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2020 Vision Sunday • Sermon • Submitted
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Good morning again. I hope you all had a Merry Christmas.
I don’t know about you, but it seemed like Thanksgiving and Christmas just kind of came and went this year, and now all of a sudden here we are just a few days away from a New Year with 2020 staring us in the face.
It’s hard to believe it’s already come and gone and that we are just a few days away from a New Year.
That being the case, before we get back into our study of the book of Acts next week, I’d like to take a few moments this morning to talk about 2020 and the year to come. And I’d like to talk about it for a couple of reasons:
#1 - with the New Year comes what we call “New Years Resolutions”. It’s the time of the year where we commit to making changes in our life for the better. that being the case, I can’t think of a better Sunday than to day to maybe challenge you on some spiritual New Year Resolutions.
#2 - With the New Year coming, there are a couple of unavoidable certainties that I think we need to be aware of and spiritually prepared for.
The first certainty is that with a New Year, new things happen.
Because with a new year come new things.
For example, in 2020:
New opportunities.
What that means is we believe the Bible is best taught by taking books of the Bible, and then breaking them down from beginning to end, chapter by chapter, verse by verse, in order to better understand what God’s Word means in our lives.
New friendships.
There will be new diets and workout plans for many of you.
There will be new opportunities for employment and career advancement.
And over the last year we’ve been doing that through the NT book of Acts and as I said, we’re going to get back to that next week.
There will be new relationships and friendships that will be formed.
There will be new marriages and new children born.
There will be new places to go and see.
A New Season
There will be new ideas and dreams to explore.
New employment opportunities
New work.
And maybe even for some, A new baby.
And the list goes on.
The second certainty that goes with the New is the certainty of the unexpected.
For example, in 2020:
There will be unexpected expenses.
New
Unexpected gains and unexpected losses.
Unexpected disruptions and and unexpected changes.
In fact, I’d be willing to go out on a limb and say that something is going to happen in your life this next year that’s going to cause you to look back a year from now and say, “I never expected that to happen.”
And if you don’t believe me, just consider this past year. Consider all the unexpected events that took place in your life and the lives of those around you.
Unexpected deaths.
Unexpected job terminations.
Unexpected pregnancies.
Unexpected car problems.
Unexpected health issues.
Unexpected moves.
Unexpected
Unexpected expenses.
And again, the list goes on.
You see, with a New year comes the New and the Unexpected.
Which in a way makes a New Year exciting and terrifying all at the same time.
In fact, some of you might be thinking, “That’s just great pastor. Thanks for raising my blood pressure as we go into 2020”.
Please know that’s not my intent, because I do have some encouraging news for you about 2020. In fact, it’s another certainty you can be sure of.
Because while the New Year will bring the New and Unexpected into our lives, and while it may be new and unexpected to us, it’s not New or Unexpected to God.
In other words, God already knows what 2020 has in store for you.
How does He know? He knows because God is Sovereign. Meaning, He’s aware of and in control of all things. God puts it like this in . The prophet writes:
9 remember the former things of old;
for I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me,
10 declaring the end from the beginning
and from ancient times things not yet done,
saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,
and I will accomplish all my purpose,’
In this passage, God declares three important facts about His sovereignty:
First, that He declares the beginning and the end. In other words, He’s the one actually in control of what happens from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020.
Second, that He can see what is to come and what hasn’t been done yet. In other words between January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020, He already knows what’s going to happen.
Third, that His purpose and plans will be accomplished no matter what. In other words, nothing is going to happen in 2020 that He doesn’t want to happen.
And that’s really good news for us, because here’s what that means for you and me.
#1 - Because God is in control of the beginning and end, He’s in control of the beginning and end of my life.
Job puts it like this concerning our time on earth. In he writes:
5 Since his days are determined,
and the number of his months is with you,
and you have appointed his limits that he cannot pass,
Job says God knows our beginning and end because He has already determined it. Meaning God has predetermined the number of your days. And He has put limits on it that can’t be undone.
