THE YEAR IN REVIEW
THE YEAR 2014 IS RAPIDLY DRAWING TO A CLOSE. I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT I FOUND THIS YEAR TO GO BY EXTREMELY FAST. I THINK I NOTICE THE YEARS PASSING QUICKER AS I GROW OLDER. MANY GROUPS AND PEOPLE USE THIS TIME TO LOOK AT THE YEAR IN REVIEW, AND ALSO TO ANTICIPATE WHAT 2015 HAS IN STORE FOR THEM.
I HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO THE TOP FORTY SOUTHERN GOSPEL SELECTIONS FROM THE PAST YEAR. OTHER RADIO STATIONS COUNT DOWN THE TOP 100. TELEVISION SPECIALS WILL LOOK AT THE TOP 10 NEWS STORIES FROM 2014 OR THE TOP 10 PERSONALITITES.
THIS IS THE LAST SUNDAY WE WILL BE TOGETHER IN 2014 AND AS SUCH IT OFFERS US THE OPPORTUNITY TO REFLECT ON THE PAST, AS WELL AS TO LOOK TO THE FUTURE. FOR SOME OF US THE PAST YEAR HAS BEEN CHALLENGING, AND FOR OTHERS EXCITING, AND FOR SOME THERE ARE NO SIGINIFICANT CHANGES.
CHRISTIANS THOUGH REFLECT ON THE PAST YEAR WITH AN ATTITUDE OF THANKFULLNESS AND GRATEFULLNESS TO GOD FOR HIS MERCY AND KINDNESS TO US. WE LOOK FORWARD IN ANTICIPATION OF THE WAY THAT GOD WILL ACT IN THE YEAR 2014. THE ONE THING WE CAN BE ASSURED OF WHETHER REFLECTING ON THE PAST, OR VISIONING FOR THE FUTURE, IS THE CONSTANT PRESENCE OF GOD WITH US. IT PROVIDED ME WITH A SENSE OF COMFORT AND PEACE REALIZING THAT WE DO NOT FACE THE FUTURE ALONE, BUT WE FACE IT IN THE QUIET CONFIDENCE OF HE WHO CREATED THE FUTURE.
BOTH MATTHEW AND PETER GIVE US VERY VALUABLE LESSONS ON REFLECTING ON THE PAST AND VISIONING FOR THE FUTURE, AND WE SHALL TAKE SOME TIME NOW TO LOOK AT THESE LESSONS.
POINT ONE: RETROSPECTIVE: LOOKING BACK AT THE YEAR COMING TO A CLOSE
A RETROSPECTIVE LOOK AT OUR LIVES INVOLVES LOOKING AT OUR IMMEDIATE PAST YEAR, AND AS WELL THE WAY THAT GOD HAS BLENED INTO OUR LIVES HIS BLESSINGS, FROM OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.
NOW AS WE LOOK RETROSPECTIVELY ON OUR LIVES, THERE ARE TWO VERY IMPORTANT WORDS THAT WE MUST KEEP IN MIND:
1. REMEMBER
2. FORGET
PHILIPPIANS 3:13-14:
“13 BROTHERS, I DO NOT CONSIDER MYSELF YET TO HAVE TAKEN HOLD OF IT. BUT ONE THING I DO: FORGETTING WHAT IS BEHIND AND STRAINING TOWARD WHAT IS AHEAD, 14 I PRESS ON TOWARD THE GOAL TO WIN THE PRIZE FOR WHICH GOD HAS CALLED ME HEAVENWARD IN CHRIST JESUS.”
PAUL IS TEACHING US A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF REFLECTION IN THESE VERSES. HE IS REMINDING US FIRST, THAT WHILE IS IT ALLRIGHT TO REFLECT ON THE PAST, THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO PRESS ON TOWARD THE GOAL, AND TO USE ONLY THOSE THINGS FROM THE PAST THAT WILL HELP US TO ACHIEVE THE GOAL, WHICH IS OUR HEAVENLY HOME.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO REALIZE THAT OUR PAST IS THE PAST, AND MANY OF THE THINGS WE REFLECT ON, NEED TO BE LEFT RIGHT THERE. FAR TOO MANY PEOPLE BRING THE UNPLEASANT AND UNHAPPY EXPERIENCES OF THE PAST WITH THEM, AND THEY EFFECT HOW WE LIVE NOW.
