These Three Things Part One Series

These Three Things

#ThisYearCouldBeDifferent

700 years before Jesus put on flesh and invaded our planet, GOD breathed the following words through the prophet Isaiah… to a people who…

• Had seen better days

• Experienced great suffering

• Lost hope

• In many ways had no one to blame for their pain but themselves

• Wondered where God was

• Longed for things to be different

Ever been there?

IF SO – maybe these 2700 year old God-breathed living and active words will speak to you as they spoke to them…

I am the LORD, your Holy One, Israel's Creator, your King."

This is what the LORD says—

He who made a way through the sea,

a path through the mighty waters,

who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:

IN OTHER WORDS…

THE ONE - speaking to you is – the Lord, the Creator, your King

THE ONE – who makes a way where there is no way…

AND WHO – draws out and defeats your enemies (those who seek to steal the freedom and deliverance I won for you)

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise. - Isaiah 43:15-19

THAT THEY – may what?

YES – it is always about His praise and glory!

AND UNDERSTAND MGCC…

WITH - a God like there is no doubt that this year can be different, amen!

WELCOME – to week two of a 5 week series that if you choose (and btw it is your choice and you are choosing)… a 5 week series that if you choose to lean into and to live out…

IS - guaranteed to make 2019 different…

NOW – in week one we talked about how if we want this year to be different that we need to GROW LIKE JESUS…

AND – just how did Jesus grow…?

Jesus grew is wisdom (intellectually) and in stature (physically) and in favor with God (spiritually) and man (relationally).

– Luke 2:52

SO – it’s been two weeks… have you taken the time to fill out your Values and Goals sheets.

WHAT – kind of person do you want to be? Are you living your life for an awesome resume or eulogy?

AND HAVE YOU - prayerfully set a few – intellectual, physical, spiritual, and relational goals?

If yes… awesome

If not… why not and there is still time?

Let’s Pray!!!

OKAY… let’s do this!

Week 2 of this year can be different

AND – in today’s 2 fairly well known passages of Scripture (one from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament)…

AND FROM THOSE – 2 passages we will uncover 3 things that if you both embrace and strive to live out your 2019 is guaranteed to be different.

AND – what are these 3 things…

1. Forgetting what is behind

2. Straining toward and pressing on

3. Trusting In, Leaning Not, Acknowledge Him

(we will only be doing things 1 and 2 this morning)

OKAY – so are you ready? Are you ready to hear from God? Are you ready for this year to be different?

SWEET..

LET’S – start unpacking the first passage it is found in Philippians chapter 3…

Brief back story

PAUL - is writing this letter to the church in Philippi (a church that He planted in Acts 16), and he is writing it from a prison cell… AND - at the particular section of his letter, Paul is challenging some false teaching that had invaded the church – teaching that was promoting the addition of human effort - to the finished work of the cross and to the grace found only in Christ.

We will begin reading at the second half of Philippians 3:3… through verse 15

We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort,

Sounds like a good place to be… amen!

though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more!

I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless…

NOW UNDERSTAND – that was a (#1 in your class, sum cum laude, time magazine ‘man of the year’, drop the mic) resume back then…