Starting Over

Starting Over

Paul

Acts 9:1-8 

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.“ I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus.

We all have the same starting point

Come to Jesus moment...

The greatest deception of your life will be self-deception 

Honesty is the hardest pill to swallow in the mirror

Romans 3:22-23

22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God 

True honesty dissolves deception

Honesty does not guarantee hope

True honesty is the only place to find true hope

Do not be deceived there is no hope without a honesty

Ephesians 2:4-5

4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Galatians 2:19-20

19 “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Rich in mercy made us alive 

 Faith filled is now how we live

Real hope for the real honest

2 Corinthians 5:17-19

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

Reconciliation is a fresh start over

Starting over is part of our message and mission

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Real hope for the real honest

Rich in mercy and faith filled brings a fresh start over

3 steps 

1. Get honest 
2. Receive the riches of mercy
3. Begin a fresh start over in faith

5 mins a day can change the rest of your days

Read Philippians or Galatians or Ephesians or Gospel of John