Introduction: Recently, at the hospital after undergoing major surgery, a man expressed his shame and guilt for not serving the Lord. It appeared he felt regret, showing godly sorrow for not truly pursuing a relationship with Jesus Christ, even though he professed to be a Christian. Without hesitation, the Lord prompted me to share this message of restoration.

 

In other words, there can be A NEW START for A NEW YEAR. But how?

 

 

What does it mean to confess? It means to admit, acknowledge, to say the same thing as—in this case, what God says is sin. Did you notice it is conditional? In other words, we do not have to confess, but if we do, there will be forgiveness.

 

 

Did you catch the word “restore”? What does it mean? It pictures a doctor gently realigning a joint, like a shoulder that is out of socket. A good doctor would use extreme care not to inflict more pain on the patient. Have you ever needed restoring?

 

 

Here, the beloved John is inspired to write about the choices believers have regarding the Christian life—fellowship with God. Either we can be open and honest with God, or we can be deceitful and try to cover up sin. One reason Christians walk in darkness is pride and self-righteousness. Do you battle with this?

 

 

Once confession and restoration take place, a believer in Jesus Christ should follow the path of letting Jesus have the throne of their heart. Is He on the throne of your heart?

 

Conclusion: Do you need a fresh start? Why not follow these biblical directives to start a NEW YEAR off on the right foot?

 

Love y’all,

Pastor Randy Reese