A New Creation

A New You Is the Way to a Better You

1 Samuel 10:6 NLT

At that time the Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them. You will be changed into a different person.

Would you (or your spouse) be happy if you never changed?

I know that we all have struggled to make permanent and lasting change in our lives. We all want to get better, and know that we should, but struggle to do so.

But what if there was a way that we could all experience permanent and lasting change?

Something I think that we’ve all experienced is a failed resolution—where we’ve had a short burst of success followed by a longer period of failure. I started working out…but then stopped. I started the diet…but then fell off. I started the reading plan…but somehow got behind.

What if the way to a better you is to become a new you?

2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Becoming a new creation in Christ is the starting point of permanent and lasting change. In fact, it is a necessary change.

Judgment Is Coming

Hebrews 9:27 NKJV

And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,

The Bible reveals to us that there are two types of judgment coming. One takes place at the Great White Throne. John described it this way:

Revelation 20:11–14 NKJV

11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

At this judgment those who were not found in the Book of Life were judged unworthy and experienced the second death.

For those who are in the Book of Life, there is a different judgment coming. The Apostle Paul explained it this way:

2 Corinthians 5:10 NKJV

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

The first judgment is about our eternal destination, the second judgment is about our eternal reward.

The truth is that Judgment Day is coming for all of us—both the wicked and the righteous.

Are you ready for that Day? Are you prepared to face God for your actions in this life, whether good or bad?

There Is A Way

A part from God we know by experience that we are not ready. We know that sin has twisted us and as a result even when we want to do the right things we often find that we don’t or even can’t do them (cf. Romans 7:14-24).

The good news is that God made a Way for us to not only be ready then but to thrive now.

John 10:10 The Message

A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.

What if you discovered that entering into God’s way would be like heaven?

What if you were no longer overcome by fear, worry, anxiety, stress? No longer bursting into tears or exploding in anger?

The Way that God has prepared for you brings peace, joy, and contentment (Romans 14:17, Philippians 4:11). It is a blessed life where you walk without anxiety and are as bold as a lion ( 2 Thessalonians 3:16, Proverbs 28:1).

The Way that God has prepared us enables us to be more like Jesus.

1 John 4:17 NKJV

Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.

One Thing is Not Enough

The hard truth is that many of us are not experience this and the way we have been doing things isn’t working.

Many Christians are hoping to have an encounter with God that will completely and totally change us without us having to do anything. That might be the easy way, but it really isn’t God’s way.

When Samuel sought Saul to be the first king of Israel, he found Saul looking for his father’s donkeys. Samuel spoke blessing to Saul and Saul said, “Who do you think I am? I am of the smallest tribe in Israel and my family is the least in all of Benjamin. Why are you saying this to me?” (1 Samuel 9:21).

Samuel anointed Saul to be king and told him that he would find the some men that had found his father’s donkeys. When that happened he was to go to a certain tree and meet some prophets there. They would take him to Bethel where they were going to worship God. Then he said he would have an encounter with God.

1 Samuel 10:6–13 NKJV

6 Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. 7 And let it be, when these signs come to you, that you do as the occasion demands; for God is with you. 8 You shall go down before me to Gilgal; and surely I will come down to you to offer burnt offerings and make sacrifices of peace offerings. Seven days you shall wait, till I come to you and show you what you should do.” 9 So it was, when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, that God gave him another heart; and all those signs came to pass that day. 10 When they came there to the hill, there was a group of prophets to meet him; then the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them. 11 And it happened, when all who knew him formerly saw that he indeed prophesied among the prophets, that the people said to one another, “What is this that has come upon the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?” 12 Then a man from there answered and said, “But who is their father?” Therefore it became a proverb: “Is Saul also among the prophets?” 13 And when he had finished prophesying, he went to the high place.

Saul had an encounter with God and was changed in that moment. When the Holy Spirit came upon him, he was empowered to do what he couldn’t do before. He prophesied. He behaved like one of the prophets. His change was so dramatic that people began to wonder if he was the same person. And after that encounter he went up to worship God.

Unfortunately, that moment with God and that change was only temporary. The impact of that moment lasted only for a couple of years. After he reigned over Israel for two years, he went back to his own ways and it cost him his kingdom (1 Samuel 13:1).

The Philistines attached and the people were afraid. He knew he was supposed to wait on God. He knew he was supposed to pray and wait for the prophet to come. Instead of doing things God’s way, he took them into his own hands. And Samuel’s response is chilling:

1 Samuel 13:13–14 NKJV

13 And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you. For now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”

Saul reminds us that permanent and lasting change can not be simply solved by one solitary encounter with God. Even though that seems to be the easy answer, the truth is that the principle of sin in us has twisted our nature. Jesus came to restore us to the image of God, but we have been so twisted by sin that our default actions are to go back.

If we want permanent and lasting change, we need more that one encounter, because God’s way of bring change in us is a greater process of sanctification and regeneration.

A New and Living Way

Thankfully, in Jesus God has made for us a new and living way to live (cf. Hebrews 10:19-20).

This new and living Way is the path of Jesus Himself.

He called this way the way of abiding.

John 15:4 NKJV

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

Simply put, by abiding in Jesus we position ourselves to receive His power and be renewed daily. As we take up our cross and follow Jesus daily, we are abiding in Him and we will bear fruit worthy of His name (Luke 9:23, John 15:8, Galatians 5:22-23).

And we know that this way works. We have the testimony of Scripture and of history of the changed lives of people who surrendered their whole lives to God.

Consider how Peter went from a man who denied Christ to one who willingly preached Him unto death. The same can be said for all of the apostles who were beaten and martyred.

What was the difference between Saul and Peter? Saul had a one time encounter with the Spirit of God. Peter had the abiding presence of the Spirit of God (cf. John 14:16-17).

This way might be difficult, but it is worth it. We can do it.

When we take this step of faith we will discover supernatural empowerment, just like they did.

And as a church, as we gather together and stir one another up to good works and carry one another’s burdens we will discover this grace and power working in and through us.

Starting the Journey

Here’s how we get started:

Make a commitment to daily draw near to God.

Make an intentional plan to daily draw near to God, a “Rule of Life”

Make a commitment to regularly connect with other Christians

When you have an actual plan as to how you are going to draw near to God—things like worship, prayer, study, fellowship, evangelism, etc.—you will discover that you can focus on executing the plan. You won’t worry about what you are going to do, your plan will help you.

And when you take these steps to daily draw near to God, intentionally creating moments for you and God, and choosing to fellowship with God’s people you will discover that you will experience God more consistently and regularly than ever before.

Conclusion

When we go from Sunday to Sunday or encounter to encounter Christianity to abiding in Jesus we will discover that in Him all things are made new.

And as we abide in Him we will be made better because He makes us anew. We will experience lasting change and we will not only be ready to stand before the Lord on Judgment Day but we will find Him closer to us than we realize.

We will see Him involved in not just parts of our lives, but all of our lives. And we will overcome the worst tendencies and weaknesses of our flesh and truly be free to live in light of God’s love.

It’s time to get started.

Altar: Ask God to help you get started on the journey. The journey starts with Jesus and continues through Jesus. If you don’t know Him, He is calling to you. He wants to receive you and make you new. Start by confessing and renouncing your sins and decide today that you will follow Him daily.