2023.01.01 In The Beginning God...and...in The End…God. A Message for the New Year
William Akehurst, HSWC
My prayer for you.
Colossians 1:9-17 (KJV)
9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; 12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Scripture Reading 1 John 5:1-5 (vs 4)
1 John 5:1-5 (KJV)
1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God.
Today’s message comes from the first 4 words of Genesis 1:1.
Genesis 1:1a In the beginning GOD...
The Big Idea: Everything began with GOD so why would we begin anything without HIM?
John 1:1 (KJV)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
We also BEGIN new life with THE WORD, JESUS
Psalms 119:105 (NKJV) Your word is a lamp to my feet, And a light to my path.
HIS WORD, the written WORD is the guiding light as we go forward in life.
Psalms 119:49-50 (NKJV)
49 Remember the word to Your servant, Upon which You have caused me to hope. 50 This is my comfort in my affliction, For Your word has given me life.
GOD’s WORD gives us life
Proverbs 3:5-8 (KJV)
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
Trust in the LORD, not in ourselves. Start everything with GOD: Our day, journey, decisions, thoughts, relationships, challenges and oppositions. It brings health to us to turn away from evil and put our trust in GOD.
Colossians 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
HE is and was and will always be BEFORE all things and in Christ everything consists.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
In the Beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with GOD, and the WORD (YESHUA JESUS) was GOD.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
We can do all things in CHRIST
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Seek GOD, HIS Kingdom and Righteousness first. In Everything we face in life, put your trust and faith in HIM.
1 Corinthians 15:57-58 (KJV)
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Victory comes through CHRIST
1 John 5:4-5 (KJV)
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God.
This is the victory that overcomes...our faith.
Romans 10:17 (KJV)
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Faith begins by hearing, reading and obeying GOD’s WORD and making the LORD our first priority.
Hebrews 3:12-14 (KJV)
12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end;
JESUS is the Beginning and the End
HE is coming soon with blessings and reward for HIS Servants
Revelation 22:12-14, 16, 17, 20, 21
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
As JESUS calls for us to come to Him, The Spirit and we the bride of Christ call for HIM to Come, looking forward to HIS Return.
16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
JESUS, the FIRST and the LAST, we await and cry out for HIS return, the End of our waiting, looking for that which is promised…Eternal Life in HIS Presence.
20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
I had presented this message a few years ago as “In the Beginning…GOD”. But have added to the message based on a then 92 year old gentleman in the congregation, Jack, who spoke up as I concluded the message.
He said, "the message was called 'in the beginning GOD...', And all the while you were speaking 4 more words came to my mind...'in the end, GOD'..."
He went on to describe holding the hand of his beloved friend Linda, when she took her final breath in this world, knowing that she was with the LORD.
But, when he said that "in the End...GOD", it became so profound to me as Jesus said I AM Alpha and Omega the Beginning AND the End.
CHRIST has the complete story of your’s and my life.
From beginning to end.
And with that in mind, we come to realize in short that...
Not only should all things begin with GOD,
but also that GOD has the final say.
This is the great promise of what is yet to come..."In the End...GOD!"
To be fully in HIS Presence.
What a Glorious Day that will be for those who put their trust in JESUS! Even so LORD JESUS, come quickly, Amen.
Let us on this 1st Sunday of 2023 set our 1st priority on the LORD GOD, KING of the Universe.
Rededicate your life to HIM today. And if you haven’t made the decision to receive JESUS, Open your heart and invite HIM into your life today.
Let’s Pray,
FATHER, we come to receive YOUR Gift of Salvation, JESUS our LORD, and we commit our hearts to YOU as the first priority of the beginning of a New Year. Help us to begin everything with YOUR Leading and Guidance. Open our ears to hear YOUR Voice, our eyes to see YOUR Ways, and our minds to know YOUR Thoughts. To make our relationship to YOU our First Priority knowing that all the rest of our needs will be met by YOU. In JESUS Name. Amen.
Be blessed and be a blessing in a Happier New Year.
Bill
