Starting the New Year

We don’t live in a wonderland. We live in a hostile world with stern limitations. We cannot go just anywhere we want to go. The past is a closed door, and the future depends on what we do today and what it does to us. Time marches on!

This is a truth that is considered more this time of year than any other. It is a time of year when we make New Year's Resolutions. The things we want to do to better ourselves, our families, our jobs...and prayerfully, Lincoln Trail!

But to understand how that decision process hits us, we're looking at a text that reflects the spirit of the New Year.

Today we're looking at a text where Jesus is presented with several decisions.

Matthew 4:1-11

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Jesus has been announced as Messiah and baptized...then the Spirit immediately begins to guide him.

And just a tip...that's how it's always supposed to work, the Spirit should guide us...and we should follow.

As much as we would like to think it, we don't live in a Wonderland.

We can't just do whatever we want...

and when we do there are very real consequences.

2016 is done. It's gone...thankfully. We can change nothing that happened in 2016. We can however go into 2017 and experience success if we follow a few lessons we learn from Christ in his wilderness experience.

Following God doesn't mean everything will go our way. (Matthew 4:1-4)

Jesus has been led by the Spirit into the wilderness.

This is Jesus Christ. Son of God. Messiah. Savior. Emmanuel.

He's kind of a big deal. In fact, the biggest.

Things should go right for him. Right? Especially when he follows God.

Following God leads him into the wilderness for WHAT?

TO BE TEMPTED!

The very thing Jesus told us to pray against. - Lead us NOT into temptation.

After fasting for 40 days and night - Jesus was hungry. Understandable.

What do you do when you are hungry? YOU EAT!

We tend to take things into our own hands though. We want to do what we are capable of doing. The things that are within our power. We have this idea that God helps those who help themselves. But that's just not Biblical. Sometimes...we just need to trust God, regardless of what's in our power.

It reminds me of times when my parents wanted me to just trust.

When another minister or preacher, speaking from experienced said, just trust.

When a missionary friend in a foreign country said just trust.

Maybe you had a boss or co-worker ask you to just trust.

It's hard to surrender that trust...especially if everything is telling you NO.

Jesus needs to follow and trust the Spirit even though this won't be easy.

Trusting God isn't always easy.

It can put us in awkward situations.

We may worry if others will accept our faith when we share it.

We may worry if tithing will prevent us from making ends meet.

We may worry if we are doing all we can to reach people.

We may worry if our programming prepares those here.

We may worry if we're even doing the right thing.

Jesus followed the Spirit and he ended up in a place of discomfort...hunger.

BUT HE NEVER STOPPED FOLLOWING GOD...don't stop following God! But following, especially in areas we are not comfortable with, him may tempt us

Testing God is not an option. (Matthew 4:5-7)

What's so fascinating about this part of Jesus's testing is Satan. We learn he's smarter and wiser than we realize.

It would be easy to dismiss Satan if he were a bumbling idiot.

He's not. He knows temptation. And that's not all he knows.

Satan talks spiritual...He is spiritual.

Some think the spiritual is safe...that's where God resides so all spiritual is good and pure.

Satan is a spiritual being. He knows the lingo.

He even tempts Jesus with a spiritual case here. - The angels will protect you. God will protect you.

YES...they will...but that doesn't mean they should be tested.

God loves you. True?

Just because he loves you doesn't mean we should test his love. Try that with a spouse or significant other...it doesn't go well.

We are forgiven of our sins. And in our sins we see grace. True?

So do we keep on sinning so our grace can be more awesome?

Paul answers that in

Romans 6:1–2 NRSV

What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it?

Sin is at the core of Satan's temptation. Sin that is justified just because...

Justifying our behavior and our opinions...even if based in scripture...never makes it ok or right.

For Jesus to pass his test he must be obedient. His ministry depends on his success here.

Successfulness doesn't happen when we rely on shortcuts. (Matthew 4:8-10)

Ultimately, Jesus is King of Kings...that means he's over all the kingdoms of the world.

This means it's all his. Satan offers it to him anyway.

You ever had a friend borrow something...for a real long time.

Then offer to loan it to you.

I've had it happen with books and movies.

Once I loaned a book out that had an emboss stamp inside of it. It said "From the Library of David L. Buckham"

The book was gone for several months. I kind of forgot who I loaned it to.

Then someone said, "Hey, I read this great book, I think you'll like it."

When they loaned it to me...I told them I used to have one of these. They replied, "Ah, well you can keep it when you're done or pass it on to someone else." They didn't need it back.

Ridiculous, right?

That's what Satan does to Jesus here. Look at all these kingdoms....in their splendor.

1 Corinthians 1:16 tells us that Jesus created ALL things and ALL things are for him. Satan isn't showing him anything new.

By bowing down to Satan...Satan promises Jesus a shortcut to what will be Jesus' anyway.

Do we want to see the church grow?

Do we want to see the lost come to know Jesus as the Christ?

Do we want to see broken lives and relationships restored?

Do we want to see individuals overcome addiction?

Do we want God to be our God?

There IS NO SHORTCUT.

If we can't worship God in spirit and truth, that is our word and deed, it will not happen. We will not move forward. Our ministry will not experience success, as measured by God.

See, Jesus has just experienced a period of testing and ultimately relying on God. Then Jesus commands Satan to leave him and Jesus' needs are met by God. So we see...

When God leads us, we will see success and the meeting of our needs. (Matthew 4:11)

I've prayed about what happens this year for us as a church.

I've discussed plans and hopes with our elders.

But first we have to acknowledge where we are.

We've been plateaued for a year and a half.

Offering was going up, but then it plateaued earlier this year.

Then late October came!

Outside of our 40th Anniversary, we experienced a six week climb in both attendance and offering. We saw a four individuals from two families commit their lives to Christ and submit to him in baptism.

We now take that momentum and go into 2017!

This year...

We will add the 301 CLASS to accompany the 101 and 201

We will do something a bit different for TNEL...

As a church we will go through 40 days of Purpose

I will ask you all to join a small group that will meet 1 x a week for 6 weeks. Not a huge commitment, but having my start in Small Groups ministries, I know the impact can be huge, if we let it. I'll be looking for some small group hosts that will open their home for about an hour 1 day a week...you will pick the day. The lessons are on video and follow the sermon series and book "What on Earth and I here for" also known as "The Purpose Driven Life."

I'd also like for us to get back into the mission field...both in Haiti and here.

A few other things are in the planning stages too...it's going to take a lot of work and no shortcuts will get us there.

The end result will be, I believe, a deeper faith and more impacting ministry.

Will you join us for 2017?

PRAISE TEAM

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