Topic: New Year

Is your life today what you pictured it would be a year ago?

If it is not, then perhaps you did not allow God to give you a vision or desire for where He wanted you to be now. If He did, then maybe you did not take the necessary steps to get there.

Here’s the good news, if that is the case, then just repent and let God give you a new start for 2024.

Steps to receiving the vision and seeing it come to pass:

1. Allow the Word and/or the Holy Spirit gives you the vision or the end result for where God wants to take you.

(The result paints the picture for you so you know where you are headed.)

2. The Holy Spirit will give you the steps or instructions on how to accomplish the vision.

Psalms 37:23 NKJV The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way.

Psalms 37:23 NLT The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.

Psalms 37:23 AMP The steps of a [good] man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way [and He busies Himself with his every step].

3. Be obedient and take the steps to get to the realization of the vision.

Isaiah 1:19 NKJV If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land;

4. You must see beyond the present, current condition to see the vision come to pass.

Genesis 13:14-15 NKJV And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are–northward, southward, eastward, and westward; (15) for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever.

5. Write the vision or the picture down and keep it before you all the time.

Habakkuk 2:2-3 GNB The LORD gave me this answer: “Write down clearly on tablets what I reveal to you, so that it can be read at a glance. (3) Put it in writing, because it is not yet time for it to come true. But the time is coming quickly, and what I show you will come true. It may seem slow in coming, but wait for it; it will certainly take place, and it will not be delayed.

2024 will be a year where we see God do unprecedented things.

Unprecedented: without previous instance; never before known or experienced; unexampled or unparalleled

Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, (21) to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 3:20-21 TPT Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you. (21) Now we offer up to God all the glorious praise that rises from every church in every generation through Jesus Christ—and all that will yet be manifest through time and eternity. Amen!

Hebrews 11:1 NKJV (1) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

You cannot live by faith without setting goals and objectives for your life.

Faith must have something to put substance to. These are the goals and objectives of our lives.

Habakkuk 2:2 NKJV (2) Then the LORD answered me and said: “Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it.

Habakkuk 2:2 GNB The LORD gave me this answer: “Write down clearly on tablets what I reveal to you, so that it can be read at a glance.

Vision – sight or dream (Hebrew) or big picture for your life. It can be something that you imagine based on the Word of God.

Philippians 3:13-14 NIV (13) Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,

Paul is talking about expending effort.

Habakkuk called it being able to run but this indicates a consistent expenditure of effort.

Press – pursue with diligence

The high calling of God in our lives is all that represents God’s highest and best for our lives and is defined by the dreams in your heart.

Although His high calling is important, it is not very meaningful for us in setting goals for our lives, because it is not definitive enough for our everyday lives.

The closer that you get to that high calling, you experience the prize of the calling.

He said that he presses towards a goal – a meaningful objective towards that high calling.

We must break down the high calling into segments that makes it easier to establish meaningful goals.

Start with God’s highest and best and then with the Word of God, bring it down to a meaningful mark or goal that you can obtain.

Goal – a mark or objective on the way to God’s big picture for your life.

If you don’t set goals and objectives, you will have no mark to press toward and you will never arrive there.

Most of us don’t take the time to set the goals necessary for our lives.

It isn’t enough to become just goal oriented and not just any goal will do.

Scriptural Priorities in Goal Setting:

1. Your personal relationship with God.

There is nothing that is more important than this relationship and the effort to maintain that relationship.

2. Your marriage and raising your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord

Your relationship to your husband or wife is second only to your relationship with Him.

3. Your Local Church (the supply you make in the Body of Christ)

Ephesians 4:16 TPT For his “body” has been formed in his image and is closely joined together and constantly connected as one. And every member has been given divine gifts to contribute to the growth of all; and as these gifts operate effectively throughout the whole body, we are built up and made perfect in love.

4. Your job or occupation.
5. Your social and recreation life.

These priorities will help you establish the level of relationship with God that will make His ability available to accomplish the goals for your life.

Guidelines for Setting Effective Goals:

1. Do not confuse the blessing or reward of obtainment with the goal.

The blessing or reward cannot be the goal.

You must set a mark that is on the way towards the blessing. The blessing or the prize is a reward for walking in the will of God.

