Let Go and Let God Have His Wonderful Way!
Icebreaker Jokes
On new years be sure to raise your left leg so you'll start the New Year on the right foot!
My New Year's resolution is to help all my friends gain ten pounds so I look skinnier.
My resolution was to read more so I put the subtitles on my tv.
I would resolve to become a vegan but that would be a missed steak.
Resolution: Make Jesus Lord
As a new year is starting, some are making new year’s resolutions.
New Year’s resolutions may not be as popular as they once were but I think it’s still a good thing to do!
I want to encourage you to make a resolution this year to make Jesus the Lord of your life!
Maybe as we make these resolutions, we’ll remember these commitments to ourselves and to God.
Again, I want to encourage you to resolve to crucify the carnal self and let Jesus live in your life!
I’ve titled this message: Let go and let God have His wonderful way!
Now I’ve lost some of you because you know a song with that title and that song is now running through your mind. [That’s my evil plan, bwahahahaha - not really but sort of - bwahahaha!]
Jesus’ way is Better than Our way
But many times we want our way and we deny God His way in our lives!
Surely, many of us realize that if we let God have His way in our lives, our lives would be so much better!
Still we want our own way, even knowing that’s a worse off way to be!
What I want us to realize is that if we let go and let God have His wonderful way, our burdens will vanish, our night will turn to day… ;-) ;-) ;-)
Looking out for Number 1
So if Jesus isn’t the Lord of your life, who is?
Many people are looking out for number 1!
From a worldly perspective maybe that makes sense, but from a Godly perspective it’s horrible!
It’s selfish, it’s unloving, it’s based on self pleasure, it’s letting the carnal self take over.
Have you ever seen the number of inconsiderate people these days that think only about themselves?
I still see people being considerate and nice to others, but it seems when I was a kid it was more prevalent, and love was stronger between people than today.
Are you looking out for #1 and your wants, or are you looking out for Jesus and what He wants (He’s the real #1)?
How many of you would rather watch TV than to do responsibilities? I know I would!
Crucify Self - Become a Living Sacrifice
So how do we overcome our carnal selves and start to live spiritually and righteously?
When I say “crucifying self,” I don’t mean killing yourself! But instead be a living sacrifice!
Galatians 2:20
20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
This is a beautiful verse that exemplifies the Christian walk. If you are saved, put on Christ!
WWJD!!!
The Bible even says put others before self - which can be hard to do and few do it effectively!
We have to give up our wicked carnal nature and be born to a righteous spiritual nature.
So who is the Lord of your life? Who is on the throne of your life? Is it your carnal self, or is it Christ? For many of us, we have a hard time giving up the wheel!
Galatians 5:16-26
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; 20 idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us walk in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying one another.
Stop Pleasing only Self
You’ve heard it said, can’t please everyone so you’ve got to please yourself? (that’s based on a carnal mindset)
Dieing to Self. It’s my body I can do what I want with it!
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
Being a temple of the Holy Spirit means nope it’s not your body and it’s not right to just ruin yourself.
If we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, we should take care of ourselves and not be destructive to ourselves as some are.
We are often selfish and want to do what we want to do and we run away from responsibilities and doing what God wants us to do.
Many people live worldly lives because they have a problem with Jesus being Lord of their lives - they can’t let go of their wicked carnal nature. For some it’s really hard!
Are you doing what you want or are you doing what He wants?
The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
Make a Resolution - actually make several resolutions
Make a “real” commitment and purpose to truly follow God’s high calling this year!
Let’s truly have a closer walk with Jesus this year!
As the new year is coming, I want to encourage you to have a closer walk with Christ and to make not just one but a few resolutions today to step up your game in your Christian walk!
These are probably things we should be doing anyway so they are not new but good reminders to be doing anyway.
(Go through these briefly depending on the time left).
1. If you are not saved - the most important is to repent of sin and find out how to be saved or else the rest of the list doesn’t really matter - trust in Jesus!
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
John 14:6 (I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life!)
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
2. Commit to Repent daily (Mortification of Sin - be intentional to repent - kill sin or sin kills you - call on Jesus and confess to Him, as it may be impossible with His help)
1 John 1:8-10 (we deceive ourselves if we say we have no sin and we call Jesus a liar)
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
Romans 8:13 (sin kills - Spirit brings life)
13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
Collosians 3:5-10 (Mortify sin)
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
3. Commit to Love (God and others)
1 John 4:7 (Love one another for love comes from God)
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
Luke 10:27 (Love God Love Others)
27 He answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ ; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
Matthew 24:12 (Leading to end times many’s love will grow cold - don’t let your love grow cold - love strongly).
12 Because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.
4. Commit to Read His Word - Bible (Daily or at least Weekly)
2 Timothy 2:15 (study to show yourself approved)
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
Joshua 1:8 (Meditate on His Word)
8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Psalm 119:11 (Hide His Word in your Heart)
11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Psalm 119:105 (Thy Word is a Lamp)
105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
5. Commit to Pray (Daily or at least Weekly)
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (pray without ceasing)
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6,7 (Pray about everything)
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
James 5:13-18 (Prayer from righteous man availeth much)
13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
Luke 11:9,10 (Knock and the door will be opened)
9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
6. Commit to Praise and Worship God
Hebrews 12:28,29 (worship God - consuming fire)
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”
Jude 1:24,25 (to Him - be glory, majesty, power, and authority!)
24 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
Revelation 5:11-14 (Worthy is the Lamb)
11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” 13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” 14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
7. Commit to Share the Gospel
2 Timothy 4:1,2 (preach the Word!)
1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
Matthew 28:18-20 (The Great Commission)
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
8. Commit to Forgive
Luke 17:4 (forgive)
Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”
Matthew 18:21,22 (70 x 7)
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
Matthew 6:14,15 (if you do not forgive…)
14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Let us commit together to: To Confess and forget sin - To a closer walk -To keep on track with the Lord - Nearer my God to Thee this year and every year!
Let us show our Love to God by keeping His commandments and walking by the Spirit.
Let us commit to reading our bibles, praying, worshipping Him, forgiving.
Above all, let us love one another for Love comes from God.
Philippians 3:13,14 - High Calling of God
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
.
Resolutions:
Forget what is behind - Press on toward the goal - God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus
Heb 2:1,2
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Conclusion: Let us commit together to: reject sin & to have a closer walk with Jesus. Let’s let go of our carnal self and take hold of God’s wonderful way!
Let Go And Let God Have His Wonderful Way,
Let Go And Let God Have His Way.
Your Sorrow Will Vanish,
Your Night Turn To Day.
Let Go And Let God Have His Way.
