This was 2020
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Please turn in your Bible to Proverbs 3:1-12.
Though I don’t think I ever really watched this show, my parents did, and I can well remember Barbara Walters iconic voice announcing “This is 2020.” Of course 2020 was not the reference to the year but to one’s eyesight.
I don’t think that any of us could have imagined, ahead of time, what the year 2020 ended up being. And I believe that most of us were anxious for this past year to end. I saw this humorous post about saying goodbye to 2020.
On NEW YEAR’S EVE, and Old Irish Tradition is to open your door at midnight and let the old year out and the New Yer in. I think 2020 deserves all the doors, windows, and garage door to be open!
I don’t usually prepare a year end sermon, let alone a sermon which looks ahead to the new year. But it seems appropriate for this year. We are going to consider events which occurred this year, the most important lesson we can learn from this year, and the proper attitude towards God.
Momentous Events
Momentous Events
Public Events, Personal Events, Church Events
COVID-19
The world came to a stand still
Work
Sports & Entertainment
Lack of access to medical staff
Virtual church services
COVID -19 became more of a political issue than a medical one
The Meteoric Rise of BLM
The death of George Floyd
Death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Political vs. Judicial
POTUS Election 2020
Personal Events
Bella’s running away
Aunt Miriam’s passing into glory
The birth of our first grand child
Amanda’s move to Wyoming
Gail’s cancer diagnosis
My COVID-19 experience
Church Events
1/3 of our Sundays the church was closed
Two of those weeks (March 22, and December 6) there was no message offered
The remainder of the weeks sermons were recorded and uploaded to the church’s newly created YouTube channel
We missed both our traditional Easter Service and Christmas as well
We lost our insurance coverage due to not having replaced our roof
We now have a new insurance company
We are in the process of seeking to replace the roof
We have a building fund that was created if folks would like to contribute to that
An Important Lesson
An Important Lesson
We must be careful to place our trust in the right Person
It is better to take refuge in the Lord Than to trust in man.
Many have misguidedly placed their trust in a particular political candidate
Many have misguidedly placed their trust in a SCOTUS appointment
Such trust ultimately leads to frustration
Hopefully you still have your Bible open to Proverbs 3:1-12 as we will spend the rest of our time considering
The Proper Attitude Towards God
The Proper Attitude Towards God
Let’s read our passage together.
My son, do not forget my teaching, But let your heart keep my commandments;
For length of days and years of life And peace they will add to you.
Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart.
So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones.
Honor the Lord from your wealth And from the first of all your produce;
So your barns will be filled with plenty And your vats will overflow with new wine.
My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord Or loathe His reproof,
For whom the Lord loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.
This passage begins with an exhortation to learn God’s truth. Look again at verses 1-2.
My son, do not forget my teaching, But let your heart keep my commandments;
For length of days and years of life And peace they will add to you.
Learning and applying God’s Word brings blessing to the life of the believer
Warren Wiersbe wrote:
Be Skillful Chapter Three: The Path of Wisdom and Life (Proverbs 2–4)
It isn’t enough for believers to carry the Bible in their hands; they must let the Holy Spirit write it on their hearts (3:3; 7:3; 2 Cor. 3:1–3). Obedience to the Word can add years to your life and life to your years.
As we briefly survey this passage this morning we will see five attitudes the believer should have towards God.
First,
We are to be steadfast in our commitment to God
Look at
Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man.
Second,
We are to be dependent in our thinking
Look at
Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
Third,
We are to be humble in our obedience
Look at
Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones.
Fourth,
We are to be lavishly generous in our giving
Look at
Honor the Lord from your wealth And from the first of all your produce; So your barns will be filled with plenty And your vats will overflow with new wine.
Fifth,
We are to be submissive in our experience of affliction
Look at
My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord Or loathe His reproof, For whom the Lord loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.
This morning we’ve looked at some of the momentous events of 2020, an important lesson for us to remember, and the proper attitude towards God.
If you are not a believer in Christ Jesus you do not have your trust in the correct object. Whatever you are trusting in, it is a misguided trust. There are many people who are trustworthy to a certain extent. But being frail, sinful human beings, non of us can fully live up to the trust that others put in us. But Christ is alway faithful. For Him to be unfaithful would be deny Himself!
Trusting in Christ begins with an acknowledgment that there truly is a God to whom you are accountable. And it includes an acknowledgment of your own sins and short comings, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” It also includes an understanding that the penalty for our sin in death, spiritual and eternal separation from God. Trusting in Christ acknowledges that He indeed is God in the flesh. That He humbled Himself and was found in the appearance of a man so that He could die as a substitute for those who embrace His person and His work. Trusting Christ includes a steadfast belief in His resurrection from the dead.
When a person trusts Christ as their Lord and Savior then they begin this journey which leads to
A Steadfast commitment to God
A dependence on God in our thinking and understanding
A humble, submissive attitude in obedience
A generosity in our giving
And submission in our experience of disciplinary affliction
May we all make such a commitment to God in this New Year, and for ever and always.
In a moment we are going to pray, and then we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper before singing our closing song. Let’s pray.
Communion
Communion
It seems fitting somehow that since we haven’t been together in over a month, that we should celebrate the Lord’s Supper on this first occasion in which we are together.
The establishment of this ordinance took place on the night of Christ’s betrayal. Have you ever thought about the emotions of Jesus as He instituted this act of remembrance? Have you ever thought of the emotions of the apostles as He instituted it?
Listen as I read what Paul had to say:
For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread;
and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
Please take your packet and carefully removed the outer layer of film, and then take the wafer. I’m going to ask Derek to stand and give thanks for the bread.
and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
Now take your packet and carefully open the film covering the cup. I’m going to ask Phil to stand and give thanks for the cup.
In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
Let’s pray.
Let’s stand together and close by singing:
#588
All for Jesus