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 Here is a collection of lessons that have a “New Years” theme. New Years celebrations
often involve parties and resolutions... but the real focus for the New Year should be always on Christ. In Christ, we are made new, old things are passed away as stated in 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 (KJV) “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old
things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of
reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then
we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to
God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
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 Love and Hope. The lesson on 12-30-2001 reminds us of our blessings
as we go into 2002. Primarily, the lesson reminds us of the Love and Hope that is in Christ Jesus. There are many situations in life where people give up and lose hope. However, in Christ, we have an
abundance of love and hope that is always there for us. How? According to Philippians 1:8-11 (KJV) ”For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in
the bowels of Jesus Christ. And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be
sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.” Concequently, as Christians, we
need to: 1) Exercise love in discernment, 2) make good decisions, and 3) be filled with sincerity without offense. By doing so, we will know the love of Christ. As Ephesians 3:17-19 (KJV) states "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith;
that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length,
and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." Click here to listen to the lesson on 12-30-2001.
The Rules for Success.
Most of us like to have success. We often make goals in the new year to achieve new levels of prosperity and success. Yet if we if spend our energy trying to
find the secret of worldly success, we miss what God has prepared in His rules for success. Psalms 1 (KJV) begins with ”Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly,
nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” God blesses those who
follow His word. The christian delights in the law of the Lord. This is different than under the law. God is in the blessing business which he demonstrated with Abraham, Noah, and others.
However, these blessings are not as the world defines them. The flesh and the world are never satisfied. The Christian receives his or her blessing from applying the word of God in
their lives. Yet the world has it’s own formula for success. What kind of success do you want? The lesson on 12-29-2002 defines the rules for christian success. Click here to listen now.
New Years Message - Our Hope -
The lesson on December 31, 2006 brings a message of hope for New Years 2007. The lesson starts with a nostalgic look at the year of 2006. If
you are honest with yourself, you would admit to feelings of regret for something you did or didn’t do. By reminiscing, you find yourself with a focus on the past and
not the present. The past cannot be changed. A football coach once said “Well, yesterday is history, and tomorrow is a mystery, but today is in the present and that
is what we are going to deal with”. As Christians we should always focus on the hope we always have with Christ each and every day. We read in Lamentations, which was written by Jeremiah when he
lamented the condition of Israel which utilizes the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet within each verse and chapter. This
book of Lamentations is read each year by the Nation of Israel. Jeremiah demonstrates what we all have faced when he thought the Lord had not heard his prayer. Yet he says in Lam 3:21 (KJV) “This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope
.”. Just like Proverbs 1:20-28 says “when they call upon me, but I will not answer.” Another passage is covered from Luke
20:9-19 which shows the leaders of Israel hated Jesus Christ. Is it no wonder that the world hates Christians which are
those that follow Jesus. The world is not your friend, it is your enemy. God sent His Son because He is compassionate for mankind. We find in Romans 8:31-32 (KJV) “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against
us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” We learn that God is not affected by your circumstances, or guilt, or regret. He only did one thing for you and that was
when He sent His Son, Christ Jesus so you could have all those things that are freely available to you. Christ Jesus is our hope! Click here to listen now. You may also want to listen to other audio lessons on New Years. |