New Life Through Christ!

Isa 9:2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Mic 7:8 Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.

Luk 1:79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Light in the darkness

We use the word light to day to speak of knowledge

· I have been enlightened

· Shed light on the subject

· The lights came on!

So the coming of Christ was going to give us knowledge. He is the light of the world.

He showed us that there is a better way.

People change because of one of three reasons

1. They hurt so much they have to change

2. They learn enough that they want to change

3. They receive enough that they are able to change

I. We hurt so much we have to change

The marriage is so painful that finally you relent and get counseling and start praying.

The debt is so deep, and has you chained down that you must go and get some insight on how to get out.

The addiction is so bad, you have hurt so many of your friends and family that you understand I need to change.

BEWARE THE NUMBING INFLUENCE OF THE WORLD

· Social media (that gives us a sense of ministering to others but lacks the reality)

· That teaches us to escape the pain through vicariously living through others best posted moments

· Aruba Instagram

· Perfect husband/wife

· Gerber baby/Olan Mills children

· TV and Movies (forget about the pain and make no progress in addressing the issue)

· Video Games

· Even pornography (as an escape into an unreal sexual world instead of the one that takes work and effort to improve marital intimacy or the need to use self control as a single person)

· Sports

· Shopping…things that make us feel better about ourselves for a moment, until the bill arrives

If you allow these things to make you numb, or less feeling to the pain causing issue it adds to the problem instead of solving it.

***When I broke my arm….the doctor came in, asked how much I weighed, looked at a little chart he had in his pocket, and then gave the order to administer a drug (don’t hold me to it, but I think he said Morphine) and after he did, I felt no pain, and in my mind, was perfectly lucid and felt as if I had no problem…..but the problem was, my arm was still broken, and needed to be fixed.

The coming of Christ highlights that pain by contrasting it with what Jesus came to give us.

I am come that you might have joy and that your joy may be full.

Joh 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Joh 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

Abundant Life!

Full Joy!

When a person hears of that and then looks at their life without Christ, they are brought to the sad realization that something is lacking.

That’s a good thing!

May it hurt enough that you will change! Seek the Lord.

1. Learn Enough That They Want To Change

Mat 11:28-29

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Jesus’ coming gives us hope that we can change.

We don’t have to be enslaved to our anger

We don’t have to be a prisoner to pornography

You don’t have to be addicted to alcohol

Sometimes people are surprised when I tell them that they can know that they are saved.

Jesus said

1Jn 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

1Jn 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

If you ask anybody on the street: “Where are you going?” and they said I don’t know…you know they are lost.

If you ask someone about their eternity. “Where are you going?” and they said I don’t know where I am going for eternity, or they say I hope I am going to heaven that shows that they are lost.

A traveler has the assurance of the map that they are heading in the right direction. They know where they are going and how long it will take to get there.

We may not know the when, but we can certainly know the how and the where of our eternity and if you don’t know, you are lost and need the knowledge that Jesus brings to give you a certainty about your eternal future.

2. We Receive Enough That We Are Able To Change

Once a person has a desire to change (from the pain they are experiencing) and the knowledge that there is a better way, they then need the equipment to actually make the change.

What is it in a person’s life that enables true change?

What equips us to truly break away from the habits and the sin that detroys?

Grace that says though you have sinned, I am offering you a chance to be forgiven in Christ.

Love that says, I know that you are guilty, but I still love you enough to provide the means to come back to me and be changed.

Faith that says, I will put my trust in the Lord. He will redeem me, buy me back from the enemy.

He will break the chains that hold me

He will give me a new mind and heart

He will live within me to empower me to take a different path

Faith that says

Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

John 1:12 KJV 1900

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: