Sunday Sermon
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A New Way in the New Year
Try this Resolution in 2007
The New Year's Sunday Sermon Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I,John, saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people. God himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. Then he who sat on the throne said, behold, I make all things new."The word NEW creates in many people a sense of acomplishment. Some seek new Employment, others new friends still others in the newness of material things, everything from clothes, homes and electronic gadgets. Many declare and map out their journey for newness on New Year's Day. Hense the phrase, "New Year's Resolution." This human need for newness is not surprising. The need for newness is one expression of a desire for change, for growth, for improvement. I experience this need, this desire myself, and I feel relatively confident in speculating that many of the members and visitors of the Lite Church share to some degree these needs and desires. This should come as no great surprise or revelation, because God created us this way. We are created in the image and likeness of God, who is creative, inventive, "making all things new ". So as we begin 2007, it is well to consider our need for growth, for change, for improvement in our relationship to Jesus Christ who desires to bring about in each of us "a new heaven and a new earth" and who is at the same time "making all things new". The Bible is very clear on this: "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create." (Isaiah 65:17-18a) "Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away." (Revelation 21:1a) The prophet Isaiah and the Apostle John describe in similar words a similar process. We can see in their words both prophesy and fulfillment, like the way the birth of the Lord Jesus was foretold and then fulfilled. It also strikes me as no mere accident that it is the same prophet Isaiah who foretold these events (that is, the birth of the Lord and the creation of a new heaven and a new earth). They have a similar goal. And that goal is the renewal of every person. Change is a constant process for all Christians. If we are not absorbing Scripture and applying it to our lives on a regular basis we become dull and lazy. Bad habits replace good habits and we go backwards After awhile we become comfortable with the World and do nothing. This condition can be compared to the experiment whereby a Frog is put into a glass jar which is heated each day. The Frog adapts to the heat until the heat finally kills it. As we replace God's will with the things of this World we become Worldly and we lose our witness for Jesus Christ. We are brought into this World to know God, to Love God and to do His will. All of us are here for a purpose known only to God. This is why abortion is such a grave sin. For each baby that dies from an abortion another blessing from God is taken away. God loves us and gave us life and a sense of purpose. Clearly, one exciting dimension and purpose of life is to grow. By expanding the horizons of our mind by the gift of God's Word. To become more loving and more in harmony with God and His Creation. That our eternal destiny became one with us in the birth of Jesus is awe inspiring. God is personal and seeks a personal relationship with each one of us. It is a privilege and responsibility for us to gain a growing appreciation and understanding of what is God's Will for our life is and how to express His love more appropriately and fully to the World we live in. . To see more and more clearly who we are and the person we are becoming and to take stock periodically, through God's Word, to be sure we are growing into the person we were called to become. To develop the talents the Lord has given us and to make our contribution to the His Creation on earth and thereby develop the life that continues in Heaven. In a word, to gain a sense of our use. These concepts enhance our understanding of what life is and why we can find significant meaning in living as long and as well as possible. To grow, to expand and improve our understanding of truth and good is a life-long process to which the Lord calls us. It is the Lord who recreates our mind and heart (with our cooperation). As we grow more loving and wise, the Lord gives us a ton of opportunities to do this. Americans spend millions of dollars each year on cosmetics and on cosmetic surgery in order to improve their physical appearance. This is not necessarily in itself a bad thing. But will this not be wasted effort if the person is not at the same time trying to win others to the saving power of Jesus Christ? If we think of the year's end and the beginning of a new year as a time to take an inventory and to consider resolving to make changes, then we can see how appropriate it is to consider the Bible passages before us today. For these Bible passages have been telling of the Lord's effort to rebuild his church, and we are his church. Let this new year be a time to grow in our understanding of the Lord's truths revealed to us in His word. Don't think that you have to read through the Bible in one year. Be selective. This year read Proverbs, Psalms and the the Prophetic Books in the Old Testament. In the New Testament Read the Gospel of John, Romans, Galatians, Hebrews, 1st, 2nd and 3rd John and James. Apply what you have learned to your life. And let this new year be a time of increased love toward our Lord and neighbor in our daily life. God love you! |
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Is there any reason why YOU cannot put all your trust
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