Embracing New Beginnings: Exiting the Past with Faith

Devotional

Day 1: Exiting the Old, Embracing the New

Recognizing the exits and entrances in our spiritual journey is crucial for growth. Just as physical gates signify transitions, our spiritual journey involves leaving behind old, familiar places and stepping into the new promises God has for us. This requires a conscious decision to abandon past sins and embrace the new life God offers. The story of Moses and the Israelites serves as a powerful metaphor for this transformation, illustrating how they exited Egypt and entered into a new covenant with God. This journey from slavery to freedom mirrors our own spiritual transformation when we choose to follow God's path. [38:38]

Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV): "Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."

Reflection: What is one old habit or mindset you need to leave behind to fully embrace the new life God has for you? How can you take a concrete step today to move away from it?

Day 2: The Danger of Looking Back

The story of Lot's wife, who looked back at Sodom and turned into a pillar of salt, serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of longing for our old ways once God has delivered us. Looking back can hinder our spiritual progress and lead to dire consequences. We must keep our focus on the new path God has set before us, trusting Him fully and not leaning on our own understanding. This requires a steadfast commitment to move forward and not be enticed by the familiarity of our past. [52:53]

Luke 9:62 (ESV): "Jesus said to him, 'No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.'"

Reflection: Is there something from your past that you find yourself longing for or missing? How can you shift your focus to the future God has planned for you?

Day 3: Vigilance Against Familiar Spirits

Old habits, relationships, and environments can pull us back into our past sins and iniquities. It's crucial to be vigilant about our associations and the influences we allow into our lives. Familiar spirits can trigger a return to old, destructive patterns, making it essential to guard our hearts and minds. By being mindful of the company we keep and the environments we frequent, we can stay on the path God has set for us and avoid falling back into old ways. [49:12]

1 Corinthians 15:33 (ESV): "Do not be deceived: 'Bad company ruins good morals.'"

Reflection: Are there any relationships or environments in your life that are pulling you back into old habits? What steps can you take to distance yourself from these influences?

Day 4: Trusting God's Plan

Trusting in the Lord with all our heart and not leaning on our own understanding is essential for our spiritual journey. God has a plan for each of us, and even in our darkest times, He places people and circumstances in our lives to help us stay on track. This trust requires surrendering our own plans and desires, believing that God's ways are higher and better than our own. By relying on His guidance, we can navigate the challenges of life with confidence and peace. [44:00]

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

Reflection: In what area of your life are you struggling to trust God's plan? How can you actively surrender this area to Him today?

Day 5: Embracing the New Life in Christ

Entering through the "door" that is Jesus leads to salvation and a new beginning. The promise of the Holy Spirit empowers us to overcome our past and live a victorious life in Christ. This new life is marked by peace, joy, and freedom, as we are no longer bound by our old ways. Embracing this new life requires a daily commitment to follow Jesus, allowing His Spirit to guide and transform us. [59:15]

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

Reflection: What does embracing the new life in Christ look like for you on a daily basis? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to guide you in this new journey?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we explored the profound spiritual journey of exiting old, familiar places and entering into the new promises God has for us. We began by acknowledging the importance of recognizing the exits and entrances in our lives, much like the physical gates we encounter in daily life. This concept was illustrated through the story of Moses and the Israelites, who were brought out of Egypt to enter a new covenant and a new life. This journey from slavery to freedom is a powerful metaphor for our own spiritual transformation.

We delved into the significance of not looking back once God has delivered us from our past. The story of Lot's wife, who looked back at Sodom and turned into a pillar of salt, serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of longing for our old ways. This theme was further emphasized by discussing the importance of staying on the path God has set for us, trusting Him fully, and not leaning on our own understanding.

We also touched on the concept of familiar spirits and the dangers they pose. These are the old habits, relationships, and environments that can pull us back into our past sins and iniquities. The importance of being vigilant about our associations and the influences we allow into our lives was highlighted, as these can trigger a return to old, destructive patterns.

The sermon concluded with a call to embrace the new life God offers through Jesus Christ. By entering through the "door" that is Jesus, we can find salvation, peace, and a new beginning. The promise of the Holy Spirit is a gift that empowers us to overcome our past and live a victorious life in Christ.

