A Godly Resolve for a New Year - Acts 25:-30

Introduction

Every year, individuals, ministries, businesses, and others in just about every sector begin with resolutions and other cutting edge slogans, themes, vision boards, and other positive affirmations and declarations to give some hope, direction, and positivity to the New Year. And I believe these things are great tools to aid us in ensuring that we set our eyes on what it is that we’d like to do, achieve, and become. In fact, the statement rings true of Benjamin Franklin that in life if you fail to plan you inevitably plan to fail. Nothing happens by happenstance or osmosis.

But the truth is as much as we plan - we never plan for bumps, strongholds, and stumbling blocks in the road. Somewhere in the back of our minds we know that things can’t always go according to plan but we plan it that way any way. If we are honest sometimes we will go through the detours of life and say why does my life seem so hard. At times we feel like we are doing everything right but still left to deal with the tantamounts of time tearing away at our temple.

It’s okay to make plans, declarations, and goals for the New Year. But with those declarations you’ve got to include a midnight theology.

A midnight theology has nothing to do with time because issues and problems can arise anywhere and at anytime. Jesus said in John 16:33 in this life you WILL have trouble. Will means that there is no specific time attached to it. Trouble will come based on your actions, trouble will arise when you’re trying to do good, and trouble will come when you least expect it. Sometimes you’ll have trouble on top of trouble. But your theology must remind you “take heart for I, (Jesus says), have overcome the world! Your theology must remind you, that trouble won’t last always. Your trouble must remind you that many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord will deliver you out of them all!

Explanation

Paul and Silas found themselves in a midnight situation. They were out doing good. They bought Lydia to the point of believing in Jesus. Through their prayers a spirit of divination was cast out of a woman who was possessed. When the naysayers saw what was happening (I’m in the text in verse 19) they went to the rulers and said these men, these Jews are troubling our city.

And if you’re going to have a Godly resolve for the New Year you’ve got to get yourself into some good trouble. John Lewis said “never ever be afraid to make some noise and get in trouble, good trouble necessary trouble.” Some of us can remember a time we would get in trouble doing bad things and getting in trouble with the law. But now that we’re on the Lord’s side its time to get in some good trouble. When is the last time you led somebody to Christ? When is the last time you prayed for somebody and saw somebody healed because of the power of God?

In the New Year have your plans to enjoy and make the best of your life but while you enjoy your life get in trouble for Jesus Christ! Tell somebody about the goodness of the Lord. Tell somebody your testimony. Stand up for your God and for His word!

Good trouble may cost you more than you thought you pay. It may take you away from achieving some of the things you set out to do but God at times in your life will cause you some temporary inconvenience for Kingdom advancement. And if you’re going to have a Godly resolve for the New Year you’ve got to be okay with being inconvenienced. Your fleeting moments of inconvenience may mean a detour for you but it could have lasting and eternal consequences for somebody else!

Paul and Silas after they had done good suffered a horrible beating. A good deed sent them to a midnight experience. They were beaten, stripped of their clothes, thrown into prison, and chained. It seemed like a bad day. But when you’re having a bad day you’ve got to remember this is the day that the Lord has made - I will rejoice and be glad in it! Because even on your bad day, God still wants to get the glory out of you! And I know in 2021 you had some bad days. But in 2022 you’ve got to have a resolve no matter how bad or how dark the day - I will rejoice! There’s somebody watching you on your bad day!

There was a Philippian jailer that was watching Paul and Silas on their bad day. A moment of anger and frustration at their situation would have derailed their witness! But when you’ve got a midnight theology you’ve learned that you can never stop being a witness. In season and out of season we are witnesses of the work of Christ in our lives. That’s why grandma sang Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand. Because in your life when everything is changing around you, you’ve got a hand in your life that will never change that will bear you up when the issues of life throw you a curve ball!

If you’re going to have a Godly resolve for a New Year you’ve got to discipline yourself not to get mad and disjointed when life throws you a curve ball. You’ve got to make up in your mind this has happened because God has allowed it. This won’t kill me, but it will make me stronger!

Paul and Silas maintained their witness despite a circumstance they did not plan to be in verse 25 they prayed and sang praises unto God.

If you’re going to have a Godly resolve for the New Year you’ve got to increase your devotion. Sometimes we are so concerned about where our deliverance will come that we can’t be faithful in our devotions to God. We start feeling the weight of our problems and everyone else’s problems around us. But this is why we must walk according to the Spirit. Because the Spirit will help us in our weaknesses. When you don’t feel like praying or can’t find the words to pray the Spirit of God will stand up on the inside of you! If you’re going to have a Godly resolve for the New Year you’ve got to ask the Holy Spirit to stand strong in you and then you’ve got to let Him do it.

They praised so loudly in their situation that all the prisoners heard them! They weren’t praising for a release. Because they had no idea how they would be delivered. They praised God for who He is. And because of their devotion God saw fit to deliver them with an earthquake. He opened the prison doors and their chains were loosed. Life will throw curve balls time after time after time. Don’t spend all your time trying to usurp the authority of God. He has already planned a way of escape and relief for what your going through. All you’ve got to do is remember your devotion!

Sometimes we wait until the chains fall off and then thank Him for removing the chains. But you’ve got to learn to praise Him with chains. Praise Him with no money in the bank. Praise Him with limitations. Because when you praise God, He takes the limits off!

I’ve learned how to praise God through persecution.

I’ve learned how to praise God through pain.

I’ve learned how to praise God through the process.

And I’ve learned how to praise God through a pandemic!

My praise is a direct correlation with my faith that as I praise Him, He’s already worked it out.

Don’t wait til the battle is over. Don’t wait until midnight to praise Him.

But give God a praise of Thanksgiving right now. 365 days of good times, bad times, hell and high water. You ought to take a pulse check and recognize that if you still got a pulse and breath in your body… that means you’re still here! Since I’m breathing I’m gonna thank Him. The devil tried everything he could but I’m still here!

Don’t you stop praying for the Lord is nigh. Don’t you give up on God, he won’t ever give up on you!

The text shows us that He won’t leave you in jail! He will come and see about you!

Closing

Finally, you’ve got to have a Godly Resolve for the New Year because God is going to use your story to save somebody else! What is my story? The devil tried it but I’m still here. Some of you this year have lost loved ones and when you lost your loved one you thought you’d loose your mind.. but you’re still here clothed and in your right mind! Some of you may have contracted COVID - a viral disease that has taken the lives of millions but you are still here! And I’ve got to tell you something - it’s not about you!

Wherever you are you ought to just lift up your hands open up your mouth and tell God thank you!