A NEW WAY OF LIVING FOR A NEW YEAR (1/5)
Another year is dawning,
Dear Father let it be,
In working or in waiting,
Another year with thee.
Another year of progress,
Another year of praise,
Another year of proving
Thy presence all the days.
Another year of mercies,
Of faithfulness and grace,
Another year of gladness,
The glory of thy face.
Another year of leaning
Upon thy loving breast,
Another year of trusting,
Of quiet, happy rest.
Another year of service,
Of witness for thy love,
Another year of training
For holier work above.
Another year is dawning,
Dear Father, let it be,
On earth, or else in heaven,
Another year for thee.__ Frances R. Havergal
This message, A NEW WAY OF LIVING FOR A NEW YEAR, is designed to be a causative factor for the saved and the unsaved to reflect and anticipate. One may ask, "What is it exactly that I am to reflect and anticipate?" I am glad you asked.
This is an invitation for the unsaved to accept Jesus the Christ as their savior. This is also an invitation for the saved to make conscious efforts; as the poem above indicated, to draw even closer to their Redeemer in the coming new year.
It is the intent of this article to create a thirst for God Almighty and the things of God. (2/5)
Christ our Redeemer makes available a new way of living that results in redemption and blessedness.
1 Peter 1:18-20 states: "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed [delivered: from evils of every kind, internal and external] with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain [useless] conversation [manner of life, conduct, behavior, deportment] received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,..."
Acts 3:19, Peter informs us, "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;"
"Repentance does not describe being sorry, but describes the act of turning around....Peter makes repent a word of hope. You have done wrong, but you can turn around to get it right with God! Conversion is a work God does in us. Being a Christian is not 'turning over a new leaf,' it is being a new creation in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17)."
"What are the 'times of refreshing' Peter spoke of? He is referring to the time when Jesus returns and rules the earth in righteousness.__David Guzik
As long as we are on this side of "Glory," the law of atrophy will affect us.
Times of renewal are necessary even for the most mature Christain.
Jesus, while on this earth and incarcerated in human flesh, often went aside to pray to His Heavenly Father (Mark 6:46).
New Way of Living.
In our living we must hold a deep reverence for God, remembering that there is no higher privilege than that of living as a Christian.
Upon considering this new way of living as a result of redemption, we will come to the conclusion that the Christ life is rewarding here and far more rewarding in the life to come.
God wants to bless us with every blessing. A new year is about to be birthed. Folk will make resolutions and some will even keep them and make progress.
First, for the unsaved, there must be repentance of sins and acceptance into the heart and life of Jesus Christ the anointed savior of souls (Luke 13:3,5; John 3:3,5).
Second, the saint must continue to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).
Concerning renewal--"Dr. J. Elder Cumming contended that 'in almost every case the beginning of new blessing is a new revelation of the character of God--more beautiful, more wonderful, more precious.'"__ J.O. Sanders, Enjoying Intimacy with God, Moody, p. 14.
Redeemed and Blessed (Gal. 3:13-14)
J. Vernon McGee stated, "There is nothing quite so meaningless as human life apart from the redemption of Christ." Conversely, Life in Christ can be very meaningful.
Galatians 3:13, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being (3/5)
made a curse for us: for it is written [Dt. 21:23], Cursed is every one
that hangeth on a tree: Gal 3:14,That the blessing of Abraham might
come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the
promise of the Spirit through faith."
The blessing God pronounced on Abraham was that in him all the
families of the earth would be blessed ( Gen. 12:3). That way of
redemption provided by Christ is to all who will believe in Him.
Accepted by God (Eph. 1:3-6)
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in
the beloved."
Every blessing we receive, we receive in Christ.
(Illustration) The Boy Who Lost His Boat
Tom carried his new boat to the edge of the river. He carefully placed it in the water and slowly let out the string. How smoothly the boat sailed! Tom sat in the warm sunshine, admiring the little boat that he had built. Suddenly a strong current caught the boat. Tom tried to pull it back to shore, but the string broke. The little boat raced downstream. Tom ran along the sandy shore as fast as he could. But his little boat soon slipped out of sight. All afternoon he searched for the boat. Finally, when it was too dark to look any longer, Tom sadly went home.
A few days later, on the way home from school, Tom spotted a boat just like his in a store window. When he got closer, he could see -- sure enough -- it was his! Tom hurried to the store manager: "Sir, that's my boat in your window! I made it!" "Sorry, son, but someone else brought it in this morning. If you want it, you'll have to buy it for one dollar."
Tom ran home and counted all his money. Exactly one dollar! When he reached the store, he rushed to the counter. "Here's the money for my boat." As he left the store, Tom hugged his boat and said, "Now you're twice mine. First, I made you and now I bought you."__Good News Publishers, Westchester, IL.
Conformed [*] to God’s Will (Romans 12:2; Ephesians 1:7-10)
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
"In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:"
[*] Conformed (comply, act in accord with another’s request) to God’s will.
God’s will is to have for Himself people who will love, obey, and praise Him forever. (4/5)
Basic Characteristics of the Eternal State
Rev. 22:3-5, "And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever."
No More Curse (Perfect Sinlessness)
Throne of God and the Lamb (Perfect Authority)
Servants Serve Him (Perfect Obedience)
They Shall See His Face (Perfect Communion)
His Name in Their Foreheads (Perfect Consecration)
No Night There (Perfect Happiness)
Reign With Him Forever and Ever (Perfect Glory)
These are the direct result of Christ’s work on the cross!__Author Unknown
Conclusion: Now we must live in the redemption Jesus Christ provides and praise and proclaim Him as the Redeemer.
Christ as our Redeemer makes available to the saints a new way of living that results in redemption and blessedness, our acceptance by God, and His conforming us to His will.
The New Age propaganda, encompassed by Satanically orchestrated secular humanism, encourages folk to seek spirituality and redemption without Christ.
True Christian living and witnessing are needed now more than ever.
All must be told that in Jesus Christ and Him alone is redemption accomplished (Matthew 28:19, 20) .
John 14:6 , "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
Acts 4:12 , "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758), from the Works of Jonathan Edwards, Vol. 1:
"Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God's help, I do humble entreat Him, by His grace, to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to His will, for Christ's sake. [I will] remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.
Resolved, That I will do whatsoever I think to be most to the glory of God, and my own good, profit, and pleasure, in the whole of my duration; without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved, to do whatever I think to be my duty, and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general.
Resolved, Never to lose one moment of time, but to improve it in the most profitable way I possibly can.
Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.
Resolved, Never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.
Resolved, Never to do anything out of revenge.
Resolved, Never to speak evil of any one, so that it shall tend to his dishonour, more or less, upon no account except for some real good. (5/5)
Resolved, To study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly, and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive, myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.
Resolved, Never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession which I cannot hope God will accept.
Resolved, To ask myself, at the end of every day, week, month, and year, wherein I could possibly, in any respect, have done better.
Resolved, Never to give over, nor in the least to slacken, my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.
Resolved, After afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them; what good I have got by them, and what I might have got by them.
Resolved, Always to do that which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it. Let there be something of benevolence in all that I speak."
May we have increased appreciation and gratitude for the redemption that is ours in Christ.
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A NEW WAY OF LIVING FOR A NEW YEAR
Christ our Redeemer (makes available a new way of living that results in redemption and blessedness)
New Way of Living.
Redeemed and Blessed (Gal. 3:13-14)
Accepted by God (Eph. 1:3-6)
Conformed [*] to God’s Will (Romans 12:2; Ephesians 1:7-10)
Basic Characteristics of the Eternal State
Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758), from the Works of Jonathan Edwards, Vol. 1:
