There is a removal of anything and everything that is against God’s word or in the way of your relationship with Hhim
There is a commitment that made