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Key Takeaways

1. The Importance of Exits and Entrances: Just as physical gates signify transitions, our spiritual journey involves exiting old, familiar places and entering new promises. This requires a conscious decision to leave behind past sins and embrace the new life God offers. [38:38]
2. Do Not Look Back: The story of Lot's wife teaches us the danger of longing for our past once God has delivered us. Looking back can hinder our spiritual progress and lead to dire consequences. We must keep our focus on the new path God has set before us. [52:53]
3. Vigilance Against Familiar Spirits: Old habits and relationships can pull us back into our past sins. It's crucial to be vigilant about our associations and the influences we allow into our lives. This helps us stay on the path God has set for us and avoid falling back into old patterns. [49:12]
4. Trusting God's Plan: Trusting in the Lord with all our heart and not leaning on our own understanding is essential. God has a plan for each of us, and even in our darkest times, He places people and circumstances in our lives to help us stay on track. [44:00]
5. Embracing the New Life in Christ: Entering through the "door" that is Jesus leads to salvation and a new beginning. The promise of the Holy Spirit empowers us to overcome our past and live a victorious life. This new life is marked by peace, joy, and freedom in Christ. [59:15]
### [59:15]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[32:53] - Prayer for Healing and Needs
[33:51] - All Thrones and Dominions
[37:44] - The Importance of Exits and Entrances
[38:38] - The Story of Moses and the Red Sea
[40:41] - Exiting the Familiar, Entering the New
[42:29] - New Beginnings and Fresh Starts
[44:00] - Trusting God's Plan
[45:03] - The Story of Lot and His Choices
[47:48] - Familiar Spirits and Their Dangers
[49:12] - Vigilance in Our Spiritual Walk
[52:53] - The Lesson from Lot's Wife
[54:40] - Ezekiel's Gate Instructions
[59:15] - Embracing the New Life in Christ
[76:56] - Call to Prayer and Commitment

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What was the significance of the exits and entrances mentioned in the sermon? ([38:38])
How did the story of Lot's wife illustrate the danger of looking back? ([52:53])
What are familiar spirits, and why must we be vigilant against them? ([49:12])
How does trusting in God's plan help us stay on the right path? ([44:00])

Interpretation Questions

Why is it important to not look back once God has delivered us from our past? How does this relate to the story of Lot's wife? ([52:53])
What does it mean to exit old, familiar places and enter new promises in our spiritual journey? How does Deuteronomy 6:23 illustrate this? ([39:38])
How can familiar spirits or old habits pull us back into past sins, and what steps can we take to avoid this? ([49:12])
How does entering through the "door" that is Jesus lead to a new beginning and a victorious life? ([59:15])

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you were tempted to look back at your past. How did you handle it, and what can you do differently in the future to keep your focus on the new path God has set for you? ([52:53])
Identify any familiar spirits or old habits that might be pulling you back into past sins. What practical steps can you take this week to distance yourself from these influences? ([49:12])
Think about a situation where you struggled to trust God's plan. How did you try to lean on your own understanding, and what can you do to trust God more fully in similar situations? ([44:00])
How can you consciously decide to leave behind past sins and embrace the new life God offers? What specific actions will you take to make this transition? ([39:38])
In what ways can you embrace the new life in Christ more fully? Identify one area of your life where you need to experience more of the peace, joy, and freedom that Jesus offers. ([59:15])
How can you be more vigilant about the influences you allow into your life? What changes will you make to ensure you stay on the path God has set for you? ([49:12])
Reflect on the promise of the Holy Spirit as a gift that empowers us to overcome our past. How can you rely more on the Holy Spirit in your daily life to live victoriously in Christ? ([59:15])

