Kingdom Resolutions

Kingdom Resolutions

As we move into the new year many people make a practice of making new year resolutions

A writer for the Washington Post said this: A New Year’s resolution is a decision to do or not do something to accomplish a personal goal or break a habit. It comes at a time when people look back at the past year and make an effort to improve themselves as the new year begins.

People make New Years resolutions because they are always desiring to better their lives

As they reflect on the previous year they think about years where they can make change

Some make a resolution to begin to go to the gym on a regular basis and work out

Some make resolutions concerning weight loss and their diet

Some make resolutions that have to do with relationships

Often times these resolutions don’t last a month

One of the things I have learned in my life about change is that if it is solely dependent on my strength and ability, I will fail every time

God has created humanity for real transformation and change to happens He must be involved in the process

In ourselves we will actually destroy ourselves if left to ourselves

But as I prayed about New Years resolutions I thought about Kingdom Resolutions

They are things that we commit to make a part of our lives in the coming year

This is what Jesus said about the Kingdom of God in Luke 17:20-21 20 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”

For all those who are born again followers of Jesus the Kingdom of God is within all of us

Our journey with Christ is one of continually decreasing as He increases

It is about dying to self and picking up our cross

Jesus said those the Father loves He prunes

He removes those things that hinder what He desires to do in us and accomplish

There are four things that the Lord highlighted to me that I believe if every believer committed to make these a part of their lives on a daily basis that they would see the kingdom of God increase exponentially in their lives.

The four areas are Prayer and fasting, studying the word of God, spending time in intimately fellowship with fellow believers, and sharing the truth about Jesus with others

Now some would say this sounds very simple and elementary

But what I have found in my 41 years on this earth is that these disciplines are absent from the lives of many believers

I have often heard of people stating they desire God to work in their lives but are unwilling to truly commit everything they are to Jesus

Let us remember when Jesus calls us to follow Him He calls us to deny ourselves and pick up our cross

Prayer and Fasting

Mark 1:35: 35 Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a [a]solitary place; and there He prayed.

Matthew 17:14-21: 14 And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is [a]an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.” 17 Then Jesus answered and said, “O [b]faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your [c]unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 [d]However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

Jesus life was built in prayer

Prayer develops within us deep intimacy with God being able to know and discern His leading and voice

Studying the Word of God

Psalm 119:105: 105 Your word is a lamp to my feetAnd a light to my path.

2 Timothy 2:15 “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

It is not important how much we study but that how much of what we are studying gets into us

God’s word will transform us by the work and power of the Holy Spirit

Intimate fellowship with fellow believers

Acts 2:40-47 “And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

God has created us for relationship

Not only with Him

But with one another

We are not called to be lone rangers

We are called to rely fully upon Him

We are called to encourage and strengthen one another

Ecclesiastes 4:12 “Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

Galatians 6:2 “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

Sharing the truth of Jesus with others

Matthew 28:18-20 “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.”

Romans 10:14-15 “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!””

All of us are called to share the good news of Jesus

Many who call themselves Christians in America today may have never shared their faith with anyone

It is the Holy Spirit who empowers and enables us to be a witness

It is the Holy Spirit who gives us the words

God is calling us to simply step out

To share with others the goodness of who Jesus is

Share with others what Christ has done in our lives

Often times sharing Christ begins with building a relationship which is a bridge

Asking questions and sharing as the Holy Spirit leads

I have often found simply asking the person if they know Jesus or have ever heard about Him

But the most powerful message is of how Jesus has personally impacted us

People may argue with the bible, but they can’t argue our story

Our desire should be to introduce as many people as we can to Jesus

Where they spend eternity is dependent on who they say Jesus is

Conclusion

All of us can make resolutions

But I truly believe if we desire to see God’s kingdom increase in our lives there are spiritual disciplines that must be developed

One thing I learned as an athlete and coach is those who desire to excel must be committed

They must invest in their craft

If an athlete desires to be the greatest quarterback or wide receiver he must put in the work required to refine his skills

This often requires moving our of our comfort zone

The same exist as a disciple of Jesus

We are not called simply to be part of the crowd or to watch from a distance

We are called to truly begin to grow and be transformed by Jesus