December 31, 2023
Morning Service

Gal 6:9-10 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.  (10)  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

            In looking back at the new year messages since 2020, it seems I have just copied and pasted the same issues each year.  As we face the same problems and fight against them over time there often sets in a bit of weariness; we just get tired of fighting the fight.  Paul here encourages us to “not grow weary in doing good,” don’t lose heart but keep on fighting.  We must stay on the battlefront and keep proclaiming truth even when it seems things are not getting better, but are getting worse.  Think about it, if we don’t speak truth, who will? I know you are tired, but don’t give up.  Let’s recommit to the fight this year and look for “opportunities to do good to all especially to our brothers in the faith.”   Yield your will to His and allow the Holy Spirit to guide to a time of growth and put you to work in spreading the good news of Jesus to this world.

As we look forward into the challenges of 2024, let’s look back at the challenges that we have been facing over the last several years that are still unresolved and have actually gotten worse.  How can we as individuals and the church work in these areas to bring positive resolution?  Giving up is not an option, we must continue to stay in the fight against the workings of our enemy.  There are more, but I have chosen to speak on these three:

1.    A Nation Divided:

This issue has continued to grow worse with time, not better.  We as the American people are becoming more divided than I have ever seen.  A wall has been built that is growing taller every day.  Politically we are no longer allowed to agree to disagree.  More and more policies and laws are coming out that are calling good things evil and evil things good according to our enemy’s plan.  We openly see this happening right before our eyes.  It is easy to get worn down and simply do as they want us to and stay silent.  We must continue to stand firm and proclaim the truth of God’s Word.

 Unfortunately, we are now even seeing division in the church as many denominations are struggling with what to do with same sex marriage and the new gender identity issues.  They are leaving truth to create ways to “tolerate” these things within the church bowing to the pressure of culture.   Our challenge for 2024 as Jesus Followers is to be the voice of love and truth in this time of hate and confusion.  We must stand firmly and courageously upon the foundation of Truth built by Jesus and His Apostles.  We are not allowed to define that truth as we like, but simply to proclaim it as it is written.  Jesus calls us to be “peacemakers” and in doing that we will be called the “sons of God.” (Matt 5:9).  We can do this by putting these four scriptures into action.

1Ti 2:1-3  Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,  (2)  for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.  (3)  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,

Jas 1:19-20  So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;  (20)  for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

1Co 16:13-14  Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.  (14)  Let all that you do be done with love.

Joh 8:32 and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Let’s pray for our leaders instead of criticizing them.  Let’s use our words to build up rather than to tear down knowing our anger “does not produce the righteousness of God.”  Let love define who we are and all we do.  Let us know the truth, speak the truth and live out the truth calling sin what it is sin.  It sets us free when we believe God’s Word as the Truth and simply follow it as such.   Let us not grow weary in these areas.  Giving up is not an option.  Do not grow weary in being peacemakers, praying for our leaders, and speaking the light of truth into this dark world.  Now another issue that does not seem to go away.

2. Drug Abuse Epidemic

This issue as well has not been resolved and we could say that it continues to escalate in our society.  Each of us has been somehow affected by this problem in one way or another.  Our challenge comes from these two scriptures:

 

Php. 4:6-7  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;  (7)  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Jas 2:14-17  What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?  (15)  If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,  (16)  and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?  (17)  Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

            We are challenged to be in “prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let our requests be made known to God.”  I trust all of you have been praying for those you know that have been affected by this issue and will continue to do so in the coming year as well.  The second part of the challenge was to not only pray, but to get in the fight and get our hands dirty trying to do something.  Let’s look for opportunities to do good to those caught up in addiction and their families that suffer with them.  It is easy to try to ignore this issue and wash our hands of those who get caught up in it because it is a long, rough road to recovery but there is no place to quit.  Lives are on the line and we know the solution to the problem, Jesus.  Don’t grow weary as you deal with loved ones who are struggling, stay in the fight praying and doing what you can.  Our final issue will not go away either

3.     Children at Risk

This problem has been ramping up lately and we cannot close our eyes to it.  We know our enemy has come to “kill, steal and destroy” and Peter warns us this way:

1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

We as parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and even just Jesus Followers have to be “sober and vigilant” about our approach to protect our children.  They are at risk to have their world view molded for them from the television, internet or even the school curriculum that takes no account of what the Word of God says is truth.  These that are teaching these things to our kids are not confused or ignorant, they have an agenda and the agenda is pure evil.  They seek to destroy our children having them to question everything we hold true from God’s Word even beginning with questioning their own gender!   Don’t be caught unaware, listen to what your kids are saying about school and monitor what they watch on devices because a lot of those things suggest subtlety and sometimes quite openly things that we do not want our kids to hear and see. We protect our children with car seats and by locking the doors to keep them from physical harm, but we need to protect them spiritually as well.  Don’t grow weary on this front, because the battle is heating up.  Paul admonished parents to do this:

Eph. 6:4  And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

We must teach them to know that God loves them and has a plan for their lives.  We tend to emphasize to our kids the need for academic or athletic success, but those things need to be secondary to spiritual things.  Emphasize the importance of being plugged in to the church and relying on the support we receive there.  Encourage them to define themselves from the truth of the Bible not the lies of the world.  If we don’t, the world will steal them from us. Model what it means to follow Jesus in your life so they can see.   Show them through your choices that putting God first is always the best choice.  They will most likely follow the example you provide for them.  Invest in our kids’ spiritual lives pointing things out daily of how God is working and is in control.  Do not grow weary in doing well for our children, they need it more than ever.

 As we enter a new year today with 2024, I wanted us to keep our heads in the battle, not growing weary, but continue to fight along these 3 fronts.  There are many others we could have spoken on, but my goal is to move each of you to put your faith into action and make a difference in this world somehow somewhere.  Don’t grow weary, keeping doing good. Jesus said this about us:

Mat 5:13-16  "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.  (14)  "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.  (15)  Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  (16)  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.