THERE ARE FAR TOO MANY PEOPLE WHO SAY THEY HAVE TAKEN THEIR NEGATIVE EXPERIENCES OF THE PAST TO THE CROSS, CLAIMING TO HAVE LEFT THEM THERE, ONLY TO BE ABLE TO PICK THEM UP AGAIN WHEN THE OCCASION PERMITS.
THIS IS NOT THE KIND OF LIFE THAT GOD WANTS FOR HIS PEOPLE. WHY SHOULD YOU BE BEARING THE EMOTIONAL BAGGAGE OF DEFEAT, DISAPPOINTMENT, AND GUILT, WHEN IN MOST CASES THE PERSON OR PERSONS WHO SHOULD BE CARRYING THIS WEIGHT ARE NOT BOTHERED BY IT AT ALL.
JESUS CAME TO FREE US FROM THE CAPTIVITY OF THE PAST. JESUS TAUGHT IN LUKE 4:18:
LUKE 4:18: “"THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS ON ME, BECAUSE HE HAS ANOINTED ME TO PREACH GOOD NEWS TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM FREEDOM FOR THE PRISONERS AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT FOR THE BLIND, TO RELEASE THE OPPRESSED,”
SATAN DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS TO ALL THINGS ABOUT OUR FUTURE, BUT OUR PAST IS FAR MORE ACCESSIBLE TO HIM. HE IS NOT ALL-KNOWING AS GOD IS, BUT HE HAS AN ARMY OF FOLLOWERS WHO MAKE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR PAST AVAILABLE TO HIM. THIS ALLOWS HIM TO KNOW HOW TO TEMPT US, AND HOW TO APPLY GUILT TO OUR LIVES. REMEMBER ALL FORMS OF TEMPTATION THAT SATAN USES, COMES FROM A PAST ENCOUNTER.
SATAN WILL LOOK AT SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST, BE IT BAD SUCH AS A SINFUL ACTION, OR A PROPER BUT DIFFICULT ACTION.
LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF A PROPER BUT DIFFICULT ACTION. THIS PAST SUMMER, MY BROTHER-IN-LAW HAD A HERNIA OPERATION. NOW THIS IS NOT A MAJOR OPERATION, MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THEM, SOME ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, LIKE HIM. IT WAS MAJOR IN THEIR HOUSEHOLD BECAUSE MY SISTER HAS M.S. AND NEEDS HER HUSBAND TO HELP HER FUNCTION. DURING HIS RECOVERY PERIOD OF SIX WEEKS, MY SISTER HAD TO GO TO A NURSING HOME TO BE LOOKED AFTER.
LESLIE AND I WERE AT HOME FOR PART OF THIS TIME, AND WE GOT IN TO SEE MY SISTER SEVERAL TIMES. I WOULD SAY MORE THAN ANY OF MY OTHER SISTERS. I ALWAYS FELT BAD LEAVING HER ROOM ALTHOUGH I KNEW IT WAS THE RIGHT PLACE FOR HER TO BE, AND THAT LES AND I WERE DOING ALL WE COULD TO VISIT HER.
NOW I BELIEVE THAT SATAN USED THE FACT THAT I FELT BAD ABOUT LEAVING MY SISTER TO APPLY GUILT TO MY SPIRIT. SHE’S YOUR SISTER AND YOU ONLY VISIT THIS MUCH. YOU’RE NOT MUCH OF A BROTHER.” THIS IS EXACTLY HOW I FELT.
I THINK THAT MANY PEOPLE HERE TODAY ARE CAUGHT IN SATAN’S TRAP OF LIES. HE WANTS US TO FEEL THAT GUILT, TO KNOW THAT DISAPPOINTMENT AND DISCOURAGEMENT, SO THAT WE WILL NOT LEAD VICTORIOUS LIVES AND ENJOY OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD.
THERE ARE SOME PARTS OF OUR PAST THAT ARE MEANT TO BE LEFT IN THE PAST AND NOT BROUGHT UP AGAIN.
PAUL TEACHES IN
GALATIANS 5:1: “IT IS FOR FREEDOM THAT CHRIST HAS SET US FREE. STAND FIRM, THEN, AND DO NOT LET YOURSELVES BE BURDENED AGAIN BY A YOKE OF SLAVERY.”
WE ARE TAUGHT TO SURRENDER THESE FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS TO THE LORD. BY DOING THIS WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD THE KIND OF LIVES THAT GOD WANTS US TO LEAD.
