1-28-18 All hail the POWER of Jesus name!

Scripture    Ephesians3:14-21 (The Message)

      A)  The introduction to the prayer

14 My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, 15 this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth.

      B)   The description of the prayer

16 I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit — not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength — 17 that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, 18 you'll be able to take in with all Christians the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! 19 Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.

      C)   The doxology

          20 God can do anything, you know — far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. 21 Glory to God in the church!

Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus! Glory down all the generations! Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!

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      A)  The introduction to the prayer

14 My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, 15 this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth.

As Paul begins - he is describing in print how he really prays for them – he begins by kneeling – a posture of submitting to the one you are praying too – And it sounds like as he prays God must be recalling in his mind: Isa 45:22-24     "Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear. They will say of me, 'In the Lord alone are righteousness and strength.'"

          The kneeling posture is a sign for Christians of what all will one day be forced to do by the power of God: Phil 2:9-11     Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

      B)   The description of the prayer

16 I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit — not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength — 17 that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, 18 you'll be able to take in with all Christians the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! 19 Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.

In our English translation, Paul prayed for three things:

      1)    Strengthen you by His Spirit

      2)    Christ live in you

      3)    Walk in Christ’s incomparable love.

In the Greek it is a long run on sentence so that Paul only prayed one thing and describes what that looks like: “Strengthen you by His Spirit as Christ lives in you and you walk in Christ’s incomparable love.”

The prayer and the doxology are connected by the words “power” and “glory” – the Power comes from God’s Glory. Power and Spirit are synonymous.

Paul often speaks of the individual being “in Christ” and only 5 times – including here – mentions Christ being “in us.”

      C)   The doxology

          20 God can do anything, you know — far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. 21 Glory to God in the church!

Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus! Glory down all the generations! Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!

          This doxology of Paul is reminiscent of Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

No matter what we think God can do, He can and will do so much more. Our concept of God’s Love and Power are always too small.  I have used Eph 3:20-21 as my benediction for as long as I can remember because it is true 100% of the time. It is not only true, it is always correct – the right fit for every message from God’s word. These verses are not my favorite nor are they my life verse. However, they are every sermon’s exclamation point! No matter how we respond to the message – God always has more for us!

THE PRAYER AS A WHOLE

Notice that this prayer is about seeing things from God’s perspective. Most of our prayers are about telling God what our perspective is. Telling God our issues and wanting Him to intervene. What about praying in such a way that we are simply trying to see life – our life from God’s point of view. Prayer becomes a means of spending time with the Father and knowing better what His desire and plan is. How can that revolutionize our prayer lives? Prayer is no longer primarily about what I need (even the most noble things) rather it is about recognizing who God is and desiring to know Him more.  Then, for our struggles we will be “Strengthened by His Spirit as Christ lives in us and we walk in Christ’s incomparable love.”

Prayer as a means of communion with God is in line with scripture – At Jesus’ birth He is Immanuel = ‘God with us’ to His ascension where he promises to be ‘with us’ to the end of the age.

          Our prayer should be more focused on Jesus Christ -how can we do that? Focus on His name – all the names he is given – here are 50 names for Jesus to start with:…

50 Names and Titles of Jesus:

1.  Almighty One – “…who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Rev. 1:8

2.  Alpha and Omega – “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” Rev. 22:13

3.  Advocate – “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” 1 John 2:1

4.  Author and Perfecter of Our Faith – “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb. 12:2

5.  Authority – “Jesus said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Matt. 28:18

6.  Bread of Life – “Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’” John 6:35

7.  Beloved Son of God – “And behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Matt. 3:17

8.  Bridegroom – “And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.” Matt. 9:15

9.  Chief Cornerstone – “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief corner stone.” Ps. 118:22

10. Deliverer – “And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” 1 Thess.1:10

11. Faithful and True – “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war.” Rev.19:11

12. Good Shepherd - “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11

13. Great High Priest – “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.” Heb. 4:14

14. Head of the Church – “And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church.” Eph. 1:22

15. Holy Servant – “…and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus." Acts 4:29-30

16. I Am – “Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” John 8:58

17. Immanuel – “…She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel, which means 'God with us.’” Is. 7:14

18. Indescribable Gift – “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.” 2 Cor. 9:15

19. Judge – “…he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.” Acts 10:42

20. King of Kings – “These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.” Rev. 17:14

21. Lamb of God – “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29

22. Light of the World – "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12

23. Lion of the Tribe of Judah – “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” Rev. 5:5

24. Lord of All – “For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Phil. 2:9-11

25. Mediator – “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” 1 Tim. 2:5

26. Messiah – “We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ).” John 1:41

27. Mighty One – “Then you will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.” Is. 60:16

28. One Who Sets Free – “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”  John 8:36

29. Our Hope – “…Christ Jesus our hope.” 1 Tim. 1:1

30. Peace – “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,” Eph. 2:14

31. Prophet – “And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” Mark 6:4

32. Redeemer – “And as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth.” Job 19:25

33. Risen Lord – “…that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” 1 Cor. 15:3-4

34. Rock – “For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.” 1 Cor. 10:4

35. Sacrifice for Our Sins – “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:10

36. Savior – “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11

37. Son of Man – “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." Luke 19:10

38. Son of the Most High – “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.” Luke 1:32

39. Supreme Creator Over All – “By Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-- all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.…” 1 Cor. 1:16-17

