Jan. 5 | Never Going Back

Series | The God Kind of Life

Lesson 5 | Never Going Back

Lesson Scripture | 1 Peter 4:3, "For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do–living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry."

Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired with your sin?  If not, sin may still have a grip on your heart.  When I first got saved I said to myself, “Never, never, never will I do those things again- I’m never going back!”  However, after one time of my friend begging me so much and saying, “You don’t have to get drunk or smoke weed with us, just come by and hang out.”  I gave in and went to the party as a baby Christian. 

Once I got there everybody ignored me and teased me for being the “party pooper.”  Then after a couple hours they became wasted and started stumbling all over the place, not making any sense, and they were being straight up rude.  I’ll never forget what I felt God say in my heart that day.  He asked me, “Have you had enough yet?”  I then jumped to my feet, left, and never looked backed.

It’s been over 17 years since I’ve gone to a party like that.  Why?  Because I made up in my mind that all the time of partying and doing sinful things was “enough” for me.  I didn’t need to experience any more of it- I had my fill of sin.  Now all I wanted was the pure bliss of heaven.

My friends continued to call me and tried to get me to go out with them again but this time I kept saying no.  Sure it was hard at first, but the peace in my soul was worth guarding, and it got easier over time.  Eventually, they stopped calling and asking me altogether.  Today, they still call from time to time, but it’s much different now.  They call to ask for prayer and advice on how to leave their old life behind.      

Reflection | Have you had enough of your sin yet? 

Action | (1) Examine your heart to see if there are any sins you like to keep doing.  (2) Then ask God to give you a holy hatred from your “favorite sins” and to see them the way He does. (3) Lastly, every time you think about the “good ole’ sinful days,” remember that it was those days that put Jesus on the cross and dammed your soul to eternal hell.  Thus, live in view of God's love and mercy.   

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | Genesis 11:1-13:4, Matthew 5:1-26, Psalm 5:1-12, & Proverbs 1:24-28. Click here to read online. 

Jan. 4 | Set Free to Live Free

Series | The God Kind of Life
 

Lesson 4 | Set Free to Live Free

Lesson Scripture | John 8:36, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

There is an old story about a traveling salesman from the city driving out into the country trying to gain some new costumers.  As he was driving down a dusty gravel road he saw a dog running next to his car doing flips and rolling on the ground with tremendous joy. 

He thought it might be a circus dog or even some kind of show dog, however, as he slowed down he could see it wasn’t a show dog, but rather it had scars and a slight limp.  Fascinated by the strange site he decided to pull over and have his lunch watching this very unique country dog.  A few moments passed by and the salesman noticed an old farmer come by and give the dogs it's food and water. 

The salesman spoke up and said, “Excuse me sir, I’ve been here watching your dog do all kinds of tricks- how’d he learn to be so acrobatic?”  The farmer replied, “I was out checking my rabbit traps one day in the woods and I heard this terrible sound coming from a distance.  I went over and found this dog bleeding and tied to a tree left to die.  So I set the dog free, cleaned him up, fed him, and brought him home to live with me and he has been jumping and leaping ever since!”

When Jesus found you, you were just like that ole’ country dog.  Tied to the tree of sin, left by the devil to die, and beat up by this world.  However, Jesus set you free so you could live a new life filled with joy, peace, and abundance.  Therefore, don’t let your current troubles or issues bring you down.  Remember who you were before you met Jesus and start praising Him for your freedom.       

Reflection | Are you living free from sin? 

Action | (1) Search your heart to see if any sins are trying to tie you to your past.  (2) Confess and repent of all sins you find. (3) Return to the joy of your salvation and rejoice in the freedom Jesus has given you! 

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | Genesis 8:1-10:32, Matthew 4:12-25, Psalm 4:1-8, & Proverbs 1:20-23. Click here to read online. 

Jan. 3 | The Life of Faith

Series | The God Kind of Life

Lesson 3 | The Life of Faith

Lesson Scripture | Hebrews 11:1, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

Have you ever bought something that needed to be delivered- maybe a gift for a friend online or even a pizza?  What did the company give you to confirm your purchase?  A receipt.  Why?  They wanted to give you proof that what you had bought was on its way to you.

The same is true with faith in God for His promises.  When God makes a promise and you believe it- it becomes yours at that moment.  However, it still needs to be delivered.  And the receipt or the proof He gives you that it’s coming to you is faith.  Thus, faith is not just a human emotion, like wishing or make believing, but rather it is the certainty and substance of God’s promises.

Romans 10:17 states that, “faith comes by hearing the Word of God.”  As a result whenever you read the Word of God faith comes as a guarantee for what is to come to you.  You may not see your healing yet, but it’s already yours.  Thus, live by the faith in your heart because one day you will be healed- either in this life or the one to come.  You don’t see the new heavens and earth yet, but by faith you have a “receipt of purchase” for your eternal home with Jesus.

Therefore, as you read the Bible and learn about things you don’t have or see yet, live by faith in God because they are yours already.  To doubt God and His Word is to believe your current reality and circumstances are more real than the realities of God.  However, just as you would be confident that the new TV you purchased is being shipped to your house, remember Jesus on the cross purchased all of God’s promises for you and they are on their way too.  Thus, live by faith in Jesus and expect one day to receive all His good and precious promises!      

