A NEW YEAR - A NEW YOU!

A New Year, A New You? 

Is that even a Biblical statement?

Is is wise to take each new year as an opportunity to become a new person?

According to God's word - it ABSOLUTELY is! 
Taking the opportunity to become a 'new' person is not simply a wise practice to return to every year, but actually a necessary daily practice for the genuine follower of Christ. We are continually reminded to 'take off' the old (sinful) nature from our former lives, and to be daily transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ as we mature in the 'new creation' that God is forming us into.

“Therefore if any one be in Christ, there is a new creation:
 the old things are passed way; behold, all things are become new” 
- 2 Corinthians 5:17

As a new creation - there are some mindsets and behaviours of your old (un-sanctified) nature, that need to be forsaken so that you can rise and be the person of purpose and promise that God created you to be in Christ Jesus! Now is a good opportunity to evaluate what 'OLD' patterns or behaviours do you need to leave behind to become all that God has created you to be!

As a NEW creation, you now live in light of Eternity!
Your vision and your life are not simply for this temporary existence, but rather - for an eternal resting place, with a perfected new Heaven and new Earth! As 21 century Christians,  we live in the period of grace between Christ's first and second coming. We live in the era of what God calls 
"the 'year' of God's favour" - Luke 4:19

This was a period of time that was prophesied by Isaiah. The period of time where the Messiah would come and bring deliverance to humanity;

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
    to proclaim freedom for the captives
    and release from darkness for the prisoners,
 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour
    and the day of vengeance of our God"

Isaiah 61:1-2

In the book of Luke, where Jesus is recorded as opening the scroll of Isaiah and reading THIS VERY prophesy - we can read that in Luke chapter 4:16-20, Jesus reads this prophesy and then BOLDLY declares in verse 21; “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

It was not a coincidence that Jesus STOPS reading before the words "and the day of vengeance of our God" (Luke 4:19). Even though Isaiah was prophesying both the first and the second coming (as He does all throughout His writing), Jesus knew that the assignment for His first coming was a different assignment than His second coming. When He return the second time, there will be a day of judgement, but that day is not here yet.

 Until then - we are living in the 'year of the Lord's favour!

YOU HAVE BEEN ENTRUSTED BY GOD
to be alive in one of the most privileged generations of all of History!

As a 'NEW creation', you are given a Heavenly assignment.

DO NOT REMAIN SILENT ABOUT "THE GOOD NEWS"

SPEAK UP!!!

SEND OUT INVITATIONS!!!

LET EVERYONE HEAR AND KNOW that THEY ARE INVITED TO COME 
and experience the very same salvation that you yourself have been given!

"And then [Jesus] told them,

“Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.
Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved.
But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned."
-Mark 16:15-16


I already said it, but it bears repeating. God's day of judgement is coming - but it isn't here yet.
Joel 2:31 calls this day to come "The great and terrible day of the Lord."

It WILL be a great day to some, but for others - it will be a terrible day...
and if we are a 'NEW CREATION' made in God's likeness... that reality should deeply trouble us!

We have been given a significant entrustment from God! He has asked us to be His delivery system to GET HIS MESSAGE OUT!!! Jesus longs for His followers to receive the power of His Spirit so that we can be HIS WITNESSES and His LOYAL messengers!

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria,
and to the ends of the earth.” - Acts 1:8

You may not realize this, but the word "witness" in the Strongs concordance is actually translated as the word "Martyr." The purpose of Jesus sending the Holy Spirit wasn't just for His followers to have flames of tongues above their head. The Holy Spirit has an assignment in and through us - and it goes FAR beyond a "happy feeling" or a new Heavenly language to break out at prayer meetings (I'm not throwing shade at any of those things.. but they are a by product of the Holy Spirit, not the purposed intention of the Spirit)...

Rather, the Holy Spirit was PURPOSED and sent to followers of Christ,  FOR the laying DOWN of our OLD NATURE (the dying to our self), to become the "NEW CREATION" as God's representatives and ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20).

We receive the Holy Spirit SO THAT WE MAY BE Christ's witnesses (which means Martyrs).
This is for the purpose of telling every person everywhere about the GOOD NEWS of Jesus!

"Then Jesus said to his disciples,
 “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, 
take up your cross, and follow me.  If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it.
 But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 
And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?
Is anything worth more than your soul." 
Matthew 16:24-26

It is the Holy Spirit that makes this possible!

It is the power of God's Spirit working within you that transforms you into the 'NEW YOU'!


... A New Year, a New You?

ABSOLUTELY YES!

The difference between a 'YOU' that longs for rock hard abs, endless wealth and zero problems,
and a 'YOU' that longs for the Kingdom of God to advance through you...

well - it's the Holy Spirit.

Go ahead and ask Him to make you a 'NEW' you... I dare ya!

As you do, I declare over you that:

"TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF THE BEST YEAR OF YOUR LIFE!
TODAY IS THE DAY THAT YOU WALK INTO GOD'S GREATEST PLAN FOR YOU!"

HAPPY NEW YEAR FRIEND!

May His Kingdom come;
in us, through us, and all around us!