Ushering In a Year of Change No Need for Resolution but to be Resolute. Dr. Kenneth W. Jones, Practical Living Ministry

Transcription

1 Ushering In a Year of Change No Need for Resolution but to be Resolute Dr. Kenneth W. Jones, Practical Living Ministry

2 What is a Resolution? A firm decision to do or not to do something A New Year's resolution is a tradition, in which a person resolves to change an undesired trait or behavior The problem with most resolutions is that they are not usually kept very well

3 Why They Fail The Resolutions weren't realistic, or you had no clear plan or vision for reaching them Many New Year's resolutions are little more than a "wish list" They also may be very self-centered and focused, with little thought about whether or not they are God's will or within God s purpose for us We seek to reach them in our own strength instead of with God's help. "My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth" (Psalm 121:2).

4 God s Word Concerning Vows Ecclesiastes 5:1-6: Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil. 2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. 3 For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words. 4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. 5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. 6 Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?

5 Watch Your Words A commonly overlooked and unappreciated sin among God s people is the sin of broken vows - promising things to God and failing to live up to the vow We are cautioned not to be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. Matthew 5:37 - But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. Having to swear or make oaths betrays the weakness of your word. It demonstrates that there is not enough weight in your own character to confirm your words. Can people depend upon your word?

6 Does That Mean That I Should Say Nothing? The principle of Covenant Relationship is built on the foundation of an oath or agreement There is a statement that says, God does nothing without saying it first Amos 3:7 - Surely the Lord GOD does nothing Unless He reveals His secret counsel To His servants the prophets. Integrity is allowing your actions to align with your words Our words are empowered by our faith, our actions, and our commitment

7 No Resolutions But Examinations The Bible doesn't mention making resolutions at the beginning of a new year but it does urge us to examine our lives regularly, and to seek God's help to become better persons every day. The Bible says, "Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord" (Lamentations 3:40). 2 Corinthians 13:5 - Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

8 Have You Counted the Cost? Luke 14:28-31: For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand Many times people make statements and assertions to do things without considering the cost or the commitment that it will require to accomplish it This is why we must trust in the Lord and rely upon Him to operate above our ability to perform

9 Being Resolute: A Determined Mindset Marked by firm determination : resolved <a resolute character> 1 Corinthians 15:58 - Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. Acts 11:23 - When he arrived and saw what grace (favor) God was bestowing upon them, he was full of joy; and he continuously exhorted (warned, urged, and encouraged) them all to cleave unto and remain faithful to and devoted to the Lord with [resolute and steady] purpose of heart.

10 Be Resolute The New Year should be a time of reflection, making amends, repenting, renouncing & restoring relationships Leave your baggage at the door. "Should all acquaintance be forgot?" and never brought to mind (old thinking, condemnation, evil connections, fear) Are you still plagued by stinking thinking, old fears, regrets, remorse, old gripes, condemnation, grudges, unforgiveness, or bitterness? Then you must renounce, repent, reject, and rejoice that you are free Jesus was acquainted with sorrows, but it never consumed him (Isaiah 53) Don t begin your New Year in regret and remorse over what was not accomplished last year Isaiah 53:3 He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; Jesus was acquainted with sorrow and grief, but it didn t incapacitate Most of our sorrow is really just self-pity. It is feeling sorry for ourselves. Jesus never once felt sorry for Himself. His sorrow was for others, and for the fallen, desperate condition of humanity. Philippians 3:13 - Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

11 Be Resolute Daily Resolute in your faith: Romans 4:18; Hebrews 11:6 Romans 4:20,21: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. Resolute in being bold to share the Word and be an example of Christ Acts 4:29 - And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, 1 Timothy 4:12 - Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Resolute in your spiritual conviction Romans 1:9 - For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; Romans 1:16 - For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

12 Be Resolute Daily Resolute in your joy: Count in all joy James 1:2 - My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; When trials come, be determined to endure and maintain your joy in the Lord (Nehemiah 8:10) Resolute in your commitment 2 Timothy 2:3,4: Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. Resolute in being, sustaining, and sharing your witness Be fully persuaded 1 Peter 3:15 - But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Romans 8:38,39: For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

13 Thoughts to Carry Over This Year Vision precedes Voyage It s hard to know where you going without a vision It s harder to accomplish something if you don t know what it looks like Proverbs 29:18 - Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law. Establish markers As you continue your walk in Christ establish life markers to identify your growth and maturity (Luke 2:52) Stay fervent, zealous, and when needed, call upon others to help This is not a self-journey but you are blessed through godly relationships (Hebrews 10:25,26)

14 Auld Lang Syne: A Little History Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and auld lang syne*? CHORUS: For auld lang syne, my jo, for auld lang syne, we'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet, for auld lang syne. Scottish bard Robert Burns was first to write down the classic song, but the lyrics aren t his own he was inspired by fragments of traditional songs from the past. The phrase Auld Lang Syne itself means old long ago,which can be translated as days gone by or back in the day.