December 29, 2024

                                                                                       MAKE THIS YEAR COUNT
December 29, 2024
Pastor Jonathan Falwell

It’s incredible to think a new year is two days away. Does it feel as though you just put your Christmas tree of 2023 away? Do you recall 2020 as it passed into 2021 and there was so much hope that the coming New Year would bring a lessening of the turmoil we went through in 2020? Now it’s the last Sunday of 2024 and we see a continuing of the things that were so hard—but it feels so long ago in one sense, and just a short time in another. What it has taught us is that we have little—if any—control over the world situations that continue to plague us. However, we know the One who does and He is just one prayer away. And even though we can’t change the world, we can change our attitude for 2025, beseeching Him daily to give us more wisdom, more joy in Him, more understanding of His word, and more love for Him—and for our neighbors. He will hear us.

Focal Scripture: Galatians 5:1, 13-26.

The struggle is real:

  • Read Gal. 5:1. What was Paul speaking of when he said Christ has set us free? What freedoms has He given? Why does Paul warn us to stand firm? What does he mean?
  • Is anyone willing to tell of a tremendous struggle you have endured in your life? The pastor mentioned two mind sets that might result from a trial that seems bigger than we can carry: what were the two? During your struggle, which was your worst enemy: ‘I can’t do this,’ or ‘It’s not worth what I’m going through’?
  • Are you still plagued by these thoughts? Read James 1:13-15. We have cited this verse before. Does anyone remember who is enticing us to sin? What bait does he use? How is that like a fisherman as he fishes for different species of fish? How does Satan know which bait (temptation) we will respond to?
  • If we keep ‘falling into’ sin, what does Jesus want us to do? How can we stay committed to the path of being a solid Christ-follower?
  • Read Gal. 5:13-14. What does verse 13 mean? Read Romans 6:1-2,6-7. Is this the same scenario? How can we love everyone else more than we love ourselves?

The temptation is great:

  • Read Gal. 15-21. Think for a moment. Is there anyone you desire to ‘bite and devour’? That is, their personality is so abrasive to you that instead of walking in the light of Christ around them, you want to really take them down. Read vv. 16-17 again. How can we avoid letting our fleshly desires overtake us when this person is around? Is that a fair question?
  • What are some other temptations that you deal with on a daily basis? If you have just read the list through verse 21, you see there are many sins listed. Perhaps your besetting sin is envy—another’s wealth, looks, clothes, etc. Whatever. How do you handle it? Is your commitment to Christ strong enough for you to be victorious when it comes to standing in the freedom of Christ? How can we all spend more time with things that build us up, so that we recognize the things that hold us back?

So make it count:

  • Read Gal.5:22-26. What are the fruits of the Holy Spirit? In verses 24-25, Paul says practically the same thing we read in Romans. We have not been set free from sin through the death of Jesus Christ so we can continue to sin more. If we truly love Jesus Christ, what will our life look like?
  • What are some things you can do differently in 2025 that will result in a closer walk with Jesus?

TAKE AWAYS FOR MAKING 2025 COUNT:

  • Just like with your car or appliances must have a regular ‘tune up’, so also one must be done on your spiritual life. Gal. 6:4, Lam. 3:40, 1 Cor. 11:28 and 2 Cor. 13:5 are verses that tell us to do a regular examination of our heart, to make certain our ways are pleasing to the Lord.
  • You won’t get very far in your day without food or water. Neither will you have a spiritually fed soul if you don’t ‘fuel up’ with the Bread of Life or Living Water. Pray and read the Bible daily that you may strengthen your heart to overcome the world.
  • Very few people will take you seriously if you approach them looking homeless and seemingly looking for a hand-out. Clean up before you go out. But take time to make sure your heart is clean, not filled with any of the fleshly desires that stain you.
  • Peter got out of the boat and walked on water as long as he kept his eyes on Jesus Christ. And although we won’t be walking on water, any time we take our eyes off Jesus and put them—like Lot’s wife—with desire on the things of the world, we will get distracted and lose our focus. Keep your eyes on Jesus Christ!

Close:

The New Year is here whether we are ready or not. But it will be much more productive and filled with His peace if you are sincere in your commitment to Christ. Don’t be like those who play at being a Christian on Sunday, then go live with the devil Monday-Saturday. Be intentional in your love for Him, so that no one questions you are living for Jesus Christ.

By Sandy Day
December 29, 2024

/by