12/27/2009
Starting the New Year off Right
Philippians 3:13-14
Philippians 3:13-14
Introduction
We are 5 days away from the New Year.
For some, swinging into the new year will be easy.
Because there will not be anything different.
Not expecting anything different.
Not attempting anything different.
Not willing to do anything different.
Guess what It won’t be different.
9 years ago we were in the same spot?
Remember we were going into 2000. Remember the Y2K dilemma?
The computers were supposed to shut down, they would lose all the vital information.
National security was at threat.
Bad people would get our information and steal our identity.
They were building bomb shelters, they were getting survival supplies, because it would end as we know it.
I was in the propane business as a bi-vocational pastor and they were buying propane heaters because they feared the electric would be off for a long time. (They got ingenious when they believed there was a need to change what they were doing.)(After it was over, the same ingenious ones wanted to bring back all those supplies.)
They knew they could not do the same thing and expect a different outcome.
Apostle Paul tells us to forget those things that are in our past, those things that hinder us and press forward to achieve the goal that Jesus Christ has won for us.
He says that he has not quite got there yet, that’s comforting to know that the great Apostle has some bugs that he needed to work out in his life.
The one thing that I should point out is that he said that after he was determined that Christ was going to be first in his life.
Phil. 3:7- Read from Bible
“But what ever was to my profit, I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”
(V10) “ I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow to attain to the resurrection from the dead.”
Let’s face it;
Most of us are on overload
We are committed to things we really don’t need, and we are not committed to the things that could change our lives.
We get caught up with the here and now, and we fail to deal with things eternal.
There are only 365 days in a year. 8760 hours this year.
when you figure if you get 8 hours of sleep a day, you can take off 2920 for maintenance and strength. I’m 52 years old- I have lived a little over 19,000 days so far. If I live to 70 years, I hope I live longer, but that would mean roughly 6600 days left. 2/3 of my life is behind me. I can either look behind with regret, or I can look ahead and plan what I will do with the remaining days. I choose , and so should you to decide what you are going to do with what is left.
Illustration-
Optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year come in- the pessimist stays up to make sure the old one leaves. Bill Vaughan.
“Be very careful, then , how you live, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is”
Here is the question to ask yourself.
1. Have I made he most of every opportunity?
2. Have I realized that life is short, and use my time wisely?
3. Do I understand what the :Lord’s will is for my life?
Because you are sitting in church this morning, I am praying right off
“Your relationship with the Lord is first in your life.
It comes before scheduling.
It affects my decisions.
It goes before and ahead of other relationships.
It beats the Sunday kickoff. He will be first
“Life is what happens to you while you are making plans to do something else.”
If you are a Christian this morning, you need to be reminded of that.
If you are not a Christian today, you need to understand that that is the first step of starting this new year right. It keeps you from just getting one year older.
Okay, here we go. Some thoughts to get 2010 off on the right path.
I. Commit to give up un-forgiveness
Ouch “Forgive as the Lord forgave you” Col. 3:13.
God challenges us to personally forgive so we can move on.
That baggage is what most people take to the new year; old stuff in a new bag, into a new year.
un-forgiveness is resentment we have in our hearts against others.
It destroys- marriages, families, friendships, splits churches.
Some of you need to forgive.
I have talked to you and I ‘m telling you that that is the only way that you will move ahead with your life.
It is not about right or wrong. It is about moving forward in your life and not letting someone else control your life by dwelling on what they did or did not do.
We end up in prison by our own feelings of resentment. They are self-destructive.
II. Stop looking in the past
“Forget what is behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on towards the goal for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus”
Forget the Past- strain to move forward.
It is a effort It is not easy Moving toward the goal God has for us.
Do not get bogged down by your short falls, your past failures. Move ahead.
T I have decided to follow Jesus.
T I am determined to move ahead and not look backward.
T Each year, we stand at the same crossroads, which road do I take?
Take the high road.
The road that Jesus will lead you and not someone or something that wants to hinder you.
Failure and painful memories hurt. I will not deny that
you made wrong decisions- move along
Stop torturing yourself.
If Jesus has forgiven you, forgive yourself and move on.
The Bible tells us about besetting sins.
When you come to Christ, some things just naturally seem to stop as we get closer to Christ. A besetting sin is one that you struggle with and you end up doing time and time again. For a lot of people, you begin to live a double life. You don’t want people to know you struggle with certain things. What better time than the week before the new year to determine to give that to the Lord
Jesus broke the power of sin
Holy Spirit of God gives us the power to resist sin.
2010 God can give you victory.
There is a faith factor.
If we could do it on our own, we would have done it.
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” phil 4:13.
“Be strong and of good courage, be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you where ever you go.” Josh. 1:9
Notice He has to be your God.
“But my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus”
Phil 4:9
“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary, they shall walk, and not faint”.
New year 2010 is coming, but it is not here yet
How about a new heart? New Spirit? A new relationship?
Bigger and better than before
“If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation, the old passed away, the new has come”
2 Cor. 5:17 “
”A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you” Ezek. 36:26.
2009 is going out 2010 is coming.
If 2009 was good- great Keep moving forward.
If it was not, put it behind you and move ahead.
If you are going to be able to do these things:
Forgive others, stop looking at the past.
If you are going to make the most of every opportunity, realize life is short, find God’s will for your life.
You already know you cannot do this by yourself.
Last thing this morning
What do I need to do for a better 2010?
Starting right now No resolutions...but proclamations.
I will put God first in my life.
Fresh start- starts with God.
You cannot eliminate God from your life and then ask him to help Him.
He won’t bless your mess unless you give Him that mess.
Build your relationships with others. First with God, then with others.
Don’t carry dirty laundry and old baggage into the new year.
Let God clean it up.
I’m closing.
There it is.
What are you going to do with it?
What are you expecting from 2010?
For some of you- you need to get plugged in to the things of God, opportunities at the church.
For some of you- you are so busy that God has to leave you a note on the kitchen table for you to remember Him.
What is he saying to you?
Will you respond accordingly?
I pray that 2010 is a blessing and life changing year for each and every one of us.
God had something for you- will you go after it?