Which means, regardless of how much you workout this year, how healthy your diet is, or what modifications you make in your lifestyle, there is no avoiding the inevitable time limit that God has placed on your life.
Meaning, if God’s plan is for you to die in 2020, then you’re going to die at 202. There’s no getting around it.
Now, does that mean we should just live haphazardly and not take care of ourselves. No, we need to take care of the temples God has given us. It just means that our days are numbered regardless of how hard we work to expand our life.
Now, some might say, “That’s kind of depressing”. Well, it depends on how you look at it.
For me, I see it as a comfort. A comfort because at the end of the day, I believe that God knows what’s best for my life and I trust that. I base this off of what the prophet Isaiah writes in Isaiah 55: He writes:
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah says God sees a bigger picture than we do. Meaning His view isn’t limited to 2020, or this next decade, or this century, or time itself.
So for me, I trust that because God is bigger and smarter than me, that He knows what’s best for my life.
It’s also a a comfort for me, because regardless of what happens in 2020, I know He wants what’s best for me. The prophet Jeremiah writes:
11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah reminds us that God wants the best for us. And sometimes what’s best isn’t something we might like. If fact, in the moment, we may hate it. But somehow in the midst of the circumstance, tragedy, or uncertainty, we have to trust that God has our best in mind.
The Psalmist writes:
2 I cry out to God Most High,
to God who fulfills his purpose for me.
So at the end of the day, regardless of what happens or doesn’t happen in 2020, we have to trust that it’s God’s best for our life.
A comfort because regardless of what happens in 2020, I know He wants what’s best for me. A comfort not only has does a good and gracious God hold the beginning and end of my life in His hands, but:
So, for me, God’s sovereignty isn’t always easy to grasp or understand, but it is a comfort.
A comfort not only has does a good and gracious God hold the beginning and end of my life in His hands, but:
But the good news of God’s sovereignty doesn’t stop there, because not only does He know the number of our days, God’s sovereignty means:
#2 - God has a plan and purpose for my life.
In God says, “I am God, and there is none like me, 10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done...” (ESV)
Isaiah says God sees things still not done, but things that will be accomplished through His purpose. The Psalmist writes:
2 I cry out to God Most High,
to God who fulfills his purpose for me.
What Isaiah implies here is that God has a plan and purpose yet to unfold and be done. And that would include everything from the beginning to end of time.
But on a personal level, what that’s saying is that there are things that God wants to do in and through your life that haven’t played out yet.
Plans that He has for you. Purposes He wants to work and accomplish through you. Things yet to unfold in your life.
And for me, that’s kind of exciting to think about. To think that the God of the universe wants to work His plan and purpose through me.
So as I look ahead into 2020, that’s how I tend to look at it. No, I don’t know all the New stuff that’s going to happen. Yes, there will be unexpected events that take place in my life and in the lives of those I care about.
But I find comfort in knowing that nothing that happens will be new or surprising to God. That at no point in 2020 will God say, “Wow, I didn’t see that coming. I had no idea that would happen to Brad.” Instead what God will say is, “That’s exactly how I planned for it to happen”.
And the same will be true for your life.
However, while that’s all true, it doesn’t mean we don’t play a part in how this next year works out.
In other words, just because God is sovereign doesn’t mean we should stand stagnant.
The fact of the matter is, God wants you and I to be actively involved in His plans and purpose for our lives.
But for that to happen, we have to be willing participants and be willing to take some important steps as we move into this next year.
Steps that will work towards accomplishing God’s plan and purpose in your life.
Steps that will take you into the New.
Steps that will help you navigate the unexpected and uncomfortable.
Steps that can take away fear and give us confidence to walk boldly in 2020 not matter what happens.
I don’t know about you, but that’s how I want to walk into 2020.
