I'm Darrell Bailey. Thank you for tuning in to our Sunday night message, Echoes of the Past, When Stories Reflect Eternal Truth. As we get into the wonderful Word of God tonight, we'll be coming out of 2 Corinthians chapter 5 verse 17, Psalms 107 verse 2, Hebrews chapter 4 verse 12, and Revelation chapter 21 verse 5. You know, our lives tell a story, sometimes echoing the pain, the failures, or the victories of the past. But when Christ enters the picture, the story begins to change. The past no longer defines us, the cross does. These echoes of the past become testimonies of grace. warnings to avoid sin, and reminders that God alone writes the final chapter. Praise God. And so we start out and we look at our main scripture of 2 Corinthians 5, verse 17. Look with us on the screen as we read the word of God. It says, therefore, if any man be in Christ, he's a new creature. Old things are passed away. Behold, all things are become new. Well, The new creature speaks of that new creation entirely, something that never existed before. The blood of Christ that breaks the chains of yesterday's echoes. And every person lives with a story. But in Christ, God rewrites the ending. The past may echo, but the voice of Calvary is louder, thank God, hallelujah. And so, as we open up with a time of prayer, I ask you that as we ask the Lord to intervene into our lives, that as we go forward, God would provide and give us that that we need. Heavenly Father, we bow before you, grateful for your word that's sharper than any two-edged sword. Lord, forgive us of our daily sins and those careless words, those prideful thoughts, those hidden things of the heart as we open your word tonight. May the echoes of the past not shame us, But may your spirit set us free in Jesus's marvelous mighty name as we write our story in the Lamb's Book of Life so that our destiny is not heaven, that our destiny is heaven and not hell. In Jesus's marvelous mighty name we pray. Amen. As we look at the Word of God tonight, we realize some of the most powerful things and that is we see the power as a few years ago, there was a story about a woman that found an old family Bible in her grandmother's attic. And inside the margins were handwritten notes, prayers, confession, even names of people that she had been praying for. It wasn't just a book, it was a window into her grandmother's soul. Barbara Davis's novel, The Echo of Old Books, tells the story of Ashlyn Greer, the rare book dealer who could feel the emotions left in the old volumes. She discovers two books, two perspectives of the same love story, full of secrets, wounds, and betrayals. Friend, doesn't that sound like our lives? Two sides of the story, pain written in the margins and echoes of the past that still speak today. And so we look and we realize that the Apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5, verse 17, that in Christ, all things are passed away. And that means God can rewrite the chapters of our life. And that's what I want to preach about. Echoes of the past when stories reflect eternal truth and so as we go forward Knowing that God silences the old echoes Amen and so we look and we realize that each and every one of us the Transforming power of Christ because in Christ we don't just get patched up But entirely new creation new in quality unlike anything before And the cross doesn't make you better, it makes you new. The blood washes the record clean and the Holy Spirit writes a brand new story in all of our lives. And so I'm glad that when we look and realize that the storytelling and the warning, you can't keep living off yesterday's failures or yesterday's victories. If you're in Christ, God has given you a new story to tell. in the old chapter is closed and God has put the pen in his own hand. Thank God he rewrote my story. The echoes of the past praise God. And so we look and we realize that as we approach what story is your life telling and who is holding the pen? One of the very first things that we see is the power of the story out of Psalms 107 verse 2 that says let the redeem of the Lord say so whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy well You know what? Redemption isn't quiet, you say so, because testimony silences the echo of sin. A redeemed life becomes a storybook others can read and your life echoes truth or deception. I wonder what is your saying? We share and we look at what God has done because the world needs to hear a new story. Well, you know what? Redemption isn't silent. The Hebrew word for redeem, let the redeem of the Lord say so in Psalms 107 verse 2, the power of the story. The Hebrew word for redeem is ga'al. It means bought back, delivered by the kinsmen. Christ became our kinsmen redeemer on the cross. And you don't whisper about being saved. You shout it from the rooftop. And if Jesus has redeemed you, the world ought to know it. You know what? Every life is writing a story. If you're saved, your story is one of deliverance. If you're lost, your story is still in the devil's grip. Which one are you telling tonight? Well, when we look at the power of the story from Psalms 107 verse 2, let the redeem of the Lord say so. We see two