A Fresh Start
1. There Are Bumps In The Road
2. Jesus Can Give Us A Fresh Start
3. One Hour
4. Sometimes We Wait A Long Time For A Fresh Start
5. A Fresh Start For A New Week
6. Simon Peter Got A Fresh Start
7. Noah Got A Fresh Start And A New Beginning
8. God Can Give You A Fresh Start
1. There Are Bumps In The Road
When we go through trials we sometimes wonder why we are going through such hard times, and think that we are the only ones with problems. When I started on my cancer journey I shared stories that reflected the hard times and rejoiced in the victories. I wanted to encourage others who may have also been going through such difficult times. The last few months were challenging with cancer surgery on my liver in December and another cancer surgery on my neck in February. As I was waiting for my second surgery, my Pastor told me that it was a bump in the road. I told him it seemed to be more like a pot hole. But, even then God gave me sweet peace that everything would be alright. I am thankful to my wonderful Lord for being with me and also thankful for all the people who prayed for me. I recently had an ultrasound, a CT scan, and MRI and there is no sign of new cancer. I am rejoicing and feel like God is giving me a fresh start. I think we can find encouragement in God’s Word as we look at examples of “A Fresh Start”. “I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:4)
2. Jesus Can Give Us A Fresh Start
We just celebrated Easter, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. We are all born in sin and sin must be judged. Jesus came to take our place and pay for our sin. That is why He suffered and died on the cruel cross. On the third day He rose up from the tomb and He lives in heaven. When we believe that Jesus is God’s Son and ask Him in prayer to forgive us of our sin He will save us. We turn away from the sinful life we lived and have a fresh start in Jesus. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (II Corinthians 5:17)
3. One Hour
Preacher John Byerly spoke Wednesday evening from Mark 14, with his focus on the question Jesus asked Peter, “couldest not thou watch one hour?” Are we spending time with the Lord? Are our lives so busy that we don’t have one hour for the Lord?
1. It reveals the Lord’s desire. He wanted an active relationship. He wanted them to have an understanding of how important this mission was. The Lord wants us to be involved in His ministry.
2. It reveals the Lord’s disappointment. He was doing so much and asking so little. It’s the same with us.
3. it’s a devastating question. They were missing the whole event, everything that was happening. They were tired, but they looked like they didn’t care. Are we missing what is going on?
We can spend 3 hours a week at church. Is that a sufficient amount considering there are 168 hours in a week? We don’t know what we are missing if we are not spending time in Bible reading and prayer. This is a new day. We can make a fresh start and give more of our time to the Lord. Did you know that you can read the entire Bible in a year by reading 3 chapters each day and adding a couple extra chapters each week? Did you know that prayer can change your life when you put your trust in Jesus? He wants to spend time with us. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20) Do you have one hour for the Lord?
“37 And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour?
38 Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.
39 And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words.
40 And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him.” (Mark 14:37-40)
4. Sometimes We Wait A Long Time For A Fresh Start
The book of Kings tells of the kings who reigned over Israel and Judah. Some were good in the sight of the Lord and things went well for the nation. Other kings were evil and God let them fall into judgment by other nations. I want to share the closing verses of II Kings. Nebuchadnezzar invaded Judah and destroyed Jerusalem and the temple. The Chaldeans took the gold, silver, and brass and carried away many captives. King Jehoiachin was taken captive. As the days turned into years he probably thought many times that he would die in prison in Babylon. But, at the end of this book we find that the new king of Babylon took Jehoiachin out of prison, “And he spake kindly unto him…” This King of Judah was getting a fresh start. He spent 37 years in prison, but he was finally delivered from his captivity. Try not to get discouraged if your trials seem to be never ending. Sometimes we have to wait a long time before we get a fresh start and a new beginning.
