GET TOGETHER – LIGHT UP THE NEW YEAR
Mt 5:14 -16″You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
This Sunday our Pastor spoke about speaking life and not death over 2020. what a good word that was. As believers and followers of Christ we bring light where there is darkness and life where there is death. While 2020 has been a year with many challenges it has also been a year for us as was with Queen Esther in the Old Testament a time that we have been brought into the Kingdom for such a time as this.
Should the Lord not return first 2021 will be here at Midnight Thursday night. To be honest with you there are challenges that I see to us as Christians in the coming year. For me as an evangelist and teacher will I be faithful to the Gospel as the world view of much of the culture that we live in becomes more hostile to the message of the Gospel? Will I be able to love my enemies as Jesus has commanded us to do in a hostile culture? Do I really believe that God can bring an awakening to this nation and turn this nation away from a humanistic secular worldview into a nation that honors and exalts the Lord Jesus Christ?
My honest answer is yes I believe that He can do those things in our lives through the power of the Holy Spirit. In our own flesh we can do nothing. But just as He gave the Apostle Paul strength to be a faithful witness during a time of persecution, He will give us the strength and the love to glorify Jesus Christ during the season that we are going into. And yes, I believe that through the Holy Spirit He will not let His church rest until we cry out for an Awakening that will bring those who oppose the Gospel into the Kingdom of God.
I believe the Jesus that changed the Apostle Paul on the Road to Damascus can still change the heart of the vilest sinner today. I don’t know who you have on your prayer list, but on mine I have some names of people who put lots of money into ungodly causes and organizations. Jesus loves them. He died on the cross for them. I am praying for them to come into the Kingdom. In stead of trash talking some of these people begin talking to God about them. Think about it. If God could change the heart of the King of Nineveh and put him in sack cloth and ashes can not He still do it today?
This is an opportunity for the church to really shine. Remember where there is darkness a light will really shine bright. Make a New Year’s commitment that in this coming year that you are going to let your light shine. That wherever there may be darkness that when you come on the scene that place is going to get Holy Spirit illuminated. Remember when Jesus told them to let their light shine that they were living in a country occupied by a foreign army. They would face persecution from the religious establishment. And yet they were called to be a light. So, as we close out 2020 and get ready to move into 2021 let’s all recommit to letting our light shine in such a way that we glorify our Father who is in Heaven.
Let Us Pray
Lod we thank You for the opportunities that you have given us to let our light shine in 2020. Please forgive us for the times that we failed to take advantage of those opportunities. We pray today that we will learn from any of the mistakes that we might have made this past year and go into 2021 with a passion to let our lights shine before men and women in a way that they will be drawn to You. We believe that it is still true that if You be lifted up that all men and women will be drawn to You!
In Jesus Name
Amen
Happy New Year from J.J. and I
Your Friend/Kinfolk
Preston
Real Party Ministry 