MOVING FORWARD, PART 2

“The Importance of a New Year”

New Life Bible Church

Allen McLauchlin, Pastor

January 5, 2014

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,  I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians  3:12-14

Seasons and days are made for man. And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the DAY from the NIGHT. And let them be for signs and for SEASONS , and for DAYS and YEARS. Genesis 1:14,15

Then Moses said to the people, Remember this DAY in which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of slavery, for by a strong hand the Lord brought you out from this place. Exodus 13:3

Three times in the YEAR you shall keep a feast to me.  Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution. From every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the contribution for me. Exodus 23:14; 25:2,3

CAUTION: Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day— things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.. Colossians 2:16,17

TURNING POINT: The Lord our God spoke to us at Horeb, saying, you have circled this; mountain long enough. turn and move forward to the hill country and beyond. Deuteronomy 1:6,7

Experiences: The riffraff among the people had a craving and soon they had the People of Israel whining, “Why can’t we have meat? We ate fish in Egypt—and got it free! to say nothing of the cucumbers and melons, the leeks and onions and garlic. Nothing tastes good out here; all we get is manna, manna, manna. Numbers 11:4-6

They said to one another, let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt. Numbers 14:4

Do not go up, or you will be struck down before your enemies, for the Lord is not among you. Numbers 14:42

Then Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation and their beasts drank. Numbers 20:11

1. All thanks for 2013 go to the good hand of God.

The king had granted Ezra everything he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him. Ezra 7:6

Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king. He had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was on him. Ezra 7:9

Because the gracious hand of our God was on us, they brought us Sherebiah, a capable man, Ezra 8:18

On the twelfth day of the first month we set out from the Ahava Canal to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he protected us from enemies and bandits along the way. “Ezra 8:31

2. 2013 teaches me that I am an overcomer.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21

I write to you, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one. 1 John 2:13

3. Making it through 2013 lets me  know that God  still has work for me to do.

I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ,  but for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live. 1 Philippians 1:23,24

The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields. Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves. Luke 10:2,3

4. Arriving in 2014 makes me realize that God has given me a second chance.

Sampson( wasted his gift) , Jonah (ran from his calling), Peter denied the Lord and when Jesus could have used a friend) , and David (violated his fellowship through the weakness of his flesh).

Now go and tell HIS disciples, including Peter, THAT I AM THE GOD OF SECOND CHANCES. Mark 16:7

New Life web page address: newlifebiblechurch.org  Pastor’s phone#: 910 8181228; email;  
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