Introduction
• Divine in 2009. We discussed last week that God is bringing change, expansion, new levels and extreme favor in 2009.
• How do we go about achieving all that God has for us in this New Year?
• What must I do as a Christian to be able to partake in these blessings? How do I in the midst of all that I am going though see the light of God?
• The Lord desires that we serve Him for as long as we live. Even in old age, believers have the privilege of obeying God and ministering to other people.
• This one of the 1st steps in receiving the blessing, expansion, change, new levels and extreme faith in your life.
• So let’s consider some attitudes and actions that keep Christians productive, fruitful and young at heart.
(NKJV) Psalm 92 12 The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13 Those who are planted in the house of the LORD Shall flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing, 15 To declare that the LORD is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.
(AMP) Psalm 92 12The [uncompromisingly] righteous shall flourish like the palm tree [be long-lived, stately, upright, useful, and fruitful]; they shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon [majestic, stable, durable, and incorruptible]. 13Planted in the house of the Lord, they shall flourish in the courts of our God. 14[Growing in grace] they shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap [of spiritual vitality] and [rich in the] verdure [of trust, love, and contentment]. 15[They are living memorials] to show that the Lord is upright and faithful to His promises; He is my Rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.
1) What qualities does a Godly person possess?
a) Shout… Jesus I want to possess your qualities. Help me today!
b) In Psalm 92, God compares a righteous person to two types of trees considered valuable in the Middle East.
i) The date palm grows about 90 feet tall and produces abundant fruit. It is long-lived, stately, upright, useful, and fruitful. This should describe our life as a Christian.
ii) The cedar of Lebanon is resistant to weather and termite damage. This tree was used to build palaces and temples. The cedar is majestic, stable, durable, and incorruptible. Is this a description of our life?
c) What else characterizes a Godly person?
i) They flourish in the courts of our God (Ps. 92:13). In other words, he or she enjoys a close relationship with the Father.
ii) The person [yields] fruit in old age (v. 14). Growing Christians serve the Lord all their days and yield a harvest.
iii) They shall be full of sap and of spiritual vitality (v. 14). Believers should actively and creatively serve the Lord.
2) How do we stay youthful and fruitful in 2009?
a) Shout…Jesus reveal your plans for me to stay youthful and fruitful this year.
b) Keep learning. Acquiring new skills or knowledge stimulates our minds. Most importantly, we should continue learning more about God through studying and meditation on His Word.
i) This means that we need to change things in our life once God shows us through His Word or the Holy Spirit.
ii) When we learn something new, we have expanded our capacity for God to fill us with more. New levels come when we seek Him.
c) Keep loving. We are to love the Lord your God and other people, especially believers.
(NKJV) Deuteronomy 6 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
i) God has made it clear…you shall love. No love, no blessing, no love, no expansion, it gets cut off.
(1) Last week I said that we must check our heart condition daily. He will not bless a mess. Our hearts must be focused on Him and we will see new levels and extreme favor.
(NKJV) James 1 12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
ii) When you keep loving, you keep living and your rewards become heavenly. Strive to love in every test and trial.
d) Keep laughing. Laughter relaxes your body and helps release tension. A healthy sense of humor gives us a sense of vitality.
(NKJV) Proverbs 17 22 A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.
i) Lighten up and don’t take your life so seriously. Laugh a little.
ii) I have found that I can laugh at myself daily. This allows me to allow the Word of God to penetrate my heart and have unspeakable joy!
e) Keep leaving. Once you confess a sin and give your burdens to the Lord, leave it with Him. Don’t dwell in it, release it to Him.
(NKJV) 1 Peter 5 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
i) Painful events from the past may come to mind, but don’t dwell on them. Those who want to be youthful can’t carry around the weight of emotional baggage.
ii) Don’t allow the past year defeats hold you back from this years victories. Let it go!
f) Keep longing. Christians should want to reach for their potential. So never stop dreaming about what the Lord may want to do through you.
i) Allow yourself to use your imagination while prayerfully determining biblical goals for your life.
ii) Dream big. You can fulfill small dreams but it will take God to meet the big dreams in your life.
g) Keep looking. Watch to see how God is working in you and in the lives of those around you.
i) Read His Word and expect Him to reveal spiritual truth.
ii) Pay attention to the voice of the Holy Spirit as He guides you moment by moment.
iii) Purchase a journal and track what God said and then write down how He does it in your life.
iv) Always be expecting something from God!
h) Keep laboring. The pattern God set for the Hebrews was six days of labor and one day of rest.
(NKJV) Exodus 20 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates.
i) Our Maker designed us to be active. Exercising our bodies—through manual labor and other physical activity—keeps them healthy.
ii) We need to remain healthy in order to handle the change and expansion and the new levels that God wants to take you in 2009.
iii) When God builds the house, we will not labor in vein. (last week)
i) Keep leaning on your Heavenly Father. Turn every burden and worry over to God.
(NKJV) Proverbs 3 4 And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
i) Learn to depend more and more on Him.
ii) Depend on the Holy Spirit that dwells inside of you.
iii) The Christian life is impossible apart from the strength of the Holy Spirit working through us.
j) Keep your language positive. What your mouth speaks, your ear hears, your brain registers, and your body responds.
(NKJV) Proverbs 18 20 A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; From the produce of his lips he shall be filled. 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.
i) People with a positive, Godly attitude and a desire to obey the Lord Jesus tend to avoid much of the stress that burdens so many today.
ii) You are and have what you confess. Confess life and not death.
k) Keep listening to the Lord. When you pray, don’t do all the talking.
i) Ask the Father to guide your life each day.
ii) Be silent and wait on Him. Go to the secret place and wait on Him.
iii) He knows your hidden abilities and wants to help you reach your potential.
iv) Ignore ungodly counsel and choose to follow His wisdom instead.
Conclusion
• The Lord desires for us to be fun-loving, life-giving people that others enjoy knowing.
o Does this describe you?
• We can choose to grow old early or remain youthful all our days.
• The secret is to listen to God’s voice and obey Him in every situation.
• God wants us to change so that He can expand us for the Kingdom. When we expand we touch more lives for Jesus.
• We then go to new levels in Christ, no new devils, just a greater understanding of who He is.
• During our walk, we should come expecting to receive extreme favor. Look for it; it is coming into your life.
• Live this life to the fullest by learning, loving, laughing, longing, looking, laboring, leaning, and listening to God. Leave your past in the past and keep your language positive and uplifting.
• God will reward you when you do things His way!
• Let us pray.
