How To Have A Fresh Start

HOW TO HAVE A FRESH START

Zechariah 10:6 - I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph and I will give them a fresh start. I will have mercy upon them: and make them new as if nothing ever happened, for I am the LORD their God, and will hear them.

Hosea 14:5 - I will make a fresh start with Israel; They will blossom like a flower in the spring and root deeply in the soil like cedars in Lebanon.

Psalm 145:14 - God gives a hand to those who are down and He gives a fresh start.

GOD IS A GOD OF A FRESH START.

Creation - Fall of man - 2 Cor. 5:17 - If any man be in Christ, He is a new Creature or Creation…. Rev. 21:5 - Behold I make all things new.

RENEW

Romans 12:2 - And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Ephesians 4:23 - and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,

2 Corinthians 4:16 - Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is dying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.

Psalm 51:10 - Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

GOD’S WANTS US TO HAVE A FRESH START - GOD WANTS TO REDEEM US, RENEW US, REVIVE US, RESTORE US…

I’ve created an acrostic, S-T-A-R-T, to help us remember them.

S - STOP MAKING EXCUSES

One of the biggest barriers to your success are your own excuses.

Jn. 5 - The man who had been paralyzed 38 years, Jesus said do you want to be healed? Man made excuses… Jesus asked Do you want to be healed… Excuses… Jesus said Get up, pick up your bed and walk.

At once the man was healed, picked up his bed and walked.

LET’S LOOK AT FOUR EXCUSES.

EXCUSE 1 - NOT ABLE - I just can’t do that, I am not able.

Phil. 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ…

Eph. 3:20 - Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.

ABLE MEANS “CAN DO”

Ps. 78:19 - The people spoke against God and said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? It should not be Can God but GOD CAN!

Heb. 7:25 - God is able to save from the uttermost. (entire, everyone)

2 Corinthians 9:8 - God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

Jude 1:24 - God is able to keep you from falling.

If God makes a promise, he will keep it because he is faithful, and nothing can stop him. --- Numbers 23:19 - God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind.

The Lord is able to transform angry people into peaceful people; sad people into happy people; despairing people into hopeful people who are confident that they are part of a bigger and better story.

Ps. 139:16 - You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

Luke 14 - The Great Supper - A man made a great supper and invited many people to come. Everyone invited made excuse for not going to the supper. First, he had bought some ground and had to go see it. Next one had bought five yoke of oxen and wanted to go and try them. Third one said he could not go because he had married a wife. But the story doesn’t end - His supper had been prepared and he must have someone to help him eat it. He ssid, Go out into the streets and city, and bring in the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. The servant returned and said It is done as you have commanded, and yet there is room. The master did not want to eat until the house was full. Go again out into the highways and hedges, and compel people to come. He said that none of the people who had made excuses should taste of his supper.

How about you today? Will you come to the supper - the beautiful life God has prepared for you? Do not make excuses. Say Yes Lord.

EXCUSE #2 - MY PAST - Forget the past!