The LORD's Day December 30,2007

Good News for the New Year

Joshua 1
Philippians 3.7-14

In a few hours 2007 will be over and we will begin the year 2008.

All of the New Year’s as far back as I can remember in my life have been with the church. The week in between Christmas and the 1st of January hold a very special place in my memory. I remember a couple of times going from Long Island to the Poconos for a winter retreat. They were great times back in the 1970's as a teenager.

I remember watch night services where more than once I was literally on my knees in the church when the clock struck midnight and the New Year began. I even remember occasions when, after the service ended, my folks would have people over. I thought it was pretty cool to have company at the house at one in the morning

It was a little sad to see the vacation come to an end when I was younger but New Year’s Day was always a family day and we enjoyed it together. I remember one year going to the city, going to Chinatown and eating. Life is good. I get to do that a lot now

For us as believers the New Year can be a time of new beginnings and new ventures in serving Jesus. It can be a time of joyful transition, a time of looking to the LORD for direction and hope. It can also be a time of wonder. Will this be the year Jesus comes for His Bride?

Joshua 1 is a transitional chapter.
1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: 2 Moses my servant is dead. Now then...

Moses had led the people of God for 40 years. His time had come to an end. New leadership was about to take its place in the nation of Israel. It was a time of change and renewal, a time of reflection and challenge. This New Year can be like that too.

1. Change is happening with or without us.

We may not like what is happening in the world today. It is definitely changing. A number of times the past week I have been a part of conversations about how things have changed. I watched a few movies that had situations in them that with the cell phones we have today would make such a situation absurd.

Think of all the options you have had at your disposal that you have turned down so as to not complicate your life.

Social structure is under enormous change today. Our society has spun out of control and many things we were used to are no more. We watch as for example the Suffolk Life Newspaper is no longer being delivered to us in this region.

Now then...
*We need to keep moving (v.2) We are not in the Promised Land yet
When I was going through a difficult time some years ago a wise man told me, “Larry this is not heaven ” Watch when God speaks the obvious- it may not be so obvious to you... Moses, my servant is dead- he was such a great leader that the exact location of grave is unknown, lest the people enshrined it and never moved across the Jordan.

Don’t look for heaven on earth- it is not in the world. In this world we will have trouble. But Jesus has overcome the world and soon He will come to reign on it Retirement is in heaven.

*God’s Promises are still true.(v.3-4) Change on earth has no bearing on the promises from our Father in heaven We can think that sometimes.. That was for then... The promises made to Moses are now Joshua’s. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Ministry is still seeking to bring the gospel to the lost. Samaritan’s Purse is still taking care of people in great need even though Bob Pierce is in heaven. The church of Jesus Christ constant will remain.

He is faithful to all His Promises You can depend upon God’s Word. Those whom He breathed it through are now in heaven, many whom we heard give it to us early in our walk are now with Jesus. He is raising up faithful ones to carry it into the 21st century.

* God’s Presence is still with us. (v.5) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. He was with Moses. He will be with Joshua and Jesus told us that as His followers He will be with us always right up to the end when we go to be with Him and see Him face to face.

One of the things people who have gone through the dark night of the soul often say is that when I was going through it I did not feel God’s Presence. He seemed far away. But now I realize He was with me in that furnace. He was with me in that valley. He was there when I was down so low I thought I would never come out.

The times they are a changing...like never before in the history of the world As we journey through Proverbs this winter and into the spring, let’s allow the LORD to fill us with His wisdom so that we can serve this present age for God’s Glory Let’s remained anchored to the Rock, Christ Jesus but in touch with the times.


2. Renewal can and should be invigorating. (vs. 6-8, 10-16)

Be renewed this new year. Let the new things God is doing and the fact that you are a new creature in Christ touch your soul.

You are a new creature II Corinthians 5.17
Old things have passed away and all things have become new If you are not sensing this newness go back and do the things you did at first. There is no substitute for time spent in God’s Word and in times talking with Him.

