A New Year – A New Heart 新年 新心

A New Year – A New Heart 新年 新心

01/01/2023

John 8:31,31: To the Jews who had believed him, 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.”
約 翰 福 音 8:31,32: 耶稣对信仰了他的犹太人说∶“你们如果遵守我的教导，就真正是我的门徒了。 你们会认识真理，而真理将使你们获得自由。” (page 1734)
1 Peter 2:2 – “Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation.”
彼得前书 2:2: 像初生婴孩爱慕那纯净的灵奶，好叫你们靠它长大，进入救恩 (page 1966)

John 8:47: “If I am speaking the truth, why is it that you do not believe me? The man who is born of God can hear these words of God and the reason why you cannot hear the words of God is simply this, that you are not the sons of God.”
約 翰 福 音 8:47: 属于上帝的人，听上帝的话。这是你们不听的原因：因为你们不是属于上帝的人 (page 1735)

Matt 7:11 – “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”
馬 太 福 音 7:11: 你们虽然邪恶，但是还知道如何把好东西给自己的孩子，那么，你们的天父肯定会把好东西给那些向他请求的人们了！ (page 1735)

Luke 12:32 - "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”
路 加 福 音 12:32: 你 们 这 小 群 ， 不 要 惧 怕 ，
因 为 你 们 的 父 乐 意 把 国 赐 给 你 们 。 (page 1735)

Pastor Mike

A New Year – A New Heart - 2023



John 8:31, 32
“A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you.” —Ezekiel 36:26

Last Sunday I told Eddie I really felt the Lord was about to do something brand new for us (our church) in 2023.

I know for God to do a new thing, we have to be open and receptive to it… to put away our presumptions and limitations.
Are we ready? Are we teachable? Are we ready to grow in our faith?

Was there ever a time in your childhood when you thought you had already learned it all? That you knew it all – that you had it all figured out?
Is anybody honest? ;)

1 Peter 2:2 – “Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation.”

I can look back on my Christian life and shudder to think that I might have considered myself “taught” by the time I was 12 or 14… because I was pretty much hearing the same message again and again. It was a good foundational message, but there was a whole lot more Bible left to hear about.

Heb 6:1: Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity

What if I had been exposed to deeper scriptural truths at that time, (meat) but these teachings were hard to digest…
If what I heard hadn’t lined up with what I had been taught up to that point, I might have just thrown up a wall and rejected any additional truth.

Jesus: "Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given--and you will receive even more.”

Everyone starts at the start… but what we do after that is also very important.

Jesus said, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

• There is an “if” and a “then” in this scripture – a conditional promise of blessing.
• What will we choose to do with the Word GOD has given us?
• What will we choose to do with the New Covenant?
• The Truth won’t set you free if you don’t know it.
It’s NOW 2023. What do we do now? We must continue.

On Day One of the Christian Era (New Covenant) these brand new Christians woke up to a new world. Everything had changed… or had it?

In their minds, they were still entrenched with generations upon generations of Law and Old Covenant practices.

Peter, John and Luke (and later, Paul) hadn’t written their books yet…
Revelation, for the most part, was still ahead for them.

They weren’t instantly walking in New Covenant understanding and provision

They were, however, after Pentecost, walking in a fresh and mighty Holy Spirit anointing of Power and Holy Fire from heaven.

They had been charged and equipped by Jesus to go and do the works that He had told them to do.

“Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!” (Matt 10:8)

“they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” (Mark 16:18)

Because just ‘cause we don’t know everything (yet) doesn’t mean we wait until we do.
(we’d sure be waiting a long time, wouldn’t we?)

…but if we follow Jesus’ charge to us and continue in His Word…
If we seek first the Kingdom of God…

…we will know the truth… and all things will be added unto us.

Jesus: "Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given--and you will receive even more.”

According to your faith it is done unto you – so it is vitally important what you believe.

Wrong believing will bring about wrong results.
…because your faith will be looking for (expecting) the wrong outcomes.

? Is there room in our hearts for God’s Word to be further revealed to us?

John 8:37 “ …some of you are trying to kill me because my message does not find a home within your hearts.” “…because you have no room for my word.”

(vs 47) “If I am speaking the truth, why is it that you do not believe me? The man who is born of God can hear these words of God and the reason why you cannot hear the words of God is simply this, that you are not the sons of God.”

It’s difficult (impossible) for someone to ask for God’s help if they don’t fully realize GOD loves them and desires to give good things to them. (God’s Will)

(This is the confidence….)
You wouldn’t feel safe coming to a God who just might put bad things on you.

But we have a loving Heavenly Father… ABBA
Matt 7:11 – “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

Luke 12:32 - "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”

“Seek ye first the Kingdom of GOD…”

So many scriptures that tell of His great love for us.
“For God so loved the world…”

He gave us Jesus – He sent Jesus to do what?
What is our 4-word creed? “Jesus Paid It All”

God sent Jesus to pay it all for you and me.

Jesus paid it all – paid in full. Sealed in His Royal Blood for us.

“If you continue in my word…”

Jesus paid it all. It is paid in full.
…but you have to know that. You have to continue in that Truth.

The Word of God is a lifelong study that leads to abundant life.

His Words are life. “The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”
In Him was Life and that Life was the Light of men.

You have to seek that which Jesus paid such an awesome price for us to benefit from.

“To Don’ts” for 2023
1. Don’t look to the past to create your future
2. Don’t hold any grudges or unforgiveness in your heart (you don’t need that extra weight going into a new year)
3. Don’t limit God by your past doubt & unbelief.

What will you do with the truth you have received?

“Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them."
“Free to Dance”

This song in my heart, this song in my soul
This song I was born to sing
It's Your song of freedom, now I'm free to dance again

I'll sing in the darkness, I'll laugh in the rain
Rejoice in Your love again
It's Your song of freedom, now I'm free to dance again

Your Spirit brings me liberty
Your breath of life has set me free

Jesus, Your love, it lifts me high
Gives me reason to run the race with joy
This song within me, Lord, will bless Your Holy name

Jesus, I'll dance before Your throne
Bring this heavenly sound to You alone
This song within me. Lord, will bless Your Holy name

This song in my heart, this song in my soul
This song I was born to sing
It's Your song of freedom, now I'm free to dance again

“You are reasonable people. Decide for yourselves if what I am saying is true.
When we bless the cup at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren’t we sharing in the body of Christ?”
~ 1 Cor 10: 15,16