What is Your Biggest Lesson in 2020
Biggest Lesson from 2020 • Sermon • Submitted
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Today is the first Sunday of our brand new year 2021— I will not talk to you about new year’s resolutions— study shows new resolutions do not last anyways— Same time last year I talked to you about vision— “The 2020 Vision”
Early on last year things seems to be very clear to us— besides, a 2020 vision is the clearest any person can get— but, that vision did not seem to last for long— the China virus came and wrecked every plan we had for last year— nearly nothing that we planned was carried out since March when the government whom we trust and respect to look after our welfare ordered us to shelter in place
2020 is another powerful testimony that our God never fails— that His love endures forever— that He was, still is and will always be in control—
9 In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.
21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
When the Lord comforted His disciple he said, do not let your hearts be troubled— He went away to prepare a place for them [for us]— Jesus promised that He will come back to take us to be with him— and to be with him forever— Paul put it this way…
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
Jesus said, do not let your hearts be troubled— Paul said, do not lose heart— outwardly we are wasting aways— what does that mean?
It could mean that outwardly— in other words, physically we are exhausted— but Paul continued to say that, inwardly we are being renewed day by day— we continue to grow in the knowledge of God— we are transformed into being like Christ in preparation for His return— in another letter Paul said..
6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
In summary, all of these that we had to endure— everything that happened last year are necessary elements that leads us to final completion and that is on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ
However, because we have the God of hope— the God that never faint— the God the never changes— who was and is to come!— others love using the phrase, the alpha and the omega— the beginning and the end
The God of our fathers Abraham, Moses and David— Abraham who lied about his wife took the step towards a destination he never knew until he got there— Moses who reluctantly led 603,550 Israelites [the young ones below 20 years old are not included—the tribe of Levites also not included] out of Egypt doubted himself for not having the words to say, and yet God used Him in mighty ways— David who murdered Uriah because of his adultery with Bathsheba, was chosen king over Israel after God rejected Saul
I can go on and on and on to cite many others who failed and yet God has called and chosen them to do great things— but from Abraham, Moses and David alone, we can see two things in common— they all committed mistakes— and yet God chose to use them for His purpose anyways…
What was your biggest mistake in 2020?
God only uses imperfect, broken people— If God only used perfect people, nothing would get done because perfect people don’t exist!
If you’re willing to be used by God, he will use you no matter what you’ve done in the past— Your mission hasn’t changed.
Jonah was an ordinary guy who didn’t even want to do what God told him to do— Yet God gave him another chance, and he did what he’d been called to do.
Even though he obeyed God, Jonah carried out his assignment with a bad attitude— Yet God still used him.
God gave Jonah a seven-word sermon: “In forty days Nineveh will be destroyed!” (Jonah 3:4 GNT).
That simple message led to one of the largest spiritual revivals in history— A huge city humbly turned to God— It’s really a bigger miracle than getting Jonah out of the belly of a big fish.
God used this imperfect, reluctant prophet to lead an incredible revival— God was patient with Jonah and never gave up on him— God won’t give up on you either.
The Bible says...
9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.
If you wake up tomorrow morning— it means God is giving you one more day—another opportunity—to fulfill your mission— Expect God to use you… And he will.
Let’s take another look at the life or Jonah— most of you knows that Jonah was known to be the “Running Prophet”— if Jeremiah was known as the “Crying Prophet”— Jonah is the running one
But, I’m not gonna focus on that characterization of Jonah today— I’d like to focus on what most have missed about his character— his bad attitude
BOOK
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1 But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. 2 He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 3 Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” 4 But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?” 5 Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. 6 Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. 7 But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.” 9 But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” “It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.”
The words of Jonah is very revealing of his attitude
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LOOK
BUT TO JONAH THIS SEEMED VERY WRONG, AND HE BECAME ANGRY
What was right for God seemed wrong for Jonah— sometimes what is right for God seemed wrong for us— 2020 seemed very wrong for us— but we will hardly understand it, but it is right for God
8 The Lord says, “My thoughts are not like your thoughts. Your ways are not like my ways.
Life is full of interruptions. Sometimes we have big plans—for a career, family, or ministry—but God takes our lives in a different direction.