He is doing new things Isaiah 43.18-19
The question the LORD had Isaiah ask was if the people did not perceive what He was doing? It would be horrible to miss out on some work God is doing I don’t want to miss a thing He has for me. It is all good

Let’s seek to be a part of what He is doing

Today He is at work.

THE TOP TEN PREDICTIONS FOR 2008

1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
2. Prayer will still work.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed teaching of His Word.
6. There will still be singing of praise to God.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will still save the lost

3. Reflection can be helpful. (v.17)

I do not believe that we should live in the past but I do not believe we should throw away our past either. Here is a healthy balance. Let’s keep serving the LORD like we have. Let’s look fr the LORD to keep working as He has in faithfulness and power and love.

Reflecting on our past can be helpful Isaiah 51.1 Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness
and who seek the LORD : Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn;

Paul wrote in I Corinthians 1.26-27 Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

Reflect back on what you were when you began this walk with Jesus. Remember your humble beginnings. Look at where God has brought us. He has adopted us and we are servants of the King


4. Challenge can be intimidating or inviting. (v.9)

The deciding factor is our trust in the LORD. The LORD is going to be with you in 2008.

That often shows up in our prayer life.

Be strong in Him and take your courage from Him.

Don’t be terrified. We live in a time of terror. Not the first time the world has had this problem. Most of the time in which the Bible was written was a time of terror. When Jesus was here on earth it was a time of terror. Just look at the way He died

There is a war on terror today and we are in the middle of it. Look at what happened in Pakistan this week. These are terror filled times. Yet we are told plainly not to allow them to terrorize us

These are difficult times as well but we are told not to be discouraged. I like that. God seeing all, seeing much much more than we see, is telling us there is reason for hope in this New Year. Israel was going be at war for a while and it didn’t even have an army and they had their families with them and God is telling them not to be discouraged

This word discouragement can be translated shattered or broken. Don’t fall apart Don’t let your heart get torn up by what is going on. Don’t get pulled apart by all the evil around you. Don’t be overcome with evil but overcome evil with good


5. There is a wonderful passage for this New Year (Philippians 3.7-14)

It goes along with this idea of moving on, pressing on to that what is ahead. I am stretching toward that which is in front of me.

We can go into this New Year wishing we were back in 1968, a time of war in Viet Nam, time of assassinations in our own country, a time when people were wishing they were back in 1928

We can face the new year as a pessimist. But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved. Hebrews 10.29

We can go into this New Year with hope and instead of shrinking back we can actually push ahead toward what is coming up. But we can only face it that way if Jesus is with us and if He is with us we should not face it any other way


So in these final hours we must make a decision. How are we going? The issue isn’t whether we will face it or not. Everyone alive will. If we say well it doesn’t matter then you have already made a decision to mess up. These are demanding times. Only those with their faith in Jesus have hope

Let’s look at 2008 as Joshua and the nation of Israel looked at crossing the Jordan and possessing the Promised Land. The past generation had failed but they were trusting in God to bring them in and He did

Let’s look at this New year as Paul looked at his life as He wrote to the Philippians. He was pressing ahead towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called him heavenward in Christ Jesus. Some of us may make it to heaven this year All of us may

Let’s hit that finish line in full stride. Only once in my memory did I have the joy of hitting the tape at the end of a race. It was wonderful. I had finished the race in first place People were cheering for me and I did it. It didn’t bother me that the better runners were given the day off that spring day. I finished first.

There is a great welcome like a the end of the marathon that will take place in Beijing this summer. The runners will run for 25 miles and the last mile will be with the cheers of 10's of thousands who have come to China and are watching the race. Lets keep going right into 2008!

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The LORD’s Day
December 30, 2007

We Worship In Singing
We Worship In Prayer
We Worship In Hearing the Word of God
Good News for the New Year
Joshua 1, Philippians 3.10-17
*Tithes and Offerings can be placed in the box at the rear of the sanctuary*
Please join us for bagels and coffee downstairs if you are visiting today.

