Pursue Change In 2025

Sermon - Pursue Change

January 3-5 Church Fast.

April 6 – 19th year anniversary

Change ushers in new things. Change is synonymous to something new. Whether it be a new pursuit, a new venture, a new strategy, a new aspiration, a new goal, a new target, a new relationship, NOT a new spouse ha.. a new promotion, a new development. Newness doesn’t spring up if there is no change. It’s as simple as that.

As 2024 comes to a close, it ushers in the year 2025. But for those who won’t pursue change, the year 2025 is not going to be a new year, its just going to be the same year as 2024. 2025 will be no different to 2024 if change doesn’t take place. Are you with me?

For you cannot expect something new if you keep on doing the same thing. That is not to say that consistency and discipline and practice is not important. NOT at all – but before getting to the part of being consistent, and adding discipline to get it right. That decision to reach a certain goal starts with a plan and deep within that plan is a decision to change somethings in-order to reach that goal.

As Bishop mentioned in his sermon some weeks back - TIME is a gift from God and the boundaries of time, lets say Jan-Dec 2024-that a 12 month boundary, is set by the LORD

Biblical scholars often highlight the symbolic significance of the number 12, representing order, governance, and God’s authority (e.g., 12 tribes of Israel, 12 apostles). The use of 12 often signifies completeness.

The 12-month system reflects divine order in the created world.

And so the point I’m getting at is this. As the seasons in the world CHANGES from one to another, as the years change from one to another. IF we do not change, we will be left behind.

Pursuing Change is essential in our walk with GOD. Why do I say this? Well because there is nothing more significant in life than the CHANGE that JESUS ushered into the world for all of us – The greatest season in the whole world is still the Christmas Season. And it is truly a season here in the Philippines for its takes a whole quarter of the year for us to celebrate it and it culminates in December. The birth of Christ brought about the most profound spiritual, social and historical change in human history.

His life, ministry, death, and resurrection marked a turning point for every man, woman and child. JESUS brought about lasting CHANGE for all believers and HE continues to CHANGE lives today. AMEN!

So, in our message this morning, church, we will look at Philippians Chapter 2, verse 1-16 as our guide. And we will go verse by verse to understand what changes need to take place in-order for us to:

Discern Gods will so that we can walk in Gods ways and experience Gods wonder in 2025.

HIS WILL, HIS WAYS, HIS WONDER.

Are you ready? So please open your bibles or your bible apps to Philippians Chapter 2 and we will begin in verse 1 and 2. Let’s read that together:

“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.”

The Apostle Paul is writing to the people of the City of Philippi he points out 4 important aspects of living a life of a believer.

1. We are united in Christ.

2. We are comforted by His love

3. We have the fellowship of the Holy Spirit

4. We experience his tenderness and compassion.

Therefore we are to do the following:

1. Be Like Minded

2. Love each other

3. Be united in spirit and in truth

Change happens when those who have experienced the love of Christ, those who have testified of his tenderness and compassion, in fellowship with the Holy Spirit GET together as one body – THAT is the CHURCH. Our church. This Church – TEAM Ministries. Moves like one big nucleus – We could change our community too. HOW? Well as Paul tells us – Be Like Minded. Meaning we take on the mind of Christ – that which is pursuant of one goal and that is the spread of the Gospel, His Good news of the Kingdom that is already here -- In our midst.

Second he tells us to love one another – which means we pour out the love of Christ to one another – with genuine concern, genuine greetings of good cheer as we see each other walk into church, as we sit beside each other. Right? And finally, to be united.