Three Resolutions Worth Keeping

Introduction

Popular resolutions this time of year:

Exercise More

Eat Healthier

Lose Weight

Save more money

Spend more time with family/friends

spend less time on social media

reduce stress on the job

reduce spending on living expenses

As much as these resolutions are good, they are temporal in scope.

I want to take us to the Word of God this morning to see three resolutions worth keeping that will bear fruit throughout eternity in our lives.

Colossians 3: 15-17 “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

BODY:

We live in day where peace is a rare commodity:

Political landscape is anything but peace

Moral climate in our society

International leaders threatening the well being of other nations

As a christian, there are daily threats targeted at you to rob you of true peace:

Anxiety

Fear

Worry

Resolution #1: Resolve to be a person of peace

col.3:15 “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”

Another word for peace is:

Quietness; Rest

Peace is used throughout scripture in a variety of ways:

Here it is the messiah’s peace given to His sons and daughters

We are told to let our Savior’s peace govern our hearts.

To be a person of peace, it requires intentionality

Heart - This is the core of who you are (mind, affections, desires, emotions)

Peace is the opposite of anxiety, worry, and fear

Jn 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

I remind you that allowing Christs peace to govern your heart requires intentionality on your part.

What governs your heart?

Are you someone who worries persistently, even when you’ve done everything you can do in a situation, do you still worry?

Are you an anxious person? Do you find yourself like Martha being anxious and troubled about many things?

COVID became a reality. Anxiety governed our society.

Are you a people pleaser? Do you fear what people think of you more than what God thinks of you?

Do you speak peace with your mouth to your loved one or neighbor, but your heart is anything but peaceful towards them?

Brothers and Sisters, if you find yourself characterized by these things then in that moment you are at war for what is in control of your heart.

Decide to submit all of your life to the Lord and be governed by His peace and be thankful

Phil. 4:6-7 “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Did you notice that the basis of your peace is not answered prayer, but entrusting your needs to the One who sees and cares for you?

Question: How do you grow in being a person governed by the peace of Christ?

Resolution #2: Resolve to Love the Word of God

col.3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

That which is good for you, is not always desirable to you

Story: All my kids despised eating peas and green beans growing up.

Are you like my kids? You know that the Word of God is good for your life, but you don’t desire it?

Many reasons could be the case:

Unrepentant sin

Stressors of life

Financial

Health Problems

Marriage

Kids/Grandkids

These threats will choke the Word of God in our hearts if we let them.

We must resolve to let God’s Word take up residence within our hearts everyday

How do we gain a desire to let the Word of God dwell richly in us?

Read your Bible daily and ask God to teach you what you are reading

Ps 119:11 “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”

Jn 6:45 “...Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me—”

Pray that God would give you a love for truth

Jn 15:7 “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

Forsake all known sin in your life

What is the result of the Word of God dwelling in us richly?

It produce 3 Realities:

Eager to teach and admonish one another in truth

Worshipping God together with the saints

Thankfulness to God for eternal life

Eph. 5:18-19 “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart”

A Spirit-filled life is a thankful life

Transition: This leads to my final point in that...

Resolution #3: Make the Glory of God Your Primary Motivator this Year

col.3:17 “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Parallel - 1 Peter 4:11 “whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ...

Connect this passage with v.17 we see God’s glory is our aim, not our own.

v.17 - “everything” - Your whole life

from the mundane:

Eating food

Day to day job routines

Work ethic

To the more meaningful things:

what you spend your money on

how loving you are to your wife or husband and kids

how loving are you to your brothers and sisters in Christ at Spring Hope

Do you care for your neighbor who does not know Christ?

In the Name of the Lord Jesus

Speaking of Jesus when he returns... Matt. 25:37-40 “Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’”

Conclusion:

* What are you resolving to do this year? Who are you resolving to be this year?

Luke 16:16 ““The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it.”

Resolve to be relentless this year in your pursuit of His Kingdom. Resolve to pursue

Being a person whose heart is governed by the peace of Christ

Being a person who loves every Word that comes from the mouth of God

Make the glory of God your primary motivator