Monday, 30 September 2013

CONDITIONS FOR THE GETTING THE ‘NEW’

MEMORY VERSE: therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new, 2 Corinthians 5:17.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 31, Ps 75-76, Isa 23, 1 Jn 1

We all want something new in one area of our life of the other. Some want a new name for example a single bro and sister becoming Mr and Mrs; a student becoming a graduate; a failure becoming a success e.t.c. Some just want to sing a new song. The children of Israel sang a song of sorrow for over 400 years but after they crossed red the sea they sang a song of Joy, Exodus 15:1-21. Some want a new beginning or a fresh start or new walk in Christ for example all the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11) wanted was a second chance or a fresh start. Others want a new job, challenge, working environment, career e.t.c. We all want something new either for ourselves or for someone close to us.

God is still in the business of giving His children new things . The bible records that He renews His mercies over my life every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23), I believe He does the same for you too. The word ‘new’ suggests the existence of the word ‘old’. Without the ‘old’, you cannot have the ‘new’. To have the ‘new’, there are one or two conditions you need to satisfy. Firstly, to have the ‘new’ you must be tired of the ‘old’. A change for the better only comes when you become tired of your present situation or state of things. I heard the testimony of a sister who lost the gift of speaking tongues. For several years she prayed and prayed but nothing happened. One night she became tired of her weak spiritual life and began to violently call on God; within an hour she received this precious gift back.

Secondly, to have the ‘new’ the ‘old’ must first pass away. For you to experience a change that will bring the ‘new’, the ‘old’ must pass away - old mentalities, old ways of doing things ; old beliefs ;old attitudes to work and time e.t.c. A wise man once said if you keep doing what you are doing, you will keep getting what you are getting. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new. If you have giving your life to Christ and the people around you cannot notice any changes in you then there is work to do. Once everything becomes new, people around you will notice - your lecturers, managers, supervisors, parents’ e.t.c. A particular sister was making her way home from work when some thugs approached her; they knelt down and asked her to pray for them. Although this sister did not know them from Adam, these thugs saw something different in the way this sister dressed and carried herself.

QUESTION: Can strangers just by observing you conclude that you are a born again Christian?

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