New Year 2026
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The race set before us
The race set before us
Last week, we went thru Psalm 90, a psalm of Moses, the only one in the book of Psalms. In verse 12, Moses asks the Lord:
12 So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Numbering our days is sobering. The days behind us, sometimes we feel like we’ve wasted that time. When we look back at our lives, it can be depressing. Even those years when we’ve been serving the Lord, we can see so much of it as futile.
We talked about starting the year off right, and keeping it going. I’ve got a weekly Bible reading plan a pastor friend of mine developed and said I could share with you guys. I’d be happy to share it with you too. Weekly learning together, a steady study letting the Word become flesh again for us.
I warn you, especially for those who have started it up, the time reading will feel unproductive. The enemy wants you to feel like you’re failing and wasting your time, believe me when I tell you, you won’t be. The Word will come alive in more ways than you have ever noticed before.
Almost daily, you’ll see the Word in your day-to-day life. Here’s the best part about sharing this gift Pastor Bruce shared with me...you can share it with someone close to you too and do it with them. It gives you intimate time with them that you’d never get otherwise. This would be something you can send to your child at college or across the globe and speak life into them daily.
It would be awesome to hear the stories out of all of you, as you take the reigns of spiritual leadership in the lives of those closest to you. Give them the tools to spread the Word and connect and build. This year, let’s number our days, let’s say “I don’t know how long I’ve got, but I want to make sure every moment that I can is played out in a way that is glorifying to the King of the Universe. It’s the only life that matters, it’s the only gift that matters.
This week, I’d like to recap our year a bit as a church body. It was a hard year, it started around Thanksgiving 2024 and then thru this year. I am proud of all of you as you endured the trials of the year with each other, and tried to seek joy in all of it. I’ve heard some of the stories, and it’s been an honor to have walked this walk with you all. I look forward to the trials of this year and walking with you as well. The Bible encourages us over and over again to run the race with endurance.
I was speaking with some of you over the past few weeks, my wife and I haven’t been sleeping well in the past few weeks...it’s maddening getting only 2-3 hours of sleep at a time...but we understand that if we’re being stressed, it’s because the Lord is allowing it. He is stripping us of the things we normally use to cope and make excuses of, and they are good things. I’m thankful to know you all, and praying you new folks especially want to take the time to get to know us. We don’t want to be in the way, we don’t want to be above, we want to know you, and know how we can serve you.
17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
This is the call of congregants to church leaders. I’m not putting this up on the screen at the beginning of this lesson to remind you all to listen to me, or obey my commands, because I, nor anyone in leadership here should ever lord their positions over you. They should encourage you to your best decisions, not make you do what is best for us, or this church body as a whole. Why?
1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
I know, we know that there is a stricter judgement for us. We aren’t asked to endure hardship, we’ve entered this contract freely. We don’t have all of the answers, but we will give an account for how we lead you, just as I will give an account to the Lord of how I lead my wife and family. That’s my responsibility. If I get something wrong, I don’t have to answer to my wife telling me I told you so. She knows I answer to God, and that is my cross to bear.
Ultimately, we are here to help you navigate, to comfort when you need it, to correct when it must happen, to fight when it’s appropriate, and to be patient when it’s called for. If we’re not doing these things, say something, we have elders, we have a board, we have other pastors that can either support us and give clarity, or correct us because we all need it.
Understand, however, we endure hardship for your benefit. We will suffer as you do...but you should see when we turn a corner. The only way that happens is for the flock to know and trust it’s shepherd. Get to know us, so we can know how to serve you.
Many of us know these verses, they are verses that I try to keep hidden in my heart for times that get hard:
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
The beginning of Chapter 5 starts with a word that should have us asking questions...what is the therefore, there for? What does it mean to be justified by Faith?
The previous chapter in Romans speaks of Abraham, and the fact that Abraham was blessed by God, not because he was some great man of righteousness, but because he was a man of faith. In fact, it’s because he had great faith in the Lord that he attained righteousness.
Also in those verses, King David is quoted, and I quoted the NIV here, because it makes a word “impute” better translated.
6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: 7 “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”
See, I hear people dispute translations of the Bible all the time...this one is more pure than this one, this one is heretical, etc. I’m here to tell you, that there are SOME, few, that you should avoid. If you’re looking for a Bible translation for yourself, come see me, or one of our leaders, and we’ll help guide you with how you best read.
The translations of the Bible all come from the same source, some are word-for-word translations, others are phrase-for-phrase translations. Those are more like an interpreter trying to convey the meaning of a the sentence, rather than just translating the words.
That aside, Paul says David recognized that the works of man are futile. There is nothing we can do to get to heaven. Few people knew trials like King David. His story is as much a cautionary tale as it is a wonderous novel. Yet, the Lord says that David was a man after His own Heart. Thru all of his mistakes, his sin, his failure, it was his repentance and response to his training by the Lord that set him apart. Speaking of trials, I’ve got one to share with you this morning to start off our year:
Horatio Gates Spafford was born in New York, on 20th October 1828, but it was in Chicago that he became well-known for his clear Christian testimony. He, and his wife Anna were active in their church, and their home was always open to visitors. They counted the world-famous evangelist, Dwight L. Moody, among their friends. They were blest with five children, and considerable wealth. Horatio was a lawyer, and owned a great deal of property in his home city.
Not unlike Job in the Old Testament of the Bible, tragedy came in great measure to this happy home. When four years old, their son, Horatio Jnr, died suddenly of scarlet fever. Then only a year later, in October 1871, a massive fire swept through downtown Chicago, devastating the city, including many properties owned by Horatio. That day, almost 300 people lost their lives, and around 100,000 were made homeless. Despite their own substantial financial loss, the Spaffords sought to demonstrate the love of Christ, by assisting those who were grief-stricken and in great need.
Two years later, in 1873, Spafford decided his family should take a holiday in England, knowing that his friend, the evangelist D. L. Moody, would be preaching there in the autumn. Horatio was delayed because of business, so he sent his family ahead: his wife and their four remaining children, all daughters, 11 year old Anna, 9 year old Margaret Lee, 5 year old Elizabeth, and 2 year old Tanetta.
On November 22 1873, while crossing the Atlantic on the steamship, Ville du Havre, their vessel was struck by an iron sailing ship. Two hundred and twenty six people lost their lives, as the Ville du Havre sank within only twelve minutes.
All four of Horatio Spafford’s daughters perished, but remarkably Anna Spafford survived the tragedy. Those rescued, including Anna, who was found unconscious, floating on a plank of wood, subsequently arrived in Cardiff, South Wales. Upon arrival there, Anna immediately sent a telegram to her husband, which included the words “Saved alone….”
Receiving Anna’s message, he set off at once to be reunited with his wife. One particular day, during the voyage, the captain summoned him to the bridge of the vessel. Pointing to his charts, he explained that they were then passing over the very spot where the Ville du Havre had sunk, and where his daughters had died. It is said that Spafford returned to his cabin and wrote these words, once you recognize it, sing it with me:
Verse 1
When peace, like a river,
Attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot,
Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
It is well, with my soul.
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet,
Though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded
My helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
My sin, oh, the bliss
Of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross,
And I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
And Lord, haste the day
When my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound,
And the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Horatio’s faith in God never faltered. He later wrote to Anna’s half-sister, “On Thursday last, we passed over the spot where she went down, in mid-ocean, the waters three miles deep. But I do not think of our dear ones there. They are safe….. dear lambs”.
After Anna was rescued, Pastor Nathaniel Weiss, one of the ministers travelling with the surviving group, remembered hearing Anna say, “God gave me four daughters. Now they have been taken from me. Someday I will understand why.”
Naturally Anna was utterly devastated, but she testified that in her grief and despair, she had been conscious of a soft voice speaking to her, “You were saved for a purpose!” She remembered something a friend had once said, “It’s easy to be grateful and good when you have so much, but take care that you are not a fair-weather friend to God.”
Following this deep tragedy, after returning home to Chicago, Anna gave birth to three more children, but she and Horatio were not spared even more sadness, as on February 11th, 1880, their only other son, Horatio (named after the brother who had died, and also after his father), he also died at the age of four.
In August 1881 the Spaffords left America with 16 other church members and settled in Jerusalem. There they served the needy, helped the poor, and cared for the sick, and took in homeless children. Their desire was to show those living about them, the love of Jesus.
They were known as the “American Colony” and they had purchased a home that today is a hotel, called the American Colony Hotel. They then started an orphanage, which would become a children’s hospital where they served the most vulnerable, serving arabs and jews alike, uniting Isaac and Ishmaelites under the banner of Christ.
It’s hard to live when we can’t see God’s plans. I’m sure, if you had told Horatio and Anna what it would cost for them to be used mightally by the Lord to testify to the nations they’d have bowed out. To take 6 of their children, tragically. Both boys were taken by scarlet fever. But they had faith in Jesus that those 10 years would not be wasted.
10 years of tragedy, sadness, pain, they understood these verses:
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Horatio and Anna had nothing left but hope. I’m sure they feared for their other 2 daughters who were born before they left for Jerusalem too. Lord, would you take them too as you took the others?
Look at the mission that they were prepared for, for the saving of many lives. Those children were safe with the Lord, and they knew it. I don’t know how many weeks Anna had to cope alone until Horatio came home. How much anger that dreaded song must have stirred up in her to remember what had been taken from her. You heard her words:
“God gave me four daughters. Now they have been taken from me. Someday I will understand why.” - Anna Spafford
When peace, like a river,
Attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot,
Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, with my soul.
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
I understand, after this past year, the emotions that words like this can bring about. I can tell you, it’s OK to have those feelings. Don’t keep them in, because that’s what the enemy wants from you, to bottle up those emotions and let that cancer consume you.
There will come a day, however, where the dawn will come, and you will understand, as Anna did, that she was being prepared for a greater glory. She was to change hearts and minds. She was to comfort children and help them heal. She was to work with families dealing with sickness, death, and tragedy of their own. She was uniquely prepared by God for a crown that will not perish, and 101 years after it’s founding in the Old City of Jerusalem, it still stands strong.
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.
Oaks of righteousness. Oaks of righteousness. Do you know how they selected the wood that would be used to make ships? They wanted Oak because of the strength and flexibility of their grain, but they wanted the Oaks that were close to the shore, why? Because they were the ones that were beaten by the sea day after day. They were the only ones who could withstand and testify in the midst of the strongest storms.
What is the Lord preparing you for? Tragedy has surrounded this church body for over a year now...why? What is He preparing this church body for? Has a single one of you who’s been here thru it the same person you were last year at this time? Thru it all, we have been changed. What are we being called to? What are you being called to?
We have amazing servants of the Lord, amazing testimonies, amazing faith filled people. Wonderful ministries that we are partnered with, get involved with them and make a difference only you can make. You’re the only person in history with your DNA and your fingerprints. Nobody will ever be like you again, you were created with a purpose and mission, and no, you don’t have to choose to accept it, it’s been chosen for you because you are the oak that will testify in the storm, that will unite people, build the impossible bridges, and do it all for the glory of Christ.
As we hand out our elements today, I would like to read Hebrews 12 with you all.
1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.”
7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.
14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; 16 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. 17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.
For those of you who were with us as God called the Israelites to the mountain
18 For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest, 19 and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore. 20 (For they could not endure what was commanded: “And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot with an arrow.” 21 And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.”)
22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.
25 See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, 26 whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” 27 Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 29 For our God is a consuming fire.
Run the race of your life to finish. Run with endurance, and understand that most of us are not finished being made yet. I know I’m not. I learn so much from all of you as I stumble along as your shepherd. Most days I have no idea what the Lord’s doing with me, let alone with all of you. But, He sees fit to take this broken vessel and make it an encouragement to all of you.
Our birthday is meaningless to this world. God had it written in His book from the beginning. That’s the day we start to die. Every day after our birth we’re dying. With that one birth, we won’t just die once, but twice. Once here on earth, and a 2nd time when we’re cast into the lake of fire forever in our inequity.
We just spoke about the 10 commandments a few weeks ago. Those commandments were given to the people, not as something new, but to remind people of what they already know, and what a holy God requires of us to enter heaven.
We need to ask ourselves, have we ever broken one of the 10 commandments? Some of them are most obvious: Have you ever told a lie? Have you ever taken the Lord’s name in vain, used it as a cuss word? Have you ever looked at someone with lust who wasn’t your wife or husband? Those are 3 of the commandments, and God wanted us to know that breaking just one of them will keep us out of heaven and send us to that second death into eternal torment.
God knew, from the beginning, that we would fail. That everything we tried to do would come up short. That we would need an eternal sacrifice. One sacrifice to end all sacrifice. The blood of one to cover us all.
The word salvation means to be delivered from the consequence of our sin, which is hell. The wages, what we earn from our sin and our “good works” here on earth is death, but the gift of God is that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, to make a way for us to live.
I was a dead man walking for 30 years. Those years I’ll never get back. Those days are burned like ash, and frankly, I’m glad for it. They are meaningless now, because all that matters is that I’m a new creation, and I’m being made new every day. The past is the past, like we talked about last week, number your days ahead, make the most of them, the best of them. Make them the days you want people to remember. Make this day be the day that they can say “You’re not the same person you used to be.” And be prepared to tell them why. Then, finish your race well.
Speaking of finishing your race well, Miss Shirley Spell graduated this life into heaven Friday night. For those of you who knew her, she was a beacon of light and hope, but also a well grounded and faith filled woman. She broke me down a few times and helped set me right and encouraged me so much while I was taking on my role as pastor of this church. I’ll let you all know when I do what’s going on with the arrangements.
Let’s pray and take communion as our worship team comes up.
1 Make haste, O God, to deliver me! Make haste to help me, O Lord! 2 Let them be ashamed and confounded Who seek my life; Let them be turned back and confused Who desire my hurt. 3 Let them be turned back because of their shame, Who say, “Aha, aha!” 4 Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; And let those who love Your salvation say continually, “Let God be magnified!” 5 But I am poor and needy; Make haste to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay.
