Four Things You Will Very Likely Do in the Coming Year
1. We tend to remember people who succeed in predicting the future, forgetting that for every “hit” there are many “misses.”
1) "Man will never reach the moon regardless of all future scientific advances." -- Dr. Lee DeForest, Inventor of TV
2) "There is no likehood man can ever tap the power of the atom." -- Robert Millikan, Nobel Prize in Physics, 1923
3) "I have traveled the length and breadth of this country and talked with the best people, and I can assure you that data processing is a fad that won't last out the year." -- Editor in charge of business books for Prentice Hall, 1957"
4) 640K ought to be enough for anybody." -- Bill Gates, 1981
5) "This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us." -- Western Union internal memo, 1876.
6) "I'm just glad it'll be Clark Gable who's falling on his face and not Gary Cooper." -- Gary Cooper on his decision not to take the leading role in "Gone With The Wind." "
7) "We don't like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out." -- Decca Recording Co. rejecting the Beatles, 1962.
8) "Everything that can be invented has been invented." -- Charles H. Duell, Commissioner, U.S. Office of Patents, 1899.
9) "There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home." -- Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977
[source: http://www.ahajokes.com/fp044.html]
Main Idea: I can guarantee that all of you will do most of the things I am about to enumerate, and I can pretty much suppose that most of you will do the rest. Here is your likely future for next year.
I. You Will GLORIFY God At Times (I Cor. 10:31).
A. All CREATION glorifies God is some manner.
1. Revelation 16:9 “They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory.”
2. We either give God glory freely or under constraint (Phil. 2:10-11).
3. An honorable walk will bless us, or our foolish, selfish, short -sighted choices will vindicate His wisdom as we experience consequences.
B. We are to glorify Him in UNIQUE ways.
1. The TWO great commandments
• What does God think of what I want to do or say?
• Is it considerate of others?
2. The GREAT commission
3. Being a LIVING sacrifice
Romans 12:1-2, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Application: My grandmother was at a wedding banquet. The bride’s former boyfriend came by and the bride walked out with him. Some professing Christians seem hesitant to be the bride of Christ. They vacillate, hold back, and aren’t really sure they want to fully commit. You are either serious about glorifying God or you are not. Which is it?
II. You Will SIN in A Variety of Ways (I John 1:8-9).
A. Sins of COMMISION
B. Sins of OMMISSION
1. Sometimes I could kick myself for saying something dumb or doing something dumb.
2. More often, I could kick myself for forgetting or not thinking of doing something good. Why didn’t I bring a gift? Why didn’t I ask about a relative’s health? Why didn’t I get tickets or sign up for this or that? Procrastinate?
3. In the same way, we often fail or forget to do something that would please God or show consideration to another.
C. God has made PROVISION for your failures.
1. We may be idealistic, but God is both idealistic and realistic
2. We sin daily, but do we confess daily?
Application: Because we will sin in a variety of ways, we must be there for one another. There is a time to confront, but there is a time to help restore. Next month’s memory verse is Galatians 6:1, “ Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.”
III. You Will Both Fail and GROW (Philippians 3:12-14)
A. Address your failures, but FOCUS on the Lord.
• Don’t think about a purple mini-van with white stripes.
• In battling sin, our focus needs to be drawing near to God.
• We will always have our struggles in this life.
B. STRETCHING ahead
Marylu and I were seeking out the high-pitched, low volume whistle we heard in our garage. We turned off the power, not electrical. We thought maybe it was the gas ceiling space heater. Had to stand with one foot on one ladder, another foot on another ladder, and it took a stretch to reach the valve. Finally I did. BTW, that was not the problem. Forgot about my CO2 alarm, it needed a new battery.
That stretch is a picture of what it takes to go forward in the Christian life. We must want growth enough to extend ourselves to attain it.
C. Important to deal with GUILT
Application: Victory in the Christian life means overcoming some battles or issues. Victory is never complete in this life. Always new skirmishes, battles, attacks.
IV. You Will (Hopefully) Pray, Study, Witness, and FELLOWSHIP (Acts 2:42)
A. Prayer will be our 2018 FOCUS, but…
Like rooms in a house. You may thoroughly clean or repaint one room, but you probably live in them all. You don’t stop living in the other rooms because you are redecorating one of them.
B. We should never leave the basics in the PAST.
Carl Bullock point out something to me about Hebrews 10:24-25, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
His point regarded “all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Talking about the fact that so many Christians no longer find time to be at church every week, Carl said, “The closer we get to the End, we need to gather together more, not less.”
Conclusion
Our physical, financial, relational, and social situations may change for better or worse in 2018, but growing in the Lord can be a sure thing if we are willing.
