WHERE’S YOUR RESOLUTION?

·         What if Bible characters tweeted their resolutions?
 

·         41% of people make New Year’s resolutions, but only 9% are successful

·         Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem (Lk 9:51)

THE LAST STRAW 

·         stymied by Pharaoh’s roadblock, Moses returned to the Lord (Ex 5:22)

·         challenges present opportunity for God to make His name known (Ex 6:2f)

GOD NEEDS NO HEARING AIDS

·         Provoked, Hannah prayed to the Lord: “Samuel” means “heard of God” (1Sam 1:10,20)

·         The prayer of the upright pleases God (Pr 15:8)

WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAN’T SAVE ANYTHING

·         Having lost everything, greatly distressed, David found strength in the Lord (1Sam 30:6)

WANT MOST WHAT GOD WANTS

·         Deeply distressed & troubled, Jesus prayed for God’s will not His own to be done (Mk 14:36)

·         Do our New Year’s resolutions really reflect God’s priorities / seek His Kingdom first? (Mt 6:33)

·         2^nd member of the Trinity asked his closest friends to keep watch with Him (Mk 14:33,37)

STRONGER THAN STONES

·         stoned & left for dead, Paul revived after the disciples gathered around him (Ac 14:19)

·         near martyrdom, Paul drew confidence knowing God and that God was able to guard him (2Tim 1:12)

·         deserted by many, still Paul was refreshed by Onesiphorus who searched hard for him (2Tim 1:16f)

RESOLUTE DESPITE COMFORTS, CONFORMITY, COMMITMENTS

·         as a Missionary church - on the mission field, you have to be adaptable

·         Jesus challenges our comfort: no place to lay one’s head (Lk 9:58)

·         Jesus challenges our conventions: go proclaim the kingdom, not waiting around for someone to die (Lk 9:60)

·         Jesus challenges our commitments: not even family to be an idol - can’t serve God and look back (Lk 9:62)

KEEP IT SIMPLE - PROFOUNDLY, RESOLUTELY

·         reformed drunk’s haunting question: “If you were to die tonight, where would you spend eternity?”

·         Jesus doesn’t expect us to be polished, but faithful: keep it simple