Living In The New Year 2012
Ephesians 5:15-17
Intro: Today is the first day of 2012. It seems like only a year has gone by since I stood in this same spot and delivered to you a message from God’s word about how to live closer to God in 2011.
. Time sure does fly when you are having fun doesn’t it?
. The new year brings with it a sense of hope and newness.
. Many of us take this time to look at ourselves and make commitments or resolutions for what we consider a better life.
. We want to get rid of the old and put on the new don’t we.
. New years resolutions are much like the molting process that the lobster goes through once a year after they are adults.
. “In order to grow, lobsters have to rid themselves of their old, hard, protective shell and grow a new, larger one. This process of shedding an old shell is called molting. They do this about twenty-five times in the first five years of life and once a year after they become adults.
“It is an ugly, messy process. Under the pressure, the old, hard, protective shell cracks. Then the lobster lies on its side, flexes its muscles, and pulls itself from the cracked shell. For a short time—between the leaving of the old shell and the hardening of a new one—the lobster is naked, feeling very vulnerable to the elements.”
. “In a sense we are all lobsters. … Our growth into Christ likeness requires we get rid of our old, hard, protective shells and allow God to take us to a new place in him.”
New Years is as good a time as any to follow the example of the adult lobster—to molt at least once a year, leaving our old, hard, protective selves behind and allowing ourselves a new sense of vulnerability and room to grow.
. In our scripture this morning the Apostle Paul writing to the church in Ephesus gives us some direction on how a Christian should live their lives.
. As we follow these guidelines for living not only will our physical lives flourish but our spiritual lives will also be brought into a closer relationship with God.
. Eph. 5:15-17 [nlt]
. 15So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.16Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.17Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.
. The first thing we see here is that we are to live wisely.
. To live with wisdom.
. You know, sometimes we find wisdom in strange places.
. I’m sure you have heard the phrase “out of the mouths of babes”. Listen to the wisdom of some of these children.
For example:
• Patrick, age 10, said, “Never trust a dog to watch your food.”
• Michael, 14, said, “When your dad is mad and asks you, "Do I look stupid?" don’t answer him.”
• Michael, wise man that he was also said, “Never tell your mom her diet’s not working.”
• Randy, 9 years of age said, “Stay away from prunes.” One wonders how he discovered that bit of wisdom.
• Kyoyo, age 9, said, “Never hold a dust buster and a cat at the same time.”
• Naomi, 15 said, “If you want a kitten, start out by asking for a horse.”
• Lauren, age 9 said, “Felt markers are not good to use as lipstick.”
• Joel, 10 years old, said, “Don’t pick on your sister when she’s holding a baseball bat.” and
• Eileen, age 8 said, “Never try to baptize a cat.”
. Some true wisdom if I ever heard it.
. Paul writes that we are to live wisely.
. Now I googled definition of wisdom and this was the first thing that came up.
. The ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting;
. Paul says to live by what you know as truth.
. The world will tell you that there is no truth.
. That everything is up to the individual and that what is true for one person is not necessarily true for another.
. This is called relativism. I googled this also and here is what I found.
. Relativism is the concept that points of view have no absolute truth or validity, having only relative, subjective value according to differences in perception and consideration.
. There is no absolute truth.
. Paul writes that fools believe that there is no truth.
. True wisdom is knowing that there are absolute truths in our world.
. In john 14:6 Jesus says; I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
. If we are to live wisely in this New Year, the first thing that we must do is realize that there is truth and that the ultimate truth is that Jesus Christ, God himself came to earth to become the payment for our sin.
. If we are to live wisely in 2012 we need to realize that what the writer of proverbs 9:10 says: 10Fear of the LORD is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.
. This fear is not the trembling paralyzing feeling that we think of when we picture fear. [Although we should fear God’s judgment].
. This fear that the writer is talking about is an awe and respect for who God is.
. We can’t have knowledge and therefore wisdom until we recognize the most fundamental truth about our world.
. This world is God’s creation. Only fools say there is no God and that we are here just by chance.
. Paul writes be careful how you live, don’t live like fools. Live like those who are wise.
. Live in the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and follow His teachings.
. If we do that, we will surely live wisely this year.
. Transition: Not only are we to live wisely, we are also to live making the most of every opportunity this year.
. vs 16 says: 16Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.
. We should make the most of every opportunity because life is very, very short and we only have so many opportunities.
. A man went to his doctor to find out why he had been having such severe headaches. The doctor ran some tests and after a few hours called the man into his office. "I have terrible news," he told the patient. "Your condition is terminal." "Oh, no!? the man cried. "How long do I have?" "Ten ..." began the doctor. "Ten what?" the patient interrupted. "Days? Months? Years?" "Nine," continued the doctor, "eight, seven, six ..."
. The Psalmist wrote, Psalm 39:4
"Show me, O Lord, my life’s end & the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life"
Psalm 90:10
"The length of our days is 70 years - or 80, if we have the strength...they quickly pass, & we fly away"
. Our time is short; we must live with some urgency and take advantage of the opportunities that God gives us.
. Paul is a perfect example of making the most of his opportunities.
. He preached at the drop of a hat. If anybody would listen, he would share the Gospel with them.
. He planted churches. Everywhere he went, when he left there was a new church started for the continuation of the faith.
. He was constantly concerned for the welfare of others.
. Just like Paul we should live a opportunistic life.
. We should be expecting God to give us opportunities for service.
. We should be looking for every opportunity to better ourselves and to serve God in this coming year.
. Paul says to make the most of our opportunities.
