The Right Stuff for A New Year
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
This week starts a new school year for Childress ISD.
For our home school families, some have already started the new year, others will begin soon.
New beginnings for the school year bring about a wide variety of emotions.
Some are excited about the new year.
Some are dreading it, even fearing it.
Some are treating it as just another day.
The question is for our students, our teachers, our support staff is how does God want us to look at this new year?
Even for those of us who are experiencing a new season in our own lives, how does God want us to look at this new season?
I believe that the life and words of Paul can give us answers to this question.
How can we have the right stuff for a new year?
13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
Let’s understand the situation.
Paul is in prison. He tells the Philippians church that he is imprisoned in chapter 1.
We know that his Roman imprisonment is his last stop. His death happens in Rome.
The situation is not ideal. He would rather be out preaching to the people of Rome and the churches of Rome.
However, despite his circumstances, He still does what God calls him to do.
He still preaches.
He still ministers.
He still follows Jesus with all his heart.
He still walks with the Lord.
How does He do this well? How can we follow his lead?
1. Paul had the right attitude.
To handle new situations in our life, our attitude is the key.
We have all heard that we need and “I can attitude”.
If you think you can’t do something, you will not do it.
However, if you think you can do something, that is the first step in accomplishing your task.
Paul, in prison, without much to his name says, “I can”.
How can he say this? Even though he was under house arrest. He was not free!
Later, when he is in chains, he still has this same attitude.
His “I can” attitude came from his growing, abiding relationship with Jesus.
You new season may not be ideal.
Your new season may look bleak.
You new season may look exciting and full adventure.
Know that you can make a success of your new season by having the right attitude of “I can”.
Your “I can” attitude come from your growing, abiding relationship with Jesus.
Look at this season as an opportunity for God to use you in awesome ways.
Are you willing for God to use you in this season?
Keep this in mind, God cannot work through you until He first works in you.
Let God work in you through this season, so that He can work through you to draw those you come in contact with to Jesus.
Keep in mind that God has this season in His hands.
If you are here, God has it.
Rest in Him knowing that He has this season you are experiencing in His hands.
Nothing is a surprise to Him.
13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
He has it, so you can have the “I can” attitude just like Paul.
2. Paul had the right direction.
Where was Paul going? He was in jail, he wasn’t free.
He was unsure of what lay ahead of him so how did he know what direction to go?
He simply says that he was going to go “through Him” or simply “through Christ.”
You see, he could have gone several different directions in this season.
He could have gone through himself.
He knew that his self was not sufficient in this season of his life, nor any season.
He was at the top of his profession at one point in his life, but it was the wrong direction.
He was bent on destroying God’s Church and God’s people when he went through himself.
He could have gone through the world.
The world could have offered him a chance to get praise and notoriety.
However, he also understood that Satan was active in this world and you twist what looked good and true into evil and destructive.
He refused to be tricked and blinded by Satan because his mission was to be used to open man’s eyes to Satan’s work in this world.
17 rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you,
18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’
17 And I will rescue you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles 18 to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.’
Acts 2
Paul chose to go through Christ, even though he did not know what lay ahead.
The only sure, eternal, best way we can go is through Jesus.
You may have temporary success by going another way. But it will fail you in the end.
If you go through Jesus, the path may not be easy, but it will be the best path, and it will be the path in which you can be used by God.
In this new season, go through Jesus, and He will use you to make an eternal impact.
3. Paul had the right strength.
Simply put this strength was supernatural, godly strength because it came through Jesus.
This strength is an empowering strength.
7 even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.
8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:7-
7 even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.
8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
It is timely strength.
10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
2 O Lord, be gracious to us; we have waited for You.
Be their strength every morning,
Our salvation also in the time of distress.
Isaiah
10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
There will be times when you feel like your are failing in this season. Know that God’s strength will come at the right time.
Do not expect it in your timing.
Expect it in His timing.
It is perfect strength.
9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
Insert His Strength is Perfect by Steven Curtis Chapman
Conclusion
Conclusion
In this new school year, this new season of life, know that God has you here for a special plan and purpose.
I encourage you not to focus on the obstacles, but instead look at the possibilities of how God can work in you and through you.
If Paul, can be content in being under house arrest and eventually put in a dungeon, and then death, you can handle this new year.
You can do it by following Paul.
Remember his words in
1 Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.
1 Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.
Have the right attitude.
Go the right direction.
Have the right strength.
Have these three things and God will bless you in amazing ways this school year or this season of your life.
Will you start by committing this time to Jesus?