Introduction
Each year, we all make the choice to do better, don’t we? We hope (and pray) for a chance to create for ourselves a better year than the one we just went through. This morning, I want to give you four things to help you in this journey for 2008 – because God wants this year to be better than last!
If this is not true, Jeremiah 29:11 (For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.) is a lie. You may notice that I have used that verse a lot over the past year, and there is a purpose. I feel that God is trying to get our attention and let us know that we have so much more to live for than the status quo.
God wants your life to be better -- He wants you to succeed and do more than you ever had before -- and I know that if God wants something for you – then we need to simply stand back, listen to his voice, be obedient to His leading, and receive!
We must make every effort to make 2008 count. Who knows? It could be the final year we have to live in God’s Grace on this Earth, and if you think of each day as an incredible gift from God, it is amazing how your priorities WILL change!
Let’s look at some life challenges for 2008.
Pray
Have you ever made a list of things to do? I try to write things down so that I will remember them because frankly, I will forget. When people tell me things I try to make a little mental note so I will remember, or I ask my family to help me remember – but more times than I care to admit, I forget what I had to do.
Today, I have created a little list of things to do for 2008 that I hope you can see yourself in these items as well. Perhaps if we shared a list, we could help hold one another accountable to get things done – and give each other encouragement that we CAN get things done.
Remember our theme for 2008 is:
We attempt great things for God … We expect great things from God.
So together, let’s make a “to do” list.
Point 1 – Give: More time to God
We were created for one reason, to have fellowship and serve God, period. With that knowledge, we need to give more time TO God!
Seems pretty easy to do, right? Why is it then, that when it comes down to doing something as simple as a daily devotion it just does not get done? I am not going to ask anyone to raise their hand if they do one, because God already knows – but I want to say that for those who do not have a devotion time in place – GET ONE!
Revelation 4:11 says, “Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.”
Colossians 1:16 also says, “All things were created by Him and for Him.”
We must ensure that we recognizing the complete sovereignty and holiness of God, and stand amazed that He would take man and “crown him with glory and honor” (Psalm 8:5), and that He would bring Himself to our level and call us “friends” (John 15:14-15).
There is nothing else in this entire world that should be more important than giving yourself wholly to God, and knowing that He desires to spend time with you.
I realize we are all busy. I realize that our schedules are demanding and that everyone wants a piece of you and there never seems to be anything left for you – but think on this for a minute. Is your schedule all the devil has to use to keep you from God?
Yes, I said it. The devil will use your own schedule to keep you from God – and here is the worse part of this situation: FIRST he convinces you that you are too busy, and THEN you use that to justify to God why you don’t spend time with Him! Isn’t that the most ludicrous thing ever?
Commit to spending more time with God – He desires to spend time with you!
Next, devote yourself to serving where God has put you – your church!
Point 2 – Devote: Myself to serving
Each of us has a place in the Kingdom, and each of us has a mission to do from the Lord. Many of us have been afraid to ask God what it is that we should do, and that is just another tool the devil is using to keep you from serving!
Let’s review what the church called to do (emphasized from www.gotquestions.org):
1) Worship/Prayer – We were created to give God praise and to have a personal relationship with Him through prayer (Psalm 72:15). Expound …
2) Learning – We were designed to become like Christ by seeking Him daily in His Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Expound …
3) Fellowship - We were formed to be part of God’s family (Acts 2:44-45). Expound …
4) Service – We were shaped to have a ministry within the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:4-7). Expound …
5) Mission – We are commanded to share God’s love and gospel (Matthew 28:19-20). Expound …
None of these things can be accomplished unless the whole church participates!
Allow me to give you an illustration (I’ll admit taken to the extreme) of how many view something as simple as church attendance and how corrupt and out of control it can get to not do the simplest things, let alone serve. (This deals with attendance - taken from illustration written by Rev Kevin Litchfield in 2005). Repeat: I love … Brother T.J.
Dear Pastor -- You often stress attendance at worship as being very important for a Christian, but I think a person has a right to miss now and then. I think every person ought to be excused for the following reasons and the number of times indicated.
