This is the third part of a series called ‘A Fresh Start’
The first series was about ‘Fresh Starts Begin With New Hearts’ another words in order to have a really fresh start in the things that matter to God you have to have a new heart and the only person that can give you a new heart is God. All real change only happens when our hearts are changed
The second series was about ‘Accepting Change is an Opportunity to Gain Maturity and to Shape Destiny’ that when we are willing to accept that going from what might be good to better you have to be willing to accept change, and that is hard for us because we are people that unless there is pressure/friction there is no motion.
The third series is about the power of change, we live in a world where we are surrounded by this incredible sense of powerlessness
There is a sense of powerlessness in the church today. Less and less people believe, there’s a sense that the church can’t really bring about anything new in anyone’s life. Faith can’t bring about anything new in anyone’s life and so when people feel powerless they feel helpless and hopeless, this morning we will argue this case.
In fact as we look at making fresh starts we do it knowing God has to give you a new heart and this is an opportunity to gain maturity and to shape destiny. But as we look at fresh starts you will see that God never calls us to something that he doesn’t empowers us for. Today we will take about the secret of the power of God that can make a difference in all of our lives.
John 3
Now There was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night
Why did he come by night? Because Jesus was not popular, he came by night because there was some dead in his faith and he was too cowardly to come by day, and yet he came to Jesus because he knew that there was something dead in him that needed to change.
and said, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the sighns you are doing if God were not with him.
What is he saying to Jesus? He is recognizing that there is power in Jesus, nobody can do what he can do unless God is with him. But Nicodemus mistake was that Jesus is also God that came into this world to display the power and the glory and the majesty of God.
3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
He is saying that the spirit of God, the power of God that transforms life is like the power of the wind. The wind can bend the largest trees and make the oceans roar. The power of God’s spirit is like the wind you can’t predict where it is coming from or where it is going and most of all you can’t stop it. It is unstoppable. God is Lord of all weather you acknowledge him or not, the wind will blow where ever it wants and God will still shape hearts and bring forth those who are his and will empower those who he has called to have fresh starts. You can’t stop the power of God no more than you can stop the wind.
9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things?...
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
What is he saying? He is say that the power behind God’s power, the purpose within God’s power is love.
The Love of God Unleashes The Power To Do the Things of God
If we are going to make fresh starts and make a difference, were not going to do it alone we are not going to it without the power of God. but we are never going to experience the power of God without the love of God, and thats why churches feel powerless. We forgotten one critical thing, that God’s power blows to bring God’s love in the lives of men and women. When Jesus was talking to Nicodemus and talking about the power of God to bring new birth, why would God do that? Because he loves the world.
Fresh starts are not about us doing things, so that we can have better lives, we are so preoccupied with that, we are preoccupied with out finances, not because to better the kingdom of God but preoccupied with finances to be more financially stable and selfish reasons. People who do things for greater good of God don’t worry about being financially stable. They give the first of what they have to God, they don’t wait. Most people today will go to church when there kids are young because what they really want is to help their kids to grow up to be good kids. then when they grow up you see the kids no longer in church. the parents backed away from everything. why? they wanted the power of God to keep their family in line, for their health, they wanted God for their reasons. The power of God only comes when we love. If you separate the two there is no power. Why are you an active christian? is it because you love Him? If your prayer is everyday “God please shape me in your love in every area of my life, that I can go out and share your love with others.” then you life will be powerful.
EMPOWERED
No Fear:
If your going to experience the power of God’s love there can’t be fear, perfect love it casts out all fear. Next time you become nervous about something stop and say, there is nothing to be nervous about, the is absolutely nothing to be anxious about. Because if God is in control then what do you have to be worried about. Worrying is a waste of time. The wind does not fear any obstacle, meteorologist, anything.
No Looking Back:
Love doesn’t look backwards or try to compare the future and the past, love always looks for new opportunities to give something
No Side Trips:
No side trips into sin. I just want to walk in the disobedience of God, the minute you take a side trip into the disobedience you move from the power of God because you move from the love of God. Love happens in obedience or it’s not love.
Notes taken by: lorelllawrence@comcast.net
the notes is for you to have for review in the series, also to reflect on during the week.
God Bless,
Sermon by: Pastor Frederick Williams