Sermon Clips

1. "When God heard Israel prayer. For help to bring them out of slavery, he already had a plan, amen. He already had a plan, just like he had a plan for you, just like he had a plan for me. He heard our cry in our darkness time, a place of slavery, a place of fear, a place of sin, a place of addiction, maybe of emotional distress, a place we couldn't get out of, a place we could not find a way out, he heard our cry in that darkness place to bring them out, to exit, to bring them in, to enter a new promise, a new covenant, a new life, a new start." [40:41] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "We all would love to have a do-over. Amen. Who wants a do-over, a new start in life? We can do it. can with Jesus. We can with Jesus. I can testify of that. I mean, come on, I can testify. I was a bad guy back in my day. Come on. When Israel crossed the Red Sea, it was a new beginning. Old things were passed away. It was a new thing. When they passed over, when God does something right, He does it right. They passed over. It is us that hinder the working of God in our life. It's us." [42:29] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "He bring us out of sin, our problems, disobedience, to bring us into a new way of thinking, a new way of trust, a new way of believing, a new way of looking forward. And not behind us. There are many examples. There are many examples in the Bible of people that got off track. I believe He put people and things we need in our lives to help us stay on track. He does. Friends, family, pastors. He sees us in the darkness of the night." [43:28] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "We have to stay on the path, trusting the Lord with all that heart. That's not just a little of your heart, but that is all. That is even the place that sometimes we have built a wall because we're tired of getting hurt. We're tired of going through the same thing and we get hurt. Our chest is hurting. Sometimes we have doctors calling, anxiety. But to trust in the Lord with all that heart and lean up unto your own understanding. Not the way I think, but the way God thinks. And all thy way acknowledge Him. And all thy ways acknowledge Him. And He shall direct thy path." [44:00] (66 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "God knows when to send a preacher into a lie. God knows where you are physically. He knows exactly where you are spiritually. At all times. Don't, don't be surprised when you're in your deepest, darkest time. When you think no one is watching. And you're down on your knees. Maybe you're that close. Maybe someone came, came up to you at a gas station that you haven't seen in years. Because you beat that addiction. And they come up to you and say, hey, how are y'all doing today? And they give you just enough to get by." [46:13] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "We got to be careful what we're letting to these. Amen. Please, because that lead to your heart. Like Lot and his family was instructed by God to leave the city of Sodom and not to look back. And his wife looked back, we know this story, at what she left in Sodom. And had to pay the price. The Bible instruct us to remember Lot's wife to capture her moment of disobedience. What? Had such a hold on her. What caused her to turn around? Why? What was in her heart? Maybe, just maybe, maybe it was caused by Lot." [52:06] (67 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "Men, your family is watching. Where is your heart? Come on, dads. Come on, dads. Come on, Roma. Come on, husbands. Where are you leading your family? Where are you leading your family? I'm gonna go on. I could stay here for... But let's turn to Ezekiel 46 verse 9. Ezekiel. I'll give you time. Ezekiel 46 verse 9. But when the people of the land shall come before the Lord in the solemn feast, he that entereth your city, enter in by the way of the north gate to worship shall go out of the way of the south gate. And he that enter by the way of the south gate shall go forth by the way of the north gate. He shall not return by the way of the gate where he came in, but shall go forth over against it." [53:41] (93 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "When the devil beating up, you keep on saying, hey, I can do it through Jesus. Don't let the devil tell you that junk when we start to hear negative things. It's not of God. God would never speak negative to you. When a Christian has a thought that come up to them during a stressful situation, that's negative to God. Amen. Years ago, I still consider him my friend. I know this guy. I was early in the church. And he was a good friend of mine. God delivered him from some major sins in his life. Major sins. And I want to say iniquity. Not just sin, but iniquity." [07:38] (65 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "The only way you can be iniquity is keep on walking. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Repent daily. Amen. Have a made-up mind. Because Paul said it like this. Paul said he had a thorn in his side. Nobody knows what that thorn was. The Bible is not clear. But he had a thorn. But at the end, he said, I'm going to finish the race. I don't care if that thorn had rubbed a hole. I don't care if it caused him blood and bleeding. I'm going to finish my course. I'm going to finish the race. I'm not going to turn around wrong and find myself short." [01:10:41] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "God brought us out to bring us to him. He will never take us back into an exit door that we came through to get to him. He will never leave us forsaken. He will never forsake us. What can separate us from the love of God? Ourself. Our desires. If you're trying to change your life, don't go out and find drama. If you're struggling with alcohol, don't go by the liquor store. If you're struggling with addiction to drugs, don't go out and find something to get high. Clean out your medicine can. I mean, if you were struggling with stuff on the web, block it. Get rid of it. If you're struggling because of friends." [01:15:00] (63 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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