. We are given only so many years here to serve God and we should seize every opportunity.
. I was talking with a friend of mine one day and we were talking about opportunities for service and how we were to discern what God wanted us to do in certain situations.
. He told me that he believed that man opened doors but God closed them. I asked him to explain that to me.
. He said that doors will open for a person to step through all the time but if we trust in God and pray for His guidance then if we are not supposed to walk through that door, God will close it.
. He will close it through situations or counsel of a trusted brother or sister in Christ or through the leading of the Holy Spirit.
. Paul writes that we are to seize the opportunities or walk through the doors that God wants us to walk through.
. Be ready to serve God in every opportunity that He gives you.
. We as a church are embarking on a quest to capture God’s vision this year.
. We can expect that God will give us opportunities as we go through this process.
. We must take advantage of these opportunities to serve and grow God’s kingdom in 2012.
. We as a church and you individually should resolve this day, the first day of 2012 to walk through the doors that God leaves open for us.
. To seize the opportunities that God gives us.
. There is an old hymn written in the 1890’s titled I Am Resolved. The third verse says:
. I am resolved to follow the Savior, faithful and true each day; Heed what He sayeth, do what He willeth, He is the living way.
. We should follow the Savior Jesus Christ and make the most of every opportunity.
Transition: Not only are we to live wisely and live making the most of opportunities we are also to live in God’s will.
Vs 17 says: 17Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.
. Understand what God wants you to do.
. ie, live in Gods will.
. I can almost hear your thoughts. You are thinking; that’s easy to say pastor but hard to do. How do we know God’s will?
. My answer to that is a question.
. Are you listening?
. Back when the telegraph was the fastest method of long-distance communication, a young man applied for a job as a Morse Code operator. Answering an ad in the newspaper, he went to the office address that was listed. When he arrived, he entered a large, busy office filled with noise and clatter, including the sound of the telegraph in the background. A sign on the receptionist’s counter instructed job applicants to fill out a form and wait until they were summoned to enter the inner office.
The young man filled out his form and sat down with the seven other applicants in the waiting area. After a few minutes, the young man stood up, crossed the room to the door of the inner office, and walked right in. Naturally the other applicants perked up, wondering what was going on. They muttered among themselves that they hadn’t heard any summons yet. They assumed that the young man who went into the office made a mistake and would be disqualified.
Within a few minutes, however, the employer escorted the young man out of the office and said to the other applicants, “Gentlemen, thank you very much for coming, but the job has just been filled.”
The other applicants began grumbling to each other, and one spoke up saying, “Wait a minute, I don’t understand. He was the last to come in, and we never even got a chance to be interviewed. Yet he got the job. That’s not fair!”
The employer said, “I’m sorry, but all the time you’ve been sitting here, the telegraph has been ticking out the following message in Morse Code: ‘If you understand this message, then come right in. The job is yours.’ None of you heard it or understood it. This young man did. The job is his.”
. We live in a world that is full of busyness and clatter, like that office. People are distracted and unable to hear the still, small voice of God as he speaks to them. What about you? Are you tuned in to God’s voice? Do you hear him when he speaks to you? Are you listening?
. We have to tune out all the clatter around us and listen to God.
. God will speak to us through the study of his handbook for Christians. The Bible.
. God will speak to us through sermons.
. God will speak to us through Sunday school lessons.
. God will speak to us through music and praise.
. God will speak to us through the Holy Spirit that resides in all who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord of their life.
. God will speak to us when we are quiet and alone with Him and are listening for Him.
. When we tune out all the clutter and clatter of life and truly listen for Him to speak.
.A Native American and his friend were in downtown New York City, walking near Times Square in Manhattan. It was during the noon lunch hour and the streets were filled with people. Cars were honking their horns, taxicabs were squealing around corners, sirens were wailing, and the sounds of the city were almost deafening.
Suddenly, the Native American said, “I hear a cricket.”
His friend said, “What? You must be crazy. You couldn’t possibly hear a cricket in all of this noise!”
“No, I’m sure of it,” the Native American said. “I heard a cricket.”
“That’s crazy,” said the friend.
The Native American listened carefully for a moment, and then walked across the street to a big cement planter where some shrubs were growing. He looked into the bushes, beneath the branches, and sure enough, he located a small cricket. His friend was utterly amazed. “That’s incredible,” said his friend. “You must have super-human ears!”
“No,” said the Native American. “My ears are no different from yours. It all depends on what you’re listening for.”
“But that can’t be!” said the friend. “I could never hear a cricket in this noise.”
“Yes, it’s true,” came the reply. “It depends on what you’re listening for. Here, let me show you.”
He reached into his pocket, pulled out a few coins, and discreetly dropped them on the sidewalk. And then, with the noise of the crowded street still blaring in their ears, they noticed every head within twenty feet turn and look to see if the money that tinkled on the pavement was theirs.
“See what I mean?” asked the Native American. “It all depends on what you’re listening for.”
If you’ve tuned in to God, it doesn’t matter what’s going on around you, you can hear Him speak.
. In this new year, Live wisely, live making the most of every opportunity God gives you, and live in God’s will by listening to His voice.
Invitation
*** To my Christian brothers and sisters, thank you for taking the time to read this sermon. I ask that you take another second and score this for me. I am always open to feedback so that I can continue to grow in the proclamation of God’s word.
May God bless you as you continue to strive to walk worthy of His calling.
Sources: The Holy Bible, NLT
. Nate Barbour, Holy Headphones, Sermon Central
