INTRODUCTION

1. Do you ever feel stale, stagnant, or bored with your faith?  Is it just the "same old, same old" to you?

2. If so, then recognize that you are in dangerous territory.  It is time to refresh your faith before you lose it.

    

NEW IS NOT ALWAYS IMPROVED

1. Our culture is obsessed with newness.

   1. One of the greatest marketing tools is simply the word "new."

      1. Newness sells, so products are made to appeal to our curiosity for something different.

      2. We have been convinced that new cars, new houses, new gadgets, and new clothes are always superior.

   2. This obsession with newness has spilled over into religion.

      1. Instead of that "old time religion," people are interested in something new to believe.

      2. In this way, our culture has become like Greece in Paul's time. Consider Acts 17:21:

         Now all the Athenians and the strangers visiting there used to spend their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new.

      3. As a result, people rush to hear the newest teaching or try the latest gimmick in religion, and there is a competition in the churches to outdo one another in new ideas.

2. Contrary to the culture, Christians must see the value in things that are steady and permanent.

   1. Steadfastness, perseverance, and constancy are commendable traits that belong to God Himself.

      1. We should seek to be like God, "with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow" (Jas. 1:17).

      2. Likewise, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Heb. 13:8).

   2. God values steady, long-term relationships. Marriage, family, and the brotherhood in Christ are examples of lifelong commitments that God intends for us to keep without wavering.

   3. Most importantly, our relationship with God through Christ is eternal.

      1. The greatest promise we have in Christ is eternal life (John 3:16).

      2. After the Lord comes to take us, "we shall always be with the Lord" (1Thess. 4:17).

      3. Our ambition is to "dwell in the house of the Lordforever" (Ps. 23:6).

3. Even so, some Christians have become stale in their faith in Christ.

   1. They have equated familiarity with staleness, stagnation, and boredom.  As a result, they lose interest and begin to drift away.

   2. This is a personal fault and not a flaw in Christ. Just because a person is familiar with Jesus, this is not a reason to become uninterested and dull of hearing (Heb. 5:11).

   3. Our hope in Christ is eternal life.  If we become stale, stagnant, and bored in the short time we live in this world, then how will we fare for eternity?

       

DON'T LOSE HEART

1. Don't grow weary or stale in your faith.  Persevere until the end.

   1. Do not grow tired of the constant work of the Lord.  Keep focused on your reward.

      Galatians 6:9 -- Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.

      2Thessalonians 3:13 -- But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good.

   2. Do not allow age, infirmities, or hardship to cause you to lose heart.

      2Corithians 4:16 -- Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.

      Ephesians 3:13 -- Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory.

   3. Do not lose heart in prayer, but continually pray to God with perseverance (Luke 18:1-8).

   4. Do not ever give up your faith in Christ.

      Hebrews 10:39 -- But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.

      Revelation 2:10 -- "Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life."

2. Find ways to refresh your spirit and your zeal.

   1. Stagnation is another word for inactivity.  To avoid it, get busy in the Lord's work.

      1. Consider 1Corinthians 15:58:

          Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

      2. They key to avoiding stagnation and staleness is to be "always abounding in the work of the Lord." Move, act, work!

      3. Many Christians who become bored or stale in their faith are in a state of self-appointed spiritual dormancy.  It is time to wake up!

         Romans 13:11 -- Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.

   2. Every member of the body of Christ has abilities given by God (Rom. 12:3).  Therefore, kindle your gifts.

      1. Paul told Timothy to "kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you" (2Tim. 1:6).  Although we do not have miraculous spiritual gifts like Paul and Timothy, we have other gifts that need to be rekindled.  Fire them up!

      2. Develop your particular talents and exercise them accordingly:

         Romans 12:7-8 -- ⁷...if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; ⁸or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

   3. The word of God is refreshing to your soul.  Study it, and be renewed.

      1. Notice Psalm 19:7-10:

         ⁷The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul;

         The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 

         ⁸The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;

         The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

         ⁹The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;

         The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether.

         ¹⁰They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;

         Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.

      2. The refreshing benefits of God's word are available for you, but you cannot benefit from them unless you read them.  Are they more desirable than gold to you?

   4. Teach someone who doesn't know about Jesus.

      1. If you have somehow lost the amazement of Christ, then show Him to others and share their wonder. Get a fresh perspective and be amazed again.

      2. Teach a child about Jesus, and watch the reaction.  Share their joy.  Remember, Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 18:3).

      3. Focus on the needs of others rather than your own. You will gain a fresh perspective and realize a new way to apply God's word.  "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35).

   5. Find refreshing in the fellowship of your fellow Christians.

      1. Paul recognized this benefit and sought it for himself.  Notice his words:

         Romans 15:32 -- ...so that I may come to you in joy by the will of God and find refreshing rest in your company.

         1Corinthians 16:18 -- For they have refreshed my spirit and yours.  Therefore acknowledge such men.

         2Corinthians 7:13 -- ...we rejoiced even much more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.

         Philemon 7 -- For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

         Philemon 20 -- Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.

      2. If you forsake the company of your brethren, then you are depriving yourself of times of refreshing. Your stale neglect of your brethren merely breeds more staleness in you.

          

CONCLUSION

1. Only you can keep your faith from growing stale or stagnant.  The maintenance of your faith is your job.

2. Therefore, be active, refresh your soul, and kindle afresh the fire of faith in you.