Christian Living
HAVE A PROSPEROUS, BLESSED AND EFFECTIVE (2007)
NEW YEAR
New Beginnings
We are about to enter a new year and I have heard predictions that 2007, will be a year or new beginnings and fulfilment for the people of God. Deep in my spirit, I too feel that the Lord God wants us to experience a fresh start, whatever stages in life we are at present. I should know because my whole life recently has been shredded. I will explain. In September during the month of repentance God spoke to me about death and sacrifice, my life has not been the same since. I had to bring my life into the spotlight by painfully reviewing the ethos of my Christian duties to God and to man. I felt that God was stripping me of everything and demanding changes, at each stages of my experience was about relationships. My reflection was centred on my relationship to God and others. During my agonising times of repentance; I wrote down everything I thought God was saying to me; this time or repentance and writing has yielded three articles and I believe that number four is in the pipeline (but each of these articles will need some refining). I have said all that to say this, God is a God of new beginnings, out of every choas, God brings out new life as we can see in the Holy Scriptures.
I am using three examples from the Bible, three specific times where the creation was in chaos, whether in the heavens or through human rebellion, each time God’s intervention brought changes, accompanied by a new dimension in the course of history. I will develop my article from these specific stages and relate them to how God can use our past experiences to effect our present and future; from the stand point of these Scriptures. -Genesis 1:1-3 (Past); John 1:1- 2, 9-12 (Present) and Revelation 21:1, 4 – 7; 22: 1, 3, 5 – (Future). I am all for new beginnings.
The opening paragraph stated the prediction in religious circle for the coming year 2007; they say it will be a year of perfection [as in God’s number seven which mean completion] and new beginnings for the Body of Christ. I don’t know about you, but one thing I do know, that changes must take place in my life in 2007, and this is not a New Year’s resolution, but it’s definitely a God call. I must follow on from September 2006 month of repentance, and gain new ground in God. This is a perfect year for renewing and reforming our lives. I believe it will be our year of Jubilee [although jubilee means fifty]; I don’t want to miss what God has in store for me, do you? Jesus Christ’s appearance is nearer than when we first believe, He is speaking specifically to His Body to eliminate every garment tainted by the world’s standard, and be clothed in Christ’s body armour. How are we going to do that? Let’s refresh our minds about the new order God created in Genesis 1.
In Genesis 1:1-3 Past
(1) In the beginning God (prepared, formed, fashioned, and) created the heavens and the earth. [Hebrews 11:3] verse 1
(2) The earth was without form and an empty waste, and darkness was upon the face of the very great deep. The Spirit of God was moving (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters. verse 2
(3) And God said, ‘Let there be light; and there was light’ verse3 Amplified Version.
Clearly, we have seen from the Scriptures, that every new beginning has a past, and God took the past, the chaos, the darkness and empty waste and said, ‘Let there be light and there was.’ Whenever the Spirit of God moves on our hearts He wants to create something new. He is still saying to us, let there be and we need to respond to God for Him recreate from our mess and turned them into a message, in order for us to becme the reflection of Christ to the world. God is a God of order and He has ordered His body to function as one, and if any one member is out of sync with other members there will be darkness; and that mean the body is devoid of light.
Therefore, if the body is in darkness it is affected and will not perform as God intended it. Do we know that through every sermon, teaching, by convictions during reading His Word; through written or spoken testimony, that it is God’s Spirit that is hovering, and brooding, saying to us ‘Let there be Light?’ So let us respond to what the Holy Spirit is saying and purpose in our hearts to enjoy our year of jubilee by having right relationship with Chirst and others in the coming year (2007).
Right standing only comes about when we choose to obey Him. Jesus said ‘If you love Me you will obey Me, and that’s the crux of the matter. When God spoke to the face of the deep and said ‘Let there be light’ the deep responded, and a new creation came into being. What is God still saying! Are we listening? He said My sheep hears My voice and follows Me (paraphrased). Let our new beginning be in 2007 the year of perfection. Let 2006 be the year we left our past behind [as in Genesis 1]; and be a part of our history.
After the Creation Story man multiplied and enjoyed the blessings of their Creator; but eventually as man always does; lost sight of the source of their blessings. They wandered away and did what was right in their own eyes and God gave them up to their own devices. For many generations they integrated with pagan nations.
So prior to Christ’s first appearance, Israel was caught up in idolatry, paganism and alienation from God. Since the word of God was scarce and the people did whatever they wanted to do[seem right in their own eyes]; Israel’s sin resulted into bondage and slavery to other nations. Their various prophets cried out in agony and God in His love and mercy responded to their cry and set a stage for their permanent deliverance [to fulfil Genesis 3]; and to bring them out of their predicament, not only physical but spiritual. God delivered them from their past and ushered in a brand new present (the presence of their Promised Messiah).
