Title: Victory in the New Year
Bible Book: 2 Corinthians 1 : 1-11
Author: J. Mike Minnix
Subject: New Year; Christian Living
Objective:
Victory in the New Year
Dr. J. Mike Minnix
Introduction
It is God's will for us to live victoriously in this New Year, and we can! We can live without hopelessness, fear, and utter frustration in the New Year before us if we are committed to Christ and confident of all His promises to us. To live in victory in we need to follow God’s plan for us, because the Christian knows that each day is really about a living in a relationship with the living Savior.
People around the world do some strange things in the hope that good things will come their way in the new year. For example, in America a lot of people eat black-eyed peas and greens on New Year’s Day in an attempt to ensure a year of health and wealth. I knew someone who did that every single year, and I asked, “You seem to be doing fine but you have some health problems and you are not financially independent, so why do you keep following this practice every year just before New Year's Day?” The person answered, “Yes, that is true, but just think how bad things would be if I didn’t eat black eyed peas and greens on New Year's Day every year!”
What can we do as we face an uncertain future, and we do face an uncertain future right now in our world. Terrorists are planning every day of the year how to kill us and how to destroy America’s freedom. We are told that there are viruses occurring for which we have no known vaccine, or there are vaccines but they are not fully trustworthy. Natural disasters, like great earthquakes and powerful bursts of energy from the sun can devastate our nation within hours. Add to this the fact that we all face trials and problems on a personal level that can suddenly bring sorrow, pain, and even death to our families. I not trying to discourage you this morning, but we might as well admit that we live in a dangerous world.
I want you to look with me at a man who faced crisis after crisis and yet found the inner strength and peace to rejoice in every situation. He was able to carry on this way because of his unique relationship with the Lord. So, let’s get a grip on some truths today that can help us make this New Year our best year of service for our Lord.
Note with me the text for today - 2 Corinthians 1:1-11 ...
"Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 7 And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation. 8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. 9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, 10 who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, 11 you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many."
In this text, you will note that Paul deals with the subject of suffering, and certainly he knew all about the subject personally and frequently. So, exactly how did Paul continue victoriously through every hardship? In viewing this, we can learn how we too can face the future with assurance and peace.
There are several things we need in our lives to ensure a great New Year.
I. We must have Salvation
Paul relates how he has been going through a great deal of suffering, and it is apparent that the previous year had not been an easy one for him, but note that he has not lost any hope of salvation. Why? He is confident because salvation is not dependent on the conditions under which we live. You see, Paul had something that the world could not take from him because the world had not given it to him.
Do you have the assurance of salvation? You can and certainly God wants you to be saved and to be assured that you are kept in His hand of security. Once we know that we have redemption through Christ, we can face the New Year with assurance. Our salvation is made sure because it is anchored in Christ, and He is at the right hand of God the Father.
Note with me Romans 8:28-39:
"28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:
'For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.'
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Clearly the Lord means for us to live in assurance of four things:
- His presence
- His power
- His plan
- His permanence
Nothing - absolutely nothing - can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord!
In Philippians 4:4-13 we discover anew that the peace of God is ours - a peace which goes beyond understanding; and furthermore, the God of peace Himself is with us:
"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. 10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Some years ago, while I was pastoring in South Carolina, I received a call stating that one of my church members had lost everything in a fire. Indeed, the home and all their personal belongings burned to the ground. It is hard for any of us to imagine how that must feel - only someone who has experienced it can truly grasp it. Yet, that family had not lost everything. The dad and mom were saved, and their two small children were safe and unharmed. Most important, they had something that a fire can’t burn, a storm can't blow away, a thief cannot steal, and time cannot erode. They had Christ and they shared with all of us what a comfort that fact was to them.
We do not lose our salvation, even when we are disobedient. Aren’t you glad! A farmer in Kansas had just gone through a terrific storm and had an insurance adjuster who arrived to survey the damage to his property. The adjuster noticed that the wind had lifted the roof of the farmer's barn and placed it on the ground about fifty feet away from the original site. The agent remarked, "I see you lost the roof to your barn.” The farmer answered, "No sir, it's not lost, it just ain't where I want it to be.” Likewise, we may not be were God wants us to be or even where we want to be in our walk with Him, but we haven't really lost what He gave us. Our salvation is assured, sustained and kept by the Lord.
As a Christian, you can live in the New Year knowing that you’re salvation is secure in Christ. If you have never trusted Christ as your Savior and Lord, you can do so today.
II. We must have Determination
To live well in this New Year, we must keep your God-given responsibilities in the forefront of our minds and hearts. Doing this will asssist in helping us concentrate on the positives rather than wallowing in the negatives of life. You see, when we are walking with Jesus, doing His will, and bringing Him glory, a peace surrounds us that life cannot steal from us.
Paul had faced a very difficult period in his life before writing the letter from which we read today. Yet, in the midst of all his troubles, he writes with confidence and determination. He did so because He had been walking with Jesus.
Doing God's will helps us look at the needs of others rather than focusing on our own trials and troubles. There is the story of a man in New York committed suicide. His financial books were in good order and so was the rest of his life. He left a note that read in part: "Not a word of encouragement in thirty years. I'm fed up.” Apparently he gave up because he had not a single encourager in his life. Somebody is waiting for you to share an encouraging word. Think about all the trials Paul faced, yet even in writing 2 Corinthians he was writing to encourage others.
If we get our minds off ourselves and concentrate on God's goodness and the needs of others, we can avoid the blues that pull so many Christians into defeat. When we get our minds on our Lord, our family, and others we can live with confidence in every situation. This is a commitment we need to make if we expect to give our best and live our best in the New Year.
III. We must have Appreciation
Paul speaks of the God of all comfort and uses the word "paracletos," which means the God who stands beside us. Paul rejoiced in every situation because he had an appreciation for the presence of God in his life. William Barclay reminds us that between verses 3 and 7 in our text today the noun "comfort" or the verb "to comfort" occurs nine times.
Dear Christian, an appreciation of all that God has done, is doing, and has promised to do, can lead us to victorious living no matter what the New Year holds for us. With appreciation of God's comfort and presence comes adoration, worship and praise. When we lift up our hearts in gladness we overcome the drag that can come about through harldships. We have the comfort of our Lord with us at all times. What a peace this brings to the heart of the child of God.
No matter what the New Year holds, God will be with us. That alone gives us cause to rejoice. I can live without fear in the New Year because I am blessed by the comforting presence of my Lord! As David penned, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want (Psalm 23:1)." David goes even further when he writes of the valley of the shadow of death. No one desires to go through the valleys of life, but appreciating the truth of His love for us means we can go through the valley of the shadow of death with a divine peace. It is in the valleys that we learn the meaning of David's words: “…though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, thou art with me.” Yes, we have a friend closer than a brother - our Lord is with us and is touched with the sorrows and hardships we face.
IV. We must have a Dedication
Many people make New Year’s resolutions, but they don’t keep them. That diet you committed to last year only lasted a few weeks - or maybe a few days - or perhaps only a few hours. It is strange, but a New Year's resolution can feel like a cement block tied around the neck. Most resolutions don’t last more than three weeks into the New Year.
As Christians, we don't need to make a resolution for the New Year, but rather we must have a new dedication to keep our commitments to God each day as believers. Make this commitment - to live all year in total dependence and commitment to Jesus. Think carefully about what this means. It means that we place all we are, all we have, and all we hope to be at His feet. We cast our cares upon Him, just as He told us to 1 Peter 5:7. This requires that we make up our minds to trust Him through it all. We can do that because He has promised never to leave us nor forsake us.
I read a poem some years ago, and I have long forgotten where I read it. But, I have not forgotten the words:
"Life is a book in volumes three
The past, the present and the yet to be
The first is written and laid away
The second we are writing everyday.
The next and last of these volumes three
Is hidden from sight - God holds the key."
If I live, God is with me; if I die, I am with God! I was not born to lose; I am born again to win, and even in my daily life I will win as I am fully submitted to the Spirit of God.
Conclusion
A man was working on a building one night when he slipped and fell, but he was able to hold on to a concrete lip on the building with the tips of his fingers. He cried for help, but amid the noise of the equipment no one could hear him. Finally, in total exhaustion, he let go and plunged six inches to a ledge that he did not realize was just below him. The man was only six inches from peace and yet he was holding on in dreadful fear of falling to his death.
Are you living as if youi are holding on in life by your finger tips? There is no need for that. Just let go! God is there and you can live in peace. You may say, "Preacher, you don't know what I'm going through." No, I don't, but I know who is with us as believers. I know He will never fail us, and I know we are "going through" and not standing still! If we do these things, we can and will have victory in this New Year.
He is calling us to Him - Now let us come to Him!