40. Resurrection and the Life – “Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” John 11:25

41. The Door – “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” John 10:9

42. The Way – “Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

43. The Word – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1

44. True Vine - "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.” John 15:1

45. Truth – “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32

46. Victorious One – “To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.” Rev. 3:21

47. – 50. Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace – “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Is. 9:6

          It is this Jesus who will “Strengthen you by His Spirit as Christ lives in you and you walk in Christ’s incomparable love.”

1-21-18 2nd Chance Avenew

Scripture   2 Timothy 4:6-11

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day — and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.

          That last sentence reveals one of the greatest “God making all things new” moments in the life of one person. The way God made all things new in that situation is often how God makes all things new – he used one person to give another person a 2^nd chance. We have all had times where God’s GPS “God’s Positioning System” has put us on 2^nd Chance Avenew.

Paul and Joseph had a sharp disagreement about a young man in ministry. The young Man’s name is John - Mark. Paul used to be Saul and Joseph is renamed Barnabas.

John = Mark  /  Saul = Paul  /  Joseph = Barnabas  +  Each of those new names represents being made new through a second chance. Let’s see what happens when Barnabas wants to bring John Mark (BTW they were cousins – Col 4:10) on the next missionary journey. On a previous journey Mark had failed Paul and left out of fear.

CUE: When I say, “This is what took place…”

VIDEO 2: “Peter & Paul” Paul and Barnabas haver a heated discussion about Mark joining them on a missionary journey and disagree and go their separate ways.

God used Barnabas to lead both of these men down “Second Chance Avenew” – to allow God to do a new work in and through them separately and together.  Barnabas’ birth name was Joseph but the apostles renamed him – The Son of Encouragement – Barnabas. In the Greek it is Parakaleo which means to implore someone to come to one's side; to aid or support. 

Barnabas Encourages Paul – after his conversion

Acts 9:26-27   When Paul came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took Paul and brought him to the apostles.

          The disciples sent Paul to Tarsus for a long period of time…

Acts 11:25-26   Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

Mark is the author of the gospel of Mark. His mother’s name was Mary (Acts 12:12), whose house was being used as a place for believers to gather and pray. That gave him a unique view of Jesus (like a kid growing up in someone’s home who has famous people over all the time – they get a view like no one else) Mark 14:51–52 describes a young man/Mark fleeing the arrest naked.

Mark was a helper on Paul and Barnabas’ first missionary journey (Acts 13:5). However, he did not stay through the whole trip. Mark deserted Paul and Barnabas in Pamphylia and left the work (Acts 15:38).

Sometime later, after Paul and Barnabas had returned from their first journey, Paul expressed a desire to go back to the brothers in the cities they had previously visited to see how everyone was doing (Acts 15:36). Barnabas agreed, if they could take Mark with them. Paul refused, citing Mark’s previous desertion. Paul thought it best not to have a quitter with them. Paul and Barnabas had a “sharp disagreement” about Mark (verse 39) and wound up separating from each other and going on separate journeys. Barnabas took Mark with him to Cyprus, and Paul took Silas with him through Syria and Cilicia to encourage the believers in those churches (Acts 15:39–41).

Barnabas, the “son of encouragement” (Acts 4:36), desired to forgive Mark’s failure and to give him a second chance. Paul took the more rational view: pioneering missionary work requires dedication, resolve, and endurance. Paul saw Mark as a risk to their mission.

          Mark sails off to Cyprus with his cousin Barnabas, but that is not the end of his story. Years later, he is with Paul, who calls him a “fellow worker” (Philemon 1:24). And near the end of Paul’s life, Paul sends a request to Timothy from a Roman prison: “Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry” (2 Timothy 4:11).

VIDEO 3

RUNNING THE WRONG DIRECITON

On New Year's Day, 1929, Georgia Tech played University of California in the Rose Bowl. In that game a man named Roy Riegels recovered a fumble for California. Somehow, he became confused and started running 65 yards in the wrong direction. One of his teammates, Benny Lom, outdistanced him and tackled him just before he scored for the opposing team. When California attempted to punt, Georgia Tech blocked the kick and scored a safety which could potentially be the ultimate margin of victory.

That strange play came in the first half, and everyone who was watching the game was asking the same question: "What will Coach Nibbs Price do with Roy Riegels in the second half?" The men filed off the field and went into the locker room. They sat down on the benches and on the floor, all but Riegels. He put his blanket around his shoulders, sat down in a corner, put his face in his hands, and cried like a baby.

If you have played football, you know that a coach usually has a great deal to say to his team during half time. That day Coach Price was quiet. No doubt he was trying to decide what to do with Riegels. Then the timekeeper came in and announced that there were three minutes before the 2^nd half. Coach Price looked at the team and said simply, "Men the same team that played the first half will start the second." The players got up and started out, all but Riegels. He did not budge. the coach looked back and called to him again; still he didn't move. Coach Price went over to where Riegels sat and said, "Roy, didn't you hear me? The same team that played the first half will start the second."

Then Roy Riegels looked up and his cheeks were wet with a strong man's tears. "Coach," he said, "I can't do it to save my life. I've ruined you, I've ruined the University of California, I've ruined myself. I couldn't face that crowd in the stadium to save my life."

Then Coach Price reached out and put his hand on Riegel's shoulder and said to him: "Roy, get up and go on back; the game is only half over." And Roy Riegels went back, and those Tech men will tell you that they have never seen a man play football as Roy Riegels played that second half.

TAG THE BASE

On September 23, 1908, in New York City, there were two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. The New York Giants and the Chicago Cubs were battling for the National League pennant, with the score tied at 1-1. The Giants had two men on base: 19-year-old Fred Merkle on first and Moose McCormick on third. Al Bridwell slapped a single up the middle, scoring McCormick.

The game seemed to be over. But instead of tagging second base, Fred Merkle trotted off the field to the Giants' locker room. The Cubs threw the ball to second, forcing out Merkel. The run didn't count, the Giants lost the pennant, and Fred Merkle picked up the name, "Bonehead Merkle."

If that happened today Bonehead would have gotten hate notices and death threats on Social Media and likely be fired from the team. But that did not happen for Fred Merkle, he got another chance and went on to play for 14 more seasons, including five trips to the World Series.

CAREFUL WITH THAT LIGHTBULB

Thomas A. Edison was working on a crazy contraption called a "light bulb" and it took a whole team of men 24 straight hours to put just one together. The story goes that when Edison was finished with one light bulb, he gave it to a young boy helper, who nervously carried it up the stairs. Step by step he cautiously watched his hands, obviously frightened of dropping such a priceless piece of work. You've probably guessed what happened by now; he dropped the bulb at the top of the stairs. It took the entire team of men twenty-four more hours to make another bulb. Finally, tired and ready for a break, Edison was ready to have his bulb carried up the stairs. He gave it to the same young boy who dropped the first one. That is a second chance.

A second chance usually indicates that we somehow failed or came up short the first time. A second chance is epitome of making all things new. Reigel, Merkle, a young boy, the Apostle Paul and John Mark had a chance for a new outcome.

After Benediction:  VIDEO POSTLUDE

1-14-18 Of these two, which was made new?

Scripture   Acts 21:40-22:12; Acts 9:3-21; Acts 21:13-16               

ANNINIAS (3 different ones)

Ch 5 – lied about $

Ch 22-23 – High Priest had Paul it in the mouth

Ch 9 (22) – told to take God’s message to Saul

Acts 21:40-22:12          PAUL’S STORY

Having received the commander's permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. When they were all silent, he said to them in Aramaic:  "Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense." When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet. (الإخوة والآباء، والاستماع الآن إلى دفاعي.)

          Then Paul said: "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers and was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, as also the high priest and all the Council can testify. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.

          "About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, 'Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?' "'Who are you, Lord?' I asked. "'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,' he replied. My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me. "'What shall I do, Lord?' I asked. "'Get up,' the Lord said, 'and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.'  My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me.

          12 "A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there.

Acts 9:3-21                ANANIAS’S STORY

As Saul neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"  "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!" "Yes, Lord," he answered. The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight." "Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name." But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."

          Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord-Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here — has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.

Acts 21:13-16                 PAUL’S STORY CONTINUED WITH ANANIAS

He stood beside me and said, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight!' And at that very moment I was able to see him. 14 "Then he said: 'The God of our fathers has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. You will be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.'

SONG DRAMA - Sittin by the window prayin (written by Ken Medema, performed by Pastor Jeff Cooper, Accompanied by Teresa Blowers.

1-7-18 2018 THEME INTRODUCTION

BEHOLD, I am making all things new

Scripture  Revelation 21:5

Rev 21:1-8

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."

