How to Prosper in the New Year
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Come to the end of another year it is good, right and appropriate to look over the past year. It is good that we look at our mistakes and our failures and learn from them. It is good that we see our successes, physically, economically, and spiritually, and give glory to God for them.
The Bible is full of occasions when the people of God reviewed their history in order to learn from it and also in order to rejoice at the goodness of God that had brought them through it.
6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.
It is also good, that as we stand at the beginning of something new, we consider how we should move forward. New year.
I. Be Strong and Courageous
I. Be Strong and Courageous
6 Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.
- Only be strong and very courageous
Only be strong and very courageous
The New King James Version. (1982). (). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
- Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed
strong - be firm, hold fast, persist
1 The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; 2 It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, Even with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, The excellence of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, The excellency of our God. 3 Strengthen the weak hands, And make firm the feeble knees. 4 Say to those who are fearful-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you.” 5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6 Then the lame shall leap like a deer, And the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert.
courageous - brave, stout, bold
20 And David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God—my God—will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.
Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 875 Wanted: Hundred Men
875 Wanted: Hundred Men
John Wesley said, “Give me a hundred men who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I will shake the world. I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen; and such alone will overthrow the kingdom of Satan and build up the Kingdom of God on earth.”
—The Preacher’s Magazine
II. Obey God’s Word
II. Obey God’s Word
7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
A. Talk about God’s Word
A. Talk about God’s Word
- This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth
6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
The New King James Version. (1982). (). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
B. Meditate on God’s Word
B. Meditate on God’s Word
- but you shall meditate in it day and night
meditate - comes from the Hebrew word meaning “to mutter”. Has the idea of saying God’s Word quietly to yourself over and over as you go through the day, while contemplating what you are saying.
1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.
5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I muse on the work of Your hands.
but you shall meditate in it day and night
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
The New King James Version. (1982). (). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
C. Obey God’s Word
C. Obey God’s Word
- that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.
that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.
21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Obedience, Results of
Obedience, Results of
A little boy was riding his tricycle furiously around the block, over and over again. Finally a policeman stopped and asked him why he was going around and around. The boy said that he was running away from home. Then the policeman asked why he kept going around the block. The boy responded, “Because my mom said that I’m not allowed to cross the street.”
The point is clear—obedience will keep you close to those you love.
III. Trust in the Promise of God
III. Trust in the Promise of God
A. The Promise of God’s Presence
A. The Promise of God’s Presence
- I will not leave you nor forsake you.
I will not leave you nor forsake you.
- for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the wicked came against me To eat up my flesh, My enemies and foes, They stumbled and fell. 3 Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear; Though war may rise against me, In this I will be confident.
Aaronic Blessing
22 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: 24 “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; 26 The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” ’ 27 “So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.”
Solomon dedicating the Temple
57 May the Lord our God be with us, as He was with our fathers. May He not leave us nor forsake us,
B. The Promise of God’s Power
B. The Promise of God’s Power
- for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.
for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the wicked came against me To eat up my flesh, My enemies and foes, They stumbled and fell. 3 Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear; Though war may rise against me, In this I will be confident.
5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
C. The Promise of Prosperity
C. The Promise of Prosperity
- that you may prosper wherever you go.
that you may prosper wherever you go.
- For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success
Now, while we understand, given the fullness of the Old and New Testament revelation, that ultimately our citizenship is in heaven and ultimate success is not limited to this life, there are principles found in God’s Word that, if followed, will generally bring you success, even in this life. Please understand, by saying these things, I am in no way espousing the prosperity theology that is so popular in America today. God’s Word is also clear that, if you desire to live godly, you will suffer persecution and we are to set our minds on things above and not on things on the earth, and we are to lay up our treasures in heaven, not down here.
That being said, there are clear principles and promises in Scripture that generally promise success if followed.
Don’t be afraid of failure. If you have looked back over this last year and see a lot of failure, learn from it and go forward
Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 6135 Poor Judgment Started It
6135 Poor Judgment Started It
The successful man was asked the secret of his accomplishments, His reply was: “Good judgment!”
“Where did you learn good judgment?” he was asked.
“From experience.”
“And from where did you gain your experience?”
“From poor judgment.”
My Favorite Illustrations Always a Success
Always a Success
Thomas A. Edison was the most prolific inventor in modern times—perhaps ever. He made scores of attempts to invent the light bulb. After an unsuccessful effort, one of his associates said, “Well, you have failed again.” “No,” replied Edison, “I have succeeded again. I now know another way how not to invent a light bulb.”
Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 6149 Epigram on Success
• The secret of success is to do the common things uncommonly well.
—John D. Rockefeller, Jr.
For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success
The New King James Version. (1982). (). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.