God has a purpose in us not knowing the future. God the Father wants us to daily spend time in prayer talking to Him, but if we knew everything, we would not need to seek Him daily for guidance.
But many during this NEW YEAR would like to know what this New Year is going to hold for them.
Illus: A man was wandering around a fairground, and he happened to see a fortuneteller's tent. Thinking it would be good for a laugh, he went inside and sat down.
• "Ahh...." said the woman, as she gazed into her crystal ball. "I see you are the father of two children."
• "That's what you think," said the man scornfully. "I'm the father of THREE children."
• The woman grinned and said, "That's what YOU think!"
We do not know what the future holds.
Illus: During the Monica Lewinski saga at the White House, it is said that Hillary Clinton sneaked off to visit a fortuneteller to find out all about Bill’s womanizing.
• In a dark and hazy room, peering into a crystal ball, the fortune teller delivered shocking news.
• "There's no easy way to say this, so I'll just be blunt: Prepare yourself to be a widow this coming year. Your husband will die a violent and horrible death this year!"
• Visibly shaken, Hillary stared at the woman's face, and said, “I know what you say is true, but I need to know one thing ---Will I be acquitted?"
This time of the year is the busiest time of the year for fortunetellers, because people want to know what the future holds for them this coming new year.
But the Bible makes it clear; NO MAN KNOWS THE FUTURE… NO MAN!
Proverbs 27:1 Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
Some say, Preacher, that is not correct because men today can forcast the weather two or three days ahead and they are almost accurate.
Illus: When a meteorologist forcast the weather 3 or 4 days ahead they do not look into a crystal ball.
• To accurately forecast the weather, meteorologists must first understand how various weather patterns develop and interact with each other.
• Weather patterns are influenced by a variety of factors, including temperature, air pressure, humidity levels, and wind patterns.
• By analyzing data from weather stations located around the world, meteorologists are able to track these patterns and identify potential changes in weather conditions.
This is not fortune telling, this is SCIENCE!!!
Listen, if fortune tellers could tell us the future and advising us what to do in certain situation, WE WOULD NOT NEED GOD!!!
Fortune tellers try to take the place of God in our lives by telling us what the future holds and for guidance.
The Bible has some harsh things to say about fortune tellers!!!
• God warned His people against listening to fortune-tellers.
Look at Deuteronomy 18:10-18 There shall not be found among you anyone that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God. For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do. The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. And the LORD said unto me, they have well-spoken that which they have spoken. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
• Fortune-telling is a demonic practice
Look at Acts 16:16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her master's much gain by soothsaying.
As we will enter into a new year, we find that this is indeed an exciting time of the year.
WHY IS IT SO EXCITING FOR US?
Because of two reasons:
(1) By nature, we always like new things, it is exciting when we get:
• A new car
• A new suit of clothing
• A new home
• A new child or grandchild
But it is also exciting as we anticipate entering a New Year.
WHAT MAKES THE NEW YEAR SO EXCITING?
(2) The old year we have had has brought some very difficult times, such as:
• Some have lost loved ones this year
• Some have had to endure great sickness throughout the year
• Some have lost jobs this year
• Some have lost friends through death or betrayal
• Some have had financial setbacks
Those who have had to endure these things look forward to a New Year, and they are more than happy to close out the Old Year and send it to the history books.
Those who have had difficult times this past year may feel that WHEN IT COMES TO FACING THEIR PROBLEMS FOR 365 DAYS, THEY FEEL THEY HAVE RAN OUT OF SOLUTIONS!
Illus: These remind us of the woman who walked into a convenience store. She walks straight to the manager and asks,
• "Do you have any small notebooks?" "Sorry," says the manager. "We're all out."
• The woman shrugs, and asks, "Well, do you have any mechanical pencils?" "Nope, don't have those either," says the manager.
• The woman feels her stomach rumbling and asks, "Do you have Doritos? Nachos?" The manager shrugs, "Sorry."
• "How about Chapstick?" says the woman. "Nope. Don't have that."
• "Well," the woman says, "If you don't have anything, why don't you close the store?"
• The manager said, "Can't. Don't have a key."
For many, life seems to be caught between a rock and a hard place. They cannot find the key to the problems they face.
But the solution to their problems is to turn to the Lord Jesus who can help them.
Notice that Lamentations said, “TURN THOU US UNTO THEE, O LORD, and we shall be turned; RENEW OUR DAYS AS OF OLD.”
The homes, communities and many of the churches in this country are in a mess. The solution is to RENEW OUR DAYS AS OF OLD.
There are three areas I want us to look at today as we consider a year of renewal.
I. WE NEED TO RENEW OUR MINDS
Rom. 12:1 2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but BE YE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Look at the word “RENEWING”.
This word means to restore. It speaks of renovation.
• We all know that with the daily wear and tear of things, we have to RESTORE some things in our homes from time to time.
• As Christians, a lot of damage is done to our mind through wear and tear of daily activities. One of the things that we need today is to have our minds “renewed”.
