How to Make a Fresh Start

(Preparing for the New Year)

Scripture: Isaiah 43:18-19

Intro: As we end 2003 and look forward to 2004 I think its only proper that we stop and think about something, how many of us can look back and say “I wish I could do that over again.”? Most of us here tonight have made mistakes in our life, these setbacks and failures can overcome us to the point that we fail to enjoy the life God has given us. John 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. We need to realize that the devil will constantly remind us of our past in order to rob us of the joy God has provided to His children. The good news is that regardless of what has happened in the past God says we can have a new beginning. Last year we made resolutions, most of which we didn’t keep, such as improving my relationship with God, Praying more, reading the Bible more, being more involved with church, or how about spending more time with the family, the list could go on and on. In all honesty we all have made resolutions we didn’t keep, mistakes or bad decisions over the past. The good news is that God is more interested in our future than He is in our past; unlike some people God isn’t stuck in our past. As far as he is concerned the books closed on it and its over. In our text Israel is being punished by God for their sins and rebellion, He wanted to give hope and encouragement to His people. God wanted them to know that even though they were being punished they were not being forsaken; punishment was not the end for them. Actually God wanted to give them a fresh start, a new beginning in life. Can you picture Israel reflecting on their past what had been done for them, God parting the Red Sea, Providing Manna, Crossing Jordan into Canaan and other similar deliverances. I’m sure they felt like God would never deliver them again. Well God knew they could remember the past but they couldn’t see their future that’s why God said; “ I am going to do something new.” Well that’s where we are with God, you see we get down and out we let the devil remind us of what we are not, we let situations and circumstances get us down, then we feel like God wants nothing to do with us. Tonight I want to share with you “how to make a new start with the new year” I want to share with you S.T.A.R.T., regardless of what your situation is S.T.A.R.T. can show you the way to a new beginning.

S- Stop making excuses

Stop blaming others

I’m not a victim of my own circumstances

Other people can interfere with our life only to the point

we allow it. (accept responsibility even for this)

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

If we face our problems and properly deal with them we

can have mercy.

One reason we fail is lack of preparation to face

problems.

Noah didn’t wait until he saw rain before he started the ark?

We don’t seek good advise from others.

Pride gets in the way; we think we don’t need advice.

EGO means “Edging Out God” we know more than God does. Ego trips are always dead end trips.

Arrogance tells us I already know it or I can figure it out all by myself it sets us up for a hard fall.

If we fail to prepare, and we fail to listen to other people then we will fail as a result.

We give up to soon.

Pro 24:10 [If] thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength [is] small.

During trying times we stop trying, we give up.

If you don’t succeed, well welcome to the human race, you’re normal; it’s always too soon to quit. We need to stop making excuses, admit when it’s our responsibility and get on with life.

If S in START stands for Stop making excuses

T- Take an Inventory of our life

Evaluate experiences of life (reflect)

Learn from our mistakes

Four kinds of experiences God uses to shape our life.

1. Personal Experiences, e.g. family, spouse

2. Job or School

3. Spiritual, e.g. church, Bible study

4. Painful experiences, e.g. death, injury, friends forsaking

Three questions to ask when taking Inventory

1. What have I learned? Do I keep repeating the same mistake?

2. What are my assets? Health, freedom, sound mind, friends, church, most of all the Lord

3. Who can help me? The Lord, Christian friends, you don’t start over by yourself.

If T stands for Take Inventory

A- Act in faith

We will not change anything without faith

Are you expecting things to be better or worse in 2004, if we use faith we can expect better things, the help of God.

In Acts 3:1-5 we have the story about a cripple man who lay at the entrance to the temple, in order to beg alms from those who come in.

The lame man acting in faith expected alms from the people, in reality he got much more, he got healed.

When we act in faith we.

1. Stop feeling sorry for ourself (situation)

2. Stop rehearsing the past.

3. Stop regretting the past.

Getting rid of fear, failure, or fault is not so much removing it from our life but its moving ahead in spite of it, Acting in faith can be doing the thing you fear the most, looking to God for guidance in the future.

If A stands for Act in faith

R- Refocus

If we want a new start we need to rethink the way we are doing things.

Pro 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it [are] the issues of life.

The way we think determines the way we feel, act and live.

Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

How can we have a new beginning if we keep the same frame of mind that got us into the situation we are dealing with now?

Its time to let go of the things that are keeping us in the past.

How?

1. Confess. Give it to God, lay it down and leave it alone, replace it with something else, Gods word. I know its easier preached than practiced but we have to find a way to do, to get out from underneath that burden.

2. Focus on Gods word. There are two things we all want out of life, to be happy and to succeed. We can have both by meditating on God’s word.

Psa 1:1-2 Blessed [is] the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. (2) But his delight [is] in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Is there any other way to be happy and successful, other than to have the blessing of God. When we fill our minds with Gods word we see ourselves as God sees us, not as the devil wants us to see ourselves.

If R stands for Refocus

T- Stands for Trust

Trust God, depend on Him, we already know that’s why we failed over the past, we cant do it on our own, trying harder wont get it done. Being successful as a Christian is:

1. Know for sure your one

2. If you are submit to your savior

Turning over a new leaf will not do it, trying to do better just won’t get it done

Zec 4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This [is] the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

Conc. There’s nothing we can do in and of ourself to make 2004 a new year, trying to be a better person wont work, changing our lifestyle wont work either. Only through God can we have a new year, but first of all we must know God and He must know us, if we don’t know Jesus Christ as our personal savior we don’t have a chance at a new year. Without Christ a new beginning isn’t possible. For the Christian a new year a new beginning is there for those who need it. Will you stand with me please, with every head bowed and eye closed, If you know without a doubt that you know Jesus Christ as Lord and savior would you raise your hand.

Saving Grace Baptist Church (night watch service)

December 30, 2003