NOW SOME OF US HAVE HAD SOME VERY DIFFICULT DAYS IN 2014. SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN PART OF A CHURCH CLOSURE. OTHERS HAVE HAD THE HURT OF LOSING CLOSE FRIENDS. STILL OTHERS HAVE FACED DISAPPOINTMENTS AND DISCOURAGEMENTS OF VARIOUS KINDS IN 2014. WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TELL US ABOUT FACING THESE ISSUES. IT TELLS US IF WE HAVE TRULY GIVEN THEM OVER TO THE LORD THAT WE CAN BE FREE INDEED:
JOHN 8:36: “SO IF THE SON SETS YOU FREE, YOU WILL BE FREE INDEED.”
WHAT THEN ARE TO WE REMEMBER FROM THE PAST. WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT WE ARE DEPENDANT ON GOD FOR ALL HIS BLESSINGS TO US. WE ARE TO REMEMBER THE POSITIVE EXPERIENCES OF THE PAST YEAR, AND LOOK FORWARD TO THESE EXPERIENCES CONTINUING IN THE NEW YEAR.
SOME OTHER WORDS THAT ARE IMPORTANT IN A RETROSPECTIVE LOOK AT OUR PAST ARE: LOOK
AWE
FORGIVENESS
WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE PAST YEAR AND USE THAT KNOWLEDGE AS WE MOVE INTO THE FUTURE. A GOOD CONSTRUCTIVE LOOK AT THE PAST CAN HELP US IF WE FACE THE SITUATION AGAIN IN THE FUTURE.
WHEN WE REFLECT ON THE PAST YEAR THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE MUST JUST STAND IN AWE AS WE CONSIDER THE POWER OF GOD. I REMEMBER DRIVING BACK THROUGH POST TROPICAL STORM ARTHUR. IT WAS SO HARD TO CONTROL THE VAN. SO MANY TREES WERE DOWN AND THE WIND BLEW WITH SUCH FORCE. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I HAD EVER SEEN A TREE FALL DUE TO THE FORCE OF THE WIND.
WHAT I ALSO REMEMBER IS DRIVING ACROSS THE PROVINCE THE DAY AFTER THE POST-TROPICAL STORM. I THINK BOTH LES AND I WERE IN AWE OF THE DAMAGE THAT WAS DONE BY THE WIND. POWER WAS KNOCKED OUT FOR WELL OVER A WEEK IN SOME PLACES.
THE THING THAT I REMEMBER MOST THOUGH IS THAT LESLIE AND I HAD PURCHASED TWO GRAVE SADDLES FOR OUR PARENTS GRAVES A WEEK BEFORE ARTHUR. DRIVING OVER I WAS SURE THAT THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN BLOWN APART BY THE WIND. WHEN WE GOT TO THE CEMETARIES, WE EVENTUALLY FOUND THE SADDLES AND WITH A LITTLE REPAIR WERE AS GOOD AS NEW. STANDING IN THAT FIELD AND SEEING THE POWER OF GOD IN THE DAMAGE, AS WELL AS THE SENSITIVITY OF GOD IN THE REPAIRED SADDLES, WE COULDN’T HELP BUT THINK OF THE AWESOMENESS OF GOD.
WHEN YOU STAND IN AWE IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD, ONE OF THE GREATEST WORDS IN THE CHRISTIAN VOCABULARY COMES TO MIND. THAT WORD IS FORGIVENESS.
WHEN WE THINK OF THE AWESOME POWER OF GOD, AND THE FACT THAT SOMEDAY WE ARE GOING TO STAND BEFORE HIM TO RECEIVE JUDGMENT IT SHOULD LEAVE US TERRIFIED. THERE IS HOWEVER A WONDERFUL WORD THAT COMES TO MIND WHICH IS “FORGIVENESS.”
YES WE ARE SINNERS, BUT THANKS TO THE GREAT GIFT OF GOD HE WILL OFFER US FORGIVENESS FROM OUR SINS.
1 JOHN 1:9: “IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST AND WILL FORGIVE US OUR SINS AND PURIFY US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.”
IT IS A TRULY HEALTHY SPIRITUAL EXERCISE TO BE RETROSPECTIVE AS WE COME TO THE YEARS END. AS WE DO SO, WE CAN SEE THE MANY TIMES THAT GOD HAS ACTED IN OUR LIVES AND GUIDED US THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES.
GENESIS 50:20: “YOU INTENDED TO HARM ME, BUT GOD INTENDED IT FOR GOOD TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT IS NOW BEING DONE, THE SAVING OF MANY LIVES.”
POINT TWO: PERSPECTIVE: PROJECTING ONE’S THOUGHT INTO THE FUTURE.