perspectives, but one truth. In Davis's novel, Bailey and Hemi each wrote their own side. But truth is not subjective. It's rooted in God's word. And so truth as the unveiled reality. Many today live their truth. But Jesus said in John 14, verse six, I'm the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh under the father, but by me. And so the power of the story of Psalms 107, verse two, the two perspectives. But there's just one truth. Secondly, the wounds that shape the narrative. Like ink that stains on parchment, regret and bitterness color how we remember our past. In our daily bread, I was reading about a man that once said, I carry yesterday's baggage into tomorrow, and it robs me of today. God can heal those wounds. He healeth the broken in heart, the psalmist said in Psalms 147 verse 3. And so the power of the story of Psalms 107 verse 2. There's two perspectives, but there's one truth. Wounds that shape the narrative. But then thirdly, there's God's gospel story, praise his mighty name. Every book points to the book. And the Bible is God's record of redemption. The gospel corrects our distorted narratives. Tony Evans once said, God doesn't just edit your story. He rewrites the ending. Some of us are like autocorrect. When we look at it in Microsoft Word, we try to fix our story and we end up making it worse. Aren't you glad God doesn't need spellcheck when he does things? And so the question again is what story is your life telling and who is holding the pen? We said, first of all, the power of the story. When we look at the echoes of the past of Psalms 107, verse 2, let the redeem of the Lord say so, praise God. And I'm glad that whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy. Secondly, we see the burden of secrets and the gift of revelation. In Hebrews chapter 4, verse 12, the word of God says, for the word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two edged sword. You see, the word cuts deep. The Greek word Zoon, Z-O-O-N, means quick. It means alive. And the Bible is not dead ink. Listen, it's not dead ink on a page. It's a living voice of God. And that book will lay your soul bare. It will cut through the excuses, the pride and the sin. It will expose the secrets that you tried to bury. But it will also reveal the grace that can heal. And so the problem is that God can't forgive. It's that we keep hiding things, but the word shines a light in the dark corners of our heart and the revelation hurts, but it also heals. Secrets keep you in bondage. Scripture brings freedom. And so I'm glad. The Word cuts through the hidden sins and exposes the heart. It shatters the false echoes of self-righteousness. Secrets weigh us down. Scripture brings them into the light, not to shame us, but to free us. Let the Word silence the lies and bring healing. Don't let hidden sins echo louder than God's truth. And so, the burden of the secrets and the gift of the revelation that we look at We begin to see that through this, that of Hebrews 4, verse 12, amen, we look and we see hidden sin corrupts relationships. Secrets are like mildew on paper. They eat away in silence. And so it is that sin that's missing the mark, the stains, the margins of life. In Numbers 32, verse 23, the Bible says, be sure your sin will find you out. And so that hidden sin corrupts relationships. But secondly, the danger of pride. Bailey and Henley let pride rob them of the reconciliation. And pride is the ink that blocks forgiveness. And moody today in the word, a pastor once said, pride is the only disease that makes everyone sick except the person who has it. And so we see the burden of secrets and the gift of revelation of Hebrews chapter 4 verse 12. For the word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword. And I'm glad that when we look and we realize that not only hidden sin corrupts relationships, the danger of pride, but we see thirdly that Christ's revelation heals because the word of God lays bare the heart according to Hebrews 4.12. And Paul Harvey once told of a man who burned love letters to erase the past, only to find the ashes still spoke of regret. Friend, only Jesus' blood erases sin. And so I asked you a third time, what story is your life telling and who is holding the pen? We talked first about the power of the story of Psalms 107 verse 2. Let the redeem of the Lord say so. Secondly, we talked about the burdens of the secrets and the gift of revelation in Hebrews chapter 4 verse 12. Amen. That said, for the word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword. But thirdly and closing, we see redemption through new chapters. Revelation chapter 21 verse 5, that said, Behold, I make all things. He said, And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. Well, you know what? God doesn't just fix the old chapters. He writes a brand new chapter in our life. The final echo will be victory and those past echoes. But God's pen writes hope as well. The enemy says you're finished. But Jesus says, I'm not done yet. Let go of those old echoes. Allow Christ to begin a new chapter in your life tonight. And so we see that that Greek word kandos again emphasizes that new in kind, not recycled. Because when