A New Man for the New Year!
Good morning family!
Today, I am going to talk with you about being a new man in this New Year. Now I feel it important to at this time to express that when the term man is used in this message it is to represent both man and woman.
Just 5 days ago we entered a new year; the year 2019. While the world was out celebrating on New Year’s Eve there were many resolutions made. These resolutions include that of losing weight, quit smoking, going to church more, spending more time with the family, and many more. Many of these resolutions while expressed from a sincere heart will unfortunately be forgotten within the next few weeks. Some of these resolutions will last longer than others but eventually most will be forgotten.
Today I propose a resolution, also known as a commitment, to you that shouldn’t be easily broken or forgot. The commitment I am talking about is your relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ and God.
My Prayer is that beginning today you will make the commitment to live your live in the Lord Jesus and allow the Lord to live life through you. Turn in your bibles to the book of James chapter 4 verses 7 & 8. In these verses we find some awesome promises from God.
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Submit yourself – make a commitment to God not to yourself
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Resist - fight the temptation to quit
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Draw – get closer to God
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Cleanse – confess and repent
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Purify – make right
You may be here this morning saying I have committed to become more religious in the past or even to attend church more and haven’t seen much for your efforts. Well my question is, have you applied the previous 5 steps to your decision?
I suggest that if you apply theses five steps to your life you will be closer to God and Christ.
Submit yourself
You must know Christ as your savior.
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Unless you are a born again believer in Christ the following cannot be obtained. (John 15:5 “for without me you can do nothing”)
You must make a commitment.
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I believe the world uses the word resolution because it isn’t as harsh of a word like Commitment.
Resist
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You have to fight the temptation that you will face. Remember 1Corintians 10:13
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Put on the Armor of God (Ephesians 6:11)
Draw near
You must make a concerted effort to seek God out.
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Jeremiah 29:13 “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”
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Luke 11:9 “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”
Cleanse
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1John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Purify
Stop trying to live for the world and for God. Choose one or the other!
Matthew 6:24 says “no man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You can not serve God and mammon.”
How can you do this?
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The first step is to realize that once you are born again you are a new creature. (2Corinthians 5:17)
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The second step is to receive the new heart God has given you. (Eze 11:19, 36:26)
Where do you stand this morning? Are you one of those who made resolutions that will eventually fade away? Or are you one that is going to make a commitment today to God to live your life for him?
If you are one who would like to make a commitment, I want to pray with you that God will fulfill his promise to us.
Now I don’t want to forget the ones who may be here today who have never taken the first step in submitting to God. I want to offer you an opportunity to make that commitment. This begins with a simple prayer, a confessing of your sins, and then a public declaration of your change in heart and your faith in Christ.
Lets us pray!!!!!