WHEN WE THINK OF THE FUTURE, ONE WORD THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT IS THE WORD “VISION”. THE BIBLE IS CLEAR ON THIS POINT:
PROVERBS 29:18: “WHERE THERE IS NO REVELATION, THE PEOPLE CAST OFF RESTRAINT; BUT BLESSED IS HE WHO KEEPS THE LAW.”
THE WORD HERE IMPLIES PURPOSE AND AS CHRISTIANS WE SHOULD HAVE THE UNIFIED PURPOSE OF BUILDING THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
JOEL 2:28: “‘AND AFTERWARD, I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT ON ALL PEOPLE. YOUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS WILL PROPHESY, YOUR OLD MEN WILL DREAM DREAMS, YOUR YOUNG MEN WILL SEE VISIONS.”
WHEN IT COMES TO THE MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH, IT IS OUR MISSION OR PURPOSE, THAT LEADS TO METHOD OF ACCOMPLISHING THAT PURPOSE. IT IS OUR PURPOSE THAT KEEPS US FROM BEING DISCOURAGED OR DISAPPOINTED.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE WORLD TODAY I WONDER IF WE LOOK THROUGH DETERMINED EYES, OR DEFEATED EYES. DEFEATED EYES LOOK AT THE WORLD AND SAY THERE ARE TOO MANY THINGS AGAINST US. WE ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE MUCH OF AN IMPACT FOR THE LORD.
WE ARE CALLED TO BE FAITHFUL TO THE MISSION OF BUILDING GOD’S KINGDOM. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT THERE WILL NOT BE THAT MANY PEOPLE WHO WILL RESPOND POSITIVELY TO THE GOSPEL, EVEN LESS AS WE DRAW CLOSER TO THE RAPTURE.
MATTHEW 7:13-14:
“13 "ENTER THROUGH THE NARROW GATE. FOR WIDE IS THE GATE AND BROAD IS THE ROAD THAT LEADS TO DESTRUCTION, AND MANY ENTER THROUGH IT. 14 BUT SMALL IS THE GATE AND NARROW THE ROAD THAT LEADS TO LIFE, AND ONLY A FEW FIND IT.”
IS THIS A REASON FOR US TO BE DISCOURAGED? CERTAINLY NOT. GOD HAS CHOSEN US TO BE A PART OF BUILDING HIS KINGDOM, RIGHT HERE AND RIGHT NOW. WE ARE BUILDING, AND WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD ON A SOLID BIBLICAL FOUNDATION. WE WILL NOT ALWAYS BE EXCITING, BUT WE WILL ALWAYS PUSH TOWARD THE GOAL.
IT COULD BE THAT OUR MISSION IS TO SET THE TABLE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF CHRISTIANS TO SEE THE REWARDS OF NUMBERS. WHILE IT IS A PART OF MY JOB TO TRY TO GROW THE CHURCH, IT IS ALSO AND A GREATER PART OF MY CALLING TO GROW THOSE WHO ARE IN THE CHURCH NOW, SO THAT TOGETHER WE CAN REAP A HARVEST FOR THE LORD.
IT IS MY JOB TO SHEPHERD YOU THROUGH THE DIFFICULT TIMES OF LIFE, AND TO WALK WITH YOU AS YOU PROGRESS TO OUR HEAVENLY HOME. THE BIBLE DECLARES THAT I SHOULD:
ROMANS 12:15: “REJOICE WITH THOSE WHO REJOICE; MOURN WITH THOSE WHO MOURN.”
CONCLUSION:
THERE IS A PAST TO BE RETOSPECTIVE OF, AND THERE IS A FUTURE TO GAIN A PERSPECTIVE OF, AND THE WORD BETWEEN PAST AND FUTURE IS WHERE WE LIVE EVERY DAY OF OUR LIVES. IT IS THE HERE AND NOW.
NOW IS THE WORD BETWEEN THE PAST AND THE FUTURE, AND IN ORDER TO USE THE PAST AND FUTURE EFFECTIVELY WE MUST ACT IN THE NOW.
GOD HAS ACTED FOR US IN THE PAST AND SOPKEN TO US IN THE PAST, BUT HE ALSO HAS PLANS FOR THE FUTURE.
NOW IS THE TIME TO RESPOND TO THE TOUCH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ON YOUR LIFE. NOW IS THE TIME TO SURRENDER YOUR LIFE TO HIM IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO, NOW IS THE TIME TO SAY AS OUR CLOSING HYMN SAYS “LEAD ON O KING ETERNAL.”
