some real resolutions (2)
Post on 31-Dec-2015
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“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus
Christ is in you? – Unless indeed you are disqualified.”
2 Corinthians 13:5
Some REAL Resolutions (2)
2 Corinthians 13:5
• With 2012 approaching it is a good time to examine.
• In our lessons today we want to notice some underlying issues that could hinder us from achieving our goals.
Seek First the Kingdom of God
•Matthew 6:33 - This is the key to everything
• It means that He is our priority
• It means it is the first thing to be addressed
Love God with all your heart
•Matthew 22:37-40• “Christian love” (agape)
• Demonstrated by keeping His commandments – 1 John 5:2-3, 2:3-5John 14:15
Renew your mind
•Romans 12:1-2• Renew – to reinvigorate, to
make like new again, only better.
•2 Cor. 4:16, Col. 3:10, Eph. 4:23
Renew your mind
• What does this have to do with resolutions?
• A KEY element! You have to make up your mind to you will serve God first and love Him
Renew your mind
• IF you find that you are struggling with putting God first, chances are you have NOT made up your mind toward Him
Learn Self-Control
• Needed when times of weakness and apathy begin to set in.
• Important to the success of anything we do.
• Failure is behind every sin we commit, and many problems in society
Learn Self-Control
• The Bible and self-control
•Acts 24:25 – before Felix
•2 Peter 1:6 – added to faith
•Gal. 5:23 – fruit of the Spirit
•2 Tim. 3:3 – lack of it
Learn Self-Control
• Involves self-discipline1 Cor. 9:24-27
• Let us resolve to master our bodies instead of letting our bodies master us.
Overcome the World
• Worldliness has always been a problem
• Affluence often leads to worldliness
•Luke 12:13-21, 18:24-25James 4:4
Overcome the World
•1 John 2:15-17• We need to think “other worldly”
Col. 3:1-2, Phil. 3:4-9, cf. Heb. 11:24-26 – Moses
• What will we give up for Him?
Be Content
• The challenge of prosperity is contentment (also a challenge of poverty)
•1 Tim. 6:6-8• Phil. 4:11• Prov. 30:8-9• Goes hand in hand with seeking
first His kingdom
Reach Forward
• Let us determine to NOT live in the past. Far too many live in medoicrity.
• Such things destroy and damage body and soul
• Christians need to move ahead
Reach Forward
• Christians need to move ahead
•Phil. 3:12-14, Heb. 12:1-2, Gal. 6:9
• Let us never give up. When we fall down – GET UP!
Increase my faith
• Faith is a key ingredient in the Christian life cf. 2 Pet. 1:5-7
• Lack of faith often a hindrance in spiritual growth and maturity
• 2 Cor. 10:15, Rom. 1:8, 1 Thess. 1:8-9
Increase my faith
• Luke 17:5, Mark 9:23-24
•Psalm 37:25• As the priority of the kingdom
increases, our faith will grow naturally
Care about others
•Matt. 22:37-40• The second greatest
commandment – love your neighbor as yourself
•Rom. 13:9, Gal. 5:14, Jas. 2:8, etc.
Care about others
• Other passagesPhil. 2:3-4, Gal. 6:10
• We NEED to care about others enough to share God’s kingdom – cf. Matt. 5:14-16
• Let’s resolve to care & share
Is God and His Kingdom first?
2 Corinthians 13:5
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