How to make a fresh START

Today we celebrate the start of church for 2010.

The good news of the gospel is that God is into fresh starts.

Isa 43:16 This is what the LORD says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, Isa 43:17 who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together,and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick: Isa 43:18 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. Isa 43:19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.

We need to understand that God is far more interested in our future than He is in our past. This morning I want to share with you, “How To Make a Fresh Start”. I want to share with you a formula for starting over. S.T.A.R.T.

S – Stop making excuses.

If I want a fresh start in life, I have to stop making excuses for my failures. I’ve got to stop blaming other people. I’ve got to stop seeing myself as the victim of my circumstances.

Pr 28:13 He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

Proverbs 28:13 “A man who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if he confess and forsakes them he gets another chance.”

T - Take an Inventory of your life.

As you take inventory of your life in starting over, you need to ask yourself three questions.

What have I learned? What have you learned from past experiences? If you don’t set down and think it through, you’ll end up repeating the same mistake over and over again because you didn’t learn from it the first time. You don’t live there but you need to learn from previous mistakes. Those who don’t learn are doomed to repeat them.

What are my assets? What have I got going for me? Have I got my health? Have I got my freedom? Am I still mentally sound? Have I got some friends? Have I got the Lord? Have I got a church family? What do I have that I can get a fresh start with?

Who can help me? When we need a fresh start, we need somebody by our side – a friend, an accountability partner, a support person, or a support group. Find someone that can help you.

A - Act in faith

This is the third step in getting a fresh start. Act in faith. You have to launch out into new territory. The Bible says that the key to changing anything is faith. If you want to change your circumstance, it takes faith. If you want to change your personality, it takes faith. If you want to change anything in your life, you have to have some faith.

Jesus says this in Matthew 9. “ According to your faith it will be done to you.” That is a very simple statement but it’s very powerful. “According to your faith it will be done to you.” That means we tend to get out of life what we expect. “According to your faith it will be done to you."

What are you expecting in life? Are things going to be better or worse? Are they going to be the same? If you act in faith then you will do something positive to ensure that you don’t repeat the same mistakes over.

R – Refocus your thoughts on God’s plans

You need to refocus your thoughts if you want to change my life.

Proverbs 4:23 "Be careful how you think. Your life is shaped by your thoughts."

PR 23:7 For as he thinks within himself, so he is… Amp

What you meditate on and the way you think, determines the way you feel. And the way you feel determines the way you act. If you want to change your actions, just change the way you think and it will inevitably change the way you act.

Romans 12:2 “ Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. ”

T – Trust God

Trust God to help us succeed. Depend on Him. We don’t need depend on ourselves. We’ve already proven that we can’t do it on our own.

We can’t change who we are, only God can do that. I am not speaking about the outward man but the inner man. The real person is the hidden person of the heart. Success in the Christian life is not trying harder, but living smarter.

Zechariah 4:6 “ You will not succeed by your own strength or power but by My Spirit, says the Lord. ”

Church is back this Sunday

Looking forward to seeing you back in church this Sunday at 9.30am. If you are on holidays and looking for a great church to visit, you'll find a warm welcome at Peninsula. Need directions or looking for a lift? Phone 0402 007 258

Christmas Holidays

Please note Peninsula Vineyard is on holidays and will resume normal services on Sunday 10th January 2010 at 9.30am. Wishing everyone a safe and restful Christmas season.

Church moved to Brookvale!

Peninsula Vineyard Church Dee Why has moved to a new home in Brookvale!

Our new address is 11A, 9-13 Winbourne Rd, BROOKVALE
(entry via end of Sydenham Road)

Plenty of parking on site. Now is a great time to check us out!

Another key to spiritual growth

As we continue on with keys to growth we come to Phil 3:12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Paul reminds us again that spiritual growth is a process. He himself has not obtained perfection or reached a place where he can say that he has made it. However he reveals to us a key when he says "but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me."

Paul is pressing forward to take hold of something. The greek word here means to "seize or posses". What is it that has captivated Paul and that has kept him focused on achieving this goal? He was holding on to the purpose for which Jesus saved him.

What was Jesus purpose for Paul? Apart from salvation, Jesus had a specific job for Paul to do. Jesus knows that spiritual growth occurs more rapidly in the outworking of our calling. In Acts 9:15 we are told what Paul was saved for,  9:15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.

As he focused on this call, Paul matured.

The question we may ask is , "What has Jesus, taken hold of me for"? When we discover and strive to posses it we will place ourselves in an enviroment for rapid growth. It is interesting that the very things Paul had mentioned in verses 4-6 showed him to be a teacher, a man of passion and discipline, a man zealous for God and a man with great education and training. All these things; his giftings, heart, abilities, personality and experiences were the same tools he used in spreading the gospel. We need to understand that what Jesus has called us to, He has made and equipped us for.

Key to spiritual growth

In Philippians 3 Paul shares some truths about spiritual growth; in particular, the environment in which this growth occurs best.

He warns the church in Philipi that false teachers (verse 2) will teach that righteousness comes by works of the flesh. That is, we are made right with God by our own human efforts. If we observe all the law and its rituals we will be right with God. Paul counters this by showing them (vs 4-6) that if anyone could be saved by works it was him. Paul had discovered that all the things he had previously relied upon to be acceptable with God were actually hindrances.

vs 7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.

