Wednesday, December 31, 2014

New Year, New Favor, New Finish

Sermon Text: Isaiah 43: 19a See, [Behold] I am doing a new thing
Sermon Title: New Year, New Favor, New Finish
Introduction: How many of you are ready for God to do a new thing in your life? I want to announce to you tonight that God is equally ready to do something new in your life. Despite what you have done, what you have been through, God is thirsty to pour new all over your life.
Point 1: Condemn it…2 Corinthians 5: 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation [old you condemned]. The old has passed away [DEAD]; behold, the new has come.
        Isaiah makes the point Israel has to forget the past…don't dwell on it. Isaiah knows all the nation of Israel can do is think about their mistakes, their sins, their bad choices that lead them into captivity and back into bondage. Isaiah is trying to get them to see as long as they think about the past they block the 'new' God has for them. He pleads with them. Don't dwell on yesterday.
Point 2: Count it… James 1: 2 - 4 Consider [Count] it all joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance, Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete not lacking anything.
        James the brother of Jesus speaks to something that every believer has to deal with. Test, trials and temptations is a part of every believers walk. James gives us a formula on how to deal with them that I think is so appropriate for 2014
Point 3: Call it…Romans 5: 17d calls things not as though they were
        Paul makes the point that God calls those things that are not as though they were. In Hebrews it tells us the very foundations of the world were put in place by God calling things in place with his word. In Genesis it tells us the words out of God's mouth created everything.
Point 4: Carry it…Galatians 6: 2 Carry [help] each other's burdens, and in this way you fulfill the law of Christ.
        Paul says to the church at Galatia they will have to do something they are not accustom to doing. They have to help somebody else in order to fulfill the principles of Christ.
Point 5: Collect on it…Luke 4: 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor 2 Corinthians 12: 9 But he said to me, "My [favor] grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
        Luke declared the year Jesus started his ministry was the year of favor. He actually pulled that statement from Isaiah. Paul matches that statement with telling us Jesus grace is sufficient no matter our circumstance. The word favor and grace are interchangeable.

Life Application:

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