Reflection | Are you living by faith in God's promises? 

Action | (1) Write out five precious promises of God found in His Word, (2) Then pray and speak them over your life in the present.  For example, “I am healed,” “I am blessed,” etc. (3) Lastly, remind yourself of God’s promises in times of testing to keep and increase your faith and remove doubt. 

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | Genesis 5:1-7:24, Matthew 3:7-4:11, Psalm 3:1-8, & Proverbs 1:10-19.  Click here to read online. 

Jan. 2 | A Second Chance at Life

Series | The God Kind of Life

Lesson 2 | A Second Chance at Life

Scripture | John 3:3, "In reply Jesus declared, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.’"

I was born January 19^th, 1977 and within a few years, according to my parents, I showed a propensity towards rebellion.  In 2^nd grade I received my first paddling at the Christian school, in 5^th grade I was given a permanent desk in “time out,” expelled for the first time in 6^th grade for “mooning” a girl, and by the time I was 16 years old I was a drug dealing high school drop out.

When I was 18 years old after being arrested 8x, having contracted two sexual transmitted infections, and doing cocaine regularly- I knew I needed a second chance at life. Therefore, after my Mom presented me with the Gospel at her kitchen table, something was different; I realized like never before, I needed Jesus to forgive me and make me new.  Thus, I confessed my sins and made Jesus the Lord and Savior of my life that day.  As a result, I was born again November 5^th, 1995.

What is your life story?  Don’t judge mine or try to cover up yours.  How old were you when you told your first lie, took something that didn’t belong to you, willing disobeyed your parents, lusted after someone, had jealousy in your heart, coveted what your friend had, or took the Lord’s name in vain?  The bottom line is we’re all born sinners with a strong inner desire towards sin.  And we all need Jesus to forgive us and give us a second chance at life.

That’s what it means to be “born again.”  Just like you were born the first time in your flesh by your parents a sinner, now you can be born again in your soul and Spirit by Jesus’ work on the cross and become a saint of God.  And if you’ve already been born again, remember to live your new life, not the old one!  All things are new this time around so let God make the best of every day you live!  

Reflection | When were you born again? 

Action | (1) If you're not born again, repent of your sins and put your full trust in Jesus. (2) If you are born again examine your life to see if any of the old junk has come back. If it has, repent to God for it and ask Him to make you a new person in each and every area of your life. (3) Tell somebody today about your "second birth day-" it will increase your faith and encourage them. 

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | Genesis 3:1-4:26, Matthew 2:13-3:6, Psalm 2:1-12, & Proverbs 1:7-9.  Click here to read online. 

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Jan. 1 | How Much of You is New?

Series | The God Kind of Life

Lesson 1 | How Much of You is New?

Lesson Scripture | 1 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come."

I'll never forget the first day I became a brand new person. It was November 5th, 1995 in my Mom's kitchen when I confessed my sins and put my full trust in Jesus Christ. I remember going back to the girl's house I was living at with my Bible from elementary school and trying to go "back to normal." However, I couldn't live the same anymore... everything felt different. 

I tried to put on the same music I'd been playing just the night before but it didn't sound right. I gave some of my friends a call and tried talking about the normal day-to-day stuff but something just didn't feel right. So I went to the bathroom and opened up that ole' Bible and started reading the first place I could find. 

The page landed in the heart of the Psalms of David. I first started to read the verses to myself, but I felt them coming to my lips. So I started to read them out loud and all of a sudden tears started pouring down my face as I heard the words of David to God.  His worship to God was the cry of my heart- I was so desperate for more of God. I knew from that day forward I wasn't going to be satisfied with half of God and half of me, I needed all of God in all of me all of the time. It was all or nothing and I chose "all!"     

Now as I write about my "born again" experience it has been more than 17 years! I've seen God be faithful in each and every situation I have faced. Therefore, I would like to challenge you to have the same experience if you have never been born again (John 3:3-16) and start a new life with Jesus today.  And if you have been born again then I want to challenge you to never go back to your old life, but rather live your new life 100% with God every day. 

God loves to show up and change our lives. When he does we are literally so radically changed that we become a "new creation." I'm not referring to "going to church," "trying to be a better person," or "having a near death experience." I'm describing a total transformation and renovation of the person you used to be. 

Meaning, the person you are now in Christ has never existed before and everything in your past is gone- all the hurt, sin, and disappointment. Every day after your day of salvation is a new day- so live like it. You may get discouraged sometimes because you act like the old you or even feel like giving up when things get tough. But always try to remember who your God is and what He did for you. He died so that you might live!

In Christ you are a new creation! 

Reflection | Are you living the new life since the day you met Jesus? 

Action | (1) If you're not born again, repent of your sins and put your full trust in Jesus. (2) If you're born again examine your life to see if any of the old junk has come back. If it has, repent to God for it and ask Him to make you a new person in each and every area of your life. (3) Tell somebody today your story about how God changed you- it will increase your faith and encourage them. 

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | Genesis 1:1-2:25, Matthew 1:1-2:12, Psalm 1:1-6, & Proverbs 1:1-6. Click here to read online. 

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