New Years 2021
Notes
Transcript
Opening
Opening
We have now entered into another year. I know that many of us will stand tonight during our testimony time and thank God for helping come into the new year. But what I want you to think about this morning, is now that God has brought you into this new year, what will be different for you this year than the last. Is there anything you want to do different this year? Maybe do better in school or be a better friend. What about for 2021, you want to get closer to God. Maybe you want to depend on him more. Know him more. And maybe this time next year, as we enter 2022, you can look back and see that 2021 was a year that brought you closer to God and it was the best year of your life.
The start to a good year
The start to a good year
The start to a good year, a year that will will bring you closer to God, first means that you understand who you are and who you belong to. In order for someone to come closer to God, they must first be his child.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.
8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.
11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
While God did create everyone, not everyone is a child of God. Who is?
12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
In order for you to draw closer to God in 2021, you have to be a child of God. A person who has “recieved him,” and “believed in his name”
RECEIVED: to receive something, it has to be offered to you. You don’t work for it, it is offered to you. So because of the work of Jesus on the cross and his resurrection, he offers you himself.
BELIEVED: But to receive it and to truly become a child of God, you must believe that what you are receiving is true.
So when you “receive him and believe in his name” you become a different person.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
You cannot come closer to Christ, if you are not “in Christ.” What does this mean, to be in Christ? If you have received him and believed in his name, you are in Christ. And Paul says that things are different, you are different.
So, are you “in Christ?” Are you a child of God? Have you recieved him and believed in his name? If you haven’t, maybe today is the day that you believe in him, and get the right be called a child of God.
This week there was a visitor who came by with his two friends and they brought some things. The man was talking to all of the children who were gathered in front, and he said ‘ARE WE NOT ALL CHRISTIANS?” ARE WE NOT ALL CHRISTIANS?
This man was implying that all of the children who were listening, some small, some in primary, and some in secondary were Christians.
But it wasn’t true. He was making an assumption that all of them were Christians. All of them were believers. All of them were followers of Jesus Christ. All of them had acknowledged that they were sinful people. They understood what Jesus did , and why, and they had given themselves to God, accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord, and personal Savior.
(Pointing outside) Many of them there, have not done this, and there may be some in here who have not done it as well.
We need to be very careful…those of us who have heard the teaching, and heard the preachings, listened to the Bible stories… it can become knowledge…just something you know. And it IS good to know the words of the Bible, the stories, but if these stories and people from this book doesn’t change you to your very core… it’s just history, and a good story.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
There has got to be a change. That’s what Paul said. In the you begin to follow Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior…you are different. The old you is gone. The one that seeks his or her own desires, only thinking about themselves. The new you has come. Now you are a new creation, looking for ways to love God, serve him, and point others to him.
Let me ask you a question…WHY did you accept Jesus as your Savior?
Many people will answer that question as say, “so I can go to heaven.” And yes it’s true, for those who “recieved him” and “believed in his name,” your eternal home will be heaven. But is that the only reason you follow him? Salvation is more than a ticket to heaven when you die. Salvation begins at the moment you call upon his name.
Paul, writing to the church in Philipi...
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Yes, salvation begins at the moment you call upon the name of the Lord, but our salvation reaches it final point at the moment we stand before the God, and he says…Well Done. Enter into my presence.
But for now, he gives us a new life…the life we live now, until our final salvation is different than it was before we knew Christ.
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
Different versions of the bible use different word, but they have the same meaning… you will have life to the full, a rich and satisfying life, a better life than you have ever dreamed of...
So as you have now begun 2021, I know you are thankful that God has allowed you to see another year…but how are you going to show him appreciation for bringing you into 2021.
If you haven’t given your life to Christ, know that he loves you, and he gave himself for you to save you from your sins, and give you an abundant life that pleases him right now. And you will go and live with him when you life is finished here on this earth.
If you have given your life to God, and you have called on his name, are you living the life God wants you to live?
If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, one of the things I would ask you be be careful not to do is to become comfortable in your faith. For those who have recieved him and believed in his name, we have the assurance of our eternity. But we need to be careful not to become lazy in our faith and our walk with God. How do we stay strong?
Seek his presence. Desire to be with him. Long to see him in his word. And time with him in prayer
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
The Psalmist David showed his desire to be in the presence of God...
Psalm 143:6 (ESV)
6 I stretch out my hands to you;
my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah
David desired to meet with God. and a few verses later, he showed how he placed himself in the prescence of God everyday
8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.
For David, it was the morning. He knew that he must start his day, with God, in his presence.
Now I am not saying that the morning is the only time to meet with God, but what I will say, is find a time that is god for you and stick to it.
For me, it is morning. I have started walking in the morning at the field. I walk around the field for one hour, and in that hour, I listen to my Bible Readings, I pray, and I will listen to some Christian music. Even though I am walking, I am walking in the prescience of God.
I desire to meet with his every morning.
Seeking his presence needs to be a priority. It will not happen by accident, you need to decide in your heart to do it…then do it.
This is Moms and my desire for you, is that YOU will seek his presence daily. That is why we are here.
If we were only here to make sure you were taken care of…school, food, a place to stay… then we would not last long. Its not easy, 94 kids. BUT, our job is more than making sure you have school, food, and a place to stay…we care about your soul. We care about the Mother and Father you might be one day. We want you to be a godly mother and father, who seeks the Lord and wants to do his will.
So this year, lets make 2021 a year of growth is our spiritual lives as we seek the presence of God.