2005: Change – Chances – Choices
Last Monday a Survey Appeared in the Online Version of the Daily Oklahoman. The optional answers to the simple question “How was 2004 for you?” were these:
1. Good
2. Bad
3. Just Another Year
I’ve been thinking about that subject a lot this week. Not only because it is the start of another “NEW” year … but also because I recently had another birthday.
HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER THAT QUESTION TODAY?
Perhaps it has been a good year – even a great year for you. Maybe your expectations for this year were far exceeded. You have reasonably good health, your family is prospering well, relationships are healthy, and your future looks secure and happy.
Or perhaps this wasn’t such a great year for you after all. You started out the year with much greater expectations. Life seems to have dealt you some substantial blows – : maybe you have health concerns today that weren’t there a year ago. Maybe things that were nagging aches and pains have turned into chronic and even debilitating illness. Maybe your job situation has changed – and not necessarily a move up the ladder.
[Someone recently remarked to me … “I’d have to get a raise to be able to afford to go looking for sympathy” ]
Maybe your family has had difficulty of one sort or another … maybe your relationships, or those of some of your family or friends are experiencing trouble.
Maybe your future looks uncertain … full of fearful expectations.
Or maybe this year was just another year to you … another mile along the super highway of life. You are cruising along, you just want to mind your own business and not get run over or have any difficulties … and life seems pretty smooth for you right now
Or maybe you are just stuck in a rut …. And you have just accepted your fate and whatever it is life is throwing your way … you don’t really care one way or another .. and so this past year was “just another year” for you.
Well, the reality is, whatever 2004 was for you, you can’t undo it, redo it, or not do it. It is a done deal………
So, the more important question perhaps for all of us this year is : How will we fare in 2005?
Will we find ourselves six months from now wondering what happened to January?
What will we do with the 365 days allotted to 2005—how will we fill the 8,760 hours that make up the next year?
When 2005 draws to a close will we look back with joy or regret?
Will we look forward with anticipation or fear?
Let’s pause for a moment and remember the only time we have to live is the present. Just as we cannot go back and relive the mistakes of yesterday, we cannot jump forward into the future to see what tomorrow holds. THIS IS THE TIME! What will we do with the time given to us day by day in 2005?
Well, today’s message is fairly simple … it speaks about time from God’s Word – it makes some recommendations to us about our time in the present.
TEXT:
Eph 5:15 - Eph 5:17 (NKJV) 15See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
16redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
• Ephesians 5:15-17 (NIV)
[15] Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, [16] making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. [17] Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
• (The Message Bible)
[15] So watch your step. Use your head. [16] Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! [17] Don’t live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants.
I read that from 3 different translations this morning, because it is important that we understand the message of God’s Word – that we hear the emphasis of what the Holy Spirit was trying to say to us though His Apostle….
I want to speak to you today about three things you can do differently this year: three things that will make a difference in 2005 – so that at the start of 2006 (next year at this time) you can look back and you can answer the question “How was 2005?” … with a very affirmative “IT WAS A GREAT YEAR!”
I Want to speak to you today about Change … Chances … and Choices…
I. The first thing that will effect the outcome of 2005 for you is to make some Changes.
1. We normally determine to do that anyway – how many of you made some “new” resolutions this year … probably a lot of those weren’t really new … they are related to things you resolved to do previously …. But now they take on a new urgency, perhaps.
1) Perhaps you know you need to change some things this year:
A. Weight – eating habits – appearance or health reasons.
B. Finances … you ran out of money this year before you ran out of year. J
C. Focus more on relationships –
D. Inn Peace – Joy – Happiness.
2) I can’t possibly know your mind – and that’s a good thing. [Some have tried to share theirs with me, but for the most part they could ill-afford to loose what they gave up…] But let me suggest some areas that you can change that will bring about the greatest results for you.
2. The First Change is to CLOSE YOUR MIND to some things.
1) Most of us have heard that we should never have a closed mind. Well, I’m not speaking about being obstinate or senile … or inflexible. I am speaking about the fact that some of us need to close our minds to the things of the world .
