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A new year

It’s a new year and it feels like anything is possible

There is an amazing feeling that each new year brings

In Isaiah 43:19 it says
See, I am doing a new thing
The first thing you have to do is see what God is doing
What is God trying to do in your life in 2012?
God is the God of the new thing
He wants to do a new thing in your life
Let him do it

Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
He wants to bring the new thing now
Are you perceiving that
Be ready and willing in 2012 for what God is wanting to do

I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
As we are faithful to God he will cause a breakthrough to come in our lives. The things that seemed so difficult for us are going to become areas of blessing.
Be faithful to God and allow him to out work his promise

2012 could be the greatest year of your life!
Pursue God and his purpose and discover what God has in mind for you
It’s got to be good!

Living in freedom

Galatians 5:1
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free

When I think about freedom I think about the great freedom speech in cinematic history
In the movie Braveheart – William Wallace asks this great question to the Scottish troops
What will you do without freedom?
It’s a good question – without freedom we live in bondage

You look around the world today and see so many living in bondage
Living with weight, living with bitterness, living in fear

Keys to living in freedom

1. Receive freedom
John 8:32
 Jesus said, If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
When you receive the gospel – you have the opportunity for truth to come into your life
You don’t have freedom until you receive it from Christ
The world is living under a death sentence of it’s own sin
Until you accept the gospel and receive Jesus Christ – you are also under the it’s weight

If you carrying around a weight – receive freedom

What does freedom look like?
It is a life of faith, hope and love
It is lightness – you feel released
It is a life that is unburdened and unrestrained

2. Offload your baggage
John 8:36
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
Freedom is the absence of baggage
Too many people are carrying around baggage that they don’t need to be carrying
To receive freedom you need to offload the weight

The devil wants you living a burdened life – and the world obliges
People end up stressed out, in credit card debt
Mortgaged up: Old French word, literally means death pledge
Relational stress, in therapy, in alcohol and drug abuse & physical abuse

But Christ has come to set us free from the weight of sin and death

3. Live differently
1 Peter 2:16
 – 17 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

Honor God by living in freedom and using your body to glorify him
I see Christians who kind of take it all for granted – accepting freedom and then try living for no.1
I am changed by what Christ did for me
I don’t want to live the old life
If you have anger, un-forgiveness, anxiety, stress, guilt, self esteem issues
It’s time to change

Christ wants us to live a free life in a burdened world
He wants us to demonstrate freedom
To live the kingdom life

4. Don’t go back
Galatians 5:1
Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

The devil wants you back in bondage – he wants you back in sin and back carrying your burden
And he knows your weakness
You need to stand up to him and stand firm in Christ!
Stand on the rock, stand with the faithful, stand in truth, stand in the presence of God

Freedom is a beautiful thing and Jesus Christ’s gift to us
Receive the gift – get free – walk in freedom

Living in the promises of God

Hebrews 6: 12

We don’t want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who by faith and patience inherit what has been promised

We don’t want you to become lazy

Ever had someone make you a promise & fail to deliver? It can make you a bit casual about promises. It’s easy to become lazy about the promises of God. But God doesn’t want us to be casual when it comes to his promises. God has made you a promise – as a believer you have an inheritance in God. Maybe you haven’t seen the promise of God yet – but don’t become lazy – keep believing. Be diligent in your pursuit of God – and you will walk into his promises!

but to imitate

We are not always good imitators and followers. We would rather follow our own path even though it doesn’t always lead to a good outcome. But instead of doing our own thing we need to follow those who have won the breakthrough. For me it is a no brainer – I try and put myself around people who are in breakthrough. Instead of being jealous of people we should get around them and follow them.

1 Corinthians 11: 1 And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ. He says follow me because it makes people accountable to a leader.

Leaders take us to where we need to be in life. Before you listen to anyone you should look at how they’re life is working out. Some people have great theories but there is no practice – no fruit.

Those who by faith

If anyone had a reason to give up it was Abraham – 99 years old and no son – even though God had promised he would be the father of a nation.

He could have become a cynic, he could have turned his back on God – but he believed

James 2: 23 “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. Abraham believed God, kept believing God and received the promise.

We have an inheritance through Abraham and we tap into it by operating in faith. Faith is this relentless belief that God is faithful and will fulfill his promises. Do you have an expectation of the promise of God in your life? If not – it’s time to develop a fresh expectation. Believe like Abraham believed and God will credit you

and patience

Patience – is one of the fruits of the spirit – but who really values it in our world today?

Patience is one of the keys to inheriting the promises of God. Many have faith – but it is the combining of faith with patience that becomes a mighty force.

Who struggles with patience? I’m trying to learn how to be patient.

We live in an instant generation and we want it now – but we need to learn to wait.

God has made a promise and his promise will not fail – what could fail is your patience.

God’s promises are like the stars; the darker the night the brighter they shine

David Nicholas

inherit

You are the child of the king and that comes with privileges. But an inheritance is useless you are aware of it. Today become aware of what God has promised to you. It’s time to step into your inheritance. I live with a sense of promise – I would never try for such a big future if I did not believe that ultimately God is for me and he wants to bless me. I have an expectation that God will come through – I’ve seen before and I will see it again.

what has been promised

If you are walking in faith & patience – you are inheriting the promise. It is happening now – God is at work on your future – get ready. Become aware – walk in faith & patience and be expectant!

Message version: Don’t drag your feet. Be like those who stay the course with committed faith and then get everything promised to them.

10 promises to give you hope and change your world

Speak these scriptures over your life and your circumstances everyday and you will never be the same!

Psalm 34: 19 A righteous man has many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all

Proverbs 16: 3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed

Isaiah 54: 17 No weapon that is formed against you will prosper

Jeremiah 29: 11 For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future

Romans 8:28 All things work together for good to those who love God

Philippians 1: 6 Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ

Philippians 4: 19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus

Galatians 6: 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up

2 Thessalonians 3: 3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one

James 1: 12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him