A NEW YEAR

 

13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus

 

     The year 2020, has been quite the year.  It started off with promise as any other year did but something changed it all.  From the country of China came a virus that changed everything.   This satanic disease as ravaged our country, provinces, cities, towns, villages, hamlets and settlements.  It has killed in our province almost 900 people, infected almost a 100,000 people.  In Canada,540,000, 15000 deaths, in the world 80 million with 1.8 million.  Countries have borrowed trillions of dollars.  Canada this year will face a 400 billion dollar debt making our total debt 1 trillion dollars.  In Alberta we have lost 1000 people to overdose, 500 to suicide.  There is no family, church, community through this province or country that has not been effected by this pandemic.  Currently we are in the midst of a lockdown.  But it is not all bad.  Our social media grew to over 70,000 contacts, basically this broadcast today can reach to over 70,000 people worldwide and to this point no one in this church has caught Covid 19.  This is something which we should be thankful for. 

 

     Paul said, brothers I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.  What is it?  He has not fully realize that he has.  So what does he have and ourselves?

 

1.       Eternal and Abundant life.

2.      Salvation, healing, restoration, forgiveness, grace, mercy, love, joy, faith, freedom, victory, anointing, empowerment, authority, acceptance forgiveness.

3.      You are a chosen generation, royal priesthood, holy nation and unique called out person.

4.      You past, present and future is forgiven and assured. 

5.      You have power in prayer and in all realms.  You can defeat the devil, release yourself, spouses, family and friends, pastor, church, community, province and country in prayer.

6.      Your past has been forgiven, your present is secured and your future is assured.

7.      You have the mighty God in your corner.  He will never leave or forsake you.  He loves, accepts and forgives you.  You have all of heaven working with you and for you.   One day you shall know him and be like him.  Paul had not full taken a hold of it but he was attempting too.

 

Paul then says, there is one thing I do, I forget the past.  I will not let the past affect my present or the future.  If you do not learn from the past you are destine to repeat it.  So here are six reasons to forget the past.

 

1.      If you never truly drop the past, you can never truly move on. ...

2.      Living in the past allows old doors to stay open, and new doors to remain shut. ...

3.      This life is too short to waste time on what's already done. ...

4.      You can't rewind time and change what already happened.

5.      If you do not learn from the past you are destine to repeat it. 

6.      The devil will use it against you.  So whenever the devil reminds you of your past remind him of his future.

 

Paul says I strain, I press onward to the goal.  I want to win the prize.  What are the prizes?

 

Crown of Life.

Incorruptible Crown.

Crown of Righteousness.

Crown of Glory.

Crown of Rejoicing.

 

To the overcomer!  The tree of life is symbolic of eternal life.  Not hurt by the second death.  Hidden manna.  A white stone and new name.  Power over the nations, a rod of iron, and the morning star.

White garments and the Book of Life.  A pillar in the temple of My God.  Sit with Me on My Throne. 

 

Paul says I have a heavenly calling.  He is working towards eternity.   We are only two things we should be doing.  The great commission or telling others in our world about Jesus Christ.  The great commandment which is love God with our whole being and love our neighbor as ourselves.  Simple, concise and succinct. 

 

So here are some goals for 2021

 

Do not worry or fret.

Do good.

Delight in the Lord.

Commit your way to the Lord.

Be still before the Lord.

Avoid being angry .

Be meek.

Enjoy peace and prosperity.

Spend more time with God in prayer.

Spend more time with God in the Bible.

Go to church more often.

Tell others about Jesus.

Spend more time with family and friends. 

 

Jeremiah  29:11:  For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

 

Dear God, Thank you that you make all things new. Thank you for all that you've allowed into our lives this past year, the good along with the hard things, which have reminded us how much we need you and rely on your presence filling us every single day. We pray for your Spirit to lead us each step of this New Year.