New Year’s Resolution Time. I’ve been Thinking that I Should…

It’s past time to start thinking now about next year, resolutions, and having an impact for the kingdom of God.

We’ll begin with some sermon excerpts from Charles Spurgeon, then the song of Deborah and Barak in Judges 5, and finish with a challenge.

“Your will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Note the words “be done,” for they touch a vital point of the text. God’s will is done in heaven. How very practical! …

My brethren, I am afraid that Christ’s will on earth is very much more discussed than done. I have heard of brethren spending days in disputing upon a precept which their dispute was breaking. In heaven they have no disputes, but they do the will of God without discord. We are best employed when we are actually doing something for this fallen world, and for the glory of our Lord. “Your will be done”: we must come to actual works of faith and labours of love. Too often we are satisfied with having approved of that will, or with having spoken of it in words of commendation. But we must not stay in thought, resolve, or word; the prayer is practical and business-like, “Your will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

Now for Deborah and Barak in Judges 5. God’s people are in a pickle and it’s time for war. Spoiler alert: they win and Deborah leads/gets the credit. Then she and Barak reflect in song on the call to battle and the battle itself.

5:2 – the leaders led and the people served willingly – good form all around – praise the Lord!

5:9 – the leaders offered themselves willingly – it wasn’t just the people who served – blessed be the Lord!

5:14-15a, 18 – many tribes of valiant warriors risked their lives – good for them!

5:15-17a – there were three tribes of talkers, thinkers, and contemplators – at the beach no less (I love pondering things at the beach!), but they never did anything – a lot of hmmmmm-ing, and wows, and good ideas, and soul searching, and sitting. What a legacy for thousands of years of Bible students to read. Tribal committees at their best. Let’s have a meeting at the beach and we can discuss the problem!

5:24-27 – Jael. Now this is a serious woman. Most blessed! May all the mothers of the church have her courage.

The New Year’s resolution time. The guy on the right is not on his way to the beach. He’s on his way to die for what he believes to be true. Sure he contemplated, but he didn’t stop there.

So here’s the plan:

Pray. Pray desperately. Pray hard. Pray that the amazing realities revealed to us in the Bible would grab your heart.

Read the Bible and read some more until you are properly amazed at our God.

Get serious about living for the Lord. Read Luke 14:25-35.

Talk to your leaders at church and offer yourself willingly. Here are some suggested words, “Tell me what to do.”

Prepare to do anything, be a servant. No grumbling, complaining, humphing, or arguing. Just do it. It’ll make you happy if you are a true believer.

Make some decisions and then valiantly do something.

Get ready to die for what you believe is true, Matthew 10:38-39.

Set your hope on heaven.

Isaiah 32:8, “But he who is noble plans noble things, and on noble things he stands.”

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12, “To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”