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Fresh Start

Proverbs 24:16

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A fresh start or a new beginning - it's something we all need from time to time. So this Easter, as we revisit the greatest turnaround ever (Jesus' victory over death), let's do so not only looking at what happened that day, but also at what Jesus offers us when we desperately need our own fresh start or new beginning.

I read about one lady that was the church organist. The church was having a 6:30 am Sunrise service. The woman over-slept and at 6:31, the pastor called to see if she was on her way. She jumped up out of bed, hastily got ready, and arrived about 30 minutes late. The next year, her phone rang at 5:30 am and the pastor said, "Marge, I’m calling to say that Christ is risen and you had better be."

In April, 1994, Easter fell on the same day as daylight savings time…it was our first ever Easter Service in full time ministry.  We thought we were arriving at church 45 minutes early to get things ready, but actually we were 15 minutes late.  In we walked in front of a record crowd, and then had to do our preparations for the next few minutes as everyone stared and looked at their watches, some whistling the “Final Jeopardy” theme music!

Praise God that believers get up to go to the Lord's House on the Lord’s Day, but even more, we should praise God that Jesus got up on the third day!

We read in Matthew 28:54, "And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here; for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay."

It’s one thing to fall down, and all believers do from time to time…but sadly, there are many today who never get up.  They remember how it used to be with them and God, and how they used to go to church and live their life, but somewhere along the way they fell and didn’t get back up.

One of the biggest factors that keeps many from serving God like they should is not peer pressure or lack of desire, but guilt.  I have talked to many people who have done something in their past that they are totally ashamed of.  Or they fell out of church years ago and would be embarrassed to return. 

The problem is we are looking backward instead of forward.  Jesus said,

Luke 9:62
No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Philippians 3:13-14
¹³ …this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, ¹⁴ I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

You may have fallen, but I have good news today:  You can get up!  And you must now go forward.

Just do this—tell God you are sorry and then start over.  Once you have received His forgiveness – get back up and serve Him with all your heart.  He does give fresh starts.  When my kids do wrong, they are punished and get forgiveness, and after that we all move on and strive to do better.  When I mess up and end up in the dog house, I tell my wife that I’m sorry, then I do all sorts of penance, and eventually am granted probationary status once again!  Don’t let Satan keep you from living the Christian life because he keeps bringing up your past.  Just respond to God in the present and change your future.  The past has passed and can’t be changed, but your future is unwritten.

Proverbs 24:16
For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

You’re not a failure because you fall…only if you don’t get back up.  If you get up just once more than you fall then you’re a success!  That’s called “failing forward.”

God loves you just as you are – and he loves you too much to leave you that way! 

[that’s the kind of unconditional love we should also have for OUR children, our spouses, and for each other in the church]

Psalms 103:14  “For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.”  [that’s unconditional love]

God still wants you!  He’s there all the time, waiting patiently in line!  He’s sovereign and can make lemonade out of lemons like us!

Wanna talk about an ultimate mess, and an incredible turnaround, just look at Jesus’ time on earth.

Talk about turnarounds. Jesus came to earth to personally solve our sin problem. Yet he was rejected by the masses, betrayed by a friend, deserted by his followers - then tortured and killed. At that point, humanity's destruction was not only justified, it was sealed. It was a damnable Friday.

Then suddenly, everything changes. Jesus is alive and well! You can’t keep a God-Man down!  Instead of judgment, his crucifixion brings us forgiveness. Instead of a dead martyr, we have a living Lord who intervenes on our behalf. Instead of a cause for shame, the cross becomes our greatest source of pride. And then that damnable Friday becomes Good Friday.

Whether it's for our whole life or just one part of our life, the requirements for a successful turnaround are exactly the same. . .

1) A CLEAN SLATE*

Colossians 1:21
²¹ And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled.

Colossians 2:13-14
¹³ And you, being dead in your sins…hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; ¹⁴ Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

2 Corinthians 5:17
¹⁷ Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Proverbs 28:13
He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

A fresh start without a clean slate won't last.

Two Conditions:

·       Taking Responsibility.

·       Changing Direction.

A fresh start is not a head start.  It’s starting over.

We need a clean slate…

2) A NEW GAME PLAN*

Proverbs 3:1-2
¹ My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: ² For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

Proverbs 3:5-7
⁵ Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. ⁶ In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. ⁷ Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Joshua 1:8
⁸ This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

A fresh start without a new game plan always produces the same old results.

God's ways are often counter intuitive.  [they don’t fit human logic.]

The Big Decision:

Do I trust God's advice or my best judgment?

We need a clean slate, a new game plan…

3) POWER TO KEEP GOING*

Philippians 2:13
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Ephesians 1:18-19
¹⁸ The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know…what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power…

Philippians 1:6
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

A fresh start without power to keep going is just a good intention.

Ill.--During the Battle of Waterloo, a man stood on top of a great cathedral in London. He was like a man who stands on an aircraft carrier, and holds signal flags. The whole city of London was anxious to know how things were going. All were wondering if the Duke of Wellington could defeat Napoleon. The man stood on that cathedral watching for signals from the battlefield relaying news. When he received a message he waved his flags to give the people of London a report on the battle. He received news and began waving his flags. When the people of London looked up they could barely see through the fog. The message they were able to see was, "Wellington defeated." They could not believe it. Their hearts sank. But then there was a break in the fog and they saw the rest of the message which said, "Wellington defeated Napoleon." The entire nation of England rejoiced.

When Jesus died the message that came to the disciples heart was, "Jesus defeated." But 3 days later, the fog cleared, and the message they received was, "Jesus defeated Satan." When Jesus died it was a moment of sadness. But 3 days later when He rose from the dead, it was a moment of gladness. Christians around the world celebrate the glorious truth that Jesus Christ arose from the dead.  And you may have fallen away from God, and it has led to sadness, but the victory that God has purchased for you still applies, and you don’t have to feel defeated…you can get back up and have a clean slate!

There are no stains on the pages of tomorrow.  You can have a fresh start today!  Maybe you’ve failed…who hasn’t?  Just don’t fail to be saved!

Pick up the broken pieces, and bring them to the Lord

Pick up the broken pieces, trust in His Holy Word

He will put you back together, and make your life complete

Just lay the broken pieces at the Savior’s feet.

Get saved, get right with God, and get back into church.  God is calling us to make a decision right now…a fresh start!

[idea and some portions from Dr. Larry Osborne]

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