Goals Met?

We opened up the year of 2021 by setting a theme and goals as a church - to Make Jesus Overall, To Overcome through Christ and To Overwhelm others with Christ.

At the start of many a year we have good intentions, plans for the year and then life hits. My original message was entitled OVER IT - because weren’t we all ready to be over 2020, but it seems as though 2021 may have a befitting equally struggling sequel.

The Pandemic is not over, there is a new norm unlike what we desired, and there is still chaos in government leadership, inflation, insecurity about peace in the world, etc.

I said this at the start of last year and can honestly say it again.

“What a year we have just come through!!! “

My question to you this morning comes with this thought - the year is not over yet!!! What have you done this year in meeting goals of making Jesus Overall, Overcoming through Christ and Overwhelming others with Christ? We still have five weeks left!!!!

1. OVERALL

Make Jesus OVERALL in your LIFE!!!

Determine to HONOR CHRIST and SERVE the KINGDOM OF GOD OVERALL other things!!!

Stop for a moment and ask yourself, how have I done with this thought in 2021?

What have we learned this past year in helping to really put this into play in my lfe?

is that our material wealth, our social status, our future goals and even our health is all insignificant in light of uncontrollable things that can happen and we have no control over them!!!

What we do have control over is putting CHRIST OVERALL things in our life!!!

Philippians 2:9–18 NLT

9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. 14 Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15 so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. 16 Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. 17 But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. 18 Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.

Paul, after reminding the Philippian church to seek to be like the humble servant Christ reminds them that Jesus is exalted, and all will bow to Him,

Yet, how much better is it if we surrender to His LORDSHIP NOW!!! That we allow Him to work in our lives to do what pleases HIM and not ourselves.

We can seek after the things we want to do, our desires and plans, but what really matters is seeking after HIS DESIRES and PLANS

He goes on to tell them to live clean and innocent lives and SHINE like a bright light in a crooked world.

Stop expecting other people to shine the light God PUT IN YOU!!!!

If the church is not shining for the KINGDOM OF GOD - why do we expect our society too???

Then Paul states, he will rejoice to live his life being poured out as a liquid offering for God - just like our faithful service to God is an offering. HE WANTED THE BELIEVERS TO SHARE IN THAT JOY!

- PUT JESUS OVER ALL- He will be exalted whether we choose to or not, this is the time to choose to elevate Him to the HIGHEST PRIORITY IN OUR LIVES - Allow him to reign and rule in us, not be beneath us. He is not a cosmic servant or vending machine, but the ONE WE SURRENDER OUR WILL TO!

LIVE FOR JESUS OVER ALL - allowing our lives to shine righteousness and HIs truth when all else arounds us is failing (yes - we need to be a light, a difference, than how those around us are behaving -the church needs to stand out not blend in) Stop giving into our flesh and its desire and do what pleases God

SERVE JESUS OVER ALL - giving ourselves to spreading the Gospel of JEsus Christ and working in the church to further His Kingdom that as many lives can be impacted as possible.

If we have seen the truth that Jesus return is nearing, than let us start NOW making Him Lord OVERALL in our lives this year so if He chooses to return in 2021, we will be found faithful

Luke 18:8 NLT

8 I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”

Luke 12:35–48 NLT

35 “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. 37 The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! 38 He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready. 39 “Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.” 41 Peter asked, “Lord, is that illustration just for us or for everyone?” 42 And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. 43 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. 44 I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. 45 But what if the servant thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? 46 The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant in pieces and banish him with the unfaithful. 47 “And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. 48 But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.

Has Jesus found us putting Him OVERALL this year?

2. OVERCOME

I say it is time we overcome!!!

2020 seems to have overtaken so many and brought frustration, discouragement, and hopelessness. 2021 proved to challenge us to the same!

Did we stand as CHILDREN OF PROMISE!!! ?

Those who are in Christ, have HIS PROMISES to hold onto...

