INTRODUCTION: Saturday brought the final ending of the holiday season at the Scott household.  The Christmas tree came down (it usually comes down  on New Year's Day, but we were out of town).  Bonnie started to work diligently on repacking the holiday decorations, while I labored at the computer to finish my studies.  I looked up at my trusty Civil War Calendar that had become like an old friend over the last year and I realized that 
I needed to put up my 1998 calendar.  It was with just a little twinge of  sadness that I took down the old one and replaced it with the new.

        Isn't that the case with last year.  It became an old friend, something that we were used to.  There were some triumphs in it, and some disappointments as well.  But it seems that just when we got used to it being there forever, it was gone.  1998 is here!  What will be my attitude toward it spiritually?  So much of what the New Year will be is dependent on our 
attitude.  Our attitude should be what Paul stated in Philippians 4:13.
 

BODY
 

 I.    "I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME."
 

A.      I need to be concerned about my own salvation. 20

 
1.      Philippians 2:12-  "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed , not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;"

2.      Acts 2:40-  "And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation."

B.      We will all stand before God to answer for ourselves, not someone else.
 

1.      2 Corinthians 5:10-  "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad."

2.      Romans 14:12-  "So then each of us shall give account of himself to God."

II.    "I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME."

 
A.      We should be positive about the future - see the potential.

1.      Numbers 13:30-  "Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, "Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.""

2.      Hebrews 13:13-  "Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach."

3.      Ephesians 3:12-  "in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him."

4.      Franklin Roosevelt - "We have nothing to fear, but fear itself."

B.      Some only see the problems in the coming year.

1.      Numbers 13:31-  "But the men who had gone up with him said, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.""

A.      Our faith is nothing if it does not prompt us to serve the Lord with all our might.

1.      James 1:22-  "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."

2.      James 2:18-  "But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."

3.      Ecclesiastes 9:10-  "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going."

B.      God has set before us a race to run, a victors crown to win.  We are not spectators.

1.      1 Corinthians 9:24-  "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain  it."
2.      We must run the race in 9198, so that we will not be ashamed to meet the Lord.

a.      2 Timothy 4:7-  "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

A.      We must not limit what both we and the church will do in this year.

1.      Romans 8:36-39-  "As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." {37} Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. {38} For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, {39} nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

2.      Ephesians 3:20-  "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,"

B.      A little bit of faith can go a long way.

1.      Matthew 17:20-  "So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you."

2.      1 John 5:14-15-  "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. {15} And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him."

A.      The key to success - Jesus will help us.

1.      2 Timothy 4:14-18-  "Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. {15} You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words. {16} At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. {17} But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message  might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear . And I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. {18} And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!"

B.      We must continue to abide in Christ.

1.      John 15:5-8-  ""I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. {6} "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. {7} "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. {8} "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples."

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