How can we see God's renewal in our lives today? Setting the Scene: Psalm 104:30 “When You send forth Your Spirit, they are created, and You renew the face of the earth.” The Spirit’s Pattern: Creation and Re-Creation • Genesis 1:2 – the Spirit hovered over chaos and brought order; Psalm 104:30 shows the same Spirit still bringing life now. • Renewal is not abstract—it is the literal, ongoing action of God’s Spirit in the world He made. • Just as the earth is refreshed season by season, God delights to refresh people made in His image. New Birth: The First Taste of Renewal • John 3:3-8 – the Spirit gives new birth; without Him no one sees the kingdom. • 2 Corinthians 5:17 – “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” • Titus 3:5 – “He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” What it means today: – Freedom from old guilt: sins are removed as surely as the Spirit once swept darkness away. – A new heart with new desires: Ezekiel 36:26-27 promises a heart of flesh and the indwelling Spirit to obey. Daily Renewal: Fresh Strength for Ordinary Days • Lamentations 3:22-23 – mercies are “new every morning.” • 2 Corinthians 4:16 – “Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day.” Indicators you’re experiencing this: – A steady, quiet growth in love for Scripture and prayer. – Conviction of sin followed by real change, not random guilt. – Unexpected peace in trials (Philippians 4:7). Mind Renewal: Shaped by Truth • Romans 12:2 – “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Practical handles: – Memorize and meditate on verses; the Spirit uses truth to rewire thinking. – Replace entertainment that dulls hunger for God with content that stirs it. – Speak Scriptural promises aloud when fear or bitterness surfaces. Community Renewal: The Church Alive • Acts 2:42-47 – Spirit-filled believers devoted to teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, prayer. Signs today: – Repentance and restored relationships within the body. – Unity that overrides social and generational divides (Ephesians 4:3-4). – Outward mission flow: the refreshed become refreshers (Proverbs 11:25). Creation’s Renewal: A Preview and a Promise • Isaiah 35:1 – deserts blossom; Romans 8:19-22 – creation groans for freedom. • Revelation 21:5 – “Behold, I make all things new.” Present glimpses: – Conservation efforts and sustainable practices can reflect respect for His handiwork. – Beauty in nature wakes gratitude, reminding us full restoration is coming. Welcoming His Renewal Today 1. Ask the Spirit to search and fill you daily (Ephesians 5:18). 2. Anchor yourself in Scripture; pray it back to God. 3. Engage in honest fellowship where confession and encouragement flow. 4. Serve others sacrificially—renewal spreads when love is put into action. 5. Keep the long view: present renewal foreshadows resurrected bodies and a restored earth. God sent His Spirit once to create; He still sends Him to re-create. Wherever the Spirit moves—heart, mind, church, or cosmos—fresh life bursts forth, and we see His renewal even now. |
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