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Show FIVE WAYS TO LOOK AS YOU START THE NEW YEAR Romans 6: 17 signs that we are called upon to obey invites us to "Stop, Look. Listen." To do one without doing the remainder is to risk injury and even death from a speeding One of the most memorable locomotive. When God called Gideon and the unknown army of the enemy, he told him to cut the numbers of his troops down by leaving those who did not keep ordered him to take on their eyes open. As we begin a new year and start into unfamiliar, new ground, we ought to start with eyes open. We must be aware of the that are behind and alert to those that are our things before us. The text tells us to "But God be servants of sin, but ye thanked, that ye were the LiiIP obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine bYf"e, {t!.>oit,(.,Jj t-z»: whic h was delivered you." (Romans 6: 17) It }.;_ t-iykf d.h-t-c-hrJ have · · seems as we to me begin First, that here this we are are five ways for us year. to look UPWARD with new 1 to look fl,tt;. thanksgiving. "But thanks be to God." What a great place to start the new year. Tell God how much you acknowledge and appreciate what He has done for you. Don't ever forget who brought The story is told about a young boy you over. who look down at an ant and bragged how big he invited him to look up to the heavens and realize how little he was. was until an Second, old man we are remembrance. "Y e look where from. We no darkness. We Third, were we were were death. But to look BACKWARD in and where bound longer by we have come rr,c./it sin and destined for are we are now we are the servants of sin." Just gtJ the children of the children of God. to look INW ARD with decision. "But ye have obeyed from the heart That old, cold heart has been warmed by the love " ... conformity to this world and its nature but we are transformed by the renewing of our minds. The old nature no longer controls us but we control it by the power of God's Spirit. The change occurs on the inside and works its of God. Not way out. 2 qJV Fourth, we are celebration. "Ye to look OUTWARD in was delivered." We have been set free. Our chains and shackles fell off and the door of the jail flew open. We are free by the power of deliverance. Since God has delivered us, we ought to rejoice and be glad. We ought to lift our voices in praise and sing to the glory of God. ought to tell the whole world that we have been blessed, we ought to tell the nations about We this. Fifth, we are to look ALL-AROUND in the Word of God. "That form of doctrine." We can trust His word. There is nothing else that will last and endure. For there is food for the hungry, thirsty, comfort for the bereaved, company for the lonely, peace for the anxious, hope for the hopeless, joy for the sad, and water for the salvation for the lost. AS WE START THIS YEAR OF UNCERTAINTY, LOOK UPWARD, BACKWARD, INWARD, OUTWARD, AND ALL AROUND. GOD IS IN THE WORD! 3 |
