New Year; New Life – YOUR Choice

Everyone reading this has survived 2024, which we know is never a given. Many of us have lost family members and friends…my heart goes out to you. While you are alive you choose eternity in heaven or suffering in hell. Although most people reading this have chosen heaven, many overlook the fact that all humans can change their quality of life while alive from just surviving to phenomenal. How so you ask?

Each second, minute, hour, day, etc. is an opportunity for a better life. You can be new, renewed, and refreshed! This better life does NOT depend on any other person, situation, or something that may or may not happen in the future. A better life depends only on you, your commitment to “act” versus “react” and a desire for the life God promises us in Jeremiah 29:11-12

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” Doesn’t that sound perfect?

There is no better comparison about going from “old to new” than what we find in the Old and New Testaments. Would you rather live all the judgment, laws, and the requirement of sacrifices of the Old Testament OR would you rather CLAIM the FREE blessings, forgiveness, mercy, and grace of the New Testament? My choice is easy!

The Old Testament is full of laws, rules, rituals, rites, sacrifices, and judgments rained upon humankind. There were so many “technical” things and rules that required your compliance that it left little time for love, praise, and a one-on-one relationship with God. It was centered on laws, wars, and judgment and not always on love and forgiveness.

The New Testament is how God REDEEMED us from all the sacrifices, rituals, and judgments found in the Old Testament, by lovingly and gently bringing us into His fold (protection). It is the story of how God sacrificed His only Son so that we could be reunited with Him in love and forgiveness. We now have an intercessor who has lived in a human body (incarnate) and knows our temptations, desires, and needs. Now, He sits at the right hand of God appealing to The Father for each of us in love instead of constant judgment.

There are some expectations in return for this new covenant. We have to HUMBLE ourselves, pray, praise, repent, and be obedient to the One who loves us the most. In return, we receive forgiveness of our sins and experience blessings, peace, love, support, and comfort. Best deal ever! We are also asked to “forgive the trespasses of others, as we desire the Father to forgive ours.” (Lord’s Prayer) We are also told to do as outlined in Matthew 25:35-40:

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

By the way, in case you didn’t know, this has always been the motto/creed that our church has based its focus and missions on since God told me to start MOM (Ministry of Mercy for Christ) 17 years ago! This church is the HANDS and FEET of Jesus on earth!

Anyway, back to YOU and your new life. As I have said at least a hundred times before, you must decide how you will ACT so that you don’t react badly to situations. Following the commandments, and God’s requirements, requests and desires is the best way to permanently change your life. Although it may seem difficult, it is not once it becomes a habit. Changing habits can be difficult the first week or two, but then it becomes your LIFESTYLE; Your choice to be righteous in His eyes.

Many of you have never sat in front of me as I delivered a sermon or led a Bible Study. Many of you have never belonged to my physical, in-person congregation. If you had, you would have personally witnessed lives transformed and improved with these simple changes:

Read the Word, DO the Word, Live as Jesus’ hands and feet on earth, and show mercy/grace to those who would hurt you. Doesn’t God say LOVE YOUR ENEMY? (Luke 6:27) Doesn’t He say it is easy to love those who love you, but so much more difficult to love the ones who are hurting and lash out at everyone around them? (Matthew 5:46-48) He reiterates this point for a reason! Love brings healing…for both the giver and receiver.

Let me give you a personal example of how my mother’s life changed from anger to acceptance. As I was teaching this exact concept one day she said “Well, I can control myself except when someone on the road cuts me off.” I said, “If you have control over your behavior, you can CHOOSE how you will act when someone does ANYTHING to you.” “YOU CHOOSE beforehand and then act according to your choices when ANY situation arises.” Just as you choose to accept Jesus, you can choose to implement His examples, lessons, and decrees in your life.

Those simple words saved my mom from much anger and initiated a change in her life which brought her much peace until she went home to be with Jesus almost 3 years ago. It also placed her in a position of righteousness with God because The Bible tells us many times not to be angry and that anger is a sin. Ultimately, my mom was extremely happy and appreciative of the changes that simple interchange brought to her life. You will be too!

Simple behavior changes can bring you the same peace, blessings and righteousness it brought to my life, my mom’s life and so many others. YOU CHOOSE! Once you realize that you can choose how to ACT instead of REACT, your life will exponentially improve and you will become a blessing to others. You will hand out love to everyone and forgive those who “trespass” against you. A new and better life awaits in 2025 because the seed of love and obedience is already inside of you! Jeremiah 31:33:

“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel. after that time," declares the Lord. "I will put my law in their minds. and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. (We are ALL now His people, therefore this applies to us! Thank you, Jesus!)

Jeremiah 32:40 - “I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never turn away from doing good to them, and I will put the fear of Me (respect) in their hearts so they will never again turn

away from Me. "I will make an agreement with them. This agreement will last forever. And I will never turn away from them. I will always be good to them.”

As you can read for yourself, God has placed Himself in our hearts so we know good from bad and right from wrong. There is no reason other than pride (Sin in the Garden of Eden) or rebellion to do anything other than what God has commanded (Old Testament) and taught us (New Testament).

YOUR BEST and NEW LIFE is a gift that has already been given to you. Are you ready to take this wonderful gift and start 2025 with renewed energy, love, and commitment to God? I certainly am and I love the PEACE that comes with the changes.

Amen and God bless. Until next week, Lisa ><>

If you enjoyed this sermon, check out our others here or if you have questions, please message us.