Resolutions of Bible Characters
Ecclesiastes 5:4
Intro:
Resolution Time Again
Resolutions are limited
Doing Better cannot save us
Works don not commend us to God
The Value of Resolutions
It is good to set goals for ourselves
Resolutions of Bible Characters
Let’s examine some Bible Resolutions
I. Jacob’s Resolution to Give His Tithe (Gen. 28:22)
a. Conditions under with the resolution was made
i. Jacob fleeing from Esau because he has defrauded him
b. Some thoughts about tithing
i. Abraham commenced it (Gen 14:20)
ii. Jacob continued it (Gen. 28:22)
iii. Malachi commanded it (Mal. 3:10)
iv. Jesus commended it (Matt. 23:23)
c. Does tithing apply to Christians?
i. It is clear we are to give a portion of our income (I Cor 16:22)
ii. Notice that tithing began before the law was given
d. This is one of the easiest places to let down
e. It also is one of the most practical areas to prove faith
f. Note the challenge of Malachi 3:10
II. David’s Resolutions concerning God’s Word (Psalms 119:15-16)
a. “I will meditate in thy precepts”
i. The importance of meditating on God’s Word
ii. “For as he thinketh in his heart so is he” (Prov. 23:7)
iii. Taking God’s Word into our minds on a regular basis
b. “I will delight myself in thy statues”
i. Not to be drudgery, but daily delight
ii. Like a love letter from the Lord
c. “I will not forget they word”
i. This calls for memorization
ii. Memorization of the Bible is no just for children
iii. Why not begin to memorize verses each week this year?
d. The value of a resolve to read the Bible through this year
i. 4 Chapters a day gets us through the Bible in a year
ii. Reading 3 chapters on weekdays and 5 on Sunday will also cover the whole Bible in a year.
III. Daniel’s Resolution concerning a clean life (Daniel 1:8)
a. The testimony of a teenager (about 15 years old
i. His county was taken by a foreign power
ii. He had been chosen to study at the palace
b. Decided in his heart to dare to be different
c. So easy to just go along with the crowd
d. The word “defile” means to soil or pollute
e. Plenty of pollution around today
i. Plenty of reading material that defiles
ii. Plenty of viewing material that defiles
f. A decision for holiness of life will go against the flesh
g. Holy living always pays dividends
Conclusion
Your resolutions for Christ Today? Are what
Think of the Impact these could make on the New Year 2007