The finest hour is our present it is our opportune moment, the time in which we are living now will set the stage for our future. It is evident that without our past we would not have opportunities for a present or a future; our lives would be empty therefore, we would have no foundation to build on. The Bible says that we must take every opportunity now, it also says today is the day of salvation, now is the accepted time. God has placed eternity in us and if or when in the light of eternity we become dissatisfied; it is a sign of the Holy Spirit’s conviction. We will forever be disgruntled until we respond and make changes. God has invested power within us to make changes in our lives, – as Joyce Meyer says ‘Where the mind goes the man follows,’ this statement is so true, if the Spirit of God is dealing with us our mind will dictates to us whether to reject or accept, but if we are determine to change and made our minds up we will change. It is God’s Spirit helping us, and working through us to bring about that change. Jesus ushered in that transformation for the people of Israel and they had to respond. The account is in John 1Amp version
John 1:1- 2, 9-12 Present
(1) In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. [Isaiah 9:6] verse 1
(2) He was present originally with God. verse 2
(3) There it was – the true Light [was then] coming into the world [the genuine, perfect, steadfast Light] that illumines every person. [Isaiah 49:6] verse 9
(4) He came into the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognise Him [did not know Him] verse 10.
(5) He came to that which belonged to Him [to His own- His domain, creation, things, world], and they who were His own did not receive Him and did not welcome Him. Verse 11
(6) [Hallelujah! This is where we come in, the as many]. But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name – [Isaiah 56:5.] verse12. Amp version
As in Genesis Beginning Jesus was present with His Father, His perfect union
with His Father, and He was the Perfect Sacrifice to redeem mankind recorded in the book of John. Although He came to bring redemption, only a few accepted it. No problem! The promise is to all who accept, obey and respond, He gave them right to become His chosen children. So, God is looking for our responses to fulfil His plans in our lives. He wants us to respond in the year 2007 in order to receive all He has in store for us.
We have only the present to work out our own salvation; tomorrow might be too late. The Bible does not keep us in darkness regarding God’s characteristics, He wants His children to bear the image of Christ, and He is working on our characters to bring out His characteristics in us. God wants us to be Christ representation here on this earth and set the stage for His return. The devil’s intention is that our lives remain static. However, we are not left in darkness neither are we ignorant of the devil’s schemes, so whatever choices we make determines our furture; whether we choose to bear Christ’s image, or Satan’s. The future is bright, the promises are made secured with the blood of Christ; we have a hope to reign together with the saints [so our relationship with each other here on earth is important during this present age] in the New Jerusalem where Chirst reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. This is our hope for the future, but only our present experiences and how we respond to them determine our future in the new millennium. What glorious future to look forward to?
Revelation 21:1, 4 – 7; 22: 1, 3, 5 - Future
(1) Then He showed me the river whose waters give life, sparkiling like crystal, flowing out from the throne of God and of the Lamb verse 1.
(2) There shall no longer exist there anything that is accursed (detestable, foul, offensive, impure, hateful, or horrible). But the throne of God and the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall worship Him [pay divine honours to Him and do Him holy service. [Zechariah 14:21] verse 3.
(3) And there shall be no more night, they have no need for lamplight or sunlight, for the Lord God will illuminate them and be their light, and they shall reign [as kings] forever and ever (through the eternities of the eternities) verse 5.
In vigorous anticipation of hope of eternal life, and living and reigning with
Christ, where there is no need for artificial light; because God Himself will illumnates us and be our light, we persevere. The thoughts of drinking from the clear flowing crystal water which gives life; flowing out from the throne of God, is beyond our imagination! These promises are worth doing everything in our power to secure our glorious future.
How can our past, present and future bring changes in 2007? The coming year is supposed to be a year of perfection and promises, a year of opportunities, so year 2006 has prepared us and has moved us forward for these anticipated changes. We are the only one who can usher in these changes in our lives; depending on our responses to the dictates of God Spirit’s prompting; we know what He is saying through.every experiences and consequently, every response will denote an outcome. Life is a cycle, our past affects our present and our present affects our future, we learn from our past to improve our present and the life we live now determines what our future will become. It is inescapable that as we assess our past and be honest with ourselves changes for good are made. In obedience to the dictates of the Holy Spirit [through whatever agency He may use to convict us]; we must make determined effort to obey in order to benefit from the blessings God has promised.
To begin again, our lifestyle would reflect that of Christ, by walking in obedience to God’s Word. We have a glimpse of how to prepare for the new beginnings, how to learn from the past to press forward in our present, and live a victorious life in the present; in order to build a good foundation for the furture. Let us purpose in our minds that ‘2007 a year of completion,’ will be our year when all our potential are realised. Our objectives should be with determined effort; that this year would be all that we can be, a blessing to the Body of Christ; and to influence the world around us. Being always alert to this fact that Jesus might appear today, and He could!!
HAVE A PROSPEROUS, BLESSED AND EFFECTIVE (2007) NEW YEAR
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