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            Restarting a computer often restores the operation of the machine; restarting our life also takes care of past problems and restores our relationship with God.  If our faith was only words, we need to start again with acting faith on the power of God.  The apostle said James 2:22 ”that [Abraham’s] faith was co-operating with his actions”—because 23 “Abraham believed God, so God declared him to be righteous.”  

            Past sins are out of the way when they are sincerely confessed to God.  Now we start over, but this time by the power God will supply.  Our faith must be real—the kind that really trusts God for all things in life.  We take advantage of the opportunity God gives to restart the day with all sins of the past erased.  2 Corinthians 6:2 “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

            We willingly admit past mistakes; are ready to confess any sin of rebellion or unbelief God reveals; and we truly repent before Him—restarting each day with a renewed faith that is willing to believe and trust without seeing.  We just make the choice to believe—then His Holy Spirit inspires faith in us to trust Him.

            We should not judge the intentions of others, because we have all sinned Romans 3:10.  Jesus said  Luke 6:37 ”Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.”

            It is our responsibility to ask God for the ability to trust Him in faith.  Romans 8:11-14 “He who raised up Christ from the dead will give Life also to your mortal bodies because of His Spirit who dwells in you.  Therefore, brethren, it is not to our lower natures that we are under obligation that we should live by their rule.

            13 ”For if you so live, death is near; but if, through being under the sway of the spirit, you are putting your old bodily habits to death, you will live.  For those who are led by God’s Spirit are, all of them, God’s sons.”

            This restart begins a new interest in Bible reading, so God’s will can be known.  Romans 10:17 ”Faith comes from a Message heard, and that the Message comes through its having been spoken by Christ.”  We then obey instructions—James 1:21 ”Ridding yourselves, therefore, of all that is vile and of the evil influences which prevail around you, welcome in a humble spirit the Message implanted within you, which is able to save your souls.”

            Satan is determined to destroy our soul forever—so a high state of alert is needed.  We resist him by using the Word as a weapon, and the Spirit as the power.  1 John 2:14 ”The word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one”—a deceiver who wants us to depend on some power, some plan, some prescription, or anything other than God.  Exodus 20:3 "You shall have no other gods before Me;” because 5 “I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God.”

            Today 1 John 5:19 “the whole world is under the control of the evil one.”  It is a dangerous place, because a deceitful devil is controlling the majority of people.  Revelation 12:9 ”The ancient serpent called the Devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world”—is determined to destroy forever, anyone who is not aware of his plan, and who makes no effort to resist.

            “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity [redeeming the time—using every opportunity to trust God in faith and respond as the Word says], because the days are evil” Ephesians 5:15-16.

            We must be willing to do God’s will concerning everything.  Ephesians 5:17-20 ”Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.  And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

            Having been blessed in many ways already—with health, healing, homes, vehicles, clothing, food, finances, friends, a church hall, a Christian school, and so many other good gifts from God the Father, that we should continually thank Him and praise His holy Name.

            It is a tremendous privilege to have our sins erased by God’s grace, but it is also our responsibility to trust God in believing faith each day to remain in His grace.  Millions have once been saved, but later were lost—due to unrepentant sin, rebellion toward God, or an unwillingness to trust in faith on an unseen God.

            Jonah 2:8 "Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.”  Pride defiled the devil; rebellion removed Adam from Eden Genesis 2-3, and wickedness resulted in the destruction of all life on earth—except for eight faithful believers Genesis 6.

            Fire destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because of immorality and evil actions Genesis 19.  The ground split under Korah, Dathan, and Abiram Numbers 16:33—“the earth closed over them, and they perished from among the assembly.”

            Life is a serious walk Galatians 6:7-8 ”Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”

            Jesus spoke of the last days—Matthew 13:41-42 “The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil [iniquity].  ”And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”  An intense spiritual war rages and it will not stop until Christ returns.

            We must not be deceived by delusions that omit the importance of trusting God in faith on the Atonement Blood of His Son.  God’s grace is not a license to sin Jude 1:4, but it is freedom from sin to trust Him in faith.  Romans 4:16 ”Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace.”

            Ananias and Sapphira deliberately sinned by keeping some money that should have been given to the poor.  The apostle asked, Acts 5:3 ”Why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?” 

            They were deceived by the devil to tell a deliberate lie—and lost their souls.  Revelation 21:8 "All liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death," but anyone who overcomes by keeping their faith in the Atonement of Christ Revelation 2:11 "shall not be hurt by the second death.”  Sin was still an issue under grace—repentance and a restart were needed.

            Every head of household is responsible to make scriptural choices and right decisions concerning the home—it is an important issue.  What is heard, what is read, and what is viewed in the home must be in harmony with Bible teaching.  If it is not, we are being misled, and being a spiritual hindrance to someone in that home.  It can be a gradual but a continual journey in the wrong direction.  We must recognize the devil’s deceit and take corrective measures.

            We must also be open to conviction, and ready to change what God shows us needs to be changed—attitudes, activities, reading material, entertainment, or anything.  Children must see a scriptural example in the home—it is the only way they can follow the same in their life.

            Sin is crouching at the door Genesis 4:7, but we must resist the devil, and overcome in the faith by the power of the Spirit.  “Watch out that no one deceives you” Matthew 24:4.  Children are listening, watching, and following older Christians.  It is a serious responsibility on everyone in the home to show a right example by their life.

            We must always act from divine love; be patient with children; and bring peace whenever possible—Hebrews 12:14 “Persistently strive for peace with all men, and for that growth in holiness apart from which no one will see the Lord.”

            It is always maintaining a willingness to forgive everyone—no matter what was said or done.  Attitudes of the world cause arguments in the home.  Jesus paid our debt for sins, so now we can follow His example in our home.

            We must take advantage of the opportunity to repent and restart our life—this time trusting God for the ability.  Sin can still be an issue, but it will not be, if we will repent, restart, and confess our mistakes before God.  Isaiah 43:25 ”I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins”—but we must be willing to repent and restart our life.

            Un-confessed sin can corrupt James 3:6; soil our spiritual clothing Revelation 3:4; entangle our feet Hebrews 12:1; defile us Hebrews 12:15; make us unclean Mark 7; or enslave us again 2 Peter 2:20-21.  Our response to God’s forgiveness is to trust Him in faith for—health, healing, finances, protection, provisions, correcting injustices, and every other issue.  The world will not trust God for anything—but will trust every plan, policy, procedure, prescription, or pill the devil offers.

            Every promise of God is already ours to enjoy.  2 Corinthians 7:1 ”Having therefore these promises, beloved friends, let us purify ourselves from all defilement of body and of spirit, and secure perfect holiness through the fear of God.” 

            We should not be in close fellowship with anyone who does not trust God in faith for things in this life.  2 Corinthians 6:17 "’Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord.  Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.’  ‘I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.’"

            Past sins are forgiven when we truly confess them to God, forsake them by the power of His Spirit, and hold firmly to our faith in Christ to the end.  The time approaches when God will give the command for His Son to return—the leaves on the tree are about to open.

            Revelation 22:12-14 ”Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.  Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”  

            What a privilege and responsibility God has given us—to repent and restart—this time by real faith that really trusts in Him!