Illus: A family became very sick, and they did not know what was causing the problem. They were shocked to later find out that their pump was too close to the septic tank and that it was running into their well water. They had no idea that they had been drinking sewage. This was taking place each day as they drank from their well.
Many Christians today are not conscious of the fact that, every day, the devil is pumping pollution and corruption into their minds. This is why the world in which we live is so messed up. All this garbage is being pumped into people’s minds daily.
For example, why are people today so filthy in their daily conversations?
We have always had people with “sewer mouths”, but never as much as we have today.
• It used to be that men would see a woman, or a child walk into a room, and one of the men, out of respect for women and children, would say, “Watch your mouth, here comes a child or a lady.”
• It is used to be that men and women would not talk about certain things that were private matters in their life such as body parts or body functions, but now there is nothing they will not talk about publicly.
WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?
The problem is that men, women and children listen to all the garbage that flows from the television programs they watch each day.
• When we see daily on our television programs stealing, raping and killing we become accustom to it and it no longer shocks us.
• When we hear all the foul language on our television program we have become accustom to it and it no longer shocks us.
Illus: Listen, our minds are like computers, that is, "if garbage goes in, garbage come out".
The mind is incredible. We can store and retrieve information in our minds that far exceeds the most advanced computer.
Illus: Someone said:
• The mind is a garden that could be cultivated to produce the harvest that we desire
• The mind is a workshop where the important decisions of life and eternity are made
• The mind is an armory where we forge the weapons for our victory or our destruction
• The mind is a battlefield where all the decisive battles of life are won or lost
Once we allow all this garbage stored into our mind it soon no longer shocks us, but the Bible tells us in Prov. 23:7a, "For AS HE THINKETH in his heart, so is he:"
That is, if you allow garbage into your heart, it is going to come out!!!
The Bible tells us in Matthew 12:34 “OUT OF THE ABUNDANCE OF THE HEART THE MOUTH SPEAKETH”
If you do not get your mind under control, you will not get your life or mouth under control.
This is why the apostle Paul says, in Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
There might be someone who is listening today and saying, HOW CAN I GET MY HEART RIGHT AND MY MOUTH UNDER CONTROL.
The apostle Paul lists the kind of things we should allow to enter our minds each day.
He says…
• Is it true
• Is it honest
• Is it just
• Is it pure
• Is it lovely
• Is it of good report
These are the kind of things we need to think on.
This old world in which we live is corrupted because the minds of people are corrupted.
We need to RENEW OUR MINDS so that good things will come forth from our life and mouth.
Let this year be the year we renew our minds in Christ Jesus.
But also-
II. WE NEED TO RENEW OUR STRENGTH
We do not need to ASK the Lord to RENEW OUR MINDS. This is something God expects us to do.
Illus: Someone said, you cannot keep birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair.
Illus: Some people will say, I am praying for God to help me get my heart right, that prayer will never be answered!!!
WHY?
Because this is something you can do, and God expects you to do it!
ALL SIN COMES THROUGH THE MIND…
• Before a man robs a bank it started with a thought in the mind.
• Before a person commits adultery it started with a thought in the mind.
• Before a person kills it started with a thought in the mind.
The Bible tells us in the book of James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man. James 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
We have control over what goes into our mind.
For example, it is not a sin to be tempted to sin, IT BECOMES A SIN WHEN WE DWELL ON IT.
Illus: As we dwell on it we are in battle with the devil with that temptation and Satan eventually is going to win that battle.
We overcome temptation with replacing it with good things.
Let me illustrate…
Illus: When it comes to temptation, I like what J. Edwin Orr once compared the Christian attacked by Satan to a mouse being attacked by a mother wielding a broom. The mouse doesn’t sit there contemplating the mother or the broom. It’s busy looking for a way to escape.
So, we Christians under satanic attack should look for our “way of escape.” God says that He has made such a way.
But notice, when it comes to STRENGTH, this is something God must do.
We have a part to do, but only God can place STRENGTH IN THESE BODIES.
Strength comes from three places.
For example, if you want physical strength, there are three things you must do.
(1) EXERCISE DAILY (Something you can do)
Did you know:
(1) You can sit in a chair and dry up?
One of the reasons people are so weak when they come out of the hospital is because they have been lying in bed for a period of time. When they finally start to do something, they feel weak.
You can set in a chair and dry up!
But also.,.
(2) You can sit on a church pew and dry up?
One the reasons that we have so many weak Christians in the pews is because that is all they do; THEY JUST SIT THERE!
Illus: If God was to give them another week of life on this earth when it comes to the spiritual part of their life:
• They are not going to invite anyone to come to church
• They are not going to call someone and encourage them in the Lord.
• They are not going to help anyone in anyway whatsoever.
• All they are going to do spiritually is SET ON A PEW AND DRY UP SPIRITUALLY!!!
Illus: My wife got out in our yard recently and got some exercise doing some yard work. Did you know when she got through, she was tired, BUT SHE FELT BETTER!!!
Illus: Have you ever heard someone say, I FELL BETTER WHEN I ATTEND CHURCH!
