From toddlers to upper elementary, the kids raised their hands and led us in worship. It was a Next Gen Sunday where we get to praise Him as a family. After that, Pastor Michel called the children back up and shared Jesus with the kids and us. The FC family was doing church
together.
Young Adults’ Pastor, Tim Maxwell, delivered a sermon which was called ”Reboot.” What does reboot mean? It can relate to a movie, your computer or even your cell phone where it begins to not work well, and you turn your phone off to let it reboot or to set the parts in the right place. Pastor Tim illustrated his point of rebooting through his favorite movie protagonist, Batman; however the movie starring George Clooney entitled Batman and Robin almost undid the franchise. Because it was such a big flop, several action figures’ movies were cancelled. They had to reboot and have a fresh approach for this franchise.
At times we also need a spiritual reboot. Something must die for a reboot to begin. John 12:24 states “Very truly, I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it
remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” (NIV) Before new life
happens, the old life must die. Romans 8:13 states it this way,”For if you live according to the
flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will
live.” (NIV) The old way of living must die-old thoughts, actions, patterns. Dying to self means living for God’s purposes. We are no longer clinging to our former habits but looking to the Lord and His goals.
What is the consequence of letting the old self die? “I, even I, am he who blots out your
transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.” Isaiah 43:25 (NIV)
When we accept Jesus as our Savior, the Lord, the mighty God of Israel, lets go of our sins.
When we confess our sins and repent, Yahweh doesn’t remember them any longer and forgives us. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember theirs sins no more.” Hebrews 8:12 (NIV) That is such an incredible gift!
Another Old Testament verse that supports His promise is “As far as the east is from the
west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12 (NIV) What a
forgiving Abba Father we have. Consider how you feel and react when someone wrongs you.
Do you let the hurt go, or do you begin to look for actions or words that fit the hurt you have
already experienced? Pretty soon you let a grudge form and bitterness grows. Is that what God wants from us? Is that how Jesus acted? No, Jesus forgave the pharisees that tried to trick Him as they asked tough questions to trap Him. When we confess our sins, our heavenly Father forgives us and forgets the sin. You can truly live redeemed when you truly realize that you are redeemed.
It is so important to remember who you are. Pastor Josiah preached about our identities as His Beloved. The Lord called us by name and redeemed us. Isaiah 43:1 Release what was for what will be. We do not have to act like our worst sins. If the Lord does not remember our repented sins, why should we condemn and torture ourselves? We do not need to camp in our old sins, our confessed sins.
As God’s Beloved, we have new desires, new purposes, and new fruit because new life
happens. First, when we die to our old selves (rebooted), we have new desires. After last
week’s sermon, Larry and I discussed our television time and what we could be doing besides sitting in front of the screen. We decided to limit ourselves to two hours of screen time a day. Because of the Christmas season, we have worked on Christmas cards, our outside lights, and reading. “It helped me focus on other things I could do,” stated Larry. Lord, help us to fill our time with You not mindlessness.
As a rebooted person, our purpose changes. Instead of living for ourselves and satisfying our
desires, we seek living for the Lord. Our culture tells us that we “deserve it.” Media encourages us to buy, buy, buy; spend, spend, spend. Instead the Lord tells us
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your
soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and,’Love
your neighbor as yourself.’” Luke 10:27 (NIV)
Nowhere in that verse does it mention "You deserve it.” Luke 10:27 is the dying to self and focusing on the Lord and others, which is antithetical to our culture’s views.
The final area of change is our fruit.The outflow should be different because of Jesus.
Do you reflect Jesus’ light and love in your interpersonal relationships? When you are driving, do you feel love for the person who cuts you off? When getting in the check out line at Costco, how do you respond when someone cuts in the line ahead of you? How does being rebooted affect your thoughts and actions? A reboot is not the end-it’s the beginning of something greater.
Finally, what happens when we feel stuck? What happens when we are not moving forward and are frustrated? The Lord tells us to let go of the past.
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
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.”
Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)
We do not need to dwell on the past but to release it. What happens in the middle of the night when a past sin wakes you up? Is that the Lord who said He had forgiven you if you repented your sins? Is it your guilty conscience that has not released that sin? Is it the enemy that is lying to you? When I could not sleep last week, I sang to myself “Amazing Grace.” Soon it was morning. Praise God.
Also Paul advised the Hebrews
“let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so
easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the
race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer
and perfecter of faith.” Hebrews 12:1b-2a (NIV)
After throwing off the hindrances, we are to persevere and keep our eyes on our Lord Jesus.
When we fix our eyes on Him, the circumstances do not distract us so powerfully. When Peter kept his eyes on Jesus, he could walk on water. When he looked at the waves, he sank. Let us keep our eyes on the Savior. When we release the past, we make space for His promise to take root in our hearts. When we reboot, the old is gone, and the new arrives. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
May we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us daily so that we can throw off our hindrances and run the race with perseverance. Thus we can be salt and light in this troubled world.
Calendar:
12/9 and 12/10-Work party for Community Christmas beginning at 9:00am
12/11-Midweek Encounter at 6:30-last Wednesday meeting of the year
12/13 to 12/15 Community Christmas 5 pm-8 pm
Submitted by
Larry and Annette Linthicum
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