And so, to help us do that, this morning, I want to suggest two key steps we need to be willing to take as we move into 2020. And to uncover those steps, we are going to go back to the beginning. Back to the book of Genesis chapter 1 to the story of creation.
And we’re going back to for two reasons:
Reason #1 - isn’t just a New Year, it’s the first New Year. Think of it like this. If God were using our Calendar system, iGenesis 1:1 would be January 1, 1 B.C.
Reason #2 - Because it’s the beginning of the first year, the creation story teaches us how God designed the world to work. And for the most part it’s consistent and cyclical.
For example, in , God designed the earth to work in a rotational and seasonal pattern. In Genesis 1:14 we read:
14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years,
The writer says God created seasons that consistently cycle from year to year. Meaning, there is a start and end point for a yearly cycle, and then the cycle starts all over again.
And we see the reality of that play out as from year to year a new year comes along with the same seasonal patterns of winter, spring, summer, and fall. Seasons that are predictable and dependable and allow us to prepare accordingly.
All that to say, from the beginning, God had a plan for how the world would work and function on a year to year basis.
Seasons that are dependable and allow us to prepare accordingly.
Because God hasn’t changed.
And what is true for creation is true for our spiritual lives as well.
Like the world we live in, our lives function on a specific design and tend to function in a cyclical pattern. And in a way, the creation story demonstrates this and gives us insight into how God designed us to spiritually function on a year to year basis.
And so, to get us started, I want to begin by reading through the first 8 verses of the Bible.
Eight verses that map out the first two days of creation.
Two days that highlight a couple of critical components for how the world would function.
And as a result, Two days that I believe symbolize how God intends for our lives to Spiritually function.
Two days that for our purposes this morning, represent two steps we need to be willing to take as the cycle of another New Year begins in our lives.
And in giving you these steps, I have two goals today.
Goal #1 - To give you insight into how God/s design for life
So, to get us started, lets jump back to as we read about creation and the first new year that God created.
Beginning in verse 1 we read:
1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
6 And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” 7 And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. 8 And God called the expanse Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.
9 And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.
11 And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so. 12 The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.
1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
6 And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” 7 And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so.
1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
6 And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” 7 And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. 8 And God called the expanse Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.
1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
6 And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.”
Without going into a lot of detail and explanation, here’s what we need to understand about the first two days of creation.
Without going into a lot of detail and explanation, here’s what we need to understand about the first three days of creation.
#1 - In the first two days, God created a foundation on which everything else would be built upon.
#2 - This foundation consisted of three key creation elements.
#2 - This foundation consisted of three key creation elements.
#2 - This foundation consisted of two key creation elements. We’re going to look at both this morning.
So, let’s get started with the first one as we go back to verse 1. In verse 1 we read:
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (ESV)
The first major component that God created was the heavens and the earth. The heavens being the universe we live in and the earth being the planet we live upon.
2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
But at this point, it doesn’t look like the universe and earth we know. Because the writer says in the beginning:
“The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep.” (ESV)
And so what we basically have at this point are the raw materials for the foundation. Think of it like this. At this point the universe is a big dark art room and in the middle of that room is a little lump of clay called the earth.
But that’s not the only thing present. Because the writer tells us:
Think of it like this, if the universe is a giant art room, the earth is the unshaped clay sitting in the middle of the room on a table waiting for the sculptor to mold and shape it.
Basically a lump of clay in a cold dark room.
But according to the writer, the sculptor is present. Because the writer says:
And guess what. Based on what we just read, the sculptor is present. Because the writer says along with the universe and the unformed earth:
“And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” (ESV)
“And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” (ESV)
The writer says in the midst of the dark art room, the artist is present, which is critical to what is about to happen.
Because without lifting a finger, and only a word, the artist speaks and the light comes on. He writes:
So, how does God begin His work? The writer tells us. He writes:
Which is good news. Because at this point God brings something to the table that only He can bring for the creation process to begin. The writers says:
1 John
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
The writer says in the midst of the darkness, with the words of his mouth God turns on the light switch.