When our plans and God’s plans don’t match up, we often try to kick down the door— Then things get worse.
Just ask Jonah. He learned the hard way how to respond when God’s plans and his plans didn’t match— God told Jonah to warn the people of Nineveh that they needed to repent from their evil ways— But Jonah ran from God and ended up in the belly of a big fish, so God had to rescue him.
Jonah then did what God had said to do, but when the people of Nineveh repented and God didn’t punish them, the prophet was extremely disappointed.
YOU ARE A GRACIOUS AND COMPASSIONATE GOD
SLOW TO ANGER AND ABOUNDING IN LOVE
A lot of people think the opposite of fear is faith. It’s not! The opposite of fear is love
Love moves against fear— When love comes in the front door of your heart, fear goes out the back door— You can’t be afraid and loving at the same time—not with real love.
When you have real love—God’s love—then you don’t have to fear— People don’t run into a burning building to rescue children because of faith— They do it because of love. Parents will put their lives at risk to protect their families because they love their babies.
If love is the motivation of everything you do, then fear is going to disappear...
18 Where God’s love is, there is no fear, because God’s perfect love drives out fear. It is punishment that makes a person fear, so love is not made perfect in the person who fears.
Because of what seemed to be not right for Jonah— he said he’d rather die than live— but the Lord replied by asking, “is it right for you to be angry?”
So God gave Jonah an object lesson— God caused a plant to grow large enough to give Jonah shade— Then he sent a worm to attack the plant and kill it— The next day, as the sun beat down on Jonah’s head, he expressed his frustration to God.
And that’s when God reminded Jonah of four truths to remember when God’s plans differ from ours.
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TOOK
GOD CAN SEE THINGS YOU CAN’T
He can see the past and the present and the future all at the same time— He created time, so he is not subject to time— Job said it this way…
24 For he looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.
HE IS GOOD TO YOU EVEN WHEN YOU ARE CRANKY
You may have been going the opposite direction from God, and he still covers you with shade— God cares about your comfort because that’s the kind of God he is— He loves you even when you’re unlovable— Paul said it this way...
8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
GOD IS IN CONTROL OF EVERY DETAIL OF YOUR LIFE
Your plans don’t fail randomly. God has a purpose in everything in your life— Jonah shows us that God uses both the big (a large fish) and the small (a worm) to direct our lives— but he is in control of it all— again Paul said it this way
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
GOD WANTS YOU TO FOCUS ON WHAT WILL LAST
Most of what worries you won’t be around tomorrow— God wanted Jonah to care about the salvation of the people of Nineveh, not a plant that would die the next day— Above all else, focus on getting God’s Word into your heart and bringing people into his family— Paul once again said it this way...
18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Just because your plans aren’t turning out the way you want doesn’t mean God isn’t intimately involved in every step— Ask God to help you see his hand in your broken plans, and trust him in his goodness as he shows you the way forward.
Jonah learned his lessons— what about you?
What is your biggest lesson in 2020?
My biggest lesson for 2020 is trust and patience— wait upon the Lord patiently— trust Him completely!
My Story of God’s Vision for Agape back 2015— what was a vision 5 years ago is now a reality
Vision + Confirmation + Provision = Mission
PRAY
PRAY
GOD CAN SEE THINGS YOU CAN’T
HE IS GOOD TO YOU EVEN WHEN YOU ARE CRANKY
GOD IS IN CONTROL OF EVERY DETAIL OF YOUR LIFE
GOD WANTS YOU TO FOCUS ON WHAT WILL LAST
31 But those who trust the Lord will find new strength. They will be strong like eagles soaring upward on wings; they will walk and run without getting tired.
Again the opposite of fear is not faith— the opposite of fear is love— Let us all stand in God’s love!