New Year - New Life

It’s 2021 a new year and praise God we’re here to see it. For over 346,000 people, that sadly was not their testimony and unfortunately, we have not yet crossed over into the downward side of this pandemic. Lives are being taken daily at unprecedented rates, and while there are vaccines to combat the virus, there are many questions and concerns about the vaccine and challenges getting it administered to the people. As we fell woefully short of the goal of vaccinating the public, there are those who fear getting the shot, but will. While others, whether it’s fear, a lack of trust, belief in conspiracy theories because of past bad behaviors or a myriad of other reasons, they will refuse to get the shot.

In order for us to achieve what is called “herd immunity”, which is when a high percentage of the population is immune to a disease, Dr. Fauci estimates that 70 to 85% of Americans need to receive the vaccine.

We all want to get back to “normal”, to gather as normal, to celebrate as normal, to touch and hug as normal. The days of greeting others with a handshake are probably a thing of the past at least for the near future. The elbow bump may be the new normal. Some things don’t need to go back to normal, like hand washing or the lack thereof for some.

The church universal was tried and challenged to think outside the literal box of the walls of a building. Some ministries thrived, others not so much and still others are just hanging on. The ability to dine, if you will, at many spiritual tables, meaning church members had the ability to sample many ministries and pick and choose if and when they would watch their home church service, has created challenges of its own.

For some churches giving has gone up, while for others it’s gone down. There are pastors who are having a difficult time with the lack of contact, feedback and encouragement during the sermon. Hospital visits are no longer allowed and home visits are not advisable. So what will it look like when all this is finally over? Dare I say we will have a new life and new norms.

With new norms come new rules for life, but ironically the new rules I’m about to give you come from an old book. Turn with me in your Bibles to the New Testament book of Ephesians 4:25 - 5:2 reading from the NLT

Eph 4:25 - 5:2 -25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. 26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil. 28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. 29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. 30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. 5:1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

The title of today’s message is, New Year - New Life.

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians was in fact a circular letter, meaning it was written with the intent of it being circulated or passed around to a number of churches, therefore, it is general in nature rather than addressing specific issues.

Jews and Gentiles now find themselves worshipping together, so there were going to have to be some changes in how they treated each other and how they lived. No longer could they continue in the old corrupt and deluded ways they had been practicing for so long. Before salvation they were hopelessly confused, minds full of darkness, wandering far from the life God intended them to have because they had closed minds. Does that sound like anyone you know?

The people had hardened their hearts against God and had no sense of shame. We can look to reality TV today and see the things people will do and say, for money and fame. In other platforms they do what they do not for money but for the views or hits they hope to get on social media.

We see shows like the Bachelor/Bachelorette where it seems like they live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity for the world to see. Where numerous men or women vie for the attention of one man or woman, bearing themselves for the whole world to see.

But Paul is telling us in this passage of Scripture, it’s time to turn that around, get rid of the old sinful nature and your former way of life that is corrupted by lust and deception, because you do know that reality TV is anything but real. Understandably some things are hard to let go, but you’re not on this journey alone, let the Holy Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, your nature that was originally created to be like God—a nature that was meant to be truly righteous and holy.

And what does that look like? Well Paul lists some very specific behaviors Christian should exhibit, behaviors that would certainly be appropriate for us today.

So here we go, strap up

We begin with our speech; Paul says to stop lying. From Proverbs 6, There are six things the Lord hates— no, seven things he detests: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, 18 a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, 19 a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family.

God hates lying and in turn so should we. People lie for a myriad of reasons, fear of punishment, they don’t want to hurt a person’s feelings, they don’t want the drama that may come as a result of telling the truth, some lie to gain an advantage, some to gain favor and some to get attention.

The truth should be ingrained into the fabric of our lives; and who are we to speak the truth to? Speak the truth to your neighbors. And who is your neighbor? Your neighbor is anyone you come in contact with. Your neighbor needs to hear the truth but give them the truth in love.