“27 And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the year that he began to reign did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison;
28 And he spake kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon;
29 And changed his prison garments: and he did eat bread continually before him all the days of his life.
30 And his allowance was a continual allowance given him of the king, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his life.” (II Kings 25:27-30)
5. A Fresh Start For A New Week
Sunday afternoon it felt like something ran across my foot, but I didn’t see anything. Later I went into the kitchen and I saw a lizard. Its head was under the rug and I think that it thought I couldn’t see it because it sat very still. Like a child who covers her eyes and says, “You can’t see me.” I wet an old folded towel and dropped it down on the lizard. Then I carefully wrapped the edges under it and took it outside where it ran off through the grass. We spent a lot of time Monday trying to get a dead squirrel out from under our car motor. Elsa helped from the top and Jedidiah underneath as they tried to work it over to a hole. I won’t gross you out with the details, but we didn’t succeed. Tuesday we had errands to run and I was thankful that the nasty smell was not coming into the car. We had to get a new washer and dryer, and I don’t enjoy making such a large purchase. I was quite uneasy about how our week was going. We went into the church and it was quiet. As I went into the sanctuary to clean, a calm and peaceful feeling came over me and all my uneasiness was gone. The Pastor wasn’t there. There were no people in the pews. No singing. Just a peaceful quietness as I walked from pew to pew. Looking at the Sunday School papers left by the children on the pews, my heart filled with joy. I thought about how the Lord has blessed our church. Today I want to remind you that you can get a fresh start for your week by going to the house of the Lord. David said, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.” (Psalm 122:1) “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.” (Psalm 27:4) He also said, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. (Psalm 23:6) If you want a really fresh start for your week, start in the house of the Lord.
If you don’t have a church home please visit us at:
Pine Grove Baptist Church
6308 Modlin Grove Road
High Point, NC
Sunday 9:30 am Sunday School
10:30 am Worship Service
Wednesday 1:00 pm Afternoon Service
7:00 pm Evening Service
6. Simon Peter Got A Fresh Start
When we look into the scriptures for someone who got a fresh start, we can see it clearly in the life of Simon Peter. He was just a fisherman when Jesus called him and told him to follow Him and be a fisher of men. Peter followed Jesus and believed in Him. It was Peter who said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16) Peter wanted to follow Jesus all the way. “Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake. Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.” (John 13:37-38) Peter even tried to defend Jesus with a sword. “Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.” (John 18:10) But, in the end, Peter denied knowing Jesus.
“25 And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not.
26 One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him?
27 Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.” (John 18:25-27)
So, what was Peter to do? He decided to go back to his old life. And he went fishing. Jesus saw them from the shore, with bread and fish on the fire, and offered them to “Come and dine.” Peter had denied Jesus three times, and Jesus let him confess his love three times.
“15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.” (John 21:15-17)
Jesus gave Peter a fresh start. He was bold in his preaching as we enter the book of Acts with the story of the early church. We make mistakes. Sometimes we say the wrong thing. But God forgives and can give us a fresh start.
“36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” (Acts 2:36-41)
7. Noah Got A Fresh Start And New Beginning
We only have to read six chapters into the Bible to find that the people of the world had become very wicked and God decided to destroy the wicked and the earth and make a fresh start.
“5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.” (Genesis 6:5-9)
Most children who have spent much time in church probably know the story of Noah and the ark. Jesus compared His next coming to the days of Noah. Are you ready for this fresh start?
“35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” (Matthew 24:35-42)
8. God Can Give You A Fresh Start
We have looked at examples of people who found a fresh start. God has blessed us in giving us each a new day, which we can see as a fresh start. Today is for those who feel like they have gone too far to get a fresh start. I am here to tell you that God loves you. If you put your trust in Jesus and confess to Him, He will save you. Our first example is a man named Saul, who created havoc for the early church… until he met Jesus. Jesus saved him and changed his name to Paul. He said that he was the chief among sinners, and yet God saved him. (I Timothy 1:15)
“1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?...” (Acts 9:1-6)
If you are lost, God loves you and will give you a fresh start through Jesus. Maybe you are a Christian and have strayed away from God. You may think that you have gone too far away from God to go back to Him. God still loves you! In Luke 15 Jesus told about a young man who told his father that he wanted his inheritance, and he took it and went away from the father’s house and wasted all his money. He was alone and hungry, almost ready to eat the food that he fed the pigs, when “he came to himself.” Just like the father received his son, God is waiting for you to go back to Him.
“18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.” (Luke 15:18-24)
