As we all know the beginning of a new year is a time to look back and remember, ideally with thanksgiving for what God has done….and for looking forward with hope to the future. It’s also a time to take stock.

“Search me O God and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” Psalm 139:23,24.

Last week God challenged us to remove any rubble that’s getting in the way of what God wants to build in us and through us. Have you done, or are you doing that ?
Is there anything that you’re still holding onto ? Let it go.

For the sake of the Kingdom, we can’t afford to be always introspective.
God expects repentance.
He expects to be Lord of your life, once you have declared Him to be that.
If you chose to follow Jesus it is a total commitment, all of who you are, for life.
Because you recognise that He is the God who made you and gave you life. He is the God who saved you through His suffering and death on the cross. You owe Him everything.

I don’t want anyone to miss out on what God is going to do. I want to see everyone in this church reach their full potential in Christ and become the best that we can be.
Evangelism and outreach, combined with prayer, is probably the best way to do that.
Some of my greatest times of growth have been doing evangelism….because you have to trust God,…..you have to overcome fear…..any sin in your life will become glaringly obvious and get in the way….especially any disunity or bad feeling towards others.
With evangelism and earnest prayer, we come closer to the heartbeat of God and what’s important to Him, ……and it changes us, it refines us.

There are many paradox’s in the Christian life. We die to self in order to live and so on.
One of those paradox’s is that although God is interested in every detail of our life because He loves us…..He doesn’t want us to be focussed on those things…..He’ll take care of us, we don’t need to worry. What He wants us to focus on is things unseen, things of eternal importance, Jesus, the Kingdom of God, His righteousness…..where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
“The world and it’s desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives for ever” – 1 John 2:17.
“Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness” – Matthew 6:33.

So what’s important to you ? Is it the things of God ? His Kingdom, His rulership ?

Three things God looks for in us, that are vital in our Christian walk :

Holiness – ‘Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no-one will see the Lord’ – Hebrews 12:14.

Love – ‘Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love’ – 1 John 4:8.

Faith – ‘Without faith it is impossible to please God’ – Hebrews 11:6.

These all mean obedience, and sacrifice.
Following Jesus will mean persecution and suffering…..just look at Paul’s life. But it also means love, joy, and peace in our hearts…even in the midst of suffering. God gives us all we need, every spiritual blessing in Christ.
The Christian norm, Biblically, is a life that is outwardly challenging, but inwardly at peace.
Have you got it that way round ?
So often though in the developed world, we seem to be trying to achieve the opposite – to make our lives as outwardly materialistic, comfortable, and pain free as possible, whilst getting totally stressed out internally, in the process.
Get God’s perspective, God’s priorities, God’s passion.

God’s desire for you, is of course to make you more like Jesus, by His Spirit’s work within you, but sometimes it’s good to think a little more specifically - He wants to develop, holiness, love, and faith. That’s what He will build in you as you repent, and He clears the rubble out of the way.
These are the things to co-operate with God in developing and growing, especially as we seek to reach out with the Gospel.

God wants people to come together under Him – it’s a gathering.
Non to perish but all to come to repentance and a knowledge of the truth.

This year we believe is to be a year of prayer and evangelism – to looking up and out. That will involve everyone who loves the Lord. It may be a bit scarey, certainly challenging, definitely life-changing, also hopefully rewarding. And we’re moving in this together – praying for, loving, forgiving, encouraging, and supporting each other. Unity is vital in evangelism. So lots of grace needed !

We’re going to start the year using a tool, a course called ‘The Way of the Master’ – to help us focus, grow in confidence, and do it.