YES, THE REASON THEY FEEL BETTER COMING TO CHURCH IS BECAUSE THEY PUT FORTH THE EFFORT TO DO SOMETHING PLEASING TO THE LORD.
God expects us to take the time and the talents He has given us and exercise them. And the more you use them the stronger you will get spiritually.
You will never grow strong just sitting in a pew.
(2) EAT NUTRITIOUSLY (Something you can do)
A person can get by with eating junk food for a little while, but eventually it will catch up with them.
You can talk to some folks about church, and they will say, IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT CHURCH YOU ATTEND, JUST SO LONG AS YOU GO! REALLY!!!
Illus:That would be like saying, It doesn’t matter what doctor you go to they are all the same. REALLY!!!
A lot of folks have died and early death because they went to some doctor who is no more than a person with a degree to distribute dope!
Illus:And there are a lot of churches that you can attend the preacher has all kinds of degrees but he only bottle feed the flock of God.
But a Christian is not going to grow in the Lord until they are fed a steady diet of God’s Word.
Physical strength and Spiritual strength come from:
• Doing Something (Exercising)
• Eating Nutrional Food (Word of God)
Also…
(3) GET PROPER REST (Something you can do)
Sometimes in our effort to serve the Lord, we get so busy that we do not have time to REST at the feet of Jesus.
Illus: As we talk to people about attending church, we hear frequent someone saying, “I know I should attend, but I have been so busy!!!
When they say that they need to stop and listen to what they are saying. They are telling their Creator I have more important things than what you created me for in this life.
Being busy in life is no excuse, that is a trap the devil set for them, and they walked right into it.
When we are to busy for the Lord, WE ARE TO BUSY!!!
If you do not have time to rest at the feet of Jesus daily, you are not going to be a STRONG Christian.
Look at Isa. 40:28 31, “Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But THEY THAT WAIT UPON THE LORD SHALL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
• We can live the Christian life in OUR STRENGTH, but if we do, we are going to pay a costly price.
• We do not have to do this. The Bible says we can live the Christian life in the strength of the Lord if we are willing to wait upon the Lord.
Illus: THEY THAT WAIT UPON THE LORD SHALL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH: Worship
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He said in verse 31, “But THEY THAT WAIT UPON THE LORD SHALL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Never think you are wasting time sitting at the feet of Jesus.
In Luke 10, Martha thought Mary was wasting time at the feet of Jesus, but the Lord set her straight and said, in verse 42, “But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
When we are sitting at the feet of Jesus, something very mysterious begins to happen. God’s strength begins to flow into us.
The reason we have so many weak Christians today is because we have so few Christians sitting at the feet of Jesus.
Let this year be the year we will…
• RENEW OUR MINDS,
• RENEW OUR STRENGTH,
But also-
III. WE NEED TO RENEW OUR STEADFASTNESS
Col. 2:5, “For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the STEDFASTNESS of your faith in Christ.”
Illus: A small boy was standing by a horse that was tied to a post.
• A stranger asked him, "Can that horse run fast?"
• "I don't know," said the boy, "but he can sure stand fast."
Paul rejoiced at seeing Christians standing fast in their faith in Christ.
We are CERTAIN that we can rely upon God, but the question is -- can God rely on us?
Paul said in 1 Cor. 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye STEDFAST, UNMOVEABLE, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
The STEDFAST Christian will be UNMOVEABLE in the things of the Lord.
As previously stated, we live in a world of change. All around us things are constantly changing.
• Things have changed! Look how the public schools are today.
• Things have changed! Look at the television programs that are filled with ungodliness.
• Things have changed! Look at the terrorist threats to mankind.
We are living in a changing world. But in the light of all these changes, we as Christians are to remain STEDFAST in Christ!
Heb. 12:1 2, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
The renewing of a steadfast lifestyle comes when we faithfully run the course that is set before us.
Illus:Anyone who has ever done any track racing knows that when you run the course, you can not decide to take short cuts.
The same thing is true in this spiritual race that we are in, you cannot take short cuts and maintain a good testimony.
Notice the Bible says, ”…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us…”
Look at the word “beset” this is the word “Euperistatos” (Pronouned as “Yoo-per-is'-tat-os”) It means “in every direction.”
God cannot use a Christian that is going in every direction. He can only use a steadfast Christian that stays on course, day after day.
Let this year be the year when we stand steadfast:
• In Christ
• In His Church
• And in His Word
Conclusion:
We as Christians have the opportunity and ability through Christ, to make this year A YEAR OF THE RENEWING of our minds, our strength and our steadfastness.
If God is gracious enough to give you a NEW YEAR, WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH IT.
• You can waste it but remember that at the judgment you will have to give account to God for wasting it.
• You can take every precious day that God gives you and use it for His glory, and He will reward you for it.
I hope you will have a “HAPPY RENEW YEAR!” This coming year we need to:
I. RENEW OUR MINDS
II. RENEW OUR STRENGTH
III. RENEW OUR STEADFASTNESS
