Theme 2014: Experiencing God, Embracing People!
Isaiah 43:18-19
Isaiah 43:18-19….
“18 Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not
perceive it? I am making a way
in the wilderness and streams
in the wasteland.” [TNIV]
John 10:10….
“The thief comes only to steal
and kill and destroy; I am come
that you might have life, and
have it the full (abundantly).”
[TNIV]
Isaiah 43:18-19….
“18 Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new
thing! …..” [TNIV]
We need to understand that
God is far more interested in
our future than He is in our
past!
The only
person that
can ruin your
life is YOU!
Nobody can
RUIN your life
without your
permission!
You have
a choice!
The Bible says that the starting
point is to just be….
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.”
[Message Bible]
We need to evaluate
all our experiences.
of our
life’s experiences
and learn from them!
Galatians 3:4….
“Have you experience so much in
vain – if it really was in vain.”
[TNIV]
“You have experienced many
things. Were all those
experiences wasted? I hope not.”
[Message]
Galatians 3:4….
“You have suffered so much for
the gospel. Now are you going
to throw it all over board.”
I can hardly believe it.”
[TLB]
Failures or disappointments
can be our friend or our foe.
You determine
if failure will be your
friend or foe by the way
you react to it!
that God allows or uses
to shape our lives.
#1. He uses
PERSONAL EXPERIENCES
to shape you!
#2. He uses
VOCATIONAL & EDUCATIONAL
EXPERIENCES
to shape you!
#3. He uses
SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES
to shape you!
#4. He uses
PAINFUL EXPERIENCES
to shape you!
What have I learned?
What are my assets?
Who can help me?
The Bible says the key
to change is
Matthew 9:29….
“According to your faith
let it be done to you.”
[TNIV]
NOT
a dead faith!
It is an affirmative faith
that takes positive action coupled with
the help of God
to change your life.
When we ask
for something
and expect to
get nothing ….
we get exactly
what we expected,
NOTHING!
… having a pity party
… rehearsing the past
… regretting the past
…get on with
the present and
the future!
Whatever you focus ON tends to
reproduce in your life!
learn from the past
“act in faith” for the future look
to God for guidance
How do you
get rid of fear or failure?
Not so much
the absence of fear!
Moving ahead
in spite of
your fear!
Proverbs 29:25….
“Being afraid of people
can get you into trouble.”
“Fear of man is a dangerous
trap, but to trust in God
means safety.”
[TLB]
“Refocus” our thoughts if
we want to change our life.
to rethink the way
that we think
to change our mind about
a number of issues
Proverbs 4:23….
“Above all else, guard your
heart, for everything you do
flows from it.” [TNIV]
“Be careful how you think.
Your life is shaped by your
thoughts.” [Good News]
The way you THINK,
determines
the way you FEEL.
And the way you FEEL
determines
the way you ACT.
Romans 12:2….
“Do not be conform to the
pattern of this world, but be
transformed by the renewing
of your mind….” [TNIV]
To get a fresh start….
Stop thinking
some old
patterns!
“LET GO” of those painful, hurtful
memories of shame
and guilt and other things.
How do I get rid of a
painful memory?
By replacing it!
Stop focusing on
what you don’t want &
start focusing on
what you do want.
What’s the best thing
to focus on?
Psalm 1:2,3….
“But who delight in the law of the
LORD and meditate on his law
day and night. They are like a
tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither —
whatever they do prospers.” [TNIV]
2 Things everybody
wants in life….
• to be happy
• to succeed in life
The answer ….
“meditating on God’s Word.”
“Meditating on God’s Word”
simply means
“rehearsing God’s Word in
our minds over and over.”
As we fill our mind with
God’s Word, it begins to change our
mind.
We begin to SEE ourselves
as God does.
to help us
succeed.
on Him.
We can’t do it on
our own!
Success in the Christian life
is not trying harder,
BUT living smarter.
Giving God the control
of my life.
Zechariah 4:6….
“So he said to me, ‘This is the
word of the LORD to Zerubbabel:
'Not by might nor by power,
but by my Spirit,‘
says the LORD Almighty.’”
[TNIV]
Zechariah 4:6….
“…. You will not succeed
by your own strength
or power but by My Spirit,
says the Lord….”
[Good News Bible]
Will you have
a fresh start in life?
Will you have
a new beginning?
How can I have a fresh start?