PUT OFF THE OLD AND PUT ON THE NEW
It’s the second week of New Year. As a family, you might have thought of some new goals, personally there would be new goals, work front there would be new targets set. It’s good to have aims and goals. We as a church also have made certain goals. In the below verse Paul says, press on towards your goals, forgetting what is behind and straining ahead.
Philippians 3: 12 – 14 – Goal setting
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Last Sunday we also heard about being mission minded. We need to aim at what is ahead of us.
Today we can ask ourselves, What can I do to make the new year new? Or the New year has already begun, what is it that I got to grow in? By the end of 2024, let’s have the mindset of Paul. He says I know I have not achieved it yet but I will not give up on it. I am going to strive and strain towards the goals.
Yet another question is what is it that I need to achieve?
Hence, Ask yourself the right questions to get to the goal. Challenge ourselves. Let me be a little more elaborate. We may look around or look into the bible heroes and tell ourselves that I am not ___________. They are not born this way, have a certain financial condition. I don’t think I will be able to do it. However, on the other hand we feel negative when people move ahead of us or when they are into God’s purposes. Ask yourself, what is my goal, that Jesus has brought me here. He has paid a price not that I sit here and waste my life in something that is meaningless and unsatifying.
Dig deep into our heart condition, my heart condition will tell me how I feel about what I am doing. I may feel happy for a moment but we have a lot of heart conditions to deal with. I will never be satisfied if it is not what God has planned or if I am not in the centre of God’s plan. What is my heart condition? Do I feel that I can claim like Paul that I am striving towards the Goal , that for which Jesus has called me for. Look at the past year, look at the current year, I am sure, you don’t want it to be the same as last year.
Ask questions that will help us grow.
What I need to start? What I need to stop? – The most important questions that we can ask ourselves. It could be personally, family – what we need to stop doing and what we need to start doing, church – what we need to stop doing (viewer) and what I need to start doing (being involved)
Ephesians 4: 22 – 24
22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Put off the old, put on the new.
New thoughts, new words, new actions, new motives
Analogy of putting on new clothes and taking off the old clothes. First you need to get rid of the old cloth to put on the new clothes. Is there anyone here who puts on a new piece of cloth before actually removing the old cloth?
I don’t think even in our sleep we do that. How much ever tired we are, when we change we take that effort to remove the old stuff from our body and put on the new.
So what does that mean: Anything that we have been doing which doesn’t serve the purpose or doesn’t help me to grow spiritually, I discard it. I put it off. Am I still sinning, stop, put it off.
Stop gossiping, stop envying, stop sexual immorality, stop lying to self and others, stop making excuses, stop entertaining bad company, stop cheating, stop and put off.
Many a times we say this to ourselves, I am a strong person. I can handle it. I don’t gossip but everyone around me gossips. I stay away from it. Or I don’t drink or I know my friends cheat but I have kept my self from doing. So everyone around me is doing it but I am a holy person, never, I do it. Fair enough.
Look at this cake. How many of us can smell the cake? You can feel it around, look at it, for that matter even touch it but definitely, we say, so what Sandra, it doesn’t tempt me. I can be around this cake for hours together but as I talk about it, I go closer to it, feel how will it affect me, and so on. My thoughts are lingering around that cake.
Analogy of the cake and fruits
– Stop being around the cake, focussing on the cake. If you caught up in the old you are never going to change. We are so good at saying No that we take pride in staying around the old, people who say yes to the old but we say No and then become arrogant about it. You need something new.
Fruits –
Living something new. As long as you are closer to the new, you don’t even recall the old. You need to come out of the old. Because if I am out of the area where I say No, I will better focus on the new task. The goal that for which the Lord lay hold of me.
Accomplishments of goals happens only when I am around that not being around the stuff that I want to stop but being around the thing I want to start. I will focus on new ideas, new strategies to achieve, can you see the difference in the mindset?
However, when we press on toward the goal that God has set for us, we also need to be aware of Traps that the enemy puts us in.
Trap – beware
- Perfectionism – The moment I want to get perfect on my first attempt, I may fail and the eventual mindset would be I am not going to do this again. It’s a lie. WE eventually become perfect. I am not good at singing, I am not going to sing, I am not good at the Sunday school, I don’t even want to attempt, worse is I don’t understand the bible when I read by myself so let me not attempt it. I fumble when I pray in the church, I don’t want to pray. Don’t try to be perfect, only start the new. Otherwise we will forever be in the old.
Secondly, the notion of now I am perfect, I know it and the next minute we’ll fall. I am good at this, I think I don’t need to do it. I am perfect at setting up the PA but that Sunday, it’ll not work well. Hence, we need to work on it daily. It’s a deception either ways. We need to improve ourselves daily, be committed daily, be available.
- One and done decision – we need to take decisions daily – Analogy of the clothes – change daily. This is like, I have had a bath once, so that’s it, rest of the year, we don’t take bath. It’s a decision that we take and remind ourselves of regularly. I am going to read the bible today, now. I don’t feel like it but I am going to do it. I have decided to join the church prayer team, today I don’t feel like it but I am going to pray, it’s a decision, and a commitment, we take because, we are pressing on towards the goal that for which the Lord has chosen me.
- Doesn’t feel right – There will be lot of thoughts that will run through our mind when we take up new challenges, roles, responsibilities. Many times we may feel, my previous year was less hectic than this year. I shouldn’t have taken this up. It doesn’t feel right.
