01/01/2025
Hello Northeast Church Family & Friends,
This week Pastor Joe Young’s sermon title was “A Keepable New Year’s Resolution”. Scripture was Philippians 3.
The new year is often a time of new beginnings. A resolution is a firm decision to do something different or stop doing something. It is supposed to make a better person out of us.
1. Paul’s Resolution – Scripture records Paul’s resolution as he had no future. (Paul was a credentialed Hebrew and followed their laws. He knew his accomplishments were nothing and he needed to follow Christ.) He made a commitment to grow and change spiritually. In Philippians 3:1-11 it talks about us rejoicing and having joy. Paul also says in this scripture that “I want to know Christ – the power of his resurrection & participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining the resurrection from the dead”. Paul wanted to know Christ deeper than ever before. He wanted to live as Jesus did. Jesus was a nomad, moving from place to place, living in tents, had no home, was tortured and died. Paul wanted to live and die like Jesus so he could have eternal life. He wanted to know Jesus in his fullness. What about you? Where are you in your identity? Is Jesus more important than the other roles you play? Paul tells us that Jesus is more important than all of those. To grow in our life, it is important to know Jesus more deeply and fully. There is a song that says “More about Jesus would I know, more of his grace to others show; more of his saving fullness see, more of his love who died for me. More, more about Jesus, more, more about Jesus; more of His saving fullness see, more of his love who died for me”. E.E.Hewitt
2. Paul’s Motivation – In Philippians 3:12-16, Paul tells us to forget what is behind and to press on. In this scripture, Paul was referring to a Greek marathon where one put all their energy into it. A Christian life is not a sprint, but a life-long marathon. We need to run this with perseverance. We are headed to our final destination (heaven) and resurrection from death. The finish line is on the other side. Our earthly goals are not the end. It takes effort to grow. Do not quit or get discouraged. Ask God for help. Daily growth is needed to get to the end. In Hebrews 12:1-2a, we are told to “run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith”. Don’s let your past or past failures take your eyes off the prize. The past can blind us, discourage us, or motivate us to change. Real change is available is we seek God.
3. Our Commitment – In Philippians 3:17-4:1, it tells us we are new creation and to be reconciled to God. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Also, “our citizenship is in heaven”. The Lord Jesus Christ will “transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body”. We need to live up to our commitment to God and remember our citizenship is in heaven. We live in a very self-help society. Put Jesus first and he will show you how to heal your life. He will bring everything into its rightful place and you will have peace. May we all know Christ in all his fullness and love Jesus madly and deeply.
Application: Make your New Year’s resolution a spiritual one. Take Paul’s advice from Philippians and make knowing Jesus in all his fullness your New Year’s and life-long resolution. It is a resolution that, by God’s power, anyone can keep. It is a resolution that will help us put all the other areas in our life in order as well.
