The Christian faith is all about being RENEWED.
Our spirits need renewal - Return to the Lord.
2 Corinthians 4:16 (NLT) — 16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being RENEWED every day.
Our identity needs renewal - Remember who you are.
Colossians 3:10–11 (NLT) — 10 Put on your new nature, and be RENEWED as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. 11 In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.
Our minds need renewal - Remove worldly ways.
Romans 12:2 (ESV) — 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the RENEWAL of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Our STRENGTH needs renewal -
Isaiah 40:28–31 (ESV) — 28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. 30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 31 but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
So HOW CAN WE EXPERIENCE RENEWAL?
ACKNOWLEDGE Three Things:
- Acknowledge our LIMITLESS GOD.
- Have you not known?
- Have you not heard?
- He is the everlasting God.
- Two areas He is limitless:
- He does not faint nor grow weary.
- He does not run out of wisdom.
- Acknowledge His LIMITLESS GENEROSITY.
- He gives power to the faint, might to those without strength.
- What is His willingness to give?
- Ephesians 3:16 (NLT) — 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.
- Acknowledge LIMITED HUMANITY.
- Even the best of us get tired! Whoever you think is super-human is not!
- We have limited energy, limited patience, limited knowledge, limited time.
- When you are at the end of yourself, you are at the PERFECT place.
ACT Three Ways:
- WAIT
- Stillness
- Silence
- Surrender
- Psalm 37:7 (NLT) — 7 Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act.
- LOOK
- Psalm 130:5–6 (NLT) — 5 I am counting on the LORD; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word. 6 I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn, yes, more than sentries long for the dawn.
- TRUST
- The confidence that He WILL come through
ACQUIRE Three Things:
- Lift - Mount up with wings
- Ascend into the throne room
- Lift over the storm
- See from a higher perspective
- Energy - Run and do not grow weary
- Endless endurance
- People will wonder where your strength comes from.
- Endurance - Walk and not faint
- Sometimes He lifts us up.
- Sometimes He causes us to swiftly pass through.
- Sometimes He walks with us for many years through hard trials.