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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: FRESH (04/29/21)
The Desire For a Fresh New Life in Christ

When we become Christians and accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, we embark on a journey of new life. All things become new and fresh again. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away, behold all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). God throws away that record of our past sins and does not hold that record against us. When we become born again our spirit is renewed and refreshed. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). There are examples in the bible of individuals and groups of people who have sought a fresh new life with Christ as their Savior. The first example of such individuals and groups who have sought this fresh new life occurs in Acts chapter two during the day of Pentecost.

On the day of Pentecost, there was an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all the believers who had sought a fresh new life, with Christ, as their Savior. On this day, there were people from all over the world and from different nations present at this large gathering of believers. These believers all spoke different native languages. But, when the Holy Spirit suddenly fell on all gathered there; they were suddenly able to understand each other’s tongues (Acts 2: 1-11). “We hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of the Lord” (Acts 2:11).

A second example, of the desire for spiritual refreshment and renewal, occurs in Acts chapters 10 and 11. In these chapters, it describes the Gentiles desire to want to be saved and inherit the promises of God through their belief in Christ Jesus. In these chapters, God offers salvation, not only to the Jews but to the Gentiles as well. “Then Peter opened his mouth and said, of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:” “But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him” (Acts 10: 34-35). “When they heard these things they held their peace, and glorified God saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life,” (Acts 11:18). The offering of a fresh new life in Christ to the Gentiles was a major occurrence in the Bible. It is because of this offering, that we who are Gentiles might be saved.

The third example, of individuals or believers, who had a desire for a fresh new life in Christ, occurs in Acts chapter 16, when Lydia, of Thyatira, accepted Christ as her Savior, and her whole household was baptized in the Lord’s name. “And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.” “And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying , If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and abide there, and she constrained us,” (Acts 16: 14-15). Lydia was so filled with the power of God’s love that she invited the disciples into her home to rest.

The last example, of individuals or believers, who had a desire for a fresh new life, in Christ, is mentioned in the latter half of Acts chapter 16. This example occurs when Paul and Silas were locked in a Roman prison. While being locked, in a Roman prison, “Paul and Silas, at around midnight began to pray and sing praises unto God and the prisoners heard them” (Acts 16:25). Then suddenly God heard their praise and caused a great “earthquake to shake the prison doors open and loose all the bands of the prisoners” (Acts 16:26). During this time, the keeper of the prisoners was asleep, and when he awaken to see the doors of the prison open, he feared that the prisoners had escaped and attempted to take his own life. But, the Apostle Paul intervened in the power of love and stopped him from harming himself. Paul assured him that all the prisoners were still there in the prison. Paul’s actions of love toward the prison keeper moved the keeper of the prisoners to want salvation. He in turn was baptized; with all his household and later dined with Paul and the Apostles (Acts 16:27-34).
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This article has been read 205 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Sue Botte 
05/09/21
Although your article is Biblical, has good content and can be used for a bible study discussion, I found it quite heavy; too many facts in only about 750 words.

Perhaps just take one of the three facts you mention and embroider on that.

Bea Edwards 
05/11/21
Your entry held lots of good content, however had a few punctuation and grammar errors.

May I suggest reading it aloud back to your self for continuity and it also helps in catching minor but important
grammatical errors.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
05/12/21
You do a nice job of showing the different examples in the Bible where people looked for a stronger relationship with Christ. The Holy Spirit's presence in these stories give us our faith today.