5 And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." And He said, "Write, for these words are faithful and true." 6 Then He said to me, "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. 7 "He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. 8 "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."     NASU

This is the time of year many of us like to say: BEHOLD, I am making all things (or at least some things – or maybe a single thing) in my life – NEW! Do we have the power to make things new in our life? Of course, we do. I recently heard one of our US Navy retired admiral’s say the reason he advanced to such a high rank is that at a young age he determined he would make his bed first thing every day. (#1 Book Cover)  How do you go from making your bed to being an admiral in the US Navy? By that, he meant he would live a life of discipline, doing little things that can change your life…and maybe your world. He would do the things that needed to be done even when he didn’t feel like it, to not only achieve a certain outcome (like regularly working out makes you in better shape) but to live a life of high character regardless of the outcome.

Or take nineteen-year-old Jonathan Edwards (#2 J. Edwards) who knew his weaknesses and was aware of the destructive nature of his sin, so he resolved to make and keep certain resolutions in his effort to live for God’s glory. He helped pave the way for us all as he prefaced his seventy resolutions with these words: (#3 frame)

Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ’s sake.

Some would say the Christian need not make resolutions but simply live daily the life God wants us to live. I would disagree, otherwise I would not give a call to decision and prayer at the end of each sermon. Also, I find resolutions to make things new throughout the scriptures by various people.

Dan 1:8  But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.

Matt 1:19  Because Joseph, Mary’s husband, was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

Acts 19:21  After all this had happened, Paul decided to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. "After I have been there," he said, "I must visit Rome also."

Colossians 3:15-22

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another.

17 Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.

18 Wives, submit to your husbands.

19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

20 Children, obey your parents in everything.

21 Fathers, do not embitter your children.

22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor.

23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,

2 Thess 1:11

 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.

I say we have a biblical principal to make resolutions founded on our faith in Christ and that we should determine to regularly make things new in our lives.

PUT OFF: Gal 5:19-22 (The obvious sinful nature) sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.

PUT ON: Gal 5:22-23 (The fruit of the Spirit) love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Which is easier – get rid of the bad or start living the good? If we start living the good, there is no longer room for the bad.  Gal 5:25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

THAT IS THE KEY: keep in step with the spirit because even though we have human potential to Make Thins New! It is only by the presence, strength, wepons and will of God that we stand a chance. Besides seeking God to make things new in our lives – we need to seek where God is doing a new thing around us. We can either watch others engaged in the work of God or we can dive in to the center of God’s activity and be a part of the movement of God in history.

          Like God we can make something new out of something old but only God can make something new out of NOTHING.

The door bell rings. You open the door. A man is standing there that you know to be the most trusted, most reliable man in your community. He wants to make you an offer. "I would like to take all of the furniture in your house," he says, "and trade it for brand new furniture. It is the very best. You can pick and choose anything you want. I'll make it an even trade."

How would you respond to that offer? Let's imagine (strictly hypothetical, of course) that your furniture is 100% early garage sale. The springs sag. The upholstery snags. It is covered in rags. You called Goodwill once, and they came and offered to give you $10 to keep the stuff. (#4 furniture) So here comes the most trusted person you know offering to haul off all that junk for nothing and pay whatever price is necessary to replace it with the very best. How long would it take you to decide?

Suppose you drove up to church in your 1963 junkmobile, the usual cloud of smoke ascending into the air behind your clattering tailpipe, your best friend pulls up next to you in his new Mercedes. (#5 cars) After you pried your door open with the screwdriver that you keep in the glove box just for that purpose, you try to act nonchalant in the process. You greet your friends in the new Mercedes without even an evident glint of envy in your carbon monoxide filled eyes. Now suppose that friend offers to trade you even. That's right. Even. Your lemon for his limo. No cost. No strings attached. How long would you have to ponder whether or not that was a viable offer?

Now, our God has made us an offer that makes the two situations I've just described pale in comparison. He has offered to take our old lives and make them new, brand new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 is the card tucked in with the offer. It says, Therefore, if any man is IN CHRIST, he is a new creation. Old things are passing away. Behold, all things are becoming new. So God has offered to take your clattering, smoking junkmobile of a life and trade it for a brand new model Christler. He has offered to take the tattered and torn furnishings of your life and clean house. He will replace every single item with brand new Eternity design, His favorite brand. You say, what an offer! God has offered you a new life on earth.

But He has gone one step farther. He has even said, "This new life is just temporary. One day soon, I'm going to take that life in trade for something SO MUCH BETTER that you'll need new eyes just to look at it." He will tuck in another card with a verse from Revelation 21:5 that says, Behold, I am making all things new. Then the process will have been replaced by the product. The prayer will give way to the promise. He who began a good work in you will have completed it. God will have made ALL THINGS NEW.