As this year ends, I was thinking back over the past years of my life. There is one thing that came to mind. I sure wish I had the money I have spent in trading cars through my lifetime. I use to trade cars pretty often. The ole van I drive now is a 2002 model and has over 180,000 miles on it. I guess I have learned at least a little through the years. Some trades I made were good for me, some were not. But Trade I Did.
As we come into this new year, I would like to encourage us to Trade the Old Year for the New Year God has set before us. I know I didn’t get everything I had hoped for accomplished in 2010. And if I am not careful I can get sidetracked and siappointed in what didn’t happen that I want to have happen. But God has blessed us this past year in 2010. He has blessed us beyond measure. He has blessed us beyond what I and I would assume beyond what many or you expected. God has blessed us.
Just since October, we have seen 14 or 15 people make professions of faith in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.
In a time when many churches, businesses, families and charitable organizations have been hurting, we have had one of our best financial years in a long time. Taking in as of November $13,708.96 more than we budgeted.
We have spent the last 12 months Preaching and Teaching on Becoming People of Passion. Hoping and praying that we a s a church are becoming passionate about the things Christ is Passionate about.
Passion for God
Family & Marriage
The body of Christ
Personal purity
The power of the Holy Spirit
Genuine humility
Witnessing and the Lost
Our Nation
Let me clarify what I mean by that word Passionate. While passion often involves emotions, it is so much more. It is being deeply committed to something so you give it your all. Passion engages the heart and moves the will to action. Passion chooses the right course even when the feelings are absent. Passion longs for the eternal over the temporal.
So with that said, our passion, like Christ’s Passion should move us to action.
James 1:21-25 (KJV)21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
I am challenging us to TRADE our talk for the Walk, to TRADE our Talk for Action in 2011.
The time we have on this earth is short! It is shorter now that it has ever been; it is later than it has ever been. (The clock that struck 13)
We are not here to follow the teachings of this world, but to follow the teachings of His Word. The world is after more. This is a distorted view of the pursuit of meaning and happiness. Ours is not the pursuit of earthly treasures.
Matthew 6:19-20 (KJV) 19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
We read the Bible, we call ourselves people of the book, but it often seems we are saying I know what the Bible says, but…
Matthew 22:37-39 (KJV) 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
I think God id calling us to make a choice in 2011. Are we going to pursue the Me Mind Set of the World or are we going to truly follow after Christ?
God is calling us, this generation, this church, you and me, to be willing to trade in the pursuit of the American Dream for a World that desperately needs His Son.
God is calling us to Be TRADERS! A new type of missionary. Who is on mission, trading talk for action! It is time we live out our faith and stop just talking about it. God is calling us to daily choose to be intentional with our time, money, and skills.
When we see someone in need, we choose to help!
We need to see our service and work as worship to the Lord.
Colossians 3:22-24 (KJV) 22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: 23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
What can we do?
Wal-Mart umbrellas when it rains
Cut wood for needy
Shovel snow
Visit the nursing homes
Do random acts of kindness
Witness
Reach Out
Tract ministry
Carry out groceries for elderly at the store
Have a booth at the Walk for the cure, Heritage Days
Hand out Water
Go on a mission Trip Home or Abroad
And the list can go on and on.
Finally, When do we start? The TRADER must act now! The time is short. We need to be redeeming the time.
Will you commit to be Kingdom Focused in 2011?
Will you Commit to making a Difference?
Will you commit to using your time, money, talents for the glory of God?
Will You Be A TRADER?