Looking Ahead

(Pastor Harlan originally preached this as a year-ender message last December 2006.)

Looking Ahead Thankfully

• 2 Samuel 2:50 Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.
• 1 Chronicles 16:34 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.
• Nehemiah 12:31 Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies of them that gave thanks, whereof one went on the right hand upon the wall toward the dung gate.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
• Revelation 11:17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.

Looking Ahead Hopefully

• 1 Corinthians 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
• The Bible speaks of both long-term and short-term hope. Long-term hope refers to our expectation of the coming of Christ. Short-term hope refers to optimism of our immediate future.
• Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Looking Ahead Purposefully

• Proverbs 3:6,7 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
• God prepares our path, but it is our duty to prepare our walk!

Growing Stronger Together

1. Growing Together through Learning (Ephesians 4:14 – There will be no longer be infants tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. NIV)
2. Growing Together through Laboring (Ephesians 4:16 – From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. NIV)
3. Growing Together through Loving (Ephesians 4:15 – Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.)

We can UNITE without loving,but we cannot LOVE without uniting.

The Power of His Resurrection

1. It Proves the Validity of His Gospel. (I Corinthians 15:14; I Corinthians 15:51-55)
2. It Proves the Value of His work. (Romans 4:25)
3. It Proves His Promise of Life. (Romans 8:11; Romans 6:5)

Results of Christ's Death

Isaiah 53:5 (But He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.) New King James Version

Wounded for Our Sins

1. The Power of Sin
2. The Pleasure of Sin
3. The Presence of Sin
4. The Product of Sin

Beaten for Our Peace

1. Uncertainty of the Future
2. Lack of Assurance
3. Doubt / Lack of Confidence
4. Perceived danger
5. Fear

Whipped for Our Healing

1. Spiritual Disease
2. Emotional Disease
3. Physical Disease

Restored! Released! Renewed!

We Have Been Restored! (Romans 5:10-11)

1. Restored Life
2. Restored Union
3. Restored Joy

We Have Been Released! (Romans 8:1-2)

1. Power of Sin
2. Guild of Sin
3. Operation of Sin

We Have Been Renewed! (Romans 12:1-2)

1. Renewed Being
2. Renewed Living

“There are two freedoms — the false, where a man is free to do what he likes; the true, where man is free to do what he ought.” (Charles Kingsley)

Lessons from Mary's Blessedness

Luke 1:26-38

While Mary is not a God who deserves man’s worship, Jesus’ virgin birth has left us lessons to learn.

Is Blessed to Be Selfless

1. She was challenged by a big shame.
2. She was confronted by a big responsibility.
3. She was faced by a big commitment.

It Is Blessed to Be Humble (Behold the handmaid of the Lord.)

1. Humility indicates a mature heart.
2. Humility indicates a pure heart.
3. Humility indicates a Godly heart.

It Is Blessed to Be Submissive (Be it unto me according to thy word.)

1. True submission chooses no condition.
2. True submission chooses no season.
3. True submission chooses no situation.

Parable of the Foolish Builder

(Luke 6:46-49)

Characteristics of an Active Listener

• He Digs Deep into the Ground.
• He Builds on a Strong Foundation.
• He Is Stable in the Midst of Troubles.

Characteristics of a Passive Listener

• He listens, but not obeys.
• He knows the duties, but he does not perform them.
• He calls God, but he stops there.

God's Promise of Assurance

Isaiah 41:10 (New Living Translation) Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.Do not be dismayed, for I am your God.I will strengthen you. I will help you.I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.

The Promise of His Company

• The Assurance of His Presence
• The Assurance of His Direction
• The Assurance of His Guidance
• The Assurance of His Comfort
• The Assurance of His Availability

The Promise of His Lordship

• A Reminder on His Power and Wisdom
• A Reminder on Our Faith and Submission
• A Reminder on His Relationship with Us

The Promise of His Support

• He Provides Strength.
• He Provides Protection.
• He Provides Victory.

God's Wonderful Provision

1. Universal Provision – He has many blessings that everyone, believer or not, enjoys. (Psalm 65:9-13)
2. Instrumental Provision – From time to time, he uses other people to provide for our needs. (Philippians 4:13-19)
3. Participative Provision – Under normal circumstances, our efforts are required to elicit God’s provision. God wants us to work; he does not tolerate indolence. (II Thessalonians 3:8-10)
4. Miraculous Provision – Under special circumstances, God can work beyond human limitations to provide our needs. (Exodus 16:13-15)

The Shepherd's Response to Christ's Birth

(Luke 2 8-20)

The Shepherds Searched

1. They searched obediently.
2. They searched hastily.
3. They searched thirstily.

The Shepherds Spoke

1. They could not hold the news for themselves.
2. They passed the news in the way they received it.
3. They amazed others with their news.

The Shepherds Praised

1. Praise is the consequence of hearing about Jesus.
2. Praise is the consequence of seeing Jesus.

Pleasing the Father

1. We Please Him by Believing (Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.)
2. We Please Him by Separating (1 Thessalonians 4:1 - Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. Romans 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.)
3. We Please Him by Remaining (2 Timothy 2:3-4 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.)

Passing the Tests

Forms of Trials

1. Hurts
2. Frustrations
3. Choices
4. Loss
5. Disease
6. Inadequacies
7. Temptations

Purpose of Trials

1. To test our faith
2. To realign our actions
3. To show His will
4. To strengthen our character
5. To demonstrate His loyalty
6. To draw us closer to Him
7. To produce victory.

Response to Trials

1. Anticipate trials.
2. Be positive about trials.
3. Take on God’s strength.
4. Trust God.
5. Be watchful of what the Lord wants to teach.
6. Seek the advice of the Godly.
7. Move on and overcome.

Habits Christians Should Build

(I Thessalonians 5:16-18)

1. Be Joyful Always ("Rejoice evermore.")
2. Be Prayerful Always ("Pray without ceasing.")
3. Be Thankful Always ("In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.")

Elements of Effective Prayer Life

(Colossians 4:2)

1. The Element of Faithfulness ("Devote yourselves in prayer...")
a. Being Consistent
b. Being Persistent
2. The Element of Watchfulness ("...being watchful...")
a. Being Watchful of the Spirit's Leading
b. Being Watchful of Satan's Distraction
c. Being Watchful of God's Answers
3. The Element of Thankfulness ("...and thankful therein.")

Joseph's Road to Prosperity

(Basing on the Life of Joseph the Dreamer)

1. Patience Brings Prosperity (He patiently endured the hardships caused by his brothers and Potephar.)
2. Purity Brings Prosperity (He refused the temptation of Potephar's wife and stood by God's standards.)
3. Planning Brings Prosperity (He laid out a concrete plan as soon as he knew a famine was on its way.)
4. Diligence Brings Prosperity (He did something to prepare for the upcoming famine. He gave his best while working for the Egyptian kingdom.)
5. Forgiveness Brings Prosperity (He accepted his brothers again despite what they did to him.)