How Should We Approach the End of this Year?
How many times do we hear about the need to do better in the New Year? It is so easy to look at the New Year and begin to find things you want to do with your life. Should we wait for 2006? What about 2005 have we rally done what we intended to do for the Lord this year? Have we just set back and let others do what we need to do ourselves? Have we sought His help in our lives? Have we been too dependent on ourselves? Where do we stand today? November 20, 2005?
2 Timothy 4:1 - 8 1I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 6For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
What are we going to do with today?
I. Power of a Prayerful Attitude as we approach years' end (Like Abraham included God in his life) Gen. 17:1
A. Seek out His help in guiding our lives. - Gen.21:33 - sought the Lord continually
B. Scrutinize our position with God - Gen. 18:17; 23 - Asked a favor of God
C. Stand with the comfort that He cares and brings needed help - Gen. 22:8; Trusted God
D. Sincerely reach out to the One who will help you do what you need to do for Him !!!
How Should We Approach the End of this Year?- page 2
II. Penalty for excluding His help in our lives (Esau was an example of an excluder)
A. Regularly miss the mark as to what God wants in our lives - Gen. 26:34-35 married two Hittites
B. Real purpose in our life is lessened as we wander aimlessly - Gen. 25:27 - man of the fields
C. Reject His helping hand - which often causes guilt - Gen. 25:29-30 Never asked God for help
D. We live a life cheated if the many blessings that God wants to give to us! - Gen. 25:31 - 34 do we despise His blessings
III. Prize of a CLOSER life with Him (Paul was ready to claim that prize)
A. Contentment in the fact that we are His - with that sweet peace it brings
B. Confidence of our final resting place and all of its glories - NO FEAR
C. Contribute to the reaching of lost souls from a terrible future
D. Claiming of that prize that is before us
Gary Marcum - New Beginnings Church - 112005pm - first used… - 112496am