Example: Prosperity is a blessing that God has provided for us in Redemption but it is not a goal or objective. The mark or the objective that will take you towards the blessing is tithing and/or giving.

2. Be sure that all your goals are ultimately not about you but are to serve others.

Jesus said that to be great of all you must be slave of all.

Mark 10:43-44 NKJV Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. (44) And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.

Measure the goal by the standard of service towards others.

3. Count the cost of pressing towards your goal.

• • • You must know that your first investment in that goal is going to be your time towards obtaining the goal.

Example: Getting to know God better. In order for this to be accomplished, you must be willing to spend more time with God in order to get to know Him more.

• • • You must know that the second investment in the goal is going to be your effort in the time you have allocated towards that goal.

You must DO what you make time for in accomplishing your goal.

4. Write down your vision and review it daily.

Writing it down makes it plain for you and helps give you the impetus towards obtaining the goal.

It’s that time of the year again where people make the infamous “New Year’s Resolution”…They resolve to do things differently, make things better, live life fuller..and mostly get a little lighter. 

Resolutions start out so passionate but often we soon forget what we resolved to do in the first place.

Someone once said “New Year’s resolutions often go in one YEAR and out the other”

God wants 2020 to be a game-changing year for you and your household!

Let’s look at some game-changing things Joshua did to make a difference.

Now here’s the story…Joshua is born as a slave during Israel’s 400 years under Egyptian bondage. He ends up becoming Moses 2nd in command during the Exodus of Israel from Egypt. As the story of Israel’s new future unfolds, God has promised to bless them with a beautiful and fertile nation of their own.

The Problem is….it’s occupied. Lots of people live there…warring people, dangerous people. When the people of Israel surmise the difficulty and danger of conquering the land God has promised…they panic, get cold feet and ultimately lose heart and faith that God will make good on his word. Because of their lack of faith, they spend the next 40 years wondering through the Jordan desert. It is a barren, dry and unforgiving place. Many die in the desert.

Finally after 40 years, God leads them to the brink of their promised land again…but before they make their first push in…Moses dies and Joshua is named his successor and the one who will actually lead them into this massive opportunity.

Now Joshua is facing the greatest challenge of his life…BUT HE ALSO RECOGNIZES THAT WHAT HE DOES IN THIS MOMENT WILL MATTER BEYOND HIS LIFETIME.

Joshua 1:6-9 NKJV  Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.  (7) Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.  (8) This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.  (9) Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

• Whenever you ask God for a victory, he will always give you a strategy then you have to walk it out.

In other words, God’s promises to you will not just happen out of thin air regardless of what you do or do not do….MIRACLES REQUIRE OBEDIENCE BEFORE THEY BECOME REALITY.

For 2020 to be a game changing year it will require you to…

1. Believe fearlessly. 

Did you notice how many times God told Joshua to “Be strong and courageous?” 3 times in 3 verses. (At least 8 times overall)

One of the things every one of us battle from time to time is self doubt….usually our greatest battles aren’t fought on the OUTSIDE…THEY ARE FOUGHT ON THE INSIDE. When you win on the inside, usually the wins come easier on the outside.  

But it’s also true THAT IF YOU LOSE ON THE INSIDE, GENERALLY THE BATTLE IS ALREADY OVER.

Too many people forfeit before they ever really get started and generally there are 3 common reasons or excuses why people usually forfeit:

• What’s ahead is too big – this is what cost Israel the first time around, they spied and observed that there were tribes of giants living there…they felt small and ill equipped. 
• The contrary circumstances are too great – Joshua knew these people lived here and would not give up their homeland easily. 
• I’m not good enough – Joshua did not come from a strong leadership background or heritage, or some great university….he grew up a common slave in Egypt.

God knew these things could work against his confidence, so the first thing God had to do was remind him THAT IF HE WANTED TO EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANT CHANGE THAT IT WOULD REQUIRE SIGNIFICANT COURAGE.

What is it that you think you can’t do..what is it that you think is too big…what is that you think disqualifies you from doing great things….IF YOU DON’T FACE THE DEMON OF DISCOURAGEMENT NOW AND BRING HIM DOWN, HE’LL RUN YOU AND CONTROL YOU FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. 

2. Live intentionally. 

Joshua 1:2 NLT  “Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them.

