## A Time of Renewal

## Psalm 51:10

Only 60 hours left until the New Year begins. What comes to mind with a new year?

- corned beef and cabbage
- football games
- parades
- inventory time
- new year resolutions
- after Christmas sales
- parties

A new year is a time of: reflection, planning, resolve, inspection, personal inventory, anticipation, apprehension, and commitment. The word "Renewal" best describes it all.

"CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART, O GOD; AND RENEW A RIGHT SPIRIT WITHIN ME." (PSA 51:10)

I. Scriptures Dealing With Personal Renewal

A. Begins with Salvation.

"THEREFORE IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATURE: OLD THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY; BEHOLD, ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW." (2 COR 5:17)

1. To renew our relationship with God, we must become a new creature.

2. Once man had a perfect relationship with God, before sin entered into the world.

3. Jesus Christ died on Calvary in order for that kind of relationship to be possible again.

a. Not that we can be without sin...

b. But in Christ, our sin has been forgiven.

c. In Christ we are justified.

"FOR HE HATH MADE HIM TO BE SIN FOR US, WHO KNEW NO SIN; THAT WE MIGHT BE MADE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM." (2 COR 5:21)

"THEREFORE BEING JUSTIFIED BY FAITH, WE HAVE PEACE WITH GOD THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST:" (ROM 5:1)

B. Continues with Sanctification.

1. Note: Eph 4:22-32

a. True renewal is in the likeness of God ...righteous and holy. v 24

b. We replace the old ways and habits with new ways that honor God.

1) Speak the truth. v 25

2) Don't allow our emotions to lead to sin. v 26

3) Don't give devil opportunity. v 27

4) Replace the bitterness, wrath, and anger with kindness, tenderness, and forgiveness.

2. How about that for New Year’s resolutions?

3. Can you imagine what would happen it we all resolved to renew these?

4. Can you imagine the impact that we would have upon our families, our job, our communities, and our world? Note: Col. 3:8-17

C. Renewal is available to all who would seek it from God.

1. Note: Ps 51:10-13

2. Create, renew, restore, sustain...prayer to God.

3. When this happens ...sinners will be converted.

4. Do we want to see more saved in the new year?

5. It will take personal renewal!

II. What Keeps Us From Renewal?

A. Apathy is the greatest enemy of renewal.

1. Apathy = "I don't care"

2. About charging, growing, improving, or about getting involved in ministry.

3. It's too much work for us to really care for others or God.

B. Someone has said, "The worst sin toward others is not to hate them but to be indifferent to them".

1. May I add that too often we are indifferent toward God and His Word.

2. God’s Word says to give...but we don’t care until we have a need.

3. God’s Word says to pray...but we don’t pray until we find ourselves in corner with no way out!

4. God’s Word instructs us on the importance of training our children in His ways...but we don’t care until our kids get into trouble.

5. Apathy...will prevent us from seeking God in personal renewal this morning!

6. "Too many people don't care what happens, so long as it doesn't happen to them". William Howard Taft (27th President)

III. How Can We Be Renewed?

A. First, Go to God.

"CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART, O GOD; AND RENEW A RIGHT SPIRIT WITHIN ME." (PSA 51:10)

B. Wait on God to renew our strength. Cf Is 40:28- 31

C. Do not look for the quick fix.

1. Let God renew the inner man. day by day.

(2 COR 4:16) "FOR WHICH CAUSE WE FAINT NOT; BUT THOUGH OUR OUTWARD MAN PERISH, YET THE INWARD MAN IS RENEWED DAY BY DAY."

2. True renewal takes place in the mind,

(ROM 12:2) "AND BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD: BUT BE YE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND, THAT YE MAY PROVE WHAT IS THAT GOOD, AND ACCEPTABLE, AND PERFECT, WILL OF GOD."

3. Effective renewal requires:

a. personal inventory... where are we?

b. planning... what do we want to accomplish and how?

c. determination and commitment

d. action...the best plans are failures without action.

Every one of us needs renewal...rededication to:

a. Faith in God

b. Commitment to serve Him.

If you are not a Christian, now is the perfect time to let God renew you.

(2 COR 5:17) "THEREFORE IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATURE: OLD THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY; BEHOLD, ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW."

Christians we should rededicate ourselves to service and renew our faith and commitment day by day.