The Reset Button For The Physical & Mental Life Series

Scripture Reference: Exodus 20:8-11

Preached at Mount Zion Baptist Church on March 1, 2020

Delivered by Rev. John Daniel Johnson

(Before we begin, look to your neighbor and tell them, “Take a day off.”)

Introduction:

I grew up in the age when video games were just starting to be made for the home. I spent many a quarters at the Arcades back when I was a child. Some of you maybe remember some of the earlier video games, because you either played them or bought them for your children. I grew up in the age of Atari and Nintendo. Those games were a far cry from the technology which the children play today. I didn’t come today to talk to you about games, but I wanted to share with you my favorite thing about playing video games as a child.

My favorite thing was if you messed up, you could press one little button and the game would start over. That button was called “The Reset Button.” No matter how bad you were doing in the game, you could just press a button, and miraculously the game would start over. All your past mistakes were wiped away. You may have been on your last life, playing Mario Brothers, but when the reset button was pressed, you were completed revived.

Can you imagine having a reset button in real life? Husbands, imagine your wife walking into the room and asking you if you like her new dress. You respond with some type of answer and she walks away crying. A reset button would be wonderful so you could try to get it right the next time.

I bet everyone in this room has done this at least once in their life. Imagine sitting in front of your computer, you’re playing around on Facebook, playing solitaire, browsing YouTube videos, or maybe you’re visiting the church website. Then all of a sudden, the computer just freezes up. Don’t you just hate that. I remember in college and seminary, I’d write tons of papers. Sometimes, right before I finished the paper, the computer would freeze. Unfortunately, for me, I rarely saved documents, so I knew bad news was coming. When your computer freezes up, we only have one choice. We have to press the reset button.

Transitional Sentence:

There is a fundamental, doctrinal belief that we as Christians have. I want to ask you to worship with me the character of God this morning. If you believe these statements, please affirm them to the LORD by stating, “Amen.” We believe in the Oneness of God. We know that there is only One True God. We know there is One God, but He has three natures of Himself. He is God the Father on the Throne, Jesus the Son in the flesh, and the Holy Spirit in the Spiritual Reality. Throughout the first chapter of Genesis, you’ll read multiple verses that say…

Then God said...

1. “Let there be light”

2. “Let there be a separation of waters.”

3. “Let there be dry land.”

4. “Let the earth bring forth vegetation.”

5. “Let the waters teem with life.”

6. “Let the earth bring forth creatures.”

In all those verses, the name “God” is the Hebrew name “Elohim.” That word is so vital to understanding the True God. The word name “Elohim” is a plural noun. A plural noun is a word that means “more than one thing or idea.” We know from this truth, that God the Father, Son and Spirit were all involved in the Creation.

Scripture even goes into greater detail to tell us that we are made in the very image of God.

“Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness...”

(Genesis 1:26)

Just like God is composed of three parts, we are also composed of three parts. We are made in Him image, therefore He created us with His same characteristics.

As mankind, we are made of three parts: body, spirit, and a soul. This refers to the physical, mental and spiritual of our makeup. In each of these (physical, mental/emotional, and spiritual) the LORD has given us reset button. God has placed a reset button in this life for us that is meant to revive us, refresh us, transform us, and change our behavior.

This Sunday we’re going to learn how to reset our physical lives and mental lives to live this life to the fullest. Next Sunday we’re going to learn how to reset our spiritual lives to achieve more for God in this life.

Today’s Scripture Passage

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it."