What is your motive, what is it you hope to accomplish by what you’re about to say? Is what you’re about to say going to be hurtful or helpful? Will it be like peroxide and sting at first but in the end help to prevent infection? There are ways to tell your neighbor the truth and not alienate them in the process.

It’s important to remember, we are all members of one another and it should be our goal to live at peace with one another. Criticizing, demeaning and harsh words don’t make for a peaceful environment.

There are times we may get angry, but don’t sin. Anger is an emotion God gave us and the emotion in and of itself is not sin; it’s what we do when we’re angry that could lead to problems. Are you allowing anger to control you or are you controlling your anger?

What do you do when you get angry? Do you throw things? Do you yell? Do you curse? Do you hit? That’s allowing anger to control you. Or do you pray, take a walk, measure your words carefully before you speak? Do you try to evaluate and understand what you’re angry about and why it, he or she made you angry? Communication is key, the person who made you angry may not even know that what they did made you angry.

When you control your anger, you’ll be able to do the next thing Paul tells us, don’t let the sun go down on your anger. Don’t let it sit and marinate and grow into a cancer that eats away at the very fabric of who you are. Get the issue resolved, quickly; not doing so creates room for the devil to come in and destroy. Destroy marriages, destroy friendships, destroy businesses, and destroy lives.

The next behavior that must change in our new life, is thieves must give up stealing, it could be something from a store, it could be an idea, a story, a song, a wife, a husband. Whenever you take ownership of something that was not yours to take, or fail to give something you were supposed to give, that is stealing and it makes you a thief.

I firmly believe it takes more energy and thought to steal from someone else than it does to get your own. It’s time to use your hands for good, work hard, use your brain to come up with your own great ideas then you’ll be in a position to give to others in need; and don’t just give, but give generously.

Next, don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. Our words ought to build up, not tear down. When I leave your presence will I leave ready to conquer the world or wanting to get in bed and pull the covers over my head?

Our new life not only deals with people, it also involves the Holy Spirit. Paul tells us not to bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way we live. Remember who you are and whose you are. God has identified you as his own, he has guaranteed you will be saved on the day of redemption so you should act accordingly.

You should show gratitude and get rid of some things.

• Get rid of all bitterness, let go of that wrong done to you so many years ago or even last week.

• Get rid of the rage that causes you to blow up at people who have nothing to do with what’s going on inside you.

• Get rid of the anger that causes you to act outside yourself and sin.

• Get rid of the harsh words that discourage the hearer.

• Get rid of slander, stop running other people down with lies and spreading rumors.

• Get rid of all types of evil behavior, behavior that’s not pleasing to God.

In our new life we should be

• kind to each other, say hello when you see your brother or sister, exercise compassion when they’re going through a tough time.

• Be tender-hearted, show mercy to those who may be suffering

• Be forgiving toward one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. We all have something we’ve done that we’re not proud of, we all have sin in our lives and if we’re not diligent in our prayer life, if we allow anger to take control, if we’re not vigilant, and watchful, the old life will emerge. Remembering that forgiveness comes with no strings attached, it’s not an if/then situation.

When we get saved, it’s not that we forget how to behave badly, we haven’t forgotten how to sin, it’s that we choose not to, we choose to emulate Christ, we choose to live a new life.

Imitate God in everything you do, because you are his dear children, because he loves you, because he gave his Son to die for you sins and mine, because God doesn’t want you to be lost. It’s a fallacy that God sends people to hell, God doesn’t send anyone to hell, it’s a choice. A choice we all have and one we must all make. Choose ye this day whom ye will serve, but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord. Where do you stand? Who’s on the Lord’s side? It’s time to get up, stand up, and speak up for Jesus.

It’s time to live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. We are in a battle for our very lives,

• Black Lives Matter

• Say Her Name

• Me Too

• voter suppression

• homelessness

• joblessness

• thousands of people dying daily from a virus

• others dying because they can’t get the help they need because the hospitals are not just at, but they’re past capacity

Church, we need love. Not the kind of love that sits gazing into the eyes of your mate, we need the love that’s an action. The kind of love that gets off the sofa, the kind that gets out of the chair and helps those in need. What you do doesn’t have to affect a whole city, start with just one person. Make a difference in the life of just one family and go from there.

