TEXT: ROMANS 13:11-14
We praise and adore the Almighty God who has made us to see the very last day in the year 2017. Whether the devil likes it or not you are crossing over to 2018.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, as most of us realize that we have lost some ground regarding our health, gained weight, and we make a resolution to shape up, eat better and exercise more. The beginning of a new year prompts people to make resolutions, many of which will involve the pursuit of personal happiness.
Children of the Most High GOD, we should attend to the spiritual side of life even more than the physical as this will do more for us than any exercise program or diet! Godliness can help us in this life and give us the promise of the life to come! The healthiest people in the world cannot go to heaven without Christ! The richest or the most knowledgeable people in the world can’t go to heaven without Christ! We must therefore attend to the spiritual side of life more than the physical!
Philippians 3:14 says “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus”. God loves His people and He wants us to live well, even in this wicked world. God must do a supernatural work in our souls before we can hear and live well in this world. The foundation for living well in a wicked world is to “fear God” – that is a holy reverence, a desire to please Him, and a willingness to ask what God thinks before we do what we do. That requires grace. We must be students of the Bible. A Worker in RCCG has to be FAT. F. A. T. stands for Faithful, Available and Teachable. We must practice what we know and preach. Proverbs 1.5 says “A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels”:
Romans 13:12 says “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light”. We must put off the works of darkness – former bad habits – and put on the clothes of light. We must conduct ourselves in a manner befitting our high standard as saints of the most high, not in rioting and drunkenness, sexual immorality and not in strife and envying. We must shake off all spiritual apathy and put the day of judgment in view. We need to shape up both physically and spiritually by attending church every Sunday. The Lord’s Day fellowship and Worship is something we should never miss as much as practicable! We will never “shape up” spiritually when we are irregular in our Church attendance! Tuesdays’ “Digging Deep” Bible Study, House Fellowship Bible Study, “Faith Clinic” Prayer Hour on Thursdays, Sunday morning Sunday School Teaching and Personal Bible reading are ways to gain and shape up spiritually. The Word of God can train us, equip us and build us up if we will let it. It can shape us up!
Brethren, as you end the old year, count your blessings instead of your crosses; count your gains instead of your losses, count your joys instead of your woes; count your smiles instead of your tears; count your health instead of your wealth; count on God instead of yourself. He will give you – exceedingly – abundantly all that you need. Thank God, today is December 31. See you in 2018.
PRAYER POINT: Father in the new year, 2018 , give me the grace to remain uncompromising in the Mighty Name of Jesus.
