Good Advice For A New Year

Good Advice for a New Year

January 1, 2012 Morning Service

Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK

Rick Boyne

Message Point: We can use the opportunity of a new year to change through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Focus Passage: Philippians 4:6-8

Supplemental Passage: As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY." (1 Peter 1:14-16 NASB)

Introduction: 2012. For many, this will be a year of fear and anxiety. Pagan religions have predicted the end of the world this year. Should you be worried? Should you be afraid? Should we give any credence to it at all? What does it mean? The Mayan’s calendar “ends” on December 21, 2012. Maybe they ran out of room on the carving rock. Perhaps they figured someone else would make a new rock calendar when the time came. Perhaps they had something else in mind. The fact of the matter is, that as a believer, we do not have to worry about ancient pagan prophesies about the end of the world. We only need to be concerned with God’s word. If a person is not saved, they do need be worried, not so much about ancient pagan prophesies, but about the end of the world, or at least, the end of their own person world (their life).

I. Don’t be Anxious or Worry

a. "For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? "And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? "And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. "But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! "Do not worry then, saying, ’What will we eat?’ or ’What will we drink?’ or ’What will we wear for clothing?’ "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:25-34 NASB)

b. But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:41-42 NASB)

II. Trust God and Pray

a. Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil. (Proverbs 3:5-7 NASB)

b. pray without ceasing; (1 Thessalonians 5:17 NASB)

III. Dwell on Good Things, not Bad

a. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2 NASB)

b. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. (2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB)

Invitation: