2020 Vision - Living Waters

How do you feel when you think of the 12 months that lay before you? What are you going to do with 2020? How will this year be different from last year? Maybe 2019 was a great year; maybe it was more of a disappointment than a joy. Maybe it was a year of challenge and change, set backs and losses. I’ve got good news and bad news. The bad news is obvious–there’s nothing we can do to change 2019. What’s done is done–it’s in the past. The good news is, we can learn from 2019–it’s joys and sorrows, victories and losses, as we journey into this new year. God, in His infinite wisdom, brings life to us in small pieces: minutes and hours, days and months, one year at a time. And at the beginning of each new year God says; “Let’s wipe the slate clean and start with a brand new year; let’s start over; let’s have a fresh start!”

January has always been a time for looking back and reflecting on the past, while at the same time looking forward to the coming year. A time when people reflect on this notion of a fresh start, and the changes they want, or in some cases, need to make in their lives. Changes that are often expressed in the form of New Year’s resolutions. Most New Year’s resolutions are not bad in and of themselves, and there’s nothing wrong with wanting to better ourselves or to live a healthier lifestyle. However, whether they’re self improvement related, health related, finance related, or relationship related–I suspect we can all relate to Jesus’ words in Matthew 26:41; “…the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” As we all know only too well, having the desire to change and the strength to do it are two very different things. Faced with this reality, we can either set ourselves up for failure or we surrender to the hopelessness.

Thankfully there’s a third option; an option that has nothing to do with us; an option that transcends our weak flesh. In Isaiah 43:18 we read; “Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; do you not perceive it?” “I am about to do a new thing…” God doesn’t eat leftovers or watch reruns–everything He does is brand spanking new! Isaiah’s words here speak to us of the new thing that God wants to do in and through us. Notice God says; “I am about to do a new thing.” God is the One who will do this new thing because He’s the One who has the power to do it!

This 6-week sermon series will focus on how we can enter this new year with 2020 vision, and embrace the new thing that God wants to do in and through us. The great thing is, we can’t go wrong when we have 2020 vision, spiritually speaking; and when we seek to live out God’s will and purpose for our lives. Unlike our own plans, and the plans that others try to thrust on us, God’s plans for us are always good; they will never steer us wrong, or lead us astray.

Do you want this New Year to be better than the last? Do you want to face the next 12 months with 2020 vision?

SERMONS

Sermon: The ABC’s of a Fresh Start

Preacher: The Rev. Christopher Doering

Date: Sunday, January 19, 2020

Scripture: Isaiah 43:15-21

Handout: Part1.HO