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How many here have made resolutions in the past?

How many made a resolution or are considering making one this year?

Change is only necessary if you want to live and if you want to fulfill God’s destiny for you.

Think about the things you wish you could change about yourself or your situation

What are you waiting for?

Here are the top resolutions Americans make

 

 

As Christians we don’t need resolutions we need a revolution against the mindset of this world and the limitations placed upon us through our culture, families, region or whatever it is time for a revolution and we begin with the revolutionary statement from Paul

2 Corinthians 5:17

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

Paul is writing that you are a new creation…the Greek here implies that when you came to Christ you were made completely new you were not amended, adapted, and the new you is completely superior to the old you! He also calls you a new creation which is the same word used about the beginning of creation which is to say the new you was not created from parts of the old you but is something totally new.

 

I know you may have never heard that explanation before but it is something you need to grasp and begin to believe. If you are willing, God is willing to make this happen in and through you this year.

 

John put it this way…John 1:12

But as many as received him, to them he gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

To make any change takes two things 1) wise choices and 2 self-discipline

Thank God for God who teaches us to make wise choices and who has given us the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us into these choices and part of the fruit of allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us is self-discipline (control)

 

Let’s take a quick look at this wish list some of which may be on your list

1) Lose weight and get fit/eat healthier, diet – let’s make a distinction this morning being over weight is not necessarily a sin, but gluttony is (Ezekiel 16:49, Proverbs 28:7, Philippians 3:19,20. Gluttony is showing that food is more important to you that your health or life and sometimes even God it is any food or drink in excess. The great things about it is, if God calls it a sin He will help you overcome it if you choose to all Him.

 

I have been going to the gym three days/week since May and at first it was great, then it was a struggle, and now because I know I am accomplishing something it is more often a joy than not.

Excess weight is different for every body type but if you want to change, the Lord is on your side. Diets don’t work for the long term, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide you and listening to your own body can help. Find what is healthy for you and live there. It is about being healthy not body shape.

 

The verse that challenged me is from 1 Corinthians 9:26,27

So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

I want to be able to accomplish all God has planned and doing my best to stay out of the hospital and have the endurance to do all that I am called to do.

Other verses you can check out Romans 12:1, 1 Corinthians 10:31

Practical advice

 

  • Find out what is driving you to hurt yourself this way and get help to deal with it
  • Get a friend to help you with your eating habits
  • Research to find healthy alternatives to bad choices
  • Walk more and drink more water

2) Learn something new – there is so much to learn, the more I study God’s word and wiser people than I am the more I realize how much more I have to learn.

 

God has given you dreams and the reason most of your dreams have not yet been fulfilled is that there is more you need to learn.

Want to travel the world…learn the language and/or the culture

Want to understand the economy, politics, wise investment or just your kids home work…study

Paul wrote to his young disciple and said this 2 Timothy 2:15

“Study to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

 

Our world is amazing, cultures and people are exciting there is so much to learn and when you are looking at it from God’s perspective it can blow you away and give you new life.

Jesus said this about the Holy Spirit John 14:26

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”

 

God promises, if you are curious and want to know and understand things, He will help you to go deeper if you would like.

Jeremiah 33:3

“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’

 

BTW this year M-F, I will be posting on the app, facebook, and my blog at timburgan.blogspot.com I will be posting a “thought for the day to help you go deeper in understanding God’s word.

 

Practical advice

 

  • Discover your personal interest and start reading more about it
  • Turn off the TV and send time reading, taking a class, being mentored in an area of interest.
  • Seek out people with different interest and try some new hobby or interest to stretch who you are

3) Get out of debt, save money

Money is one of the big divorce makers. The way we have learned to handle money or not handle money as the case may be will determine our future

Solomon, the second wisest man to every live said this…

Proverbs 22:7 The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

In fact Jesus challenges us that if we can’t learn to handle money and our debt we will never be trusted with the things of God.

Luke 16:11

“If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?”

 

Most people have not been taught how to handle finances. Constantly struggling with debt, trying to get ahead, have little to no money saved for your kids college, retirement. The Bible actually has a lot to say about becoming a blessing and successful with your finances.

We are commanded in scripture to financially care for our families, to leave an inheritance for our children and grand children, and to take care of the church

If you want to change how to handle your finances we have the financial peace seminar that shows you how to do this with wisdom and get you far ahead of others.

Think you can’t do it? Think again! God wants you to do it so if you are willing He will show you how and give you what you need if you will be faithful!

Other scriptures about money

Proverbs 6:9;  10:4;  14:23;  20:13

 

Practical advice –

 

  • Cut up your credit cards
  • Design a budget you can live with
  • Start saving
  • Work more if you need to for a short season to get caught up or out of debt
  • Sign up for a Financial Peace seminar and actually go!

 

4) Time – is the topic I place for “less stress, spend more time with family and those you love, and volunteering.

 

Each of us are given the same amount of time in a day. I have found if I don’t control my life others will. Having an out of control life leads to stress, issues with those you love, and robs you of the things you want to do.

 

When I was in college someone shared this statement with me Prior planning prevents poor performance and poor planning permits poor performance.

 

Paul writes these two statements

Colossians 4:5

“Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.”

 

Ephesians 5:15,16

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.”

 

Running late, always, not prioritizing your time and allowing others to control it places lots of stress on you.

 

Other scriptures about time management

Proverbs 21:5, Proverbs 27:1, Psalm 90:12, James 1:5, James 4:13,14, Matthew 6:33

 

Let’s get you kicked off to fulfill the revolution you are about to undertake