The world looks for a
fresh start in the New Year but the people of the world seem to move ahead with
hardened hearts. We fall deeper and deeper into physical and spiritual oppression. We choose to
live in the ways of the world over Gods way of love and peace.
We need to “Let Go and
let God”. You see, we have to stop trusting
our own understanding; our own knowledge and assessments of life here on planet
Earth and start putting our trust in God.
We have to lean on the Lord. We
have to let go of our own will and submit to God’s will. This is hard because often we like our own opinions
and beliefs of the world over God’s. But
if we want victory over this world, we have to let go of our way and do
it God’s way.
Well, let’s look at the lives
of the apostles. They were poor in the
things of this world. They were hated by
the people around them, the very people they were trying to save. But they had great joy even when they were
persecuted because they based their happiness on Christ and on their salvation
and not on their possessions or their circumstances. They
gave thanks in all things, no matter what their surroundings; whether they were
with friends, strangers or enemies; whether they were at home or visiting or in
a strange land. They knew God works
prosperity and adversity for our good.
They didn’t let the ways of the world rule over the ways of the spirit. They trusted that God was working all things
out in their favor.
The Apostle Paul experienced
great failure in his life by worldly standards.
He was attacked in most places he preached. He was persecuted, shipwrecked, stoned and
left for dead, deserted by trusted co-workers, slandered, and scorned. In the end Paul was beheaded for his
faithfulness in preaching about the kingdom of God and for his witness of Jesus
Christ.
The bible tells us that Paul
never looked back at his past failures or pitied himself for his present
hardships. Paul always kept his eye on his mission and his eternal future in
Christ. He boldly and fearlessly
proclaimed the “Good News of Salvation” through Jesus Christ. Paul leaned on
God's strength not his own to see him through all circumstances both
good and bad. He didn’t try to earn a
crown of glory in both this world and the next.
He had one goal. He put all his
energy into one purpose that was claiming and proclaiming the gift of
salvation. See for Christians even bad
news leads back to “the” good news.
In this world you will
have trouble. There will be persecution,
suffering and conflict. God tells us not
to be overwhelmed by your earthly trials and sorrows, they are temporary. Be of good cheer because Christ overcame this
world. And in him you have peace and
victory over this world as well.
Brother and sisters on those days when you feel alone; when you
feel it’s all too much or it’s
all too hard or that you
can’t see your way out or
that you can’t take any more. STOP! “Be Still”. Know that Christ
is the KING OF KINGS. He is in complete
control of everything. Endure your trials patiently because in them
you are reminded that you need the LORD and in them you glorify his name. Don’t get distracted with the nonsense of life. Keep your eyes fixed on our Good
Shepherd. He will lead you through the
storms to his safe pasture. Praise God for his goodness. Thank God for your blessings and your
trials. Have hope in Christ. God tells us he hears every prayer and answers
them according to his will and in his time. Stop rebelling and doing things your way. Your Father knows what’s best for you. Let God
lead you. Isaiah 52:12 tells us that we are
never alone because the Almighty God of Israel goes ahead of us and protects us
from behind. Children of God! Fearlessly
go forward in life. The LORD is our
defender and protector. He will NEVER
abandon us or fail us.
Dear ones, The LORD carries
our burdens. He carries us through life’s
trials and temptations. So, cast your
cares upon him because he loves you deeply and he will sustain you. He is our Rock, our Fortress. He is our Helper, our Comforter, our Protector. We can have no true victory over this
world apart from him. Trust in the LORD
there is nothing, nothing, NOTHING that he can’t do.
Brothers and sisters, our
Fresh Start is going to take discipline and faithfulness and action on our
part. Our plans won’t always work out as
we hoped. But you see we are not the
one’s making the decisions. Our plans
are not the ones that count. We have to
get out of God’s way; stop working against him and doing things our way. Dear one’s work God’s plan of love; stand firmly
on his Word, proclaim his message to the world, praise his Holy name then get
ready, get ready because he will not just take you through, he will raise you
up!
Trust God. Have hope in the LORD. God causes
everything to work together for the good of those who love Him. (Matthew 16:26) “what do you
benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth
more than your soul?” Don’t push God away and try to do things on your
own according to your plan. One
prosperity preacher tells us that “we can
have our best life now”. What kind
of weak reward is that to look forward to?
The very best the world has to offer cannot compare to the glory waiting
for you in heaven. Stop settling for worldly
crumbs when you have been promised a heavenly feast. No matter what magnificent possessions we can
acquire here in this world, no matter how far we rise up in the “worldly
pecking order” it will leave us standing before the “Judgment Throne” wretched,
pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
Now, God directed me to a You Tube musical video of a Tyler Perry
play called “What’s Done in the Dark.
