Upgrade
1. Self-evaluation
2. Excitement
“Why is that the case?”
We are created in the image of the One who likes to do NEW things.
We see God talking about…
new wine [Prov. 3:9-10]
new harvest [Lev. 26:10]
new altar [2 Kings 16:14]
new court [2 Chron. 20:5]
new gate [Jer. 26:10]
new treasure [Mt. 13:52]
new timber [Ez. 6:4]
new song [Ps. 96:1]
new cart [2 Sam. 6:3]
new bowl [2 Kings 2:20]
new tomb [Mt. 27:29]
new mercies [Lam. 3:23]
new tongues [Mk. 16:17]
born anew/again [Jn. 3:3]
new heart/spirit [Ez. 36:26]
new creations [2 Cor. 5:17]
newborn babes [1 Pet. 2:2]
newness of life [Rom. 6]
new man [Eph. 4:24]
new covenant [Heb. 8]
new priesthood [Heb. 7:11]
new name [Rev. 2:17]
new commandment [Jn. 13:34-35]
new way [Heb. 10:24]
new heaven/earth [2 Peter 3:13]
New Jerusalem [Rev. 3:12]
Maybe God is involved in this “internal process” more than we realize.
Upgrade means; “a new version, improved model, or an increase.”
6 Things That Hinder Our Upgrades
1. Our Past
Isaiah 43:18-19 [MSG], ”Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand new.”
“What the new years brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year.” —Vern McLellan
“There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” —C.S. Lewis
2. Our Failures
“We spend January 1st walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives…not looking for flaws, but for potential.” —Ellen Goodman
3. Our Comfort Zones
Matthew 19:16-30 [MSG], Another day, a man stopped Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” 17 Jesus said, “Why do you question me about what’s good? God is the One who is good. If you want to enter the life of God, just do what he tells you.” 18-19 The man asked, “What in particular?” Jesus said, “Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as you do yourself.” 20 The young man said, “I’ve done all that. What’s left?” 21 “If you want to give it all you’ve got,” Jesus replied, “go sell your possessions; give everything to the poor. All your wealth will then be in heaven. Then come follow me.” 22 That was the last thing the young man expected to hear. And so, crestfallen, he walked away. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and he couldn’t bear to let go.
“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” —Seneca
4. Our Old Wineskins
“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language. And next year’s words await another voice.” —T.S. Eliot
5. Our Relationships
6. Our Incomplete Assignments
“New year—a new chapter, new verse, or just the same old story? Ultimately we write it. The choice is ours.” —Alex Morritt