“Don’t Go Into 2023 Without This!”
Pastor Jim Lowe III
Sunday Morning,
12/04/22 (1st Sunday Message)
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{All scriptures are NIV84 unless stated}
Bishop taught last week on Fulfilling God’s Purpose For Your Life.
It was a reminder of the purpose God has for us.
It was a reminder that God had
and established it.
It was decreed and declared…
and THAT was God’s stamp.
He read from 1 Corinthians 10:23 “Everything is permissible- but not everything is beneficial…”)
We discussed in our study groups about the decisions we’re making.
The choice…the decision…the moves we make.
The things we do.
Are they allowed or decreed?
We have spent this year living off of either allowed or decreed choices.
2022 is almost over!
Meaning we have either been following God
Have You Spent 2022 Seeking God Or Yourself?
With all the choices we’ve made this year…how often have we checked those things with God?
How Often Have We Prayed This Year?
How Often Have We Read Our Bibles This Year?
How
How Often Have We Shown Love To Someone Else This Year?
How often have we been following God’s plan?
This goes into our expectations for 2023.
Why Do We Expect 2023 To Be Better Than 2022?
What’s going to make 2023 your Year?
If We Do The Same Things We Did Before, We Should Always Expect The Same Outcome!
Doing the same thing expecting different results is a form of insanity.
So if we want better…
If we want more…
We should do something different…
We should
And LEAVE some things behind.
If You Want A Better 2023, You Have To Take The Right Things With You While Leaving The Wrong Things Behind!
If you carry anything into 2023…make sure it’s going to strengthen your relationship with God.
What can strengthen your relationship?
Remembering the promises of God…
TAKING the promises of God into 2023 with you!
When you know better…you do better!
When You Know God Better - You Do Better!
If you take anything into 2023…take these promises.
Things To Take Into 2023:
1. “My God Is Bigger Than My Problems”
2022 is filled with its ups and downs.
Some small problems…some big problems.
Those things happened every year before and will continue to happen each year!
John 16:33
33
John 16:33 tells us we can’t hide from trouble.
It will come…no one can be trouble free.
If you experienced trouble
But not only did God tell us he has overcome the world…
Romans 8:28-32
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
{repeat}
“God
All things work together…
ALL THINGS…everything…
All things meaning all the things that God controls.
The things you know about…the things you don’t.
The things of this earth…and the things NOT of this earth.
God Is Establishing Things
What does “work together mean?
The words work together defined in the greek:
create and eliminate,
connect and group, interrelate and intermingle,
shape and forge, press and stretch,
move and operate, control and guide,
arrange and influence.
{What does this mean??}
Means God can create and eliminate relationships.
Means God can place people in your life…and replace people in your life.
When God Works Things
It means he can shape friendships that are stronger than anything.
It means he can press and stretch you…
Means he can control and guide you…
It means he can arrange
It means in ALL things God is working things out for your good!
Also something else
It doesn’t say all things God “had
It doesn’t say all things God “will
God WORKS is a present tense word that also means “now.”
{repeat}
“God Is Active In My Life And He Is Constantly Working!”
The God of all creation is working for you!
{repeat}
"God Works For My Good!”
God Is A Way Maker!
Genesis 18:14 talks about how
Sarah was already past the age of childbearing.
Genesis 18:14…Is anything too hard for the Lord?
Don’t Make Your Problems Bigger Than Your God!
Romans 8:31-32
31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If
If God is for us…WHO can be against us?
God Is Bigger Than Any Problem We Can Face!
moving to #2
Many times we can allow a past mistake to haunt us for years.
If we can find a way to forgive ourselves…many times others won’t forgive us.
We might get the full blame for something everyone was doing.
It might have cost us our jobs…our
But God has forgiven us.
We don’t need to take that guilt into 2023.
Things To Take Into 2023:
2. “I Am No Longer Defined By My Past Or My Current Circumstances!”
1 John 1:9
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and
He will forgive us and purify us.
He will clean us up!
Our God is one who forgives.
Psalm 34:5
5
We are never covered with shame because God has forgiven us.
Psalm 18:28
28
Whatever darkness we walked in before has now been turned into light in him.
Romans 8:1
Therefore, there is now no
God has forgiven us…
Turned our darkness into light…
Picked us up and set us back.
God Has Forgiven You!
#3
With each new year comes new opportunities.
What decisions do we make this year?
What plans should we do?
The world economy is all over the place…
Is it the right time to buy this?
Is it the right time to make this investment?
Remember the promise that God will lead us!
Things To Take Into 2023:
3. “The Lord Will Lead Me To Better And Greater Things!"
You aren’t here wandering from one place to another.
Trust God to lead you!
Psalm 32:8
8
God
God will also “teach” you in the way you should go.
He is a Good Teacher!
He will MAKE sure you know the way.
Then he will watch over you as well!!
Psalm 37:23-24
23
If the Lord delights in us…
If we work to please the Lord in 2023.
He will make our steps firm!
Though we stumble (Jn 16:33), we will not fall.
Why?
Because the Lord upholds him.
If you hold onto this promise…
You might stumble next year…but you won’t fall as hard as you did this year.
Because you are STANDING on the fact that God will uphold you.
The things that affect others won’t affect you.
God Is
God has to remove some people from you.
God has to take you out of some situations.
God has to get you out of some circles.
Because you can’t be where you are and get all God has for you.
Genesis 12:
Abraham had to leave EVERYTHING.
Because God had greater for him in the NEW place.
If God Is Trying To Move You Somewhere, Let Him Lead!
#4
Some of us are just tired.
2022 has some of us wanting to sleep for 3 weeks straight.
But God didn’t
The next promise talks about how God will restore us.
We mentioned this a month ago…and need to make sure we got it.
Things To Take Into 2023:
4. “The Lord Will Restore And Revive Me!”
Isaiah 40:29-31
29
When you’re weary God gives you strength.
When you’re weak God gives you power.
This is why God told Moses he was the Great I AM.
God Can Provide Whatever You Need!
Placing your hope in the Lord
You can run and not grow weary…walk and not be faint.
The things that bothers you in 2022 won’t bother you so much in 2023.
People Might Look At You And Say You’ve Changed, But It Was God That Changed You!
Matthew 11:28-29
28
It’s like an athlete running who get’s a “second wind.”
When you feel like you’re done…God has a fresh wind to give you.
Philippians 4:6-7
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
{recap}
Things To Take Into 2023:
1. “My God Is Bigger Than My Problems”
Things To Take Into 2023:
2. I Am No Longer Defined By My Past Or My Current Circumstances!
Things To Take Into
3. “The Lord Will Lead Me To Better And Greater Things!"
Things To Take Into 2023:
4. The Lord Will Restore And Revive Me!
