2020.01.05 NEW YEAR MESSAGE for EEs (ELDER EARS)
William Akehurst, HSWC
John 2:1-11 The Cana Wedding – Water into Wine
1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:
2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.
4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.
7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.
9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.
11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
THE BIG IDEA: Vs 1-3 Custom is to serve the better wine first at the wedding. As the celebration goes on, the lesser drink or watered down wine was brought out.
As we look back on life and reflect, we remember the zeal we had in our teens and twenties. These were the days of the better wine.
As the year went on, we may have mellowed out (become watered down) and lost our luster and even become plain – plain water.
But just as the wedding celebration had peaked and appeared to run it’s course, and the wine had run out. JESUS took what was left, the plain water, and made it into something greater than the first.
Jesus took ordinary water and turned it into the best wine ever tasted (vs. 7-10)
In life, we live with vibrancy and zeal in our earlier days, but then seem to mellow out as we get older. The ‘good wine’ has diminished and we begin to get watered down.
But I want you to understand something. With CHRIST, HE starts something new and it doesn’t matter when or where it is in your lifetime. It could be your last day, your last moment, your last breath, and HE can make you new!
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
You may think that means when we get old, we pass away…and then something new pops up. But I tell you, he can take away the old and make you new.
Genesis 12-20 Abraham heard from GOD and left his home to go to the promised land, and Sarah had her youth restored at 65-90 years of age.
Job 33:25-26
25 His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth:
26 He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.
YOUTHFULNESS RESTORED TO RUTH
Ruth 4:15a And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age:
YOU NEED POWER? SEEK AFTER THE HOLY SPIRIT!
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
As this year and decade has come to an end and we move into the next, let us leave behind those things that hindered or discouraged us, and move forward into the New Year with new and great expectation, new vision and new focus.
As 2020 begins, let us search out to see and experience those things which come from GOD.
Jesus taught us to pray for the will, purpose and blessings from the FATHER and that these would be received here in our use in our lifetime.
HE prayed that we would have our eyes opened so that there would be clarity of the things above; understanding of the Heavenly Blessings, Heavenly Provision, and Heavenly Position we have been called to live out in our lives as we are of the Heavenly Kingdom.
Daily we must feed on HIS Bread of life, come down from Heaven.
We are to learn to understand HIS Ways and to live in peace with one another, forgiving and being forgiven.
We are to keep our eyes upon HIM and not be distracted by the futile temptations of this world.
HE guides us in paths of HIS Righteousness for HIS NAME’s Sake.
Stand fast that HE is with us wherever we go and we do not need to live in fear of the evil around us because HE is our Deliverer.
HE has anointed you and me for this time, this season of purpose.
We see the things of this world fall all around us, but we also see HIS TRUTH rising to prevail, HIS WORD being fulfilled, and HIS PROMISES as TRUTH!
Get Excited because there is still work to be done and we need to be ready and help others too, because THE KING IS COMING!
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Isaiah 60:1-2 1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.
2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
Matthew 6:9-13 9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
Esther 4:14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
Psalms 23:1-6 1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
LORD, we come asking that this generation and the next would be committed to YOU and YOUR ways. We pray for their safety as the world changes around them/us and time becomes ever more increasing to what is YOUR promised return.
FATHER, open our eyes and hearts to see YOUR wonders and works. Let us be found faithful unto YOUR promised return.
YESHUA-JESUS, we wait for YOU with expectation and yet realize that we cannot be selfish for ourselves, but must endure for those who are yet to come to YOU.
We ask in the time that remains, that we would be profitable to YOUR Kingdom, to bring the message of the Cross, Redemption and Salvation to those who come into our paths.
LORD, set us on fire with YOUR PRESENCE, YOUR POWER, YOUR SPIRIT, YOUR WORD YESHUA-JESUS that we may be effective and used by YOU to reach the hardened heart; to bring our loved ones and those around us, our circle of influence, to YOU.
This year, we pray for 2020 Vision, that we would be settled and rooted into YOUR Kingdom, YOUR Word, YOUR Promises, YOUR Provision, YOUR Protection, YOUR Purpose here on Earth as it is in HEAVEN.
We come as open vessels to be poured into and through by YOUR SPIRIT, and we say HALLELU-YAH for we have been sealed by YOUR PROMISE that we might live this life knowing our future resides in YOU.
We bless YOUR HOLY NAME, and give our PRAISE to YOU LORD GOD, by the authority YOU have given to us in the Name of YESHUA-JESUS, so be it, Amen and Amen.
2 Corinthians 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Ephesians 1:15-23 15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Let us also remember to pray for our NATION which was established as ONE NATION UNDER GOD and for the leadership of the USA to follow after GOD’s Principles in governing this land and also that GOD would turn the hearts of the people in opposition to HIMSELF. Psalms 33:12 “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.”
Finally, I want to send you off into 2020 with this favored passage of mine from Ephesians 1:13-23 as my continued thoughts and prayer for each of you to include myself. Joshua 1:8 reminds us to: “Never stop reciting these teachings, (…Speak Life, Speak Blessing, Speak GOD’s WORD over and into our lives, it has the Power to accomplish its purpose in our lives and in the lives of others). You must think about them, (pray, meditate and chew on it as sustenance for life) night and day so that you will faithfully do everything written in them. Only then will you prosper and succeed.”
Let us be fervent to Ask, Believe and contemplate these things…
From Ephesians 1:
13 You heard the true message, the Good News about the way God saves you. When you heard that Good News, you believed in Christ. And in Christ, God put his special mark on you by giving you the Holy Spirit that he promised.
14 The Spirit is the first payment that guarantees we will get all that God has for us. Then we will enjoy complete freedom as people who belong to him. The goal for all of us is the praise of God in all his glory.
15-16 That is why I always remember you in my prayers and thank God for you. I have done this ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God’s people.
17 I always pray to the great and glorious Father, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that he will give you the Spirit, who will let you know truths about God and help you understand them, so that you will know him better.
18 I pray that God will open your minds to see his truth. Then you will know the hope that he has chosen us to have. You will know that the blessings God has promised his holy people are rich and glorious.
19 And you will know that God’s power is very great for us who believe. It is the same as the mighty power
20 he used to raise Christ from death and put him at his right side in the heavenly places.
21 He put Christ over all rulers, authorities, powers, and kings. He gave him authority over everything that has power in this world or in the next world.
22 God put everything under Christ’s power and made him head over everything for the church.
23 The church is Christ’s body. It is filled with him. He makes everything complete in every way.
These are HIS promises to us, Stand Firm and be guided by HIS SPIRIT with renewed 2020 Vision.
