Renovations: Making it New Again
Pt 1 – Renovation Starts with the Heart
Philippians 1:1-11;21-30
If there is one word that describes best what is going on in our church right now I think that word would have to be Renovation. The definition of the word is simple:
1. To restore to an earlier condition, as by repairing or remodeling.
2. To impart new vigor; to revive.
Over the last few weeks we have been renovating our worship services: Going to two services to better meet the needs of our growing congregation; starting a children’s worship service to help our children not only experience worship but to participate actively in it. Starting 8 days from now this sanctuary will be transformed with a new platform design to better facilitate current ministries, new carpeting and pew covers – Frankly it’s a great time to be a part of the Friends Church. Renovation – to restore; to impart new vigor; to revive – we are experiencing renovation. Into the heart of all the excitement I want to begin a series of messages that will parallel our progress. You see renovating our facility is meaningless unless God also renovates the church – us. I believe that God wants to step into the midst of our lives and renovate our Spiritual lives: to restore us to the passion of our calling, to impart new vigor into our weariness, and to revive and rekindle the fires of our spirits. Paul writes a letter to the church at Philippi – a church that is very near and dear to his heart. Paul planted this church during his second missionary journey and now 7 years later he writes a letter to them to encourage them to renovate their lives. Over the next four weeks while we watch the renovation of the sanctuary I want us to experience the renovation of our Spiritual lives.
Look at Philippians 1:1-11; 21-30
Verse 6 is the key verse to this letter for me: “For I am confident in this very thing that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” The word perfect means to continue to the ending – to finish. As Paul writes to the Philippian church he makes it clear that renovation starts in the heart.
The perfecting or renovation of our lives is more than just a little paint and spackle. It’s a journey into the depths of our hearts to discover who we are and what we really believe.
It’s a labor of
Demolition - Tearing out the old, worn out, tattered pieces that have faded with age. V. 9-11 Do any of you watch Extreme Makeover Home Edition – every Sunday night you can watch as a family’s home is demolished and rebuilt in 7 days. Ty Pennington hosts the show and there is always a dramatic beginning as Ty calls for Demolition. “Let’s do some demo…” – Do you still remember the early moments of your journey following Jesus? For most of us those days were filled with wonder and discovery with excitement and joy. So how do we fall from those powerful moments of heart connection to just going through the motions? The truth is that the normal wear and tear of life and living often dulls the edges and frays the corners of our lives. Sometimes overwork and undernourishment lead to serious structural failure in our lives and in our relationship with Christ. Sometimes the corners of our lives get filled with the clutter and accumulated pain of the bumps, bruises, dents, and dings of living in relationships with others. The reality of renovation is that to begin to repair, replace, and revitalize there has to be a removal of the old worn out, damaged, and decaying remains of the old. So how do you do demo on the torn parts of your life?
First you realize that God wants to do the work in your life – “He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” He says “I have come that you might have life and have it abundantly.” He says “how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.” God wants you to be whole and healthy and vital. God desires for you to be free and whole.
Second realize that only God can do this in your life - Our power to change is so very limited. God’s power to change us is unlimited. All the want to in the world won’t fix your life – but just a little Jesus will.
Third – ask God to do this in your life – Jesus sits with a broken woman at a well in Samaria and says to her ““If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” If you only ask He will do what you cannot do and give you what you cannot find. He will work with you to tear out all the worn and tattered remains of the brokenness in your life and make room for something new.
Renovation is following a new blueprint – v.21-28 – If all you do is tear out the worn and tattered parts of life you are only half way to through your renovation project. You see the old has to be replaced by the new. Paul says “for me to live is Christ and die is gain.” Paul’s life followed a new blueprint – folks you can’t fix life with a little spackle and paint – it take fundamental repair – foundational restructuring – it requires a new blueprint. He encourages them to:
Stand firm in one spirit – to be unified under the banner of Christ. This is a renewal a renovation of the heart that places Christ first in life and living. The new blueprint begins with a new builder – setting God first and letting Him direct the work.
Strive together with one mind for the faith of the gospel - this is the renewal and renovation of the soul that is rededicated to a life of learning and growing into what God has designed us to be. Fulfilling our purpose and His plan. Realizing that in any relationship we have to be engaged in the process.
Being in no way alarmed – instead letting our faith and lives rest in the heart of God. Realizing that the key to surviving in the broken world is not how much we worry but how much we trust in the heart of God. We do the possible and leave the impossible to Him. Sometimes the demolition process leaves things a bit of a mess – be committed to finishing the project – half done repairs are horrible.
Is it time for a renovation of your spiritual life – do you need a little repair a little remodeling – a little revitalization – today is the day to ask God to come in and start the demo and rebuilding process.
