A New Year, a New Beginning

Introduction:   1. How many of you have heard of Charles Dickens’, A Christmas Carole?  Three Christmas spirits teach Scrooge to change his life from a selfish, cruel person to a generous, joyful man.

2.  Just as there was a ghost of Christmas past, ghost of Christmas present, and ghost of Christmas yet to come, I want us to look at what the Bible has to tell us about the past, present, and future.  With just beginning a new year, this is the best time to be reminded of this Biblical perspective.

Title:  “A New Year”

Text:  Philippians 3:12-14

Proposition: God wants you to have a right attitude towards the past, present, and future.

Interrogative sentence:  How can we obtain a right attitude?

Transitional sentence:  By not Dwelling on the past, Examining the present, and preparing for the future, we can have the outlook on life that pleases God.

        I.   Don’t Dwell on the Past – v. 13

                <<driving straight>>

              1.  Past failures – Acts 22:4

              2.  Past victories – Luke 9:62

                        <<Achan and Ai – Joshua 7 – right after Jericho>>

·        Much occurred in this past year:

o       lost friends and loved ones

o       Ivan

o       Earthquake in Asia

o       I got married

o       New family members

Transition:   We must not stop with simply forgetting the past; we must secondly EXAMINE THE PRESENT.

       II.   Examine the Present – v.12-13a

·     “count” = take inventory

o       <<Camp CHOF Sweet Shop>>

              1.   Present struggles

(1.) Complaining -  

Phil. 2:14   Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

Num. 11:1   And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.

(2.) Lust – age doesn’t matter

      Matt. 5:27  Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

      2 Tim. 2:22   Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

                   (3.) Bitterness

                   Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

              2.  Present Successes

·    What you are doing right, keep it up this year!

o    Bible reading

o    Prayer

o    Witnessing

o    Thankfulness

Transition:   If we are to have the right attitude for this new year, we must not only forget the past and examine the present, but we must also PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE.

      III.   Prepare for the Future – v.13b-14

              1.   Future judgment – after death, then the judgment….. Gospel

ØRe 20:11-12, 15  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. … And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

              2.  Future reward – for believers

2 Cor 5:10  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Transition:   Only when we forget the past, examine the present, and prepare for the future will we have a God-honoring life this new year.

Conclusion:    1.  How’s you attitude for this new year?  Are you dwelling too much on the past?  Are you serving God today in the present?  Are you ready for eternity?

                      2.  If you’ve not trusted in Christ as your Savior, you can do that this morning.