Download The Christian and Self-Renewal Why We Need Renewal

The Christian and
Self-Renewal
Why We Need Renewal
Introduction
• Being at Ease in Zion.
• Guard against complacency
• Some are not growing spiritually—
why?
• What can we do about it?
• Where do we REALLY stand
before God?
• What will it REALLY take to change?
Introduction
• We need self-renewal in every aspect
of our lives.
• Any organization’s survival depends on
those of whom it consists.
• Churches grow as Christians grow.
• God does speak on the subject.
• Self-renewal is needed in the
Christian’s life.
• This is also true of the Lord’s
Church!
What Is Self-Renewal?
• Defined as:
– “to make new again; to restore to
freshness, perfection, or vigor; to
give new life to; to rejuvenate; to
reestablish; to recreate, to
rebuild.”
• Thayer’s Greek Lexicon:
– “a renewal, renovation, complete
change for the better.”
Passages That Deal
With Renewal
• Romans 12:2
– “And do not be conformed to this
world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind…”
• 2 Corinthians 4:16
– “…Even though our outward man is
perishing, yet the inward man is
being renewed day by day.”
Passages That Deal
With Renewal
• Colossians 3:10
– “And have put on the new man who
is renewed in knowledge according
to the image of Him who created
him.”
• Hebrews 6:6
– “if they fall away, to renew them
again to repentance, since they
crucify again...”
Self-Renewal
• We are defining self-renewal as…
– Personal and inward renewal
– The ability to put into place
measures to ensure that we are
perpetually revitalizing ourselves.
As Individuals, We Sometimes
Need Renewal
• Consider your own life—
– How do you feel about religion?
– Do you have zeal for God?
– Do you consider worship a
drudgery?
– How easily are you distracted from
your service to Him?
– Is your Biblical knowledge greater
than it was a year ago?
As Individuals, We
Sometimes Need Renewal
• Consider your own life—
– What about five years ago?
– When you first obeyed the gospel?
– Are you continually looking for ways to
serve Him and your brethren?
– Is Christ at the center of your
thoughts?
– Is your Christianity merely existing or
moving at a slow pace?
– Are you in a rut or thriving?
Sometimes, Churches Also Need
Renewal
• From time to time, churches need to
examine themselves.
• Consider the churches in Revelation 2, 3.
–
–
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–
–
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Some had sinful practices that needed correcting.
Some had poor attitudes that needed correction.
Today, some churches are dying.
Membership is dwindling.
Only a select few show real interest.
Holding our own? In a rut or thriving?
Need to develop a self-renewing spirit.
Why We Need Self-Renewal
• Because we are expected to thrive.
• Every Christian is expected to grow.
– “But grow in the grace and knowledge of
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…” {2
Peter 3:18}
– “…add to your faith virtue, to virtue
knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to
self-control perseverance, to
perseverance godliness, to godliness
brotherly kindness, and to brotherly
kindness love .” {2 Peter 1:5-7}
Why We Need Self-Renewal
• Mature Christian growth does
not grow a little—it thrives.
(prospers or flourishes)
– “…I have come that they may have
life, and that they may have it more
abundantly.” {John 10:10}
– “For if these things are yours and
abound, you will be neither barren
nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our
Lord Jesus Christ.” {2 Peter 1:8}
Why We Need Self-Renewal
• The inward man is being
renewed day by day. It’s not an
occasional process; it’s a daily
thing. This is thriving!
– “Therefore we do not lose heart.
Even though our outward man is
perishing, yet the inward man is
being renewed day by day.” {2
Corinthians 4:16}
Dangers of Not Progressing
• Failure to grow is rebuked.
• Failure to grow in life, which may
lead to mediocrity, is always
devastating.
• Many are content to stay where
they are and see little or no reason
to move ahead.
• Failure to progress spiritually can
have eternal consequences.
Dangers of Not Progressing
“For though by this time you ought to be
teachers, you need someone to teach you
again the first principles of the oracles of God;
and you have come to need milk and not solid
food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is
unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he
is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who
are of full age, that is, those who by reason of
use have their senses exercised to discern
both good and evil.” {Hebrews 5:12-14}
Dangers of Not Progressing
• You might grow indifferent.
– In Christianity, indifference is a big
concern.
– There are other words—apathy,
complacency-- that describe it.
– Indifference and apathy are always a
problem in any society.
– Moving beyond mediocrity to a level
where you fail to act results in negative
consequences.
Dangers of Not Progressing
• The Bible condemns spiritual
apathy.
• It led to Israel’s captivity—
– “But they refused to heed, shrugged
their shoulders, and stopped their
ears so that they could not hear.
Yes, they made their hearts like flint,
refusing to hear the law and the
words which the LORD of hosts had
sent by His Spirit through the former
prophets…” {Zechariah 7:11,12}
Dangers of Not Progressing
• The Bible condemns spiritual
apathy.
• The marriage feast—
– “…Come to the wedding. But they
made light of it and went their
ways, one to his own farm, another
to his business. And the rest seized
his servants, treated them spitefully,
and killed them.” {Matthew 22:4-6}
Dangers of Not Progressing
• The Bible condemns spiritual
apathy.
• Neglecting divine offers—
– “How shall we escape if we neglect
so great a salvation, which at the
first began to be spoken by the Lord,
and was confirmed to us by those
who heard Him.” {Hebrews 2:3}
Dangers of Not Progressing
• Lost opportunities.
• Do we realize the value of the soul.
• Everyone will die; our souls will
spend eternity in one of two
places—heaven or hell.
• Sadly, most will be lost.
• The greater number will be because
of indifference and apathy.
Dangers of Not Progressing
• The question is, “Whose apathy?”
• Will we be like Felix?
– “…Go away for now; when I have a
convenient time I will call for you."
{Acts 24:25}
• Will we be lost because of our OWN
apathy?
– “For if I preach the gospel, I have
nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid
upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not
preach the gospel!” {1 Corinthians 9:16}
Dangers of Not Progressing
• We’re running out of time.
• As previously noted, we have only a
limited amount of time.
• When we fail to see the importance
of progressing, we waste precious
time and opportunity.
• Famous words—”I’m going
to start doing better.”
Dangers of Not Progressing
• Because life is uncertain, we’re sure to
experience anxiety in our lives.
– “Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord,
we persuade men; but we are well known to
God, and I also trust are well known in your
consciences.” {2 Corinthians 5:11}
– “But others save with fear, pulling them out
of the fire, hating even the garment defiled
by the flesh.” {Jude 23}
Don’t Lose and Allow Things to
Wither Away
• Let it be clearly understood—apathy has
serious spiritual consequences.
– “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out
as a branch and is withered; and they gather
them and throw them into the fire, and they
are burned.” {John 15:6}
– “And cast the unprofitable servant into the
outer darkness. There will be weeping and
gnashing of teeth.” {Matthew 25:30}
Don’t Lose and Allow Things to
Wither Away
• Let it be clearly understood—apathy has
serious spiritual consequences.
– “For you have need of endurance, so that after
you have done the will of God, you may receive
the promise: For yet a little while, and He who
is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the
just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back,
My soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not
of those who draw back to perdition, but of those
who believe to the saving of the soul.”
{Hebrews 10:36-38}