2) We have let the World influence our thinking far too much. In today’s church, it has become more popular to be Politically Correct than to be Spiritually Sound!
A. Those two things do not have to be mutually exclusive of one another, but too often in today’s society they are.
B. The Lord says:
Rom 12:2 (NKJV) 2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
3) How we act begins in the mind … our thinking determines our actions much more than our actions determine our thinking.
A. Parents – listen up – if you want your child to behave differently, begin to influence his way of thinking (otherwise you are wasting energy on trying to control their behavior).
B. That is not to say we are to ignore behavior … the behavior is the test results of the job we are doing. But it is important to know where to fight your battles.
3. The Second Change is to OPEN YOUR MIND to THE LORD’S WILL/WAY.
1) Again, I do not know what changes you may need to make this morning .. but some of us need to open our mind to DOING GOD’S WILL … not just knowing the answers to bible-study questions.
2) The reality is, we often close ourselves off from knowing and doing God’s will, because we have a closed mind to thinking any differently than that which we are already convinced of.
A. That is fine – if it is based on God’s WORD (which expresses his will).
B. But often we do not do God’s will because it doesn’t make sense to us, or we have been trained by the world to not think the way the Bible tells us.
C. The Lord is about CHANGE – and in order to be available to His will we must have an open mind to HIS WAYS (I assure you they most often differ from our own!!!).
a. Therefore it is a constant vigil … “Be Careful … Watch Out”
4. The Third Change is to SET YOURSELF GOALS (Make a physical list) ATTITUDES/ACTIONS/ACTIVITIES that you need to change.
1) I say “set goals” because the reality is we all need a target to aim for.
A. Goals need to be specific …. “being a better person” is too general.
B. But … “I am going to quit ______ … , or I am going to start _____ as of (date) … Specific goals.
2) And it is most important (again) in changing our actions, to realize that we need to analyze the “attitude” with which we are operating. The WHY more than the WHAT.
3) Then we need to evaluate our schedule … and our involvement (Activities).
II. The Second thing that will effect the outcome of 2005 is Chances
1. Not in “gambling” … like the world says. (A whole other topic).
2. And not as in “taking your chances” – leaving everything up to chance and happenstance – (that is foolish living, and the very thing that Paul is warning about).
3. But I am speaking about Truly Living – by taking a chance on God’s Will.
Rom 1:17 … the Just shall live by FAITH … by assurance that God plans it and He filters it … for our Good.
4. The reality is … some of us have been living …. How should I say … by tiptoeing into God’s will …
5. The Idea of Faith doesn’t mean “with reservations” – it means wholeheartedly – totally dependent on God’s Word/Will/Provisions.
The world says “I’ll believe it when I see it … God says be convinced of my promises (believe them) and you will see them !!!
6. I want to encourage you this year – live this year TAKING A CHANCE ON EVERYTHING GOD REVEALS TO YOU AS IN HIS WILL.
1) You are going to have to work at learning His will.
2) You are going to NOT act until you are led by His Spirit.
3) And you are going to SEE GOD DO SOME MIRACLES IN YOUR LIFE!
III. The Third thing that will effect the outcome of 2005 for you is to Make A CHOICE… [we are faced with many every day…]
1. It is alluded to each of these verses … and it would be the best resolution you can ever make…
2. I know it sounds simplistic … but the problem most believers have today is they have not CHOSEN to DO HIS WILL … above all else.
1) Not in one or two areas, but in everything in our lives.
2) Not by words alone, but by actions.
3. Let me ask you… “Would it make a difference in your life if you were to choose to always strive to do HIS WILL in every area?” – YES…!
4. Are you ready for a change … to live dangerously RADICAL for Jesus?
5. Or, you can choose to do nothing differently … keep on getting the same results … let life push you around and into shapes and situations you don’t want to be in….
6. It is Your Choice ….
