01-06-2019 – Trusting and Serving God in 2019…

Bible Text: Isaiah 43:18-19 | Pastor: Pastor Mike | Here is the bulletin insert so you can follow along while you listen. For the full pastor’s notes, please click on the link.

Isaiah 43:18-19

Isaiah 43:18-19, “Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.”
Jeremiah 29:11, “’For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.’”
God gives us everything we need to know and serve Him on earth, while trusting Him for eternity in heaven.
2Peter 1:3, “His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and [goodness] excellence.”
God has provided marvelous resources:
His Word (see John 1:1-2, 14; 5:39; 14:6; 17:17) His Spirit (see John 3:5-8; 14:15-17,26; 16:8-9) His Church (see 1Corinthians 12:12-14, 18-20, 27; Colossians 1:18)
Christ secured forgiveness for all who believe in Him (see Romans 1:1-4; 10:9-10; 1Corinthians 15:1-4).
God wants to save us through Christ the Lord.
1Timothy 2:3-4, “God our Savior… …desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
2Peter 3:9, “The Lord is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”
So why don’t we naturally trust and serve God? Because sin in us separates us from God.
See Romans 3:10-12, 22-24; 6:23; 5:8; 10:13… Through Adam’s sin death came to all of us, in Christ
we are forgiven and saved (Romans 5:12-14; 12:1-2). Jeremiah 29:13, “You will seek Me and find Me when
you search for Me with all your heart.”
Hebrews 4:16, “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
James 4:8, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”
Colossians 3:16-17, “ Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching… …thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”
Hebrews 10:22-24, “Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith… Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”
God’s Spirit is in us (cf Ephesians 1:13-14) and we can (cf 1Corinthians 2:16), know the mind of God; and we can show (Matthew 5:16) [God’s] “light, that others may see our good deeds and praise God in heaven.”
See 1Peter 2:12; 3:15-16…
See 1John 2:4-5…
Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.”
See Philippians 4:6-7, 12-13, 19…
God promises pain free eternity in heaven, forever! 1Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my dear brothers and firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
Colossians 3:12-17, “As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”