And what’s important to note here, is that it’s not the light switch of the sun or the moon at this point. Those two things won’t be created until day 4.
So, where’s the light coming from? Believe it or not, It’s coming from the presence God. It’s coming from God Himself. Because that’s what He is. He’s light. The Apostle John puts it like this:
5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
The Apostle Paul describes it like this:
16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
Habakuk 3:4
All that to say, when God walks into the art room called the universe, His presence lights up the universe like a Christmas tree.
What’s interesting though is what happens next. Because while God’s presence lights up the universe, apparently God puts a limit on the light output. Look again at the writer goes on to tells us:
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.
2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
The writer says while God saw that the light of His presence was good, He decided to create a portion of time where His light would be veiled. And he called the light portion day and the dark portion night.
The question then is, “Why would God do that?”
Well, what we have to remember is at this point this isn’t a sun and moon deal. This is a presence of God deal. Which means, apparently there are times when God chooses to be obviously present, and times He won’t be obviously present. But regardless, He’s still there.
16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
We see the evidence of this at Mt. Sinai in the book of Exodus, where God came down to meet with Moses and give Him the Ten Commandments.
So, why does God choose to turn the light of his presence on and off? Well, there are probably a number of reasons, reasons we don’t have time to consider today, but we see at least one of those reasons from the book of Exodus as God descends on Mt. Sinai to give Moses the Ten Commandments.
Because when God descends on Mt. Sinai in to meet with Moses, he doesn’t reveal himself to Moses, instead He covers himself with darkness. Look at what the writer tells us:
16 The glory of the Lord dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud.
So, why does God cover Himself?
The prophet Habbakuk describes it like this:
Well, we don’t have time to go into all the details, but God basically does it to protect the people from His presence. Because the fact is, if we were to stand before God in our sinful state, it would literally burn us up. It would kill us.
Kind of like a bug going in to a bug zapper. Not good.
So, God veils himself. This is what the prophet Habakkuk was referring to as he recounted God’s presence on Mt. Sinai. He writes:
4 His brightness was like the light;
rays flashed from his hand;
and there he veiled his power.
And that’s wha
So, if that’s the case, a great question would be, “Why does God need to veil himself in the beginning when nobody had been created yet?”
What I’d like to suggest to you, is that one of the reasons God veils himself at creation is to symbolically demonstrate, that while He’s always present in creation, there is a separation that exists between God and His creation. A separation that doesn’t give us full access to his presence. A separation called sin.
And that’s an important spiritual principle for us to hold onto, especially if you’re going through a dark time. To remind you that darkness doesn’t mean the absence of God in your situation, but instead, for whatever reason, probably for our own good, He’s chosen to veil himself, but He’s still there. And it’s a reason we may not know or understand, but a reason we have to trust.
All that to say, when God shows up at creation, his presence turns the light on, but then he sets boundaries for when His presence will be visible and invisible.
Which leads us to the first step we need to be willing to take as we enter 2020:
Step #1 - In order to confidently and effectively walk into 2020, I need God’s presence in my life.
Step #1 - In order for God to accomplish His plan and purpose in my life, I need to ask Him to light the way.
The fact is, as you walk into a New Year, you have two choices, you can either walk into 2020 with God’s presence or without God’s presence in your life.
And depending on which you choose, one leads to life, and one leads to death.
The writer of Proverbs puts it like this:
25 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.
You see, what we need to understand, is just like God’s presence brought light to creation, His presence is what brings light to your life.
24 The path of life leads upward for the prudent,
that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.
I mean imagine what would have happened if God’s presence hadn’t been at creation. Had God not entered the darkness and brought light.
5 Oh that my ways may be steadfast
in keeping your statutes!
I can tell you what would have happened. Nothing. Because without God’s presence nothing can happen.