At his conversion on the Damascus road Paul discovered it was by grace and faith in Jesus alone that makes us right with God, not the works we do.

He then says in verse 10 "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death."  This knowing is more than head knowledge, it goes to relationship. This is where knowledge is acted on and brings the experience of God into our life. These are the  two elements we have been talking about that bring about spiritual growth. Incorporated in this is the desire for us to move in the power of the Spirit.

Spiritual Growth

Spiritual growth or maturity is the process we go through here on earth to become more Christ-like; more like Jesus.

People can find themselves in one of two camps. Some people have a knowledge about God and think that this is sufficent. However, it is mere intellectual assent with no real experience of God because they have never added faith to their knowledge.

Others have the experience of God and base their growth around experience. If they sense God in a meeting or experience some manifestaion, they think that is the mark of spirituality.

Both these positions do not lend themselves to spiritual growth. As a flame needs oxygen to remain burning and useful, so knowledge about God (the flame), needs the experience of God (the oxygen) to produce growth in our lives. Faith in action is the catalyst that ignites and melds these two positions into a step of spiritual growth.

God causes or allows us to face  times of trials, sufferings and persecutions so as our faith may be tested. Testing brings growth or an exposing of the lack of growth in our lives. How many times have we faced situations, and found that our reactions have shown us that we are not as mature as we thought? This growth is a process and will not be complete in our lifetime.

How to catch God's attention

In Mark 12: 41-44 Jesus shares the story of the widow who gave her all to the Lord. This story highlights what catches Jesus attention in a positive way.

As Jesus observed different offerings from the rich to the poor, there were certain aspects of the widows offering that Jesus commends. We must remember that God observes everything we do; nothing goes unnoticed to Him. He is both omniscient and omnipresent.

So firstly, Jesus comments on proportional giving. Jesus is teaching us that how much we give is related to how much we have.

Earlier, Jesus had taught his disciples, "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked" (Luke 12:48). Paul reiterates this principle to the Corinthian church: "On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income..." (1 Corinthians 16:2

Secondly, He commends sacrificial giving. Jesus doesn't tell the woman to keep her money, that God doesn't really need it. He lets her give and his heart swells with pride for this lady. If He stops her, he deprives her of the blessing of giving to God. But know that when you make sacrifices for God, He is watching. It doesn't matter if no one else sees or knows. It is better that they do not. But you may count on the fact that God sees and knows your giving. Jesus promises, "Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you" (Matthew 6:4).

Thirdly, It shows he dependence on God. She gave all she had to “Live on” the greek word "bios" – resources needed to maintain life. It showed her faith and dependency on God. This was not presumption her attitude was sacrificial. She put God first. In sacrificial giving it may be our time, energy or resources.

Lastly it shows that we should not despise what you have to give. We should not despise our small gifts to God. Sometimes we fall under the worldly spell that "bigger must be better." That's not true of our giving to God. We are to give what we are able, whether small or great. If you've ever been poor, then you know that it is easy to feel, "My small gift won't make any difference. It won't matter." But that's not true. It does matter. It matters to your Heavenly Father who loves you.

Of course this is not only limited to our finances but to witnessing, praying, friendships, church involvement, attendance, testimony, prophecies and prayer. In fact, all of our life should reflect this woman's attitude and actions. Then we will attract Jesus' attention in a right way. As Jesus said of this woman "what she did was greater than all the others".

Catching God's Attention

What are the negative things we do that attract God's attention?

In Mark 12 we see two such examples, one negative and one positive. In verses 38-40 the actions and attitudes of the scribes / teachers of the law have been noticed by Jesus. These  were the people who studied God's Word and taught others, similar to the pastors and clergy today.

You would think their study and religious activities would make them more holy and godly however they were merely outwardly religious and far from God. They liked to be noticed and greeted as important people. They expected to seat in the places of honour at functions; yet at the same time they were abusing their position to rob the poor and defenceless. They were pious in their prayers but it was all for show.

Jesus took notice of these people for all the wrong reasons and He said that they would be punished most severely.  We need to take care that we are not like these scribes; hearers but not doers. 

As believers we need not only know about God but also to live out His Word in our lives. We are not to lord it over others but to be the servant to all.

A talking witness

It doesn't matter how good you are at being a witness to your friends in your attitude and your actions, there comes a time when you must verbalize the good news.

Paul says in Romans 10:14 "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?"

People can be attracted, or even impressed, by your kindness but they need to clearly understand the gospel. As it says, "how will they understand unless someone preaches to them." This is not getting up on a soapbox type of preaching but in genuine interactive conversation, explaining about Jesus.

Secondly, it must be verbalized because Peter says in 1 Peter 3:15 "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, "

The three elements of this verse we need to understand are:

• Always be prepared: Do you know your testimony and do you know how to share the simple steps of the gospel?
• To those who ask you: We are not to bible bash people who are not interested, but rather let them make the first approach.
• Do this with gentleness and respect: Our approach in sharing our faith should always be wrapped with a gentle spirit and a respect for the other person.

Are you prepared and do you have the right attitude towards those you are reaching out to?