Throw Out The Old, Bring In The New

THROW OUT THE OLD, BRING IN THE NEW

Mark 1:15

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR

1. A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other.

2. In 2023, may your neighbors respect you, troubles neglect you, angels protect you, and heaven accept you.

3. May all your troubles last as long as your New Year resolutions.

4. Remember you can reset your resolutions on January 14th (Orthodox New Year) and February 8th (Chinese New Year). After that, even I can't help you.

5. Keep the smile, Leave the tear, Retain the laugh, Leave the pain, Think of joy, Forget the fear. Be joyous, cause it's a New Year.

6. New Year’s Eve is when the Mayor drops the ball in New York while Congress is dropping the ball in Washington.

7. Every New Year I resolve to lose 20 pounds, and I do. The problem is that I gain 30. - Melanie White

B. 2023 THEMES

1. 2023 – YEAR OF SPIRITUAL BATTLE. We’re going to do battle with the flesh. Lighten the load. The devil’s been taking ground all year. Aren’t you glad you can start over? Women like to do Spring cleaning. We like to get our cars detailed. It’s time to get our personal life detailed. We ought to be doing that spiritually.

2. January is Go-To-The-Altar Month. I want you to plan on going to the altar every Sunday in January – if for no other reason – than to put down the flesh and showing God you’re sincere about drawing closer to Him in 2023.

C. THESIS

1. NEW YEAR’S TRADITION OF THROWING THINGS out of the window. In European countries they throw old chipped dishes or glasses out their windows at midnight to bring in the New Year. In South Africa they throw old furniture, including chairs, old TVs, and even refrigerators out into the streets at midnight. Anything that has a bad memory or something unpleasant associated with it, is heaved out the window! That’s a great idea for getting rid of the old, and starting off with the new!

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/13517223/new-years-eve-traditions-world-furniture-cemetery-parties/

2. It’s scriptural; “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he/she is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” 2 Cor. 5:17. What a great thing – to start off the new year with a clean slate!

3. OUR DIRECTION TODAY IS REPENTANCE. 2 Chron. 7:14 says, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” The first three things to do can be summarized in the word – “REPENT.” The first sermon Jesus preached was “The time has come. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the good news!” Mk. 1:15. REPENTANCE HAS 3 PARTS:

I. DEEP SORROW FOR OUR SINS

A. ARE YOU TEACHABLE TO THE HOLY SPIRIT?

1. This happens as we EXAMINE OUR LIVES FOR SINS. God told Jeremiah the prophet, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (17:9) We are so blinded by sin we don’t even see our sin as God does.

2. David was “a man after God’s own heart” for a reason; he was willing to be vulnerable to God. He prayed, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Ps. 139:23-24.

3. We need to ask God to turn on the search light of His Holy Spirit in our hearts to expose every word, thought, motive & action that is displeasing to God. Q - Are you willing to know the truth about yourself?

B. OUTWARD SYMPTOMS YOU’RE MOVING AWAY FROM GOD

1. The Lord Jesus reminded us of LOT’S WIFE (Lk. 17:32). You know you’re starting to mess up if you a. BEGIN TO LINGER BEHIND other Christians, like Lot’s wife. As she and her family fled from Sodom, she began to slacken her pace in departing from the world. SHE STARTED WISHING SHE COULD GO BACK; Have YOU felt like doing the things you used to do again? It’s a Dire Warning!

2. Have prayer meetings lost their interest? Have your personal devotions become stale & powerless? Is “one service a week” more than enough? It’s because your heart is cold; you no longer love God’s House! The old fallen nature is growing again, and IF YOU DON’T DO SOMETHING, the sin will take you over again!

3. ILLUS. When I first started playing the guitar, the strings cut & hurt my fingers very much. But after each time I got “cut” by playing, my skin (like conviction) began to thicken and eventually developed a callous. Now when I play it no longer hurts.