Sermon Tone Analysis

*A FRESH START FOR 2008*

* *

                   INTRODUCTION

 

            A new calendar year gives us a freshness to rebuild  and renew our lives.

A carry over from the old year can hinder spiritual progress.

So the question is how can we change?

The answer is we can accomplish personal alteration only with /“Love” /the help of God.

Therefore, we can have the best year ever; if we put these /“ Seven-Scriptural ” /principles to work in /2008/.

*I.

Forget About Yesterday (Phil.

3: 13-14).*

This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Don’t let the past defeat you.

Failures, hurts, and disappointments come to all.

We must not continue thinking and talking about them.

God doesn’t want us to live with  regret.

We must walk in newness of life.

*II.

Don’t Worry About Tomorrow* *(4:6-7 /NIV)./*

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with  thanksgiving, present your request to God, which transcends all understand, will guards your hearts and your minds in  Christ Jesus.”

Therefore, never worry, for worry only calculates without God.

/Charles E. Trumbell/ said: “We’ll never know victory over worry and anxiety until  we begin to treat it as sin.

For such it is.

It’s deep seated distrust of the Father, who assures us again that even the falling sparrow is in His tender care.”

And the Scripture agrees: “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (*4:19*).

God guarantees to supply all your needs in /2008!/

 

*III.

Make Today Count (Deut.33:25).*

* *

*            *“As thy days, so shall thy strength be.”

The peace of God is sufficient for every day of this *New Year*.

Say each morning, “This is the day which the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (*Psa.

1118:24*).

With God’s help we can surely manage a day at a time.

Meet daily with God.

Grow with Him.

 

*IV.

Help Every Person You Can (Gal.6:10).*

* *

*            *“As we have therefore*  *opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially  unto them who are of the household of faith.”

The Christian can be defined  as “Faith working by love” (*Gal.

5:6 *).

For living is loving and giving.

For everyone you meet is fighting a battle.

Love makes everyone lovely, and especially /“ YOU.”/

/ /

*V.

Keep Your Heart Pure (Matt.

5:8).*

Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” Remember, a clean engine runs better; it delivers more power.

Clean the garbage out of your life.

/Holiness /and /Happiness / are /twins/ in the Christian  life.

The Bible tells us that clean living and the fear of the Lord go together.

Someone said, “Act as though you are seen.”

That’s good, but not good enough.

You are always seen by the /“Living God.”/

/ /

*VI.

Renew Your Strength Daily (Isa.

40:31).*

* *

*            *How can you do this?

“They, that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall walk, and not fait.”

Specialize in /Spiritual-Life/.

Intensify your commitment to the Lord.

Push on for /Christ./

Do you party once and expect perpetual blessing?

Of course not! “Men ought to always pray, and not faint” (*Luke 18:1*).

Our, hearts must be prepared for the Lord every day.

We must nourish our spirits with God’s Word every day.

*VII.

Act on God’s Commandments (Phi.

4:8).*

*            *God wants us to keep our thoughts pure and wholesome: “Finally, Brethren, whatsoever things are true; whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just; whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Yet it will take more than thinking, for there is no substitute for obedience.

We can spend months, even years without accomplishing anything worth while.

So the next verse reminds us: “Those things; which you have learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you” (*Phil.

4:9*).

Finally, /“GOD” / wants total obedience in /2008.

Why Not Make “A Fresh Start.”/

*/T.

J. Roberts, Th.

D./*