Introduction

Good morning, dear friends. It's a joy to be here with you today, standing under the same roof, bound by the same faith, and warmed by the same love of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our Scripture for today comes from the book of Ezekiel, chapter 36, verse 26:

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."

There's a promise in these words, a promise of transformation, of renewal, of a life reborn in the image of Christ.

We stand on the brink of a new day, a day filled with the potential to become better believers, to experience bountiful blessings in Christ, and to boldly bear the changes that Christ brings to our lives.

Billy Graham once said, "The most important resolution you can make as another year approaches is this: to open your heart and life to Jesus Christ, and commit your life to Him. Don’t waste your time on resolutions that don’t ultimately matter; resolve instead to live for Christ." Indeed, we are not simply old creatures with a new coat of paint. We are not simply refurbished or remodeled. We are remade, reborn, reformed in the image of Christ. We are new creatures, with new hearts and new spirits, filled with the love and grace of God.

Becoming Better Believers

The heart of the matter is this: transformation. It's a word that carries weight, a word that implies a complete and total change. And it's not a change that we can bring about on our own. It's a change that comes from God, a change that comes when we open our hearts and our minds to the love and grace of our Heavenly Father.

This transformation isn't easy: It's not a walk in the park. It's a process, a process that requires commitment, dedication, and a willingness to let go of our old selves. It's a process that requires us to step out of our comfort zones, to face our fears, and to embrace the unknown. But it's also a process that brings joy, peace, and fulfillment. It's a process that brings us closer to God, closer to our true selves, and closer to the life that God has planned for us.

Accept the love and grace of God: This is not a passive acceptance, but an active one. It's a decision to open our hearts and our minds to God, to let Him in, to let Him work in us and through us. It's a decision to let go of our old selves, to let go of our fears, our doubts, our insecurities. It's a decision to let God transform us, to let Him give us a new heart and a new spirit.

Live out our faith: This is not a one-time event, but a daily commitment. It's a commitment to live according to the teachings of Christ, to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. It's a commitment to be kind, to be patient, to be forgiving. It's a commitment to be a light in the world, to be a beacon of hope and love.

Grow in our relationship with God: This is not a static relationship, but a dynamic one. It's a relationship that grows and deepens with each passing day, with each prayer, with each act of love and kindness. It's a relationship that is nourished by the Word of God, by the teachings of Christ, by the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Share our faith with others: This is not a solitary journey, but a communal one. It's a journey that we share with our brothers and sisters in Christ, a journey that we share with the world. It's a journey that calls us to be witnesses of God's love and grace, to be ambassadors of Christ, to be vessels of the Holy Spirit.

Bountiful Blessings in Christ

In the midst of our spiritual journey, we find ourselves surrounded by the bountiful blessings in Christ ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO