Untitled Sermon (2)

Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Greetings from the God of Abraham,

The God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob!

Grace and peace from God and our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us.

Blessed be the God and our Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.

 Grace and peace to you, my brothers and sisters in Christ!

I WELCOME YOU IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

Prayer

Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me! Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me! Break me, melt me, mold me, fill me as I open Your Word. I ask You to hide me behind the cross. I promise to give You all the honor, all the praise, and all the glory, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Main Text

Romans 12:1-2

I URGE you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Isaiah 43:18-19

18 Do not call to mind the former things or ponder things of the past.

19 Behold, I will do something new; now it will spring forth, will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, “Rivers in the desert.”

A New Year of Higher and Holier Living: Leaving the Past Behind

This is how it will read. Do not call to mind the former things or ponder the things of the past. Behold, I will do something new. Now it will spring forth as living rivers in the desert. I will even make a roadway in the wilderness. Will not be aware of it? I urge you, my brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Introduction

A brand-new year lies open before us, Third Missionary Baptist Church. What will we do with these fresh days the Lord offers? Each sunrise brings renewed mercy, and every heartbeat is another opportunity to glorify God. This is not a time to drift aimlessly. It is a sacred threshold, a moment calling us to deeper reflection and stronger determination.

What a beautiful occasion, the closing of one chapter and the opening of another. But more than a calendar turn, we see in this season an invitation from God to arise. Arise to new devotion, deeper relationships, honest repentance, greater self-denial, and joyful service. It is a divine moment to ask, “What can we do this year to bring Jesus to the center of our home, church, and community?”

There are seasons in life when God whispers, “Do not remember the former things.” As we stand at the gateway of a new year, our hearts stir with reflection and renewed hope. The past, with all its triumphs and shortcomings, now gives way to a blank page of opportunity, a chance to write a better story for our lives, our families, and our service to God. The old has passed into memory; the new now rises with potential. That call, found in Isaiah 43:18-19, is an invitation and a command from God, one that leads us away from the ruins of regret, pain, and past failure into the bright promise of something new He is creating. For many of us, the hardest part about walking forward is not the path ahead; it’s the weight we continue to carry from behind.

God knows the burdens we cling to. He hears the echoes of our heartache. Yet He reminds us that He is doing a new thing. He is not asking us to pretend the past didn’t happen. He is inviting us to let it go and release it into His hands so we can experience His renewing work. Let’s walk through this and hear what God is saying today.

Third Missionary Baptist Church; Let us begin by asking ourselves what it means to live a life worthy of the calling we have received. As we begin the new year, there is a promise that time is not to be wasted, and how quickly the days slip away, unnoticed. This sparks another vital appeal to begin the new year with action. Christ calls us to live out our high calling by stepping forward with gratitude, purpose, and a fervent desire to grow in grace. A new year is not just a change in numbers but a call to spiritual awakening. It is a divine invitation.

In Isaiah’s time, God’s people were surrounded by enemies, discouraged by their circumstances, and entangled in idolatry. Yet amid all this, God said firmly and clearly, “I will not forsake them.” This assurance wasn’t rooted in Israel's goodness; it was rooted in God’s faithfulness.

Even today, we live in a world that tries to replace God with artificial answers, self-made idols, and passing distractions. Yet none of these can hold us as our Creator does. God’s message remains unchanged.

Every act of service, every word of witness, every prayer and offering are seeds. The harvest may not come overnight, but it will come. Churches planted will mature into mighty lights for entire communities. Children raised in godly homes today will become leaders in God’s army tomorrow.

The Lord has given us everything, including His Son. Shall we bring Him nothing in return? Let the first act of this new year be a gift, a declaration that we belong to Him. We are not here merely to exist; we are chosen for a purpose, and that purpose is mission. The world around us groans under the weight of unbelief and pain. So let us not be troubled as the world is troubled. If, therefore, there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself. Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:1-5 NASB).

Do not call to mind the former things or ponder the things of the past. Behold, I will do something new. Now it will spring forth as living rivers in the desert. I will even make a roadway in the wilderness. Will you not be aware of it? I urge you, my brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Conclusion

A New Year of Higher and Holier Living: Leaving the Past Behind”

The Lord has given us everything, including His Son. Shall we bring Him nothing in return? Let the first act of this new year be a gift, a declaration that we belong to Him. We are not here merely to exist; we are chosen for a purpose, and that purpose is mission.

Our LORD is calling for a reconvocation of our churches, a revival of spirit and action. “Be instant in season and out of season.”

Third Missionary Baptist Church, let us welcome this year with higher aims and holier resolves. Let it be a year in which Christ is glorified in our speech, in our homes, in our churches, and in our mission. Let the old die away, and the new life in Christ arise and flourish.

We were not called to believe, but to live and serve boldly. Let this time renew our sense of responsibility to lead souls to truth, to model the love of Jesus in every relationship, and to shine God’s light in every corner of the world. What we do, how we love, how we give, and how we live matters.

Indeed, Third Missionary Baptist Church, the harvest is ready. Shall we not go forth joyfully to gather souls for His kingdom? Christ is coming, and the work is great. Yet God is faithful, and His grace will exceed all we dare to ask or think.

Let us rise with courage. Let’s walk with purpose. And let us begin this new year together—in the strength and joy of the Lord.

Don’t let the passing of January lessen the call to give; let every month be filled with generosity, commitment, and faith. May the church resound with testimonies of surrendered lives and faithful stewardship.

Start this year with a clean slate, Third Missionary Baptist Church. Offer God more than resolutions—offer Him your heart. Let peace, love, and holiness mark your path. Then, truly, it shall be a Happy New Year—not only for you but for all those touched by your life in Christ.

Christ promises transformation. He who makes all things new can also reshape our hearts and lives. the old habits, the failures of yesterday, the spiritual stagnancy these need not be carried forward. When we are in Christ we are made new.