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HOW ABOUT A NEW START?
Sunday Morning Sermon
August 1, 1999
Fair Avenue Baptist Church
Text: Genesis 13:1-4
In Genesis Chapter 12 Abram went down into Egypt without God's approval.
As we know we discovered that while Abram was in Egypt, he didn't pray or worship the Lord.
In fact, he lied to Pharoah and almost brought shame and disgrace to his wife. He disobeyed God and almost paid a great price for his disobedience.
So here in our text, VERSE 4, we see that Abram got a new start and if you follow the life of Abram, you will see that from this point and time, he served the Lord completely.
This morning I want to title my message, HOW ABOUT A NEW START?
I believe that all Christians need a new start every once and a while.
There is an old saying that bears repeating: There is only a small difference between a groove and a rut. ...meaning that there will come some times in our life when we need a new start.
I know people often say that since they have made so many resolutions and haven't kept them, they are going to stop making any resolutions at all.
Listen, no man ever does all he plans to do...
No woman ever accomplishes everything she sets out to do.....
But everyone who tries to do something always does more than the person who doesn't.
IF YOU AIM AT NOTHING - YOU WILL ALWAYS HIT IT!
This morning I want us to look at several people in the Bible beside Abraham who needed a new start....and got it.
And this might apply to you this morning...
You may be needing a new start and you really don't know where to start.
This morning I want to help you if you are looking for a new start....
Maybe you used to be regular in church.......
You used to teach a Sunday School class......
If are looking for a new start this morning, please follow with me in the Word of God.
1. JACOB WENT BACK TO BETHEL
Turn with me in your Bibles to GENESIS 28:16-22.
Here is the story of Jacob, running from his brother Esau, where he meets God at Bethel.
But if you read the next several chapters, covering many years, you will find out that Jacob has many ups and downs:
...he gained a great family and earthly possessions
...but his wife worshipped idols
...his daughter was ruined
...two of his sons assassinated all the men in a city
But now turn with me to GENESIS 35:1-3.
Here is a backslidden Jacob who God commanded to go back to Bethel.....and Jacob got a new start.
And as we study the Word of God, we find that after this new start, Jacob became a great servant of the Lord.
HOW ABOUT A NEW START?
Is there something missing in your life?
Is there a void in your life?
Are there some "use to's" in your life?
HOW ABOUT A NEW START?
2. JONAH GOT A SECOND CHANCE TO PREACH
Now turn once again in your Bibles to the book of JONAH. You all know the story of Jonah, you've heard it many times.
When God commanded him to go and preach to Nineveh, Jonah rebelled and ran away.
Notice JONAH 1:3 Jonah took a boat ride that he never forgot. When that storm came out there on the sea, Jonah confessed his rebellion, and told the sailors to throw him overboard, where a whale swallowed him.
Now notice JONAH 2:10
That old whale vomited him up on the shore (nothing tastes worse than a backslidden Baptist).
JONAH 3:1-3 Jonah was given a second chance and VERSE 3 tells us that he got up and went.
Listen, if God will give Jonah a second chance, He will give you another chance, or another chance.
HOW ABOUT A NEW START?
3. SAMSON GOT ONE FINAL SECOND CHANCE
At one time, Samson had been wonderfully filled with the Spirit of God to judge Israel. (I wonder how many people here this morning at one time served the Lord).
But Samson did not honor God and the Spirit of God left him.
The Philistines put his eyes out and made him work like a donkey on a grinding mill.
But Samson got one final second chance in JUDGES 16:28-30
Here this poor, sightless Samson turned his heart back to God, and died gloriously with the power of God on his life.
HOW ABOUT A NEW START?
Can you identify with Samson, once filled with the Spirit of God and serving the Lord, and now doing nothing?
4. PETER, AFTER CURSING, DENYING CHRIST, AND QUITTING THE MINISTRY MADE A NEW START
Take your Bibles and turn to MARK 14:66-72.
Peter, once a disciple of Jesus Christ, here in the Book of MARK cursed and denied Christ.
As we study on, we find that Peter even quit the ministry.
Now let's find out what happened to Peter in JOHN 21:15-17
But (sometimes I like that word), but at the Sea of Galilee, Jesus, after His death, burial, and resurrection, met Peter again and told him to "...feed my sheep."
Peter got his heart right with God, starting obeying God, and in just a few weeks after this time, Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost and 3,000 people got saved.
How's that for a second chance?
Here was a man who walked with Jesus, saw the miracles, heard Jesus preach, and yet.....he blew it.
But Jesus didn't hold it against him, and He gave Peter a second chance and Peter didn't blow it again.
In fact, Peter became one the best Christians recorded in the Word of God.
HOW ABOUT A NEW START?
Did you used to walk with God?
Did you used to teach a Sunday School class?
Did you used to be faithful to God's house?
Did you used to read your Bible every day?
I have what I call the BIG FIVE:
read your Bible every day
pray and talk with God every day
be faithful to church every time the doors are open
tithe and give offerings to the Lord
be a soul winner
DID YOU USED TO DO THESE THINGS?
HOW ABOUT A NEW START?
5. THE STORY OF THE PRODIGAL SON PROVES ANYBODY CAN START OVER
The very familiar story about the prodigal son who went away from home very proud, who wasted away all his money, ended up in a hog pen eating with the pigs, HE GOT A SECOND CHANCE.
Turn to LUKE 15:17-24
What a great story of a second chance! You say, preacher, I've done some awful, wicked things -
HOW ABOUT A NEW START?
Preacher, my life is full of sin - HOW ABOUT A NEW START? T
he story of the prodigal son proves that anyone get have a second chance.....if they want it and mean business.
6. HOW DO YOU GET A NEW START?
How do you get a new start?
I'm glad you asked.
Turn in your Bibles once again to I JOHN 1:9, and then to PROV. 28:13.
With HONEST confessing there will come sweet forgiveness and mercy, a new cleansing and blessing....A NEW START!
LET'S PRAY
Before we sing another verse, there is another new start we didn't talk about.
I'm talking about the new start when you take Jesus as your personal Saviour.
Listen, quitting your smoking, drinking, and cursing will not get you to Heaven.....
Only by accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour can you go to Heaven.
Is that the kind of new start you need this morning?
Will you come on this verse?
HOW ABOUT A NEW START?
Won't you come as we sing?
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