The Psalmist puts it like this in :
And the same is true for our lives. If God isn’t present in our lives. If He’s not the one lighting the way, then how will we know where to go? How will we navigate the unexpected? The answer is, we won’t.
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
The Psalmist puts it like this in Psalm 43:
3 Send out your light and your truth;
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill
and to your dwelling!
Psalm 43
The Psalmist says it’s God who lights the way for us. He’s the one who illuminates the path forward. It was that way in the beginning, and it’s still true today.
Meaning, if you want to walk into 2020 with confidence and God’s best for your life, then you need his presence in your life.
So, if that’s the case, a great question would be, “How do you get God’s light and His presence into your life?”
Light comes through a relationship with Jesus.
It’s really simple. You just ask for it. You simply say, “God, like it was at creation, let your light be present in my life. God, come into my life and illuminate the darkness. God, be the lamp that lights my path.”
And when you do that, God will turn on the light. And He turns it on from three sequential sources:
Source #1 - The light initially comes when you put your faith in Jesus. Jesus puts it like this:
12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
This is why a relationship with Jesus is critical to your relationship with God. Because it’s through Jesus that we have access to God’s light. He’s the one who has bridged the gap. As we learned last week, He’s the great High Priest. He’s the one who tore the veil in two. He’s the one who has provided us with access to the Father. He’s the one who can eliminate the darkness that separates us from God.
Jesus goest on to say in :
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Jesus is the only way to the light. He’s the one who dispells the darkness.
Light comes as the Holy Spirit guides us.
Light comes as the Holy Spirit guides us.
I
Light comes as we are obedient to His Word.
2 The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone.
Revelation 21:
So, it starts there. This leads to a second source of light:
Genesis 1:6-
Step #2 - In order for God to accomplish His plan and purpose in my life, I need to live in His atmosphere.
Step #2 - In order for God to accomplish His plan and purpose in my life, I need to live in His atmosphere.
Source #2 - The Holy Spirit
Remember what we read in . The writer says in the midst of the darkness God’ Spirit was present. He writes:
2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
The good news of the Gospel is not only has Jesus given us access to the Father, but He’s given us a helper to guide us to the light, and His name is the Holy Spirit. Of Him Jesus says:
13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
Jesus says if we put our faith and Hope in Him, He will send us the Spirit of truth. And he will guide us into the truth. He will guide us on the path that leads to God’s presence. This then leads us to a third source of light:
Source #3 - The Word of God.
Along with our relationship with Jesus and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we also have God’s written word. I mean think about it, what did God do at creation that brought the light? He spoke. This is why the Psalmist writes:
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
The fact is, if we stay in God’s Word and commit to following it, it will light our path, and it will show us where we need to go. That’s why reading God’s Word is critical to your faith.
You see, this is where it all starts. It’s where the first New Year started. It started with God’s presence at Creation, His Spirit hovering over the water, and His Word declaring, “Let there be light”.
And as we move into 2020, that’s where it has to start for us. Because without His presence, without His Sprit, without the light of His Word, we’ll end up stumbling around in the darkness of 2020.
That’s what the the gospel writer John was referring to when he wrote:
10 But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”
The light he’s referring to is Jesus. The one who gives us access to the light. The one who is the light.
In fact, that’s what is going to make heaven so amazing. Because just like creation started with God’s Light, that’s how the new heavens and earth that God promises us in the next life will forever be. Except in eternity there will never be at time called night. Listen to what John the revelator writes:
22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it,
In this passage the Lamb is Jesus and He’s the light.
So, as me move into 2020, let me ask you this, “Is Jesus the lamp of your life? Is Jesus the Lord of your life? Is Jesus the one you have put your faith and Hope in? Is Jesus the one who is guiding you forward? Is the light of His presence,, His Spirit, and His Word present in your life?”
This leads us to the second step we need to be willing to take. Because once you’re living in the light, you have to make sure you stay in the light. So, here’s the second step:
Step #2 - In order to confidently and effectively walk into 2020, I need to live in the right spiritual atmosphere.