Christmas Holidays (the Sunday before & after) 2
New Years (the party lasted too long) 1
Easter (get away for the holidays) 2
July 4th (national holidays) 1
Labor Day (need to get away) 2
Memorial Day (visit hometown folk) 1
School closing (kids need a break) 1
School reopens (one last fling) 1
Family reunions (mine & wife’s) 3
Sleep late (stayed up too long Saturday night) 9
Deaths in family 2
Anniversary (second honeymoon) 1
Sickness (one per family member) 5
Business trip (a must) 1
Vacation (three to four weeks) 6
Bad weather (ice, snow, rain, clouds) 2
Ball games 2
Races 2
Unexpected company (can’t walk out) 2
Time changes (spring & fall) 2
Special on TV (Superbowl, etc.) 3
Pastor, that leaves two Sundays per year. So, you can count on us to be in church on the 4th Sunday in February and the 3rd Sunday in August unless we are providentially hindered. Sincerely -- A Faithful Member.
Ponder that, and apply where needed in your life. The third item on our list is to pray.
Point 3 – Dedicate: More time to Pray
If you are not a prayer warrior, don’t pretend like you are. You might impress a friend or someone closer to you by acting like one, but if you aren’t one and you are saying you are what you are doing is lying to and about Him. Let me explain:
Prayer is the only thing you have to get in touch with God on an intimate level! There is nothing you can do in this whole entire world to draw closer to God if you cannot pray! Prayer is the one (and only one) thing that God gave us to be able to communicate with Him. If you don’t know how to pray – ask someone who does!
I have heard people pray these eloquent prayers of supplication and devotion, and my spirit has immediately been sickened because I know they do not mean it – because they are not right with the Lord and they are obviously faking it.
Praying is not a job – it is an act of worship for communicating with your Father!
Prayer is not a job – it is intimate relationship building with the Creator!
We must devote ourselves to prayer, every day, every hour!
What I am about to give you needs to be one of those God moments of revelation in your life. Are you ready?
1 Thess 5:17 says, “… to pray without ceasing.” Questions?
To do something without ceasing is to do something continually – to always be involved in doing a certain thing – and in all of God’s word prayer is the one thing we are called to do without ceasing! To pray without ceasing means that every waking moment is to be lived in an awareness that God is with us and that He is actively involved and engaged in our thoughts and actions. Settle it today to be in a closer relationship with Him!
Finally, offer yourself fully to God!
Point 4 – Offer: Everything I Am to God
This is not going to be an overnight thing. You cannot go to bed tonight, promise to be God’s faithful servant tomorrow, and expect it to happen overnight. It is a constant transformation that happens within you. But, can you be better in Dec 2008 than you are in Dec 2007? Absolutely!
Oswald Chamber’s daily devotion on Friday said, “God holds us accountable every time we refuse to convert ourselves, and He sees our refusal as willful disobedience. Our natural life must not rule— God must rule in us. To refuse to be continuously converted puts a stumbling block in the growth of our spiritual life. There are areas of self-will in our lives where our pride pours contempt on the throne of God and says, "I won’t submit."
We must submit --- but how?
Take an inventory of your life right now – think of the filth that is in there. To help you -- anything that is not of God is filth, and I encourage you to not try to justify this to yourself.
Consider all the sin, the bad habits, the addictions, the coarse words, the ungodly behavior, the desire to be all that you can be and leave little room for God – take all of that into account and ask the Father … “What do you not approve of?”
This takes humbleness on your part -- then, listen and obey!
It is just that simple – however, the first portion of this starts with you – until YOU do something, God will do nothing.
2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
“If” … If means YOU have to act first … NOT the other way around.
If you want 2008 to be better than 2007, then you have to take the first step towards growing closer to God. Take stock of where you are – rejoice in what God has been able to do in your life this year, and then look forward to what He can do in 2008!
Invite Singers
With every eye closed and every head bowed …
Pray