Joshua 1:2 MSG  “Moses my servant is dead. Get going. Cross this Jordan River, you and all the people. Cross to the country I’m giving to the People of Israel.

If you want things to be different in any area of your life, whether it’s your marriage, your finances, your business or your life in general….YOU ARE GOING TO NEED MORE THAN HOPE, YOU ARE GOING TO NEED TO EMBRACE RESPONSIBILITY.

You can wait, do nothing and just hope things will change… BUT THEY WON’T. Somewhere you have to begin to MAKE A PLAN, LIVE WITH PURPOSE…CHANGE YOUR DAILY HABITS.

Randy Gage – “You don’t create your future. You create your daily habits and they create your future.

• It’s ultimately your daily habits that will eventually create your future.

Philippians 3:14 NIV  I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Sit down and write out some goals this year…forget resolutions…I MEAN LIFE ALTERING GOALS…What do you want your marriage to look like in 6 months? What do you want your finances to realistically look like in 6 months? What do you not know now that you would like to learn in the next 6 months?

CHART A COURSE FOR YOUR 2020 AND THEN EVERY DAY ASK YOURSELF THIS FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION….”WHAT AM I DOING TODAY THAT IS MOVING ME TOWARDS THAT PURPOSE?” or “WHAT AM I DOING THAT I NEED TO STOP DOING THAT IS HINDERING ME FROM GETTING TO THAT PURPOSE?” 

3. Associate strategically.

Exodus 24:12-18 NKJV  Then the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and be there; and I will give you tablets of stone, and the law and commandments which I have written, that you may teach them.”  (13)  So Moses arose with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up to the mountain of God.  (14)  And he said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we come back to you. Indeed, Aaron and Hur are with you. If any man has a difficulty, let him go to them.”  (15) Then Moses went up into the mountain, and a cloud covered the mountain. (16) Now the glory of the LORD rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day He called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud.  (17) The sight of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel. (18) So Moses went into the midst of the cloud and went up into the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

Exodus 33:11 NKJV  So the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle.

• There are some things that you can only get through association.

One of the things that made Joshua ready for the next level of his life was that he hung out with a spiritual giant like Moses. Joshua had a front row seat to some of the gutsiest leadership that you will ever find in all the Bible. This guy was fearless in the face of his enemies, patient and longsuffering in the wake of a murmuring nation…constantly walked in the literal presence of a Holy God on mountains…and stood between that God and destruction on behalf of the people he had been called to lead…..He was something else….and Joshua hung out with him all the time. You think anything rubbed off?…..Everything rubbed off. Who you spend most of your time with matters.

See if you really want to know where you’re going just look at your closest associations.

Are all the people around you negative, complainers and critical and judgmental of everything and everyone who isn’t like them or believe like they do?

Proverbs 13:20 MSG Become wise by walking with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces.

4. Commit faithfully.

Joshua 1:8 NKJV  This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

It’s not enough to just know what to do…at some point you have to commit to become a person of action.

Procrastination is the arch enemy of your dreams and everything God has purposed for your life.

God never gives you a supernatural grace and strength TO DO until he sees that you have made a complete and faithful commitment TO DO.

Then once you step out… you unlock something supernatural that you will never experience as long as you sit in the boat and think about it….just ask Peter. All of the 12 disciples were on that boat that night, but only one can tell you what water feels like under your feet….any one of them could have experienced it but it was only experienced by the ONE WHO WAS WILLING TO DO WHAT NO ONE ELSE WAS WILLING TO DO.

What is it that you have been putting off? Don’t put it off one second longer and I promise 2020 will be an unforgettable year.

5. Embrace new opportunity .

Joshua stood on the edge of a monumental breakthrough with some unique knowledge….he knew that they had been here before, 40 years earlier but had failed to trust and believe God and the result was an incredible amount of wasted time and energy and the loss of tens of thousands of lives in the desert. But Joshua lived by a principle and a code that every one of us must accept if we ever expect to live a life of great purpose

• Just because we have failed, doesn’t mean we are failures.

Joshua knew they had been given a new opportunity, a second chance…and they weren’t about to waste it….this time it was going to be different. The previous years had been marked by aimless wondering and death…but the in the next 25 years Joshua and Israel would go on to conquer 6 nations and overthrow 31 kings. It was an amazing feat and one that might never have happened had they not been able to get over their past failures and mistakes.