Following the creation of the heavens and the earth, listen to what God did next:
6 And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” 7 And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. 8 And God called the expanse Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.
Without going into a lot of detail, what God basically did on the second day was shape the continents, oceans, seas, and most importantly, the atmosphere of the earth.
And I say most importantly, because when it comes to atmosphere, atmosphere is what predetermines what lives or dies in an envrionment.
Let me explain it like this:
One of the challenges mankind faces when it comes to space travel and visiting another planet, isn’t so much the ability to get there. Because the fact is, given enough time, man will devise a way to get there. So, that’s not the problem.
The problem is when we get there, say to a planet like Mars, we can’t live there. And the reason we can’t live there is because its atmosphere isn’t designed to sustain human life.
There’s a reason we can breath on the earth and reason we wouldn’t be able to breath on Mars. And the reason is atmosphere. One sustains human life and one does not.
In fact, the only way you could live there is to where some kind of special suit with an oxygen tank, which would leave you severely limited to what you could do on that planet. And if you ever ran out of oxygen, you’d be dead.
Because atmosphere predetermines what lives and dies.
All that to say, knowing in advance that He would create us to breath oxygen, God designed the atmosphere to support that kind of life. And he didn’t just do it for us, but he did it for the vegetation and animals as well. Because atmosphere predetermines what lives and dies.
And what was true for physical creation is true spiritually as well.
Because the facts is, when you put your hope and faith in Jesus, and when His Spirit comes to dwell in you, and when you begin to walk in God’s Word, you have to live in the atmosphere God has designed to sustain your new spiritual life.
So, this leads to a great question:
Question #1 - What is this atmosphere?
Simply put, it’s your new life in Christ. It’s the atmosphere of His presence in your life. And let me tell you, it’s an amazing atmosphere.
This leads to a second question:
Question - Where is that atmosphere found and what does it consist of?
In order to answer that question, how about we start with where it’s not found.
#1 - It’s not found in your old life.
Paul puts it like this:
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
What Paul is saying here, is when you put your faith in Jesus, the old you dies and a new you is born. A new you that needs a different atmosphere to breath in.
It means you can’t live in the environment of former sinful habits. Because the fact is, those habits where physically and spiritually destroying you. You were breathing in toxins and you didn’t even know it. But now you’re breathing the atmosphere of God’s presence. And it’s renewing you and healing you. So, if you want to keep breathing the atmosphere of Gods’ presence, you have to let go of those sinful habits.
It means you can’t live in the environment of former sinful habits.
So, what that means, is if you want to live in your new life, you can’t live in the atmosphere of old friendships. Because unfortunately, in your old life, you had friendships that were leading you down the wrong path. Friendships that were corrupting you. Friendships that were leading you away from the light, not towards it.
It also means you can’t live in the atmosphere of former sinful habits. Because the fact is, those habits were destroying you.
You were breathing in toxins and you didn’t even know it. But now you’re breathing the atmosphere of God’s presence. And it’s renewing you and restoring you. So, if you want to keep begin renewed, you have to stop breathing the atmosphere of old sinful habits.
#2 - It’s not found in what the world offers.
The Apostle John writes:
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
7 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. 8 At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
12 I am writing to you, little children,
because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.
13 I am writing to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
because you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, children,
because you know the Father.
14 I write to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
because you are strong,
and the word of God abides in you,
and you have overcome the evil one.
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
What John highlights here is the deception of the world. The belief that you can live how you want, do what you want, and give yourself to what you want with no consequences. That’s the atmosphere of the world.
But it’s a lie. Because the reality is, the more you breathe in what the world says brings life, the quicker you’re going to die. The Apostle James puts it like this:
14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
If you breathe the atmosphere of the world, you’re going to die. But whoever puts their hope and faith in the atmosphere of Jesus, will live forever.
But whoever chooses to breath with in the will of God. Whoever puts their hope and faith in what Jesus offers, will live forever.
