“PRESS ON”…1/1/17

NEW YEAR’S DAY 2017

Speaker: Pastor Sparks

Text: Philippians 3:12-14

-Sometimes you gotta take the bitter with the sweet; and the key to accepting both is by learning to be content REGARDLESS of the circumstances

-Worrying is counterproductive to your Christian walk because it wastes time; it causes you to focus on the problem & not the solution; it causes you to try to take responsibility for something that’s in God’s control

-The only way the new year changes is if YOU change; you gotta MAKE 2017 different than 2016

-Haven’t you nursed your fears enough so now they’re big & healthy enough TO BE RELEASED TO GO ON THEIR OWN WAY NOW?!

-Fear wants to be all over your life. It makes you paranoid; makes you feel that where you are is where you’ll stay; makes you believe that nothing can change for the better. Fear wants to control every, single aspect of your life!

-One thing that is more powerful than fear: HOPE! Once you replace fear with hope, life changes immediately!

How do I move from fear to HOPE?

1. Be Honest About Your Life

    * Stop fronting; stop trying to be someone or something you’re not

    * Yes, you’ve been hurt BUT…You can let your wounds define your life OR you can give your wounds definition

    * Who you follow, who you depend on, & who you trust in is what matters!

    * God will bless you…if you let Him!

    * Whenever you face a difficulty in your life, you gotta learn to say “it is what it is”. Accept it head on, stop denying it…and start working to get it better!

    * Be careful thinking that just because you don’t struggle with THAT means that you don’t struggle!

        * When you get to this stage, you have to start repenting for your repentance!

2. Keep Your Mind On Kingdom Business

    * There’s a reason Christ saved you & that should be what you focus on!

    * Christ found me, saved me, and He has a purpose for me

    * As you figure it out, keep concentrating on it & working it out

3. Focus On Your Future

    * You gotta move forward & you can’t move forward until you forget what’s behind

    * Your attitude everyday has to be “I AM MOVING FORWARD”

    * Don’t give up, keep your legs moving & press on!

4. Keep Pressing On Towards Heaven

    * Stop getting hung up on every little distraction; stop listening to every little comment; stop getting caught up in your feelings; just FEAR NOT (because God’s got you) and PRESS ON!

1. His Nature- How do we describe Him?

Emmanuel, Christ, Son of Man, Light of the World

How do you describe one who is all knowing and all powerful? Words are in adequate

Inadequate

2. His Purpose for coming to Earth

What do we celebrate at Christmas?

The greatest need is not wealth or a good education.

Our greatest need is to be saved. We need a Saviour! Jesus can make you great again!

Notes courtesy of Dr. Tamala Maddox