FRESH START | SUNDAY 16-04-2023

 FRESH START | SUNDAY 16-04-2023

*KEY STATEMENT - When you start wrong everything that follows will be wrong.*.

*Point 1 | How did the prodigal son start?*

*Start 1| He started with father give me*.

*Start 2| Then, he left*.

That is a wrong start for 3 reasons : 

*Reason 1* | There was no communication actually. There was no talk. Nothing. 

*Reason 2* | That is bad manner. That is arrogance. That is being rude. That is pride. That is disrespect. 

I for example notice when people write a sms to me. No greeting. No enquiring on how I am. Just straight to the point ... Pastor,pray for me ...

I never reply to such.

*Reason 3* | And watch carefully. There was no voice. There was no sound from the Father. The Father said nothing to him, yet gave him. 

Read well ... The Father spoke when he came back humbly.

*Write it down* ... Just because God gives you what you want does not necessarily mean that you are right, you are blessed, you are holy, you are hard working or you please him. No. Sometimes, God gives not because you please him, but because it pleases him to give to you.

God is Sovereign. He can do what he wants to do with what he has.

*Psalm 115:3* Our God is in heaven; He does as He pleases.

*Daniel 4:35* All the peoples of the earth are counted as nothing, and *He does as He pleases* with the army of heaven and the peoples of the earth. There is no one who can restrain His hand or say to Him, 'What have You done?'"

*Hosea 2:7* She will pursue her lovers but not catch them; she will seek them but not find them. Then she will say, ‘I will return to my first husband, for then I was better off than now.’ 8 For she does not acknowledge that it was I who gave her grain, new wine, and oil, who lavished on her silver and gold— which they crafted for Baal. 9 Therefore I will take back My grain in its time and My new wine in its season; I will take away My wool and linen, which were given to cover her nakedness.…

That is why when we look at some people who are not that prayerful, but look successful. You might wonder, what is wrong with me ...

*Reason 4 | Case Achsah*

*Judges 1:14* And it came to pass, when she came to him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted from off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wilt thou? 

*Judges 1:15* And she said unto him, Give me a blessing: for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the nether springs. 

Just see the difference between Achsah and this boy.

1- *She lighted from off her ass* ... It shows an attitude of humility in her approach unlike the prodigal son

2- *She made her request known* 

3- *She appreciates* her father for what she had received previously

4- *She requests more*

*Reason 5 | Jesus' teaching on prayer*

Mat 6:9  After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 

Mat 6:10  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 

Mat 6:11  Give us this day our daily bread. 

Mat 6:12  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 

Mat 6:13  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 

When you read well, Jesus starts with the word manner...

... This manner pray ye ...

*Reason 6 | Since what mattered for him was not who the father was for him or the relationship but what he needed from the father...Since he displayed bad manner … The consequences were predictable and inevitable

1- Eventually he left after getting what he wanted.

2- He did not care about what it costed the father to get what he gave to him. He wasted it.

3- His heart was revealed : he wanted a life without supervision. He wanted to do whatever he wanted.

4- Crisis came to expose his unpreparedness, his mismanagement, his lack of discipline and his pride was deflated.

*Reason 7 | Benefits of good manners*

1- Protect against embarrassment over a misspoken word or inappropriate action. 

2- Makes the Best First Impression

3- Opens Doors to Opportunities : good manners can open doors that even the best education cannot. 

4- Cultivates a Heart for Others : Holding the door for others | Offering help | Chewing with your mouth closed | Making eye contact during conversation 

5- Safeguards Against Selfishness

6- Sparks Joy

7- Inspires Reciprocation

8- Lays the Foundation for Success in Life

9- Fosters Better Relationships

10- Makes Others Feel Noticed and Appreciated

*POINT 1 CONCLUSION AND LESSONS* 

*Lesson 1* | Don't ask to receive what you haven't prepared for.

*Lesson 2* | Opportunities given prematurely can lead to immature activities. 

*Proverbs 20:21* says, “An inheritance obtained too early in life is not a blessing in the end” (New Living Translation). 

*Lesson 3* | Don't allow your location to determine your vocation simply because of desperation.

*Lesson 4* | Be patient to step into your calling. It's better for you to be a son in your father's house than to be a father to a hog pin.

*Lesson 5* | Learning humility is sometimes found in the hard places often between your understanding of where you've been versus where you were called.

*Lesson 6* | Recognize that you always have a way back home. There is always a fresh start.

*Point 2 | How did the prodigal son get the fresh start?*

1- *Fresh start* always starts with an empty stomach.

*Luk 15:16* And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 

*Note 1* | Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways. Sometimes the most important lessons are what we learn the hard way.

*Note 2* | When riding his horse, Paul could hear nothing but himself. When he fell from it, he could hear the voice of God.

When you don't hear when riding the horse, you will hear when crawling on the floor.

*Act 9:4* And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 

2- *Fresh start* happens with a right mind and right thoughts

*Luk 15:17* And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 

(BBE) But when he came to his senses, he said, What numbers of my father's servants have bread enough, and more, while I am near to death here through need of food!

(ERV) "The son realized that he had been very foolish. He thought, 'All my father's hired workers have plenty of food. But here I am, almost dead because I have nothing to eat.

3- *Fresh start* happens when you will start appreciating what you were taking for granted.

… How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 

… What numbers of my father's servants have bread enough, and more, while I am near to death here through need of food!

… 'All my father's hired workers have plenty of food. But here I am, almost dead because I have nothing to eat.

4- *Fresh start* happens when you arise : falling is accidental. Remaining on the floor is optional.

Luk 15:20  And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 

5- *Fresh start* happens when you understand that what you need more is to be made than to be given.

Luk 15:19  And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 

6- *Fresh start* happens when you return and you repent (change your attitude/perspective/way of thinking)

*Luk 15:21* And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 

7- *Fresh start* happens when the Father restores you 

*Luk 15:22*  But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 

*Luk 15:23*  And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

- Best robe

- Ring

- Shoes

- Party

*PASTOR TD KASUKU*