Sermon - New year’s 2019
- Here we are again. Another year has gone & another is come.
- If we stop & look back at our past achievements, or failures it generally doesn’t do us
much good.
- I know that sounds strange, but it usually drives us to overwhelming ourselves in
order to succeed.
- Here’s the way we’re going to celebrate the new year.
- It’s a truth, a solid foundation, & it will never be changed.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
- Our past doesn’t matter.
- What matters is that you are God’s. He has washed you, adopted you, & called you to
be about His business, & that’s saving lives.
Prayer
- The leading cause that hinders the Church, in our evangelism, is our past.
> A bad dream - (www.funny-jokes.com)
Jemima was taking an afternoon nap on New Year's Eve before the festivities. After she woke up, she confided to Max, her husband, 'I just dreamed that you gave me a diamond ring for a New Year's present. What do you think it all means?''Aha, you'll know tonight,' answered Max smiling broadly.At midnight, as the New Year was chiming, Max approached Jemima and handed her small package. Delighted and excited she opened it quickly. There in her hand rested a book entitled: 'The meaning of dreams'.
- For us guys, we would have a long time before that one would be forgotten.
- Here’s the wonder about being a new creature in Jesus.
Psalm 103:12
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
- The past is gone. The thing that kept you from, or distanced from, God is gone.
- Others might call to remembrance of your past, but you are different!
- Your past becomes proof of your present & future!
1 Peter 2:12
12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
- The thing we need to remember every day is that we are saved, that’s the hope, the
assurance of a Christian.
Romans 8:24-25
24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
- Paul says the moment we accept Jesus as our savior, we know we are saved!
- We are still here in this fallen world, & even in this flesh, but we know we are
redeemed.
- It’s a hope that is unlike our usual hopes, in which we’re just wishing.
- No, in this hope we declare, I am redeemed!
- With a great banner like that hanging over our heads, nothing should bring us down!
- Now I say should, because things do bring us down.
- God’s name is Jehovah-Nissi. Which means the Lord my banner.
- It’s a name that symbolically means that on the battlefield your banner is held
up showing the name of whom you serve.
- We serve almighty God! He does not lose! The battle is won.
- We may topple over carrying His banner, but His name still remains.
- Our New Year is Right in front of us. It’s time now to hoist our banner high for all to
see.
- The great commission is a call to spread the good news to everyone, just like we
raise our banner for all to see.
- Jude says in Jude 1:3
Jude 1:3
3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
- Our lives should show the same vigor for the faith, that the lives of the apostles
showed.
- What a challenge that is.
- Paul was,
2 Corinthians 11:23-27
23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness
- All of these things Paul suffered, because he carried the banner that proclaimed the
victor, the redeemer.
* In 2014 Tens of Thousands of Christians fled Iraq as ISIS declared the caliphate. Their homes, business were marked with nuun (the letter N) which stood for Nazarene. They were told pay a tax & stay, or die!
- One Pastor, Who has stayed, said he prays more Christians would feel called to
stay.
- So many Christians fleeing, but so many islamists doomed to an eternity of
torment.
* October 2016 Andrew Brunson was imprisoned in Turkey, under the The claim of
raising a coup against President Erdogan.
- He was in prison for two years.
- Andrew still desires to go back to Turkey!
- In both of these examples the message is clear. I, You, & any other Christian May be
the only Bible they read.
- We are a form of God’s revealed Word, because the Word(Christ) resides within
us!
- This is our new year’s resolution, I will hold His banner high so that others might
see it.
> The Shadow of the Almighty (www.poetrynook.com)
by Nora Pembroke
They only see the snow heaped on the moor,
The bare trees shivering in the winter's breath,
The icy drift that sifteth through the door,
Me, old and poor, waiting the call of death.
They think my cot is bare and comfortless,
With broken roof and paper-mended pane,
They see but poverty and loneliness,
And think in pity that my death were gain.
They know not, Master, that Thou art so near,
Thou holdest me, I lean upon Thy might,
I know Thy voice, Thy whisperings I hear,
I stay beneath Thy shadow with delight.
The royal purple of Thy garment died,
From Bozrah, is spread over even me,
All my unworthiness, my want I hide
Under Thy princely vesture shelteringly.
Thy hand is underneath my weary head,
Thy strong right hand that saved me long ago;
I'm cradled in Thy arms and comforted,
What more have I to do with want or woe.
What more indeed! so sheltered, so embraced,
For ever Thou art mine and I am Thine,
Thy banner's love, Thy fruit sweet to my taste,
Thou givest to my lips the Kingdom's wine.
How sweetly solemn is this awful place!
Where all of earth fades out and vanishes,
I cannot fear while I behold Thy face,
My help, my friend, the Lord my righteousness.
I do not feel the waters cold and deep,
Waters to swim in through whose waves I come,
The love that holds me up is strong to keep,
'Tis but a little way from this to home.
My sight grows dim, my one Redeemer, Lord,
Bring nearer still the brightness of Thy face,
I hear Thy voice, assuring is Thy word,
Close to Thy heart is my abiding place.
We're nearing home — forever all is well,
In through the agate windows I can see
The place prepared — glory ineffable,
To which in royal love Thou leadest me.
- A life lived in hope, & mirrored through our actions. This morning we have an
invitation to serve the Lord in this new year.
Q- Will we serve Him?
