Dr. Barclay- Something to Think About
New Year’s Resolutions
Everybody wants something new when the year changes over to a new year.
A new year- a new start- a new creation
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.
When we accept Christ into our hearts and we truly know him we become a new creation.
We have heard and read about Christ but do we really know him.
John 15:13-15
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
To be called a friend of God means to truly know him and he knows us.
How do we know God:
- We pray faithfully and daily
- We read and obey his word and live a righteous lifestyle
We want to be loyal to Christ and wholeheartedly follow his word. We never want to hear him say.
Matthew 7:23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
The following verse is what we should all long to hear Christ say.
Matthew 25:23
His lord said to him,‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
Pastor Caroline – Persistence
In the following parable the man who was at home sleeping with his family, knew he had to get up and help the man at the door, because the man would not give up and was persistent. This parable serves as an example for us to be persistent in prayer and the father will honor us.
Luke 11:5-13
And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? 8 I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.
9 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11 If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
If we stay the course, no matter how hard it looks in the flesh, we can be assured and wait patiently that God is working out the answer and the solution is on the way. Don’t give up and don’t give in, when God sets you up to do something he will make sure you get it done. God’s word gives us instruction and when we apply it, we will see his will and provision come to pass. The bible sets us free from fear, discouragement and depression and it is never wrong it always proves true and sustaining.
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