All that to say, the atmosphere of God’s presence isn’t found in your old life and its not found in the world.
So, where do you go to breath the atmosphere of God’s presence? I’d like to suggest two places:
#1 - God’s atmospheric presence is found in your daily commitment and devotion to Jesus.
We’ve already talked about this, but let’s reinforce it. If you want to be in God’s atmosphere and in His presence, you have to be in a relationship with Jesus. And you have to make that a daily priority.
The Apostle Paul writes:
5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
The implication in this passage is that you would consistently do this, because faith in Jesus is a daily decision and commitment.
But the problem for a lot of Christians is instead of treating Jesus like a needed daily atmosphere in their life, they treat him like an oxygen tank, and depending on your spiritual or religious background, your view of that tank may vary.
For some, it’s a one time fill that they think will last for a life time.
So instead of consistently breathing in His presence, they fill up their tank on Sunday, and then they try and make it last until the next Sunday. The problem with that though, is you can’t get what you need from a once a week filling. What you need is a spiritual atmosphere that surrounds you and goes before you. Something you can only get from a daily commitment and time in His presence.
For example, It’s a decision they made as a 5 year old to follow Jesus.
Or It’s a confirmation class they attended or baptism.
And while those are all good things. A one time event as a child doesn’t put you in the atmosphere of God’s presence.
For others, they fill the tank bi-annually as they show up for Christmas and Easter service. They think it’s all they need to sustain their spiritual life.
And then for most Christians, it’s a once a monty, twice a month, or once a week fill. It’s called Sunday morning.
It’s fill up your tank day, and then they go into Monday and try to make it last until the next Sunday they attend.
Here’s the problem though, like trying to live on Mars, you can’t get what you need from a one time filling, a holiday filling, or a once a week filling, and expect to spiritually survive. The world is just too toxic for that.
So, what’s the solution. How about this, instead of a tank, what you need is a spiritual atmosphere that surrounds you and goes before you.
Something you can only get from a daily commitment to Jesus and daily time in His presence.
And it’s in that atmosphere that you’ll breathe in everything you need to face every second and every moment of your day, week, year, and beyond.
So, that’s the first place you’ll find that atmosphere. In your daily commitment to follow Jesus as you spend time in prayer, ask the Holy Spirit to guide you, and spend time reading His Word.
But there is a second:
Hebrews 10:
#2 - God’s atmospheric presence is found in the church.
This is what the writer of Hebrews was talking about when he wrote:
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
What the writer is implying here, is that when believers meet together in a church setting or a fellowship gathering, it creates an atmosphere of encouragement and strength.
An atmosphere that brings hope into your week.
An atmosphere that dis-spells fear.
An atmosphere that brings healing.
An atmosphere that can only be found when God’s people come together.
Maybe you didn’t know it, but what the welcomeness and warmth you sense when you walk through the doors of MCF on a Sunday morning is the atmosphere of God’s presence that is created when God’s people come together.
That’s why church often feels like a refuge.
The atmosphere you spend the most time in will have the greatest impact on you. You will be conditioned to breathe in that atmosphere.
That’s why you leave feeling encouraged.
That’s why you leave feeling hopeful.
Because your in the atmosphere of God’s people, a place where God is present in a very unique way.
To be honest, that’s why online church can never replace the actual coming together of the church. I mean don’t get me wrong, online is better than no line, but it doesn’t replace church.
Because when God’s people physically come together in a place, it creates an atmosphere that doesn’t exist anywhere else. An atmosphere of God among his people. And when you breathe in that atmosphere, it brings life.
Jesus puts it like this:
20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
So, why is this so important to understand? Two reasons:
#1 - It’s important because the atmosphere you spend the most time in will have the greatest impact on you.
The fact is, the more you are at church, the more you are around other believers, the greater impact that atmosphere will have on you.
Vice versa, the more you fellowship with non-believers and the world, the greater impact that atmosphere will have on you.
