Today, we are launching a new RESOLVED sermon series that will run the rest of January. We are going to end the month with a big BAPTISM service on the 31^st. If you are wanting to be baptized, start telling your friends and family to join you on the 31^st. We are going to have photos and videos of everyone’s baptism.

RESOLVED: such a strong word. Resolved means: firm in purpose or intent; determined. to come to a definite decision.

Today, I want to talk to you about two areas that I am resolved in. I would love for you to follow me in these areas. Come on in, the water is fine!

I am RESOLVED to submit my life to God and remain consecrated to him.

I am RESOLVED to respond to the Gospel with everything that I have.

This series is one of those series where it will be easy for some of the churchy people to think: “oh, yeah. I know someone who really needs to hear this message. So and so has really been posting some bizzare things on Facebook, they need to resolve some things with God today!”  However, this sermon series is not for so and so. It is for YOU. This is about YOU & GOD.

15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.  16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. 17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. 1 John 2: 15-17

Last week, we had one of those days. You know one of those days when:

• When the Dryer breaks – large piles of laundry strewn out over whole downstairs. Went all the way to Lowes to get a new belt because their website said they did and they didn’t.
• When your indoor dog has diarrhea
• When one of your fish dies
• When you have people calling with emergencies.
• When two of your three kids are squirting things from all places
• When there is about 3 hours of homework at night
• We marinated the chicken so long that it tasted like a salt block. I went ahead ate it like a good husband. “mmmmmm, babe, this has so much flavor.” I was so thirsty.
• Poor thing when she took it out of oven some of the burning hot juice fell out of pan and burned her leg through her clothes.

When you have one of those days, it is extremely hard to keep your eyes on things above and not the things of this world.  And…the things of this world are LOUD and RELENTLESS.

At the end of the BAD day, all of the pressure was temporal. All of the bad things were not eternal. They were earthly.  They were the “things of this world”.

The world means anything that is opposed to God or His ways. Alienated by God. In rebellion against God. In the garden of Eden when sin first entered into creation, there was a separation between God and heavenly realm and the world.

This scripture is clear in saying that the world that we see, touch, experience, is temporary. It is fading away. The life that we live is just a blip on the timeline of existence. If all we do is focus on the temporary and loose sight of what is eternal and heavenly then we are not only wasting our time, but we do not have the love of the Father in us. The love of the Father draws us to what is truly important. Those things that are beyond what we can see and touch and smell and hear and taste.

Oh, but how enticing and captivating are those things that arouse or offend our senses. Pain hurts. Stress depletes. Betrayal robs. Loneliness abandons. Sin slowly kills.

Pain, stress, betrayal, loneliness, and sin are all symptoms of worldly issues.   Most of the problems and heaviness we feel in life is because we have put too much attention or focus on the temporary world.

In order to deal with these difficulties, we often go to the wrong solution.

We crave attention from others so that they can provide our needs.

• We often look to other people to give us the affirmation or approval that will support our worldly view of ourselves.
• We look for pleasure in relationships, in sex, in money to deal with the consequences of our worldly pain
• We work so hard to achieve status and acclaim professionally. We need to be known or appreciated in the workplace.

When there is an absence of this approval and acceptance from others, we are driven to work harder or find someone else that will approve of you or satisfy you.

The Bible teaches a different way.

The bible teaches us how to MAKE SURE we are not lured into worldly vision and to keep our eyes on God’s ways.

I am RESOLVED to submit my life to God and remain consecrated to him.

I am RESOLVED to respond to the Gospel with everything that I have.

This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you.   2 Timothy 1:6

Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.  1 Timothy 1:19

Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.   1 John 5:21

Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.   1 Peter 2:25

Let’s take some time right now and examine ourselves.  Let’s seek God to show us the areas where we are not focused on Him. We want to know where we focused on the world and not him.  We want to know where we have placed substitutes in the position that He is only worthy to hold. 

Wait a moment in meditation and prayer

We are so stuck, blinded, and used to our way of life that we need something to shake us and clear our thinking.

God gives us a package just for that.

• Prayer and Fasting.
• Meditation and Scripture reading.
• Gathering to Worship and Fellowship with other believers. 

YOU RECEIVED A FASTING GUIDE.

LOOK AT INFO ON THERE FOR A CHURCHWIDE 21 DAY FAST.  Monday and Tuesday we will have prayer meetings here 7pm. Childcare provided.