Theme 2014: Experiencing God, Embracing People! Making A Fresh Start For The New Year! Isaiah 43:18-19

“18 Forget the former things; in the wasteland.” [TNIV] Isaiah 43:18-19…. “18 Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” [TNIV]

INTRODUCTION John 10:10…. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I am come that you might have life, and have it the full (abundantly).” [TNIV]

“18 Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. Make a fresh start! Isaiah 43:18-19…. “18 Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing! …..” [TNIV]

We need to understand that God is far more interested in our future than He is in our past!

MAIN POINTS "S" 1. Stop Making Excuses

Nobody can RUIN your life without your permission! You have a choice! The only person that can ruin your life is YOU! Nobody can RUIN your life without your permission! You have a choice!

The Bible says that the starting point is to just be…. HONEST & ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY!

Proverbs 28:13…. “A man who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if he confess and forsakes them he gets another chance.” [Message Bible]

Take An Inventory Of Our Life 2. Take An Inventory Of Our Life

We need to evaluate all our experiences.   Take an inventory.... of our life’s experiences and learn from them!  

“Have you experience so much in vain – if it really was in vain.” Galatians 3:4…. “Have you experience so much in vain – if it really was in vain.” [TNIV] “You have experienced many things. Were all those experiences wasted? I hope not.” [Message]

“You have suffered so much for the gospel. Now are you going Galatians 3:4…. “You have suffered so much for the gospel. Now are you going to throw it all over board.” I can hardly believe it.” [TLB]

Failures or disappointments can be our friend or our foe. You determine if failure will be your friend or foe by the way you react to it!

4 Kinds of EXPERIENCES that God allows or uses to shape our lives.

#1. He uses PERSONAL EXPERIENCES to shape you!

VOCATIONAL & EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES #2. He uses VOCATIONAL & EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES to shape you!

SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES #3. He uses SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES to shape you!

#4. He uses PAINFUL EXPERIENCES to shape you!

Ask yourself 3 Questions.... What have I learned? What are my assets? Who can help me?

"A" 3. Act In Faith

The Bible says the key to change is FAITH!

“According to your faith let it be done to you.” Matthew 9:29…. “According to your faith let it be done to you.” [TNIV] A very simple but POWERFUL STATEMENT! ... we tend to get out of life what we expect!

NOT a dead faith! It is an affirmative faith that takes positive action coupled with the help of God to change your life.

Acts 3:1-5.... When we ask for something and expect to get nothing …. we get exactly what we expected, NOTHING!

… having a pity party … rehearsing the past … regretting the past …get on with the present and the future!

Whatever you focus ON tends to reproduce in your life! What we need to do is…. learn from the past “act in faith” for the future look to God for guidance

get rid of fear or failure? How do you get rid of fear or failure? FAITH!

Not so much the absence of fear! Moving ahead in spite of your fear! FAITH is.... Not so much the absence of fear! Moving ahead in spite of your fear!

“Being afraid of people can get you into trouble.” Proverbs 29:25…. “Being afraid of people can get you into trouble.” “Fear of man is a dangerous trap, but to trust in God means safety.” [TLB]

"R" 4. Refocus

“Refocus” our thoughts if we want to change our life. to rethink the way that we think to change our mind about a number of issues

Proverbs 4:23…. “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” [TNIV] “Be careful how you think. Your life is shaped by your thoughts.” [Good News]

The way you THINK, determines And the way you FEEL determines the way you ACT.

Romans 12:2…. “Do not be conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind….” [TNIV]

To get a fresh start…. Stop thinking some old patterns! Refocus my thoughts Stop thinking some old patterns!

“LET GO” of those painful, hurtful memories of shame and guilt and other things. How do you do that?

#1. CONFESSION How do I get rid of a painful memory? By replacing it!

Stop focusing on what you don’t want & start focusing on what you do want. Refocus Replace

What’s the best thing to focus on? #2. RIGHT FOCUS What’s the best thing to focus on? GOD'S WORD!

Psalm 1:2,3…. “But who delight in the law of the LORD and meditate on his law day and night. They are like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither — whatever they do prospers.” [TNIV]

“meditating on God’s Word.” 2 Things everybody wants in life…. to be happy to succeed in life The answer …. “meditating on God’s Word.”

“Meditating on God’s Word” simply means “rehearsing God’s Word in our minds over and over.”

God’s Word, it begins to change our mind. We begin to SEE ourselves As we fill our mind with God’s Word, it begins to change our mind. We begin to SEE ourselves as God does. Change takes place! Power starts over!

"T" 5. Trust

Trust God Depend to help us succeed. on Him. We can’t do it on our own!

Success in the Christian life is not trying harder, BUT living smarter. Giving God the control of my life.

says the LORD Almighty.’” Zechariah 4:6…. “So he said to me, ‘This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,‘ says the LORD Almighty.’” [TNIV]

or power but by My Spirit, Zechariah 4:6…. “…. You will not succeed by your own strength or power but by My Spirit, says the Lord….” [Good News Bible]

a new beginning? CONCLUSION Will you have a fresh start in life? It’s your CHOICE!

How can I have a fresh start? 1. Stop making excuses 2. Take an inventory of my life 3. Act in faith 4. Refocus my thoughts 5. Trust God