Many people may say you were so good when you were making mean jokes or were being sarcastic but now you have decided that you are not going to be that way, people or family may say that I like the old _______ . Then we start questioning ourselves. However the decision to put off the old was because, you need to be like Christ and gossiping, cheating or hurting others through mean comments was our old self. Put off the old and put on the new.
It will be all unfamiliar first but as you start putting off and putting on, it will make a difference. Also, we will be encouraged to take up new challenges. Being missional is new but as we dive into it, we will become better at it and it will become a life style.
Romans 13: 11 -14
11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
Darkness to light
We were in the dark so long. Jesus brought us to light. Let’s proceed further in the light. Allow ourselves to go ahead.
Putting off the darkness in us- Confess our sin, don’t dwell in the unrighteous deeds.
Many times we don’t allow the Holy Spirit to even intervene in our life because we are used to the darkness.
First thing to put on is Christ himself. Have we accepted Jesus as our personal saviour, so I have put on Christ. Once I put on Christ, I need to have a new beginning, a new story. Jesus empowers us to live a life of victory. Put on Christ in Galatians 3:26 to 27 – 26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
Baptised means, I immerse myself in Christ and come out of the darkness. I dwell in the light of Jesus, exposing all the wickedness and being the Christ minded. Having the things of above.
Once I decide to walk in Christ Jesus, I also start new by waters of baptism. It’s declaring that I put off my old self and put on the new, now I decide to walk in the kingdom of light and no more in darkness.
Don’t be trapped by the thought that when I become perfect then I am going to take baptism but Jesus says that Baptism is a decision that we take to put off the old us and put on the new us. It’s a decision.
Where are the closed doors and where are the Open doors.
Many times we keep knocking or turning to closed doors. We try to squeeze and push, pull, give our 100% to open a door that is closed for us.
Check, if there’s another door that God has opened for us. It may not happen the way we desire but has opened a door and we may be totally unaware of it. Look for God’s open doors.
Don’t force open doors. See where God has opened a door.
Let’s read Paul’s journey.
Acts 16: 6 – 10
6 Paul and his companions travelled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
Paul keeps trusting , keeps moving. It’s easier for God to move us when we are on the move. Try to move a vehicle when it is still. It takes time and efforts but if the vehicle is on the move, you can change it’s direction.
Many times we feel, this looks good then why would God not open it for me. It worked for my colleague, it is such a great opportunity to do God’s work there but the Holy Spirit keeps us from going there. It could be a career, it could be a transfer, it could be marriage. We don’t understand why am I in Troas, when I am actually supposed to be in Asia.
LISTEN, to the voice of the Spirit. Going there might have side tracked, or hurt me, and so on. Don’t try to push open the door which God has not kept for you. God uses closed doors to put us where he wants us. God works best with moving objects and so don’t stand still, or else it’s hard to move you. If you move, he’ll direct you to the open door. Troas wasn’t the open door, Macedonia was. You are in a situation like Troas.
You are here in Renewed Hope Community, it may be your Macedonia. Listen and obey. This new year, make a commitment to press on the goal that for which the Lord lay hold of you and brought you to RHC or to Panvel. We believe you are not here by accident but God intended you to be here.
Put off the old, put on the New. Come to the Light and see the Open doors.
What seems important and what is truly important
Matthew 6: 25,33
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Seek first what God puts first. We always run after things which seem to be important but God is clearly saying – Seek first my Kingdom, seek me and then these things will come to you. SEEM and WHAT IS important. Food seems to be important but there are people who have done 40 days of fasting and more. Having a property seem to be important but there are people still living comfortably in some home. Higher education or studying abroad seem to be important but is it really there are people who earn more than those who have got a degree in foreign universities.
We generally seek our materialistic things then we say, when I am settled, I will serve God. I think we have missed the point that the bible tells us. Reverse the order. Seek His Kingdom, Seek to serve God, grab the opportunities, keep moving, don’t be hindered by people who are not kingdom minded, when they comment on you. Be Missional. Grow in the spiritual place that God has placed you in.
Receiving mindset verses Giving mindset. Kingdom of God is all about giving but our mindset, very human what is my benefit or profit in this. I want to receive from all ends.
People will say you are a fool. Career, money, good future is priority but the word of God which is foolishness to the world is wisdom for us. When we seek His kingdom, we open the gates of heaven and God takes care of our needs.
How do I know what I need to put first?
Read Scriptures: Through reading his word, I will understand what I need to put first.
Try different ways of doing it this year, take five minutes, do short portions. God’s word has a power to change us.
Matthew 22: 36 – 39
36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]
Love God first. Make Him your first priority. Take time out to pray. Be around people who will guide you to Jesus, towards the goal. Meet often, talk often with them. Put off the darkness and put on the light.
What are u gonna seek this new year?
Reverse your priorities. I’m gonna love God. I am gonna love others. What is important is faith.
Make a commitment.
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your[a] life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you:[b] sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming.[c] 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self[d] with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave,[e] free; but Christ is all, and in all.
12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3: 1 -17
Put off the Old – Put on the New
Put off the darkness – Put on the Light
Where are the closed doors – where are the open doors
What seems important – what is truly important
Sandra wife of Virjil, The Renewed Hope Community is situated in the heart of the city between Old and New Panvel. We can confidently share that Renewed Hope Community is a Church in Kamothe, Church in Khandeshwar, Church in Khanda Colony, Church in Karanjade, Church in Panvel, Church in New Panvel, Church in Karanjade because we are centrally located and these places surround our church Venue.
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