This Week
Bible Reading Proverbs 11
Monday Men’s Prayer Meeting 6:30am in the church basement
Wednesday &Thursday Bible Studies will resume next month
Next Lord’s Day
Morning Prayer- 10am in the church basement
Morning Worship- 10:30am(Sunday School for Children) The LORD’s Supper
Spanish Service- 4pm
In Your Prayers For All of God’s People

Remember the men serving in the armed forces: Bradley, Julia Bujold’s grandson with Special Forces in Afghanistan, home on leave right now, Ken Brown, Pastor’s friend’s son finished his third tour of Iraq- His parents thank us for praying for him. Billy Knapp, Jr. in Iraq with the Marines (neighbor of the church and Pastor- Billy’s sister graduated from Good Shepherd). Stateside now being redeployed in April... Matthew Klaus, brother of Good Shepherd parent in Iraq as a firefighter for Haliburton. Pastor’s nephews’ and niece’s cousin Kim’s husband, Jay, in Iraq. Pray for them and the others away from their families. Praise God for keeping David Louis, Jake Morgan, Ken Brown and Tom Hindelang, Billy Knapp Jr. safe during their times in Iraq. Pray for peace. Katharina’s Family in the loss of her daughter... Remember Robert, her son-in-law and her grandsons, Norman, Raymond &Jonathan and their families. Kathy, Ziggy and Margot’s daughter-in-law, under the doctor’s care for fibromyalgia. Thank God for answers to prayer for her. Pray for Eloise Brooks’ Family in their loss and sorrow... Remember Jean Louis on dialysis. Grace Martin, Edie Raevis’ daughter, recovering from surgery on her back and uindergoing Physical Therapy. Edie’s daughter’s mother-in-law, Millie Espisito remains in serious condition. Reginald Mooney, friend of Terri and John Garry, with a tumor in his kidney. Please remember Pastor’s friend Kim Richardson’s daughter, Kelly recovering from a mastectomy. Please remember this whole family in prayer..she has completed chemo therapy for now and is undergoing another round of radiation. ... Lucy Mancini under Orthopedic Specialist’s care and physical therapy for pain and injuries resulting from the accident. Pastor’s Dad, Larry Mancini, Sr. in the hospital, the infection is clearing up. There is a blog for him: www.papa2all.blogspot.com . Stephen Huges, brother of a Good Shepherd Nursery School Mom, their parents home in Hewlett was destroyed in a fire.. Please remember Dr. And Mrs. Mucci in your prayers as well as Judy’s daughter Tatum. Alice Gordon’s family in the loss of her brother, Everette, Please remember his wife Monica and the whole family... Anka’s family in the loss of her dad. Joey Reda (Charlie and Diane Davison’s Grandson) experiencing some heart arrhythmia. Prudy’s Mom, Rose Ragusa, undergoing treatment- doing well. Jack Simon, a friend of Pastor’s, undergoing treatment for a lung problem...Pray for those children who will receiving Christmas shoe boxes this week. Remember those who lost family and friends in the cyclone in Bangladesh... Leah May facing surgery. Please pray for healing.. Bart Moleta, Helen and Bob Pawson’s son-in-law, tests came back well. Rianna’s brother’s family in their time of loss. Frank Watson, friend of Pastor’s from Bible College, who lost his wife... Pastor and Lucy’s Aunt Vivian has returned tot he hospital due to another fall. Janine Van Cott recovering from back surgery. Tania MacDonald’s Mom, Eloise Naves, went to be with the LORD last week. Please remember her and her family in prayer.
Thank You
Thanks so much for the meaningful card and the generous gift you gave us last Sunday. We know you love us and that is such a wonderful feeling For the past 24 years we have worshiped the LORD at Christmas together. It continues to be a blessing and a joy God bless each of you Love and Prayers, Pastor and Lucy

Notes on Our Time in God’s Word This Morning...

Good News For the New Year

Joshua 1, Philippians 3

Pastor’s messages are now available online:
http://thesundaymorningmessage.blogspot.com/
Church e-mail: bayshorenaz@rock.com
Church Phone: 631-969-1730
1314 Pine Acres Boulevard, Bay Shore, Long Island, NY 11706-5436