#2 - It’s important because the atmosphere you spend the most time in, will be the atmosphere your conditioned to breathe in.
And eventually you will be conditioned to breathe in that atmosphere.
In other words, the more you’re in church and fellowshipping with Christians, the more you’ll become like those in that atmosphere.
Vice versa, the more you fellowship with the world, the more conditioned you become to breathe in that world.
That’s why for some people, when they come to church, it’s not a fun experience, but a convicting one. And it’s convicting because their breathing an atmosphere that they’re not conditioned for. An atmosphere that exposes the toxins in their life.
That’s why for some people, when they come to church, it’s not a fun experience. And it’s not fun because their breathing an atmosphere that brings conviction. They’re breathing an atmosphere they’re not conditioned for. Why? Because all they’ve been doing is breathing in the world. And that’s what their conditioned for. And so when they come to church, they struggle to breathe.
Because all they’ve been doing is breathing in the world. And that’s what their conditioned for. And so when they come to church, they struggle to breathe.
It’s why when some Christians come to church, it’s like their gasping for air. And their gasping because all week they tried to live off of an oxygen tank from last Sunday or the Sunday before that. But at some point they ran out of spiritual oxygen, and they started breathing the toxins in again. And so they crawl into church gasping for air.
But here’s the danger in that. The more you treat Jesus like an oxygen tank, the more likely you’re going to eventually be conditioned to breath in the worlds atmosphere. And pretty soon, you won’t come in gasping, instead, you’ll stop coming. I see it happen all the time.
Because at the end of the day, atmosphere predetermines what lives and dies.
And so you have to decide, which atmosphere do you want to live in? Do you want to live in the atmosphere of God’s presence that comes through a relationship with Jesus? An atmosphere he designed for you to spiritually survive in.
Or do you want to live in the atmosphere of the world. A world full of toxins. A world that is slowly physically and spiritually killing you as you breath in its deception and lies.
As we go into 2020, the choice is yours, and you have to choose one or the other.
Because like it or not, that’s how God designed it to work.
So, as we close this morning, I want to close by asking you a few questions that I hope will help you determine how you walk into 2020:
Question #1 - Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus? Is He the Lord of your life? Do you recognize your need for Him? Do you understand that the only way to be right with God is through Him?
Because if you don’t, then I hate to tell you this, but not only are you walking into 2020 in darkness, you’re walking into eternity in darkness. Because without Jesus to light the way, you’ll never find the father.
Maybe today is the day you put your faith in Him.
That’s why Jesus said:
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
So, if you don’t have that, maybe today is the day you put your faith in Jesus.
Question #2 - Is Jesus an oxygen tank or the atmosphere of your life?
Question #2 - Is Jesus an oxygen tank or the atmosphere of your life?
I ask that question for those of you who would say Jesus is your savior, but He’s not really Lord of your everyday life.
Can I just tell you, if that’s how you’re living, it’s a dangerous way to live, and eventually you’re going to run out of spiritual oxygen. Because at the end of the day, you need more than a tank, you need an atmosphere. An atmosphere that comes from a daily commitment to follow Jesus.
Maybe today, it’s time to trade your tank in for an atmosphere.
Final Question - What atmosphere are you going to live in this year?
Are you going to live in the atmosphere of the world? Are you going to go live in the atmosphere of wordly friendships? Are you going to go back to the atmosphere of sinful habits?
Or, are you going to live in the atmosphere of God’s presence? An atmosphere found among other believers in a place called the church. A atmosphere found as you daily spend time in prayer and reading God’s Word. An atmosphere that God designed for you to spiritually thrive in.
Which will you choose?
Step #3 - In order for God to accomplish His plan and purpose in my life, I need to live according to His plan and structure for my life.
Let’s Pray
11 Teach me your way, O Lord,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name.
However, as we close out the Christmas series and the holiday season, I felt it would be appropriate to address the New Year as well.