Scott Hooper, guest speaker
5 Resolutions for You in 2022
Scott Hooper
There are many things that the people in the Bible were resolute, unwavering and determined in. As you read the Bible this is actually a good question to ask: What was this person’s resolute “non-negotiable”?
Abraham
Daniel
Saul
David
Paul
Jonah
1) Be resolute (or stand firm) in freedom
Gal 5:1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
Yoke: A Yoke is a teaching. A system of belief.
Don’t be yoked together with unbelievers
Jesus: take my YOKE its light
Slavery: There are mindsets and beliefs that lock us into a patterns of sin and chaos. Things that enslave us. Many times our New Years Resolutions revolve on changing the fruit of these things. WHAT I BELIEVE ABOUT ANYTHING IS HOW I WILL DEAL WITH EVERYTHING.
2) Be resolute in Unity
Phil 1:27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,
The opposite of this is a place that is not firm it is standing alone. In isolation.
ISOLATION- Latin root= island
But its not my fault that I’m isolated. If you are resolute in unity….
“If you want a friend be a friend.”
There is a difference between being a friend and being friendly.
We need each other for:
• Accountability
• Encouragement
• Life change
[Rom 12:18 ESV] 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
3) Be resolute in resisting sin and the enemy
1Pe 5:8-9 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
• We know the enemy is a one act show. He is seeking someone to devour- we need to be active in resisting
• Resist him standing firm in faith — the truth of who Almighty God is, the truth of who God says you are (you are his people if you trust Him), and what happens in the heavenlies when Almighty God indwells his people- the enemy can’t stand up against that.
• Other brothers and sisters are resisting successfully so you can too.
4) Be resolute in Faith
AGAIN- 1Pe 5:8-9 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
1Co 16:13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
The story of Jesus in the Garden
[Mat 26:40-41 ESV] 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
• The only thing Jesus asked his disciples is to watch
• How was Jesus demonstrating watching? PRAYER
• Be watchful- discern the times- discern what is really going on, be prayerful and have an ongoing conversation with God.
• Have you ever asked, Lord, what does this mean? How would you want me to respond to this? I’m seeing this shift in culture. What do you think about this?
• My experience is that he does not usually confirm my bias—my already formed opinions but he challenges them. Through prayer and through Scripture
5) Be resolute in the Word
Tit 1:9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
These are one of the qualifications of an elder or leader in the church, but I believe is a call for all believers. How do we call ourselves believers and yet do not know what the Word really says?
Think of all these resolutions I mentioned. The Word defines and informs all of them.
III It’s hard to get life right, but can I make a really, really BOLD statement?
If the Word isn’t central to your life, you wont get life right. If the Word isn’t central, then Jesus can’t be central and the work that Christ came to do will not be central and you move further and further off center further and further away from Truth with a capital “T” and you will just simply believe anything.
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