New Year's Eve Service
[SCRIPTURE READING]
Revelation 21:1-5 CSB
The New Creation
21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.
3 Then I heard a loud voice from [heaven] Look, God’s [tabernacle] is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things[e] have passed away.
5 Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.”
Proverbs 3:5-8 CSB
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways know him,
and he will make your paths straight.
7 Don’t be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8 This will be healing for your body
and [strengthening for] your bones.
● How was your 2023?
● Did you accomplish what you set out to accomplish?
Proverbs 3:5 CSB
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart…
and do not rely on your own understanding…”
● It’s difficult to trust in God’s goodness sometimes.
● It’s difficult to let go of OUR understanding of things.
Proverbs 3:6-8 CSB
“in all your ways know him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Don’t be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
This will be healing for your body
and [strengthening for] your bones.
● We are not God.
● Don't be wise in your own eyes.
● We can’t know everything.
● We can’t see how He’s working everything out.
● We can’t possibly know what’s best for our lives.
Proverbs 3:8 CSB
This will be healing for your body
and [strengthening for] your bones.
● Now I want you to think about your year…your 2023.
● What are some of the good things that happened this year?
● What do you have to be thankful for?
● What has God done in your life?
● What is He doing in your life, even now?
Let Us Recount All the Wonderful Works of the Lord
Isaiah 63:7 ESV
7 I will recount the steadfast love of the Lord,
the praises of the Lord,
according to all that the Lord has granted us…
Psalm 9:1 ESV
1 I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.
Psalm 75:1 ESV
1 We give thanks to you, O God;
we give thanks, for your name is near.
We recount your wondrous deeds.
Psalm 79:13 ESV
13 But we your people, the sheep of your pasture,
will give thanks to you forever;
from generation to generation we will recount your praise.
Psalm 118:14-17 ESV
14 The Lord is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.
15 Glad songs of salvation
are in the tents of the righteous:
“The right hand of the Lord does valiantly,
16 the right hand of the Lord exalts,
the right hand of the Lord does valiantly!”
17 I shall not die, but I shall live,
and recount the deeds of the Lord.
Psalm 77:11-12 ESV
11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your wonders of old.
12 I will ponder all your work,
and meditate on your mighty deeds.
Psalm 40:5 CSB
5 Lord my God, you have done many things—
your wondrous works and your plans for us;
none can compare with you.
If I were to report and speak of them,
they are more than can be told.
● God is good!
● And He has amazing plans for us.
Revelation 21:1-5 CSB
The New Creation
21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.
3 Then I heard a loud voice from [heaven] Look, God’s [tabernacle] is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things[e] have passed away.
5 Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.”
● This is where we are heading.
● The new year is another opportunity to get better…
● To make improvements
● To make adjustments
● To allow God to make us a little bit more “new”
Psalm 90:12 CSB
12 Teach us to number our days carefully
so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.
● Wisdom is knowing that time is precious.
DREAM GUIDE
● Useful tool
● Spiritual, relational, personal, work, emotional.
● It’s helpful.
● So in this new year…
● Allow God to continue His work of making you “new.”
● Allow Him to help you let go of what is NOT helpful…
● Allow Him to help you hold fast to what is good…
Hebrews 12:1-2 CSB
12 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, 2 keeping our eyes on Jesus,[a] the pioneer and perfecter[b] of our faith. For the joy that lay before him,[c] he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
● We’ve got a race to run.
● Let’s run it well.
● God has a dream for your life.