THE NEW YEAR

 

THE NEW YEAR

 PROP.- Here’s some good solid advice for making the new year better.

 1- The new year - Be careful

 2- The new year - Be thoughtful

 3- The new year - Be thankful

 I. THE NEW YEAR - BE CAREFUL

   (Ephesians 5:15-17)

15Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

 Brothers and sisters, we’re all vulnerable when it comes to accidents, but obviously, some are more prone than others. HURRY, WORRY, MULTITASKING, AND STRESS lead to accidents, etc.

 The same is true in the spiritual realm. If we are not properly focused in life, we will suffer for it. And most of the time, we are far too worldly or materially focused than we are spiritually focused.    LET’S BE HONEST ABOUT THIS. We are not as spiritual-minded as we should be. We are far more earthly or worldly-minded.

 Colossians 3:1-4 tells us what we should be doing and/or focusing on. 1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

 Be careful in the way you live. Use your time for the Lord. Seek the Lord in life. Serve the Lord no matter else you do.

 II. THE NEW YEAR - BE THOUGHTFUL (Ephesians 5)

 18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

 Be thoughtful of others. That’s always good advice. But here we are to be thoughtful of God’s Spirit who lives within us.

  Are we ever guilty? At times, we are. We all like to be appreciated for the good things we do, however, we can get caught up in ourselves if we’re not careful. WE CAN BECOME TOO SELF-FOCUSED and forget about others.

 Many people are only interested in what they can get, not what they owe the Lord or not what they can give to others!

 I am reminded of several key scriptures which should help to guide our thinking and our lives:

 I Cor. 10:31 “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

 Gal. 5:13 “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature[a]; rather, serve one another in love.”

   Gal. 6:2 “Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

   Gal. 6:9-10 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

   Matthew 22:36-40"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " ’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ’Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

 THESE TWO COMMANDMENTS ARE THE GREATEST! If we love God first of all and then love our fellow human beings we won’t go wrong!

Ephesian 5:

18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

 Instead of being self-centered, we should be Spirit-centered. We should think more of Him than we do about ourselves. Be more spiritual minded than worldly or fleshly minded. If we’ll set on our minds on scripture, prayer, praising, and serving we will have a better new year.

 III. THE NEW YEAR - BE THANKFUL

 EPHESIAN 5:

19Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

   Be thankful in Christ. Living a grateful life will keep you on the straight and narrow. People who are not aware of their blessings are not thankful. Instead, they are always looking for more.

   ARE YOU RUDE? I hope not. Are you quick to be polite in actions and speech? Sometimes I find myself forgetting to say “thank you” to someone for something they did and then later I whip myself for it. SHAME ON ME FOR BEING FORGETFUL AND UNPOLITE.

 What about being rude to God? Would we ever? When we fail express proper thanks and gratitude it’s being rude. And to Him we owe our greatest thanks and praise!

   I believe that God pays very good attention to us when we pray and when we don’t. When we praise Him and when we don’t.

  Psalms 103:1-3 "Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. “Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases..."

   Complaining makes us miserable.

  Psalm 77:3b says, “I complained and my spirit was overwhelmed.” New King James Version.

  Philippians 2:13 “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.”

 A positive, thankful person is a great witness in this dark world.   We only shine when we are thankful. Our light shines for the Lord when we are thankful, when we live it and express it!

 I’d much rather hear someone saying things like, “bless the Lord” or ‘Thank you, Lord” or “Praise the Lord” than complain.

 I Thess. 5:18 “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

 I’m convinced that a grateful person, a thankful person will live a better life and will be blessed with a better life. DO YOU WANT A BETTER LIFE IN THE NEW YEAR? Be polite to God. Be quick to praise Him and thank Him every little blessing you receive!

 CONCLUSION---------------------

 ILL.- Someone said: Last year when I called my parents to wish them a happy New Year, my dad answered the phone. "Well, Dad, what’s your New Year’s resolution?" I asked him.

 "To make your mother as happy as I can all year," he answered proudly. Then mom got on, and I said, "What’s your resolution, Mom?" "To see that your dad keeps his resolution.”

 God would certainly like to see us keep His resolutions. He knows that’s the way to be blessed. Walking with the Lord, doing things His way, is the way to be blessed. Be careful. Be thoughtful. Be thankful.