Time For Reflecting
New Year • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 4 viewsNotes
Transcript
We are closing another year
This is often a time for reflecting
It has been a year of changing in the world
It may have been a year of difficulty for you
Many people have been affected by sickness
by loss of loved ones
by financial consequences of COVID19
Many people have been affected by social unrest
by political battles and disappointments
By racial divisions and their consequences
And for many people there have been victories and triumphs
People were still born and married
jobs were created, and people graduated
New businesses have been started
Whatever the years was, good or bad, its behind us now.
It can be a good time to reflect
By reflecting we can learn from our mistakes
We can also rejoice in our blessings
We can see the hand of God working in our lives, if we reflect prayerfully and faithfully
The right kind of reflecting leads to Spiritual growth
What If?
What If?
Often, as we look back we find ourselves asking this question
What if such and such had not happened?
What if I had done such and such differently?
The What if question may have been a cause for fear last year?
Many people become paralyzed by “What if”
this is especially true in these times of pandemics
So many precautions, lock downs, cancellations, loss of human contact
what if the election goes this way or that?
what if I lose my job?
Instead of words of fear, what if we made these two words an adventure of faith?
What If God....?
What If God....?
Instead of asking what if this or that goes wrong, lets ask, what if God...
What if God has set this sage to show Himself great
What if God has placed you here, for a time such as this?
What if God wants to use you now - in a mighty way
5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
What if God has protected you - and will use you for His glory
so many people have been afraid of this virus and yet contracted it anyway
while many others have continued in faith and are safe
and while there are exceptions to both, so that you can find the narrative you want - it is irrefutable that many who were most cautious have still contracted it (personal example)
statistics agree
What if they had continued in faith?
especially Christians -
Why do we fear the consequences of men
12 “I, even I, am He who comforts you.
Who are you that you should be afraid
Of a man who will die,
And of the son of a man who will be made like grass?
As Christians, what if we chose to live by our faith in the coming year?
What if This is The Year of New Beginnings?
What if This is The Year of New Beginnings?
New Beginning of Salvation
What if this is the year you accept Jesus (Act. 16:31)
The Year you confess your sins and renew your life in Jesus (1 John 1:9)
The Year you stop looking back, and start looking up - to Jesus (Heb 12:2)
2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
What if This is the Year for Answered Prayers?
What if This is the Year for Answered Prayers?
31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
When the apostles prayed the place was shaken
God is still shaking things in the world - especially for those who have faith
What if this is the year you overcome that negative attitude?
what if this is the year you have that financial breakthrough?
what if this is the year you have that health breakthrough?
What if this is the year you family comes to Jesus?
What if This Is The Year Of Revival in Our City?
What if This Is The Year Of Revival in Our City?
When they prayed, they were all filled with the Holy Ghost
Revival would make this a year of:
Forgiveness
Sharing
Reconciliation
Opportunity for good
Why Not?
Why Not?
As we consider what if, lets also ask, why not?
With God nothing shall be impossible (Luke 1:37)
All things are working together for good (to those who love God)
Let Faith Remove your limits