Facing the Past | Week 2 | Invisible Enemy

Big Idea: You don’t have to be afraid of your past because that’s not who you are anymore. Jesus has made you a completely new creation; you have a new identity.

  • The Problem and the Solution

    • The Problem: 23 Can an Ethiopian change his skin or a leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil. Jeremiah 13:23 (NIV)

      • Why is it hard to change?

        • Our Habits

        • Our Nature

        • Our Traditions

    • The Solution: 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

  • Regeneration Defined

    • Regeneration is the process of renewal, restoration, and growth that makes organisms resilient to events that cause damage.

    • God designed us with a tremendous capacity for regeneration.

  • Regeneration Process

    • New Ownership: 11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. 2 Corinthians 5:11 (NIV)

    • New Identity: 12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 2 Corinthians 5:12 (NIV)

    • New Experience: 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

      • Christ becomes your atmosphere.

      • Christ becomes your target.

      • Christ becomes your starting point.

      • Christ becomes your power source.

      • Christ becomes your lens.

      • Isaiah 43:18-19

      • Isaiah 43:21

    • New Purpose: 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 (NIV)

Brandy Crampton