2 Corinthians 1:20 NLT

20 For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.

Jesus Himself said in

John 16:33 NLT

33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

CHRISTIAN, you are a child of God! You belong to the King of King and Lord of Lords, You are being prepared to reign with Christ eternally!!! You are adopted by the King of the Universe.

No matter what happens in this life, we still overcome!

Even as we have been put to these challenges all over again, have we MORE THAN CONQUERORS???? The year is not over!!!

Romans 8:18–21 NLT

18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. 19 For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. 20 Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, 21 the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.

Paul later in this chapter goes onto say...

Romans 8:31–39 NLT

31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? 33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. 34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. 35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. 38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We are more than conquerors!!!

It is time that we OVERCOME depression with PRAISING GOD for the hope we have in JESUS

It is time that we OVERCOME SIN through the Power of Jesus Blood which sets us free!!!

You shall know the truth and the truth shall set your free.

Persecution towards Christians has increased, and hatred toward Biblical morality continues to increase in our nation, and how many others around the world are still being persecuted for their faith - have you held fast to your faith?

We are still OVERCOMERS.

We are not going to overcome through government and legislature, but through FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST!

We may be having to face greater adversity than we ever desired, but we must hold onto the fact that NOTHING CAN SEPARATE us from HIS DIVINE LOVE.

Christian are you living in defeat!!! When you can live in VICTORY!!!

Romans 16:19–20 NLT

19 But everyone knows that you are obedient to the Lord. This makes me very happy. I want you to be wise in doing right and to stay innocent of any wrong. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

God wants your life to be that an overcomer -

In your job

In your marriage

In your temptations

In your finances

In your attitude

We overcome by the word of our Testimony ---

Revelation 12:11 NLT

11 And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.

When we take our focus of the temporary things of earth and get them on that which is eternal - we overcome this life’s adversity in light of what is to come!

3. Overwhelm

There is something else, how many others have we OVERHELMED with Christ this year? --

We are called to be an example of Christ in this world -

Not politicians, not scientists, not social media critics, not judges --

WITNESSES, AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST, EVANGELISTS

People who are not ashamed of the Gospel, but are DECLARING IT BOLDLY

If you ask yourself, have I brought anyone to Jesus this year, had any life changing discussions about faith with another person, a friend, loved one or stranger?

PEOPLE are in need of HOPE!!! Have we taken seriously what it is to take the Hope we have to others - HIS NAME IS JESUS!

2 Corinthians 5:20 NLT

20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”

Romans 1:16 NLT

16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.

God is looking for a church that is ready to overwhelm the world with His love and His message of hope!

Isaiah 6:8 NLT

8 Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.”

Will you be one that says, Here am I Jesus! Use me!!!

we know that Jesus spoke of the harvest of souls and that it was ready for harvest, but the church has all but forgotten what is means to overwhelm the world with the love and mercy of God.

It is not the Pastor and his family who are to do this, but every believer who has been changed by Christ has become an ambassador for HIM! The pastor equips the body through the Word and opportunity - how many have taken that opportunity this year?

We hide away, never saying a word about the life transforming power we have experienced or we stand in judgment over sinners who sin expecting them to be different before Christ has had the opportunity to transform them.

Jesus overwhelmed us with His love when He came to earth, died on the cross, rose from the dead and called us to be His own...

He is looking for us to be that voice!!!

It’s not to late to be the voice and heart of compassion to those lost and dying in sin this year?

Conclusion

So, as we conclude the year of 2021, let us not grow weary while doing good, let’s not chalk it up to a year of missing the mark, but let’s engage all that we have before the year is over to Make Jesus Overall, to Overcome through Christ and to OVerwhelm others with Christ.

Let’s keep the commitment we made when we started the year...

Making Jesus OVERALL

OVERCOMING temptation, persecution, and adversity

and OVERWHELMING others with the love of Christ and hope of the Gospel

There is still time!

MAKE 2021 COUNT for ETERNAL REWARD

Matthew 6:20–21 NLT

20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.