God makes something new, it's not a remodel. It's a resurrection. He doesn't whitewash sin. He washes it away in the blood of the lamb. And God isn't finished with your story because the pen is still in his hand right now. Stop clinging to that old chapter of your life and let him write a new one in your book marked by grace, not guilt, by victory, not defeat. And so that redemption through those new chapters, grace begins to rewrite our story. Hallelujah. Ashlyn, when we look back and begin to realize the story of how That Barbara Davis's novel, The Echo of Old Books, tells that story of Ashlyn Greer, the rare book dealer who can feel the emotions left in the old volumes. Ashlyn discovered hope in those old pages. We discover grace in the old rugged cross. And I'm glad God's covenant and mercy are loving kindness. And so, redemption through the new chapters, amen. Grace rewrites our story. Secondly, the past does not define you. I'm glad that in Guideposts, I was reading about a prisoner that was saved by grace. And he said, I thought my rap sheet was the last word, but God wrote a new chapter. Hallelujah. In Micah, chapter 7, verse 19, thou will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. Praise God's glorious name. And so redemption through the new chapters of Revelation, chapter 21, verse 5. And he that sat upon the throne said, behold, I make all things new. Well, not only does grace rewrite our stories, not only does the past not define us, but thirdly, in closing, God is the ultimate author. In Hebrews chapter 12, verse 2, God calls Jesus the author and the finisher of our faith. Corridant 10 Boone said, there's no pit so deep that God's love's not deeper still, unquote. And some of you, tonight a word because You're in chapter 11, but friend, God hasn't finished writing your story yet. You see, like the echo of old books that I read that inspired this message, your life bears marks of pain, betrayal, and regret. But God offers to write you into his story of redemption. If you keep writing, the book ends in death and regretfully, hell. If you let Jesus take that pen of your life, the book will end in heaven. It'll end in eternal life and joy unspeakable. But I want you to remember this as I get ready to close out. You can preach a better sermon with your life than with your lips. And so, listen, what story is your life telling right now? Your version or is it God's? You say you need to surrender to Christ and let his truth define your story. Every one of us as we go through life today, you need to surrender to him and let his truth define your story. Paul said in Galatians chapter 2 verse 20, I'm crucified with Christ. Nevertheless, I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh. I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. And so I'm glad. that were to be nailed together with. When you surrender to Christ, your old story ends and his story begins in you. And so I'm glad as 2 Corinthians 5, verse 17. Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he's a new creature. Old things are passed away. Behold, all things have become new. The new creation does not mean a patched up life. It's a brand new existence with Christ at the center. Think of an author rewriting a ruined manuscript. But when Christ takes the pen, he writes a redemptive story that glorifies God. If your life is still your story, it will end in failure. But if your life is God's story, it'll end in glory. I wonder what secrets are eating away at your soul. Tonight, you need to confess them. First John 1 9 says he's faithful and just to forgive them. And so, You need to confess them. He says, if we confess our sins, he's faithful just to forgive us our sin and the cleanses from all unrighteousness. And so confession is not just admitting, but aligning with God's judgment of sin. Proverbs chapter 28, verse 13 says, he that covered his sin shall not prosper, but who so confesses and forsake of them shall have mercy. And so. Every one of us, when we look, Psalms 32 verses 3, 4, and 5, David said, When I kept silent, my bones whacked old through my roaring all the day long. I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Unconfessed sin will destroy a man from the inside out or a woman from the inside out. Forgiven sin restores joy and peace. When I remember reading the Pilgrim's Progress, Christian carried a heavy burden on his back until he confessed and he came to the cross. Then that burden rolled away. Sin concealed will rot your soul. Sin confessed will release your soul. I wonder what new chapter does God want to begin in you tonight? Because today is the day of salvation, according to Paul's writing of 2 Corinthians 6, verse 2. He says, Behold, now is the accepted time. Behold, now is the day of salvation. Well, Isaiah 55, verses 6 and 7 says, Seek ye the Lord while he may be found. Call ye upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and he will have mercy upon him. And to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. John the Revelator said in Revelation chapter 3 verse 20, Behold, I stand at the door knocking. If any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come into him and will sup with him and he with me. Christ is the uninvited guest, standing at the heart's door, knocking for entrance, but the handle is only on the inside. Paul Harvey once told the story of a farmer who, during a snowstorm, tried to save geese from freezing. You've heard me tell this before. He opened his barn, but they wouldn't go until he walked among them and guided them. And so Christ came into our world to guide us to salvation today. Your new chapter begins when you open the door to Christ. Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow is not promised. Tonight, today is the day of salvation. Do you hear me? Your life story can either be your broken draft or God's masterpiece. Secrets will destroy you if unconfessed, but forgiveness is promised when you come clean before God. A new chapter in Christ doesn't begin tomorrow. It begins tonight. It begins now. It begins right now. Friend, don't leave here chained to the past. If your name isn't in the Lamb's Book of Life, you are writing about yourself toward hell. But if you'll trust Jesus Christ today, he'll give you a brand new chapter. Come, let him be your author. Don't leave here chained to the past. Too many live with regrets echoing in their hearts, old wounds, secret sins, broken chapters that seem too messy to rewrite. But I gotta tell you the truth tonight. If your name is not written in the Lamb's Book of Life, then right now your story is being written toward hell. Revelation chapter 20 verse 15 says, and whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. Listen, here is the glory of the gospel. Jesus Christ can give you a brand new chapter tonight. Psalms chapter 40 verse 2 tells us, He brought me up also out of the horrible pit, out of the Maori clay, and set my feet upon a rock and established my goals. Listen, no matter how dark your past, the blood of Jesus can cleanse every page of your life and start writing a new story of redemption about you tonight. Listen, Your past may explain you, but it does not have to define you. Christ died to set you free. And Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5, verse 17, that he declares, therefore, if any man be in Christ, he's a new creature. Old things are passed away. Behold, all things are become new. Right now, heaven's author stands ready to take the pen out of your hand and write his story of grace in your life. but he won't force himself upon you. You must open the door of your heart. Again, John the Revelator said in Revelation chapter 3 verse 20, Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come into him and will sup with him and he with me. Friend, the chapter can turn to night. You don't have to carry shame, guilt, or fear one step further. Jesus Christ, the author, the finisher of our faith, is inviting you to the altar. Will you come? Will you confess your sin? Will you surrender your heart and let him write mercy where there was failure, joy where there was sorrow, hope where there was despair? Because tonight can be the day when your story changes forever. Don't leave here with a pen still in your hand, trying to write your own ending. Come and let my Lord and Savior be your author. What story is your life telling right now? Because if you're in Christ, your story is one of redemption. But if not, tonight can be the day of a new beginning just for you. What secrets are you still hiding from God's light? Because His word can cut through every pretense. Don't fear His exposure. His light will bring healing. And who's holding the pen of your life? Is it self? Is it sin? Or is it the Savior? Because only Jesus can make all things new. Hand Him the pen right now, tonight, and let Him finish your story that He started. And so, you know what? Friend, the ink of your life is still wet. Don't let sin write that next chapter. Don't let the world hold that pen. Place it in the nail-scarred hands of Jesus. Let him write a story that echoes into eternity. Repeat after me if you want Jesus to be your Savior and the author of your story, would you? Lord Jesus, I know I'm a sinner. I believe that you died for me on the cross. and that you rose again the third day. I confess my sins to you, and I ask you to forgive me. Wash me in your precious blood. Take away my past. Write my name in the Lamb's Book of Life tonight. For this day forward, I give you my heart. I give you my life, and I will follow you as my Savior and Lord. And thank you, Jesus, for saving me right now. And you put the amen on it. Romans 10 9 that if thou shalt confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus and shall believe in our heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved. 1 John 1 9 if we confess our sins he's faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. John 3 16 for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. I close out echoes of the past. Lord Thank you that you're the author and the finisher of our faith. Write your word on our hearts. Forgive our sins. Heal our brokenness. And may our lives echo not with regret, but with your grace. And may no one leave here tonight without knowing the Savior, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. Echoes of the past.