A New You in 2015

Notes: A New You in 2015
Philippians 3
Pastor Greg Laurie
Sunday! January 4, 2015 — 10:00 a.m.

Greg is talking about all the cool things that they showed in the Jetsons of the future that we still don't have.

The future is here though, we all get to the future at a rate of sixty seconds per minute.

God is in control this year. It may bring promise or it may bring pain. God always has a plan..
Daniel 4:35 NKJV
[35] All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven And among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand Or say to Him, "What have You done?"

Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV
[11] For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Isaiah 55:8 NKJV
[8] "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD.

We see the here and now, God is looking at the panoramic view.

Every year 150 million make a new year resolution, only 8% follow them.

Lamentations 3:40 NKJV
[40] Let us search out and examine our ways, And turn back to the LORD;

2 Corinthians 13:5 NKJV
[5] Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?-unless indeed you are disqualified.

It's a good thing to check up on yourself.

God has a part in your life, but there is your part as well.

Greg is talking about all the different phrases people use to say we nee to take care of ourselves.


Philippians 2:12-13 NKJV
[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; [13] for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

We need to work out our salvation. A good example of that is California miners getting gold. We have to get into the mine and dig out our salvation, like they had to pull out the Gold.

Philippians 3:7-13 NKJV
[7] But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. [8] Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ [9] and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; [10] that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, [11] if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. [12] Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. [13] Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,

We are given a picture of a runner in a race.

1. If you want to be a new you in the coming year, you need to Run to Win.

Totally live for Jesus Christ.

Living in two worlds you have too much of the world to be happy in Christ.

1 Corinthians 9:24 NKJV
[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.

We are not competing with each other. We are competing with the world and the devil.

2. Get rid of the extra weight and that which would hinder you.

Philippians 3:8 NKJV
[8] Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ

Are you a stepping stone or a stumbling block.

2 Timothy 2:22 NKJV
[22] Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Are you using wings or weights in following Christ.

What may be a weight to one person may not be to another. Like someone's metabolism, some people can eat anything and stay thin and others can't.

Instead of asking yourself is this permissible, ask yourself if it is building you up or tearing you down.

1 Corinthians 10:23-24 NKJV
[23] All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. [24] Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being.

Six things to be a new you in the New Year.

1. Start everyday with the Word of God.
2. Make church a regular part of my life.
3. Make prayer a daily part of your life.

 The church is the bride of Christ, dissing the Church is insulting the Lord.

The best to be healed is in the church. You hear the Word and you praise God.

Get involved in the Church and into the Word.

Even Jesus Christ went to the Synagogue on the Sabbath.

Luke 4:16 NKJV
[16] So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.

Luke 2:29 NKJV
[29] "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word;

3. If you want to become a new you, aim for success not failure.

Philippians 3:8-9 NKJV
[8] Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ [9] and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;

Get to know God by experience through following Him.

Many know about God but don't know God.

Psalm 91:1 NKJV
[1] He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

4. You need a clear objective and focus.

5. Don't look back!

You can remember, but don't live in the past.

God is at work right now, be excited about that.

God is still working in your life. The past is the beginning of your story, your story is still being written.

Forget past sins and don't be controlled by them.

To forget is to break the power of the past by living for the future.

Fail forward, put the bad behind and go forward.

Jesus Christ said to remember Lot's wife. She looked with longing.

The first step to going backwards is by looking backwards.

6. You must press on, even when it gets hard.

It is impossible to be a Christian, but press on anyway.

Better to have a few moments of pain then a lifetime of regret.

God gives second chances!