Look, whatever you messed up in 2019…no matter how big the failure or how huge the mistake…DON’T BRING THAT GARBAGE INTO 2020…GOD HAS GIVEN YOU A NEW OPPORTUNITY, EMBRACE IT WITH A NEW PERSPECTIVE AND A FORWARD VISION.

6. Trust God completely.

Joshua 1:9 NKJV  Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Dismayed – shattered, to break down the courage of completely, as by sudden danger or trouble; dishearten thoroughly; daunt: to alarm; perturb:

Isaiah 41:10 NKJV  Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

Isaiah 41:10 AMPC  Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice.

The fact that God was with him, was all the confidence Joshua needed. In the final analysis of our lives….you can slice it, dissect it and analyze it any way you want…but it ultimately comes down to this… YOU EITHER TRUST GOD OR YOU DON’T.

I believe this is going to be SpringHill Church’s most amazing year yet. THE BEST IS YET TO COME!

The Command To Expand

(Isaiah 54:2-4 NKJV) “Enlarge the place of your tent, And let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; Do not spare; Lengthen your cords, And strengthen your stakes. (3) For you shall expand to the right and to the left, And your descendants will inherit the nations, And make the desolate cities inhabited. (4) “Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame…

(Isaiah 54:2-4 MSG) “Clear lots of ground for your tents! Make your tents large. Spread out! Think big! Use plenty of rope, drive the tent pegs deep. (3) You’re going to need lots of elbow room for your growing family. You’re going to take over whole nations; you’re going to resettle abandoned cities. (4) Don’t be afraid–you’re not going to be embarrassed. Don’t hold back–you’re not going to come up short…

Enlarge (HEB) = To expand, to widen, to go beyond, to make more room, to increase capacity, to go further, to occupy new territories with no limits or boundaries

“There is no limit to how far we can go this year.”

What Will It Take to Expand Our Vision?

Question and Answer:

“Lord, what will it take for us to fulfill our personal vision, as well as the vision for the church and ministry?”

• You will have to develop an uncommon faith to believe and receive all that God has planned for you.
• The Dictionary defines “uncommon” as: out of the ordinary, unusual.

 

• Uncommon faith says, “If God’s Word says it is so, then it is so.”
• Uncommon faith says, “I see it NOW.”
• Uncommon faith says, “I receive it NOW.”
• Uncommon faith says, “I have it NOW.”

Paul’s Strategic Faith Development Plan

(1 Thessalonians 3:10 AMP) (10) [And we] continue to pray especially and with most intense earnestness night and day that we may see you face to face and mend and make good whatever may be imperfect and lacking in your faith.

(1 Thessalonians 3:10 NLT) (10) Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith.

Paul had a strategic plan to move their faith up to the next level.

Two months later they had experienced stunning results.

(2 Thessalonians 1:3 NKJV) (3) We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other,

(2 Thessalonians 1:3 MSG) (3) You need to know, friends, that thanking God over and over for you is not only a pleasure; it’s a must. We have to do it. Your faith is growing phenomenally; your love for each other is developing wonderfully. Why, it’s only right that we give thanks.

Steps to Develop an Uncommon Faith

In order to develop uncommon faith, you will have to take some uncommon steps.

1. Realize your faith potential.

(Romans 12:3 KJV)  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Billye Brim quoting David Baron in Glory Watch Magazine:

“God loves to communicate His absolute, limitless goodness to all. The only thing that limits Him from imparting His goodness to any human being is that person’s capacity to receive.”

• We all have an unlimited faith capacity.
• How far we go is totally up to us.

2. Receive Jesus as the Developer of Your Faith

(Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV) Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (2) looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus will become our “Faith Trainer” when we decide to live by faith. He will develop our faith the same way a trainer develops our body.

Expect Him to develop our faith every time we put our faith on the line.

• When we stand on 1 Peter 2:24 for healing
• When we stand on Philippians 4:19 for our needs
• When we stand on Romans 13:8 for our debt freedom

As our faith begins to grow, Satan’s dominion begins to wane and circumstances will yield and no longer look overpowering to us.