The song was sung by the gospel singer, Tam-e-la Mann. The song is called “Step Aside.” It inspired this message to you.
Check it out!! Song is
always uplifting and good for the heart.
“Step Aside”. http://youtu.be/ZXokSJYZHJI
The message God is sending us today for this new year; for 2013 is
that we have to “stop getting in His
way,” we have to “STEP ASIDE” we
have to “let go and let God”.
If in the New Year, in 2013 we are going to truly have a renewed
spirit and have a new start then we have to stand on God’s word. We can be saved in one moment but our
salvation requires daily re-dedication or it will be lost.
Our God is the God of new beginnings. He is the God of fresh starts. He is the God of starting over. He is the God of turn-a-rounds, the God of
second chances. He is the God of
restoration. In Christ and through Christ
we can be born again, made into a new person. The
old life is gone; a new life has begun! We are resurrected with
him and in him into a new body, into a new life with a new heart, a new mind
and a new spirit.
Let God work it out for you. Call on him in times of
trouble. Let our great potter re-make you into his
image. When all looks hopeless by the standards
of the natural world, the God of hope is the source of joy and peace to all who
trust him. When everyone around you says
you can’t God says you can; you will! Jesus
came for people like us, sinners. Jesus
died for people like us, rebels against God.
Jesus came to heal the sick and wounded.
Jesus sacrificed himself for the broken of this world, for those sheep
wandering away in the darkness. Jesus
said, "Healthy people don't need a doctor--sick people do. I have
come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are
sinners."
Every morning when you rise from your bed, thank God for your
fresh start. You have been resurrected
in the new day that God has made. God
has given you a “do-over”. Rejoice and
be glad in it. He has given you one more
chance to know him. Stop evaluating
yourself against a useless worldly point of view. Instead, see the world from a heavenly
perspective; see with your heavenly eyes.
Listen for the voice of God; hear
with your heavenly ears. Know his word
so you won’t fall into error. Call on the
holy name of Jesus and he will answer you.
Walking with Christ is going to take great resolution. It requires great discipline and sacrifice
and endurance and patience and love and great faithfulness on your part. You must submit to God in all things
and surrender to Satan in nothing.
Don’t put our great big God in a tiny little box. Our God is Almighty there is no obstacle that
he can’t overcome. Remember dear ones you belong to God. You have already won the victory over this
world, because God’s Holy Spirit lives in you and he is greater than the spirit
who lives in this world. So, have trust and hope in the Lord Jesus who cares for you, who loves
you enough to step down from his throne of glory to suffer on your behalf, so
you could be spared and reconciled to the Father. God
see’s you and you and you, and you….all of you! He knew you before you were born. He knit you together in your mother’s
womb. God has counted every hair on your
head. God knows His sheep; God knows you
by name. God has promised to wipe every
tear from your eyes. He promised. And He is faithful.
Brothers and sister, today I stand before you offering you a new
way to a new life; a total transformation; a spiritual make-over; a way of
guaranteed success; a way to never ending victory. Don’t worry.
Don’t feel overwhelmed. Don’t be
afraid. Don’t give up. The troubles in your life are not a surprise
or even a challenge to God. In fact, he
is overseeing them; ensuring that they are growing your faith. Our
struggles; our trials are being worked by God for our good; in our favor. He is growing and strengthening our faith; refining
us by fire so we can stand firm in our faith when the enemy attacks us. The
LORD is helping us become the holy people he wants us to be. Remember, God is always in
control of all things, at all times, in all ways. The
Lord never let’s go of your hand, not for a second. Scripture says not a sparrow falls to the
ground without our Father knowing it. Nothing
goes un-noticed by God. He directs even
the smallest details of life. So, be
encouraged. Have confidence in God. Keep standing firm in your faith. Obey his commands and you will find peace in
all the storms; in all circumstances that come to you in this life. God gives strength to the weary and power to
the weak. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean on his wisdom, love as God loves; put your hope in
Christ alone. We can be truly glad for there is wonderful
joy ahead of us; our future is bright. The LORD has promised to
make everything new; a new heaven, and new earth and a new you.
We can look to the future with great joy and expectation. God is more interested in where you are going
than where you have been. God is working in your life, not
just on one day a year, but every day. So
the solution to you resolution is to….
Stop trying to fix your life. Stop trying to do it your way. Stop
trying to do God’s job. Step aside, get out of his way, “Let
go and let God.”
“Don’t lose heart though
our bodies are dying our spirits are being renewed every
day”. (2 Corinthians 4:16)
Blessed
be the Name of the Lord. Amen!
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