Pray every day, prayer changes things, it changes lives, and situations and hearts.

• Pray for change

• Pray for peace, grace and love to abound

• pray for those who have rule over you that you may live a peaceable life

• pray even for your enemies.

Be aware of the fact that not everyone will like you, not everyone will wish you well, not everyone will be on your side. Keep in mind, Jesus never harmed a soul and there were those who hated him so much they killed him.

When you encounter hate, respond with love, you’re living a new life and not only that you’re striving to live your best life. What I’m saying won’t be easy, but the more you do it, the easier it gets. The more you pray, the quicker it becomes you’re go to, instead of your education, your reasoning, your horoscope, your past experiences, the advice column or social media.

• The more you talk to God, that’s what prayer is, the stronger your relationship becomes,

• the stronger your relationship is, the more you’ll trust him to do what he said he would do,

• the more you trust him, the more you’ll ask of him,

• the more you ask of him, the more he’ll do for you,

• the more he does for you, the more grateful you become,

• the more grateful you become, the more you talk to God, that’s what prayer is.

The thoughts and plans God has for your life are more than anything that you could ask or think according to the power that is at work in you. Have you asked Jesus to come into your heart? Do you have the Holy Spirit dwelling in you? When God looks at you, does he see you through the blood-soaked garments of his Son?

It’s a new year, what better time to commit to a new life. Commit to a new life by praying this simple prayer, “Lord Jesus, I know I’m a sinner, please come into my heart. I believe you are the Son of God, that you died for my sins and rose again. Thank you for interceding on my behalf, in Your name I pray. Amen. If you prayed that simple prayer for the first time welcome to the family of Christ, find a local church where you can work out your soul salvation and become an active part of the family of God.

Perhaps you made that quality decision before, but lost your way, your drive or your dedication, it’s been especially hard for some during this pandemic with having to socially distance and stay inside, but you’d like to recommit to working for God, send us and email to [e-mail] and we can give you some ways you can reengage, even during the pandemic.

For those who have given their lives to Christ, who have continued to minister in the area they’ve been called to, but have not supported the ministry financially and would like to, first let me say your tithe goes to your home church where you’re spiritually fed and supported, then if the Lord leads you to sow into the ministry of Love Christian Center, you can go to our website at www.lovechristianctr.org and click on the giving tab for all the ways you can give to this ministry.

If you were blessed by this message I ask that you take a moment to share it, our goal is to reach as many people as possible with the Word of God.

Happy new year to you all, I pray God’s abundant riches upon you for a safe, prosperous, and blessed year. A year filled with love, new beginnings, great choices and joy unspeakable. As our children go back to school on Wed, some virtual, some in the classroom, I pray God’s protection for the students, the teachers and the staff. Lord, for those who desire the COVID vaccine, I pray it be made available and that it is effective with minimal to no side effects and if there are side effects, let them outweigh the risk of the disease. I lift up before you Lord the first responders, the doctors, nurses and caregivers who put themselves in harm’s way to take care of those with the virus. I pray your protection for them, that as thousands fall at their side it will not come near them. I pray they are soon able to return to their families and not have to worry about exposing them to danger. Father, please give them peace of mind and the rest they so deserve after giving so much of themselves to their patients. Lord please pour into them what they need to come through this ordeal and when this is over, help them to recover from the strain and toil this has put on them physically, mentally and emotionally. There are some who may even experience the effects of PTSD, but Lord we know that you are able to heal wholly and completely and so I pray they are able to return to their lives and families and once again live in harmony. In Jesus name I ask it all, amen.

And finally, for those of you in live in GA, we have a very important Senate election on Tue, if you have not already voted, please, please, please vote like your life depends on it, because it does. It’s a new year—let’s take this opportunity to start a new life.