2005 Is Gone--But Not Unheeded

2005 Is Gone--But Not Wasted

INTRO: Can you believe it? It seems like just the other day that we were facing a New Year. I remember preaching a series on making and keeping resolutions. It was cold and snowy. Spring came, summer breezed by too quickly. Did we even get to have a fall this year?

Yes time flies. So do our opportunities to serve the Lord. Do not let 2006 get past you without determining to do your best for the Lord and doing it! We can do what He needs us to do and we can be a great soul-winning station for the Lord here at New Beginnings. This needs to be the year that we see movement. We have been here four years now. We have done a good work. We have basically stayed together (One danger was we could have split and separated going our own ways. But we did not do that. We are here to work for the Lord. Let us get serious and help God bring blessings to those around us.

Philippians 3:13 - 17 KJV ¹³Brethren, 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, ¹⁴I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵Let us therefore, as many as be perfect [mature], be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. ¹⁶Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. ¹⁷Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

Let us begin…
We cannot change 2005

Great things continue on

Mistakes should warn us off

Failures can haunt us (if we let them)

Successes can encourages

We can learn from 2005

We should always look at our journey behind for the right reasons

Not to dwell on mistakes or be discouraged

But we should…

See our failures

And certainly…

See our potential (with the Lord it is very great)

When we learn from 2005 we also know …
We should reap from 2005

Let go of our mistakes

Grab hold of our victories

Walk the right direction

God wants meaning in our lives for 2006

He expects us to serve Him with sincerity

He expects us to serve Him with expectation and yearning

He expects us to serve Him with strength

He expects us to serve Him continually

God wants truth in our lives for 2006

This needs to be the year that you dive into God’s Word

This needs to be the year that you apply God’s Word

This needs to be the year that you live God’s Word

This needs to be the year that you examine and line up with His Word

(throw out the excuses and get the weights and sins out of our lives)

God wants effort in our lives for 2006
Ask God this question…

"What would you have me to do?"

This may be difficult for us, but we need to…

Apply the same amount of effort for the Lord’s work that you do for your own

Ask yourself this question…

"What kind of example am I to my family, friends, associates, neighbors acquaintances?"

Will you pledge today…

"I will be the best Christian that I am capable of being."

God wants to bless us in 2006

Souls saved

Saints strengthened

Friends found

Families freshened

Neighbors nurtured

Acquaintances anticipated

Through all this, we need to remember…
God deserves our thanks

He deserves the praise

He deserves the glory

He deserves sincere thanks from each of us

Gary Marcum – New Beginnings Church – 010106am