1 Sermon Outline December 31, 2012 G. Howse Real Life, Real Drama, Real Faith Gen.24:1-67; Joshua 1:8-9 In a few moments, we will say goodbye to 2012, and hello to a brand new year. This is usually the time we make New Year’s resolutions. Have you made yours yet? Someone told me that last New Year’s, he made 6 resolutions and he was proud to say that he kept them all year long; he kept them in an envelope in the top drawer of his desk! Most of us will end up breaking some if not most of the New Year’s Resolutions we make. We feel bad about breaking them, but it is not easy to keep, is it? It takes effort, sacrifice and determination. Webster’s Dictionary defines “resolution” as a firm decision. It is a strong commitment to a course of action. Some of the most common are: to get out of debt and to quit some kind of habit like smoking. I have found 10 New Year’s Resolutions that I think we can all keep. 1. Gain weight, at least 30 pounds. 2. Stop exercising. It’s a waste of time. 3. Read less. It makes you think. 4. Use as many sick days as possible. 5. Get more credit cards. 6. Break at least one traffic law. 7. Focus on the faults of others. 8. Sleep in every chance you get. 9. Go to church only when you feel like it. 10. Never make New Year’s resolutions again. Isaiah 43:18-19, the Lord says, “Forget about what has happened before. Do not think about the past. Instead, look at the new things I’m going to do.” Do not remember the former things: As Isaiah writes prophetically to Israel, they were mired in the desperate circumstances of captivity and exile. God wants to put their eyes on the new work He will do, so it begins with a reminder to not remember the former

2 things. If they are stuck in the failure and sin and discouragement of the past, they will never go forward to the new thing God has for them. I like that. Don’t long or dwell or live in the past. It’s over. The book’s closed on it. Remember God’s faithfulness and don’t be stuck in your past failures. START fresh. It’s like the fresh covering of snow on the ground; no footprints yet; it’s your decision on which way you will go! God said He’s made a way – will you walk in His Way in 2013 or choose to cut out your own path? For the last few months, we have studied the life, the drama and the faith of many who have gone before us. Through their many challenges, they continued to put their faith in God and became known as heroes of the faith; great witnesses and examples to each one of us. I would like for us tonight to draw upon some standards/principles we can live by in 2013 which will help us live successful & prosperous lives. The word “success”, “succeed”, “successful” appear often in God’s Word. There is a story in the book of Genesis, chapter 24, where the word “success” appears 5 times. In the book of Joshua chapter 1, God gives instructions to follow in order for us to be prosperous and successful. I would like to share with you 5 steps to success that you and I can apply, beginning tonight. Five steps on the road to success: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Establish a cause/set some goals Examine your situation/take inventory Encourage yourself/be disciplined Employ your gifts/utilize what you have been given Enlist support/not a one man show

Read Joshua 1:8-9 “Do not let this book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

3 Live out God’s Word and it is a guarantee of success. Not that it promises a life without problems, but it does insure a life able to deal with anything, because it takes full advantage of God's presence and promises. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go: The final encouragement, repeated from Joshua 1:5, reminds us that Joshua's success did not depend solely on his ability to keep God's Word. It depended even more on God's presence with him. 1. Establish a cause Every life story we have looked at in the past year, every success story, is about men & women following God’s directions and having a plan. From Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Caleb, Deborah, Gideon & Ruth. My friend, you want to start the year right? You need to establish a cause. You must have something to motivate you. You need to have something that brings focus to your life. The first thing we all need to do is know this – His Word; His instructions; His blueprint for our lives. Do you have a cause for your life? Or are you letting life happen to you? If you do not know where you are going, then what does it matter if the alarm clock goes off on time or not? If you do not have a definite cause, then you are like a ship without a rudder. There are some people who never make plans about anything in their lives. All of us should have some sort of goals for our lives. Is your goal specific enough that you could write down on paper? What are you trying to do? People can be rich, famous, and notorious and still not be successful. You can have power and still not be successful. I am sure that names of celebrities are coming to your mind right now. One definition of failure is succeeding at the wrong things. When a person tries to be successful without God in his/her life, that person will fail miserably or succeed more miserably.

4 Are you clear on what you will do in 2013, and what you will not do? As believers we have very specific instructions on what not to do & on what to do. I am always puzzled and discouraged when I hear of ‘so-called Christians’ who live their lives, just like the world does, and then blame God when things go wrong. You can’t go into 2013 and do as you please and expect Him to bless you and your children. Do you have any God-given goals? Does the thing that moves you, move God? Do you want God’s blessing to be on your life this year? Do you want to turn problems into prosperity? Establish a cause; have a goal in mind for 2013. Find what God wants for your life and go for it. Don’t allow anything outside of that distract you or entice you. Stay focused. In the cause that you have selected, can you honestly ask God to bless your path and give you success? Can you honestly get on your knees and ask God to help you accomplish your goal for his glory? 2. Examine your situation We must take an honest inventory of our lives. If you were to coming to see me at my home and called me on the phone for directions, the first question that I would ask you is, “Where are you now?” We need to examine our situation: where are you now and where do you hope to be? What are the roadblocks? Just because we have obstacles does not mean that God is not with us. Often we start a new year without a plan; my friend you will be extremely frustrated with your life. There is nothing wrong with planning. God planned our redemption before He created the world. 3.

Encourage yourself

The pattern in Scripture: He prayed (12); He watched (21); He worshipped (26); He fasted (33); Read God’s Word (recall the words).

5 It was confirmed by 2 witnesses (50) that it was from the Lord. God will turn obstacles into opportunities. 4.

Employ your gifts

Do you think that God calls us and not give us the needed gifts or skills to accomplish the job? God has given us gifts, not toys. We are using these gifts to help fulfill the great commission. There are so many people who are wasting their gifts and getting so little in return. 5.

Enlist support

When people are prosperous they have learned to be dependent upon one another. Are you a cooperative person? Have you learned to delegate? Are you willing to cooperate? When God calls you to a task that is bigger than you, He brings around those people who are capable to accomplish the task together. My wishes for you in 2013: May you have enough happiness to keep you sweet & enough trials to keep you strong; Enough sorrow to keep you human & enough hope to keep you happy; Enough failure to keep you humble & enough success to keep you eager; Enough friends to give you comfort & enough wealth to meet your needs; Enough enthusiasm to make you look forward to tomorrow; & enough determination to make each day better than the day before. Lord, help us to use the 8,760 hours of this coming year the wisest way we can for you and for your glory. Prayer