NEW BEGINNINGS

1. NEWBEGINNINGS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OPPORTUNITY

2. When we look to the text of the Bible we learn that it is a book filled with new beginnings! CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING: • The creation scene resulting in the garden of Eden, with the great opportunity Adam and Eve had. • Noah along with his family as they exited the ark. • Abraham’s command to go to a land in which he knew not , and the results of obeying that command. • Joshua’s entrance into Egypt upon being sold into bondage. • The children of Israel at the conclusion of the wilderness wanderings, with their new opportunities in the promised land.

3. NEWBEGINNINGSAREWHATCHRISTANITYISABOUTEPHESIANS 2:1-7;11-17 1 And you hath he quickened (made alive), who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.  4 ¶But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

4. 11  ¶Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12  That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13  But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14  ¶For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain (Jew and Gentile) one new man, so making peace; 16  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17  And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. Revelation 21:5 5  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.

5. How do we become the new man of Ephesians Two? • Paul explained in Romans 6:3-6 “ Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?” • Paul went on to say in Galatians 3:27 “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ” • Paul reaffirmed this in 2nd Corinthians 5:17 “ Therefore if any man be in Christ, He is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.”

6. SOME HINDERANCES TO MOVING FORWARD

7. God has gone above and beyond to make a way of forgiveness for us all, through the giving of His Son • Many are hesitant, or unwilling to forgive their self for past mistakes: Consider Saul of Tarsus who went on to become the Apostle Paul Acts 22:3-5 • After obedience to the Gospel( Acts 22:14-16) notice what the Apostle Paul could say: “Brethren I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13

8. Though God has done much for all, man can and often is his own worst enemy! • Many are unwilling to forgive others for the past: “……If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespasses against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a d turn again to thee, saying , I repent; thou shalt forgive him.” Luke 17:3-5 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if you will not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses.” Matthew 6: 14-15

9. God believes in us, we simply have to learn to believe in ourselves. • Sadly many never start the Christian life because of fear of failure. • Many believe God expects perfection. • If God expected perfect people, none would have a chance! (Romans 3:23) • If the Apostle Peter had given up after denying Christ the night of our Lord’s betrayal he never would have gone on to preach and help convert some 8,000 souls in Acts 2:41; and Acts 4:4, and the Lord only knows how many others. • We all are going to make mistakes; that’s part of being human. • God wants people who refuse to give up! (Smyrna Congregation Revelation 2:10)

10. A CHALLENGE TO CHRISTIANS WHO NEED A NEW BEGINNING TAKING HOLD OF THE OPPORTUNITY “Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9

11. Each day is a new opportunity! Today is an opportunity to: • Change my way of thinking; I’m going to exchange a negative disposition for a positive outlook. • Learn from yesterdays mistakes; not just say I need to do better, but actually do better. (Can we really say it’s a new year if we keep living the same old way?) • Break out of a spiritual rut; read the Bible, go visiting, invite someone to Bible class, and Worship; not because I have to, but because I want to. • Be an asset to the local congregation by getting out of my comfort zone, and trying to assist in any way possible; teach a class, take part in the services, have the youth for a devotional, help with the nursing home services. • Realize that being a servant of Christ starts today; make the most out of right now! Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. James 4:14