Sermons from Good News: move into this year with power

Note before sharing the sermon: following yesterday's post is a continuation of the sermon series at my church regarding what God calls us to do when we want to push into a new season of life, into what He is calling us into next. We do have to let go of old stuff and truly say goodbye to it in order to fully step into and embrace what He has in store for us. Amen!

Church 1/6/2024

Sermon message:

Christians (the body of Christ) is like an olive tree. If you cut down the olive tree it will end up sprouting up in another spot.

Good News church is like that olive tree.

Proverbs 24:16

For a righteous man may fall seven times

And rise again,

But the wicked shall fall by calamity.

Philippians 1:6

being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

Thesis: move into this year with power.

We want you to get rid of things that drain you as you head into the new year.

Looking to the side or back will slow you down.

Luke 9:62

But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Don’t look back. They’ll hold you back and slow you down. Keep your eyes on the prize.

Hebrews 12:1

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

We are running the race in front of us, and not any race behind us.

Point #1: Don’t look back at sins that have been forgiven.

Satan will accuse you of old sins that you’ve been already forgiven. This is condemnation.

This is not what the Holy Spirit does. He convicts. Confess your sins and mean it, and God will forgive you and cleanse you.

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Psalm 103:3

Who forgives all your iniquities,

Who heals all your diseases,

Psalm 103:12

As far as the east is from the west,

So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

Come to agree that the power of Jesus’s blood is greater than your sin.

Point #2: Don’t look back at defeats that get you down.

All that failure means is that you tried.

God cheers you on for trying.

Psalm 37:23-24 

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord,

And He delights in his way.

Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;

For the Lord upholds him with His hand.

(also Isaiah 41:10) 

Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ 

Point #3: Don’t look back at the past and see it better than it was.

Ecclesiastes 7:10

Do not say,

“Why were the former days better than these?”

For you do not inquire wisely concerning this.

A great future is a lot better than a great past.

Point #4: Don’t look back at conflicts that make you bitter.

1 Peter 2:1-2

Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,

Point #5: Don’t look back at old victories that make you feel you’ve arrived.

Philippians 3:13-14

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

What should we do? Look to Jesus. Look to God’s promises. Look ahead.

Hebrews 12:1-2

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The best is yet to come.