New Work Fellowship Podcast

Living Forward

Finish and Celebrate

Colossians 4:17, 2 Timothy 4:7, John 17:4

“No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us."

Philippians 3:13-14

Colossians 4:17, “And say to Archippus, “Be sure to carry out the ministry the Lord gave you.”

2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.”

John 17:4, “I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.”

What does it take to Finish? 1.  Keep Clear Focus

Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

2. Do the Hard Work Craig Groeschel: “Habits will eat your willpower for breakfast.”

Jesus on finishing:

·       John 4:34, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me, and finish his work.”

·       John 5:36, “I have a greater witness than John’s: for the works which the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I do—”

·       John 17:4, “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.”

·       John 19:30, “Jesus said, ‘It is finished!’

3. Stick together

Philemon 1:2, “to our sister Apphia, and to our fellow soldier Archippus, and to the church that meets in your house."

Romans 12:5, “In Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”

Three Steps to Consider:

·      Step #1—step toward Jesus

·      Step #2—step back toward Jesus.

·      Step #3—step into obedience

Note: Today we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper together.

• What is the good Life? 

• The biblical picture of belief is active obedience to God. (James 1:22—25)

a. To live a God-ordered life, you must invest time, money, and energy into His priorities for your life.

• God - (Exodus 20:3)

b. Where is your conviction?

• What do you “know” that you need to “do?”

Final Thought: Live forward in a way that is based on what you believe and invest in for the glory of Christ.

What do you want? (Joshua 14:6-15)

The Christian’s greatest desire = Follow Christ & Glorify God.

“The Glory of God is a human-being fully alive.”  - Irenaeus

In order to live life forward as a believer you must dream and pray, choose and focus, and then:

1)   Take the risk. (Joshua 14:6-9)

a)    Following Christ is the riskiest thing you will ever do. 

-       Love your enemies & pray for those who persecute you.  (Matthew 5:43-45)

-       Offer up your life as a sacrifice. (Romans 12:1-2)

-       Serve others for the glory of God, not the praise of man. (Galatians 1:10)

b)    Are you willing to take the risk of following Christ and living fully alive in Him?

c)    What will keep you from taking the risk? 

-       Not seeing God’s will.

-       Not listening to God’s word.

-       Not speaking God’s truth.

2)   Pursue the promise. (Joshua 14:10-15)

Natural responses to pursuing the promise:

a)    “Not now, I’m too busy.” – You have taken something good and made it a god.

b)    “I can’t, I’m too tired.” – You have given permission for something to rob you of a biblical rhythm of work and rest. 

c)    “I won’t, I’m too hurt.” – You are hanging on to hurt and not grasping what God is doing in the midst of it.

Key truth: God has given you everything you need to pursue his will for your life. Take the next step in pursuit of Christ. 

Final Thought: “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”

- Augustine

Two things to Live Forward, Choose and Focus

1.   Choose Commitment

2.    Focus on Faithfulness

Final Thought: My life can go from Famine to Harvest if I Choose Commitment and Focus on Faithfulness.

“No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”

Philippians 3:13-14

1. Dreams happen when you are wide-awake

   v2, “I asked them about how things were going …”

   v3, “They said to me, ‘Things are not going well…”

“Let us learn this lesson from Nehemiah; you never lighten the load unless first you have felt the pressure in your own soul. You are never used of God to bring blessing until God has opened your eyes and made you see things as they really are.”

2. Dreams flourish in prepared hearts

   v4, “When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted and prayed…”

   v1b, “In late autumn, in the month of Kislev…”

   2:1. “Early the following spring in the month of Nisan…”

“The best dreams don’t start with us but instead are planted in us by God. If it is not rooted, it’s rotten.”

“We don’t die when our hearts stop beating. We die when our hearts stop skipping a beat in pursuit of our passions, when our hearts stop breaking for the things that break the heart of God.”

3. Dream Big—but start small

    2:2b-3, “Then I was terrified, but I replied…”

Allow your prayer to right-size your fears.

4. Dreams open the doorway to legacy.

   v2:4, “With a prayer to the God of heaven, I replied, ‘If it pleases the king…’”

Proverbs 21:1, “The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; he guides it wherever he pleases.”

“We always grow in the direction of our gaze. Always. And gazing at our problems only intensifies their effects. Our focus will always shape us, so scripture calls us to focus exclusively on HIM.”

Your 2022 Prayer—“Lord God, Jesus, if it pleases you, my king…”

For-Given: For Unto Us a Son is Given

Given to Fulfill...All

Matthew 2:13-23

·     Jesus calls us out to be with Him.

·     Jesus brings life out of death.

·     Jesus makes everything right.

Final thought: What will you do with the hope that is Jesus Christ?

Our frustrations are realized because of unmet expectations.

The promise of the anticipated Messiah is realized through Jesus Christ.

Genesis 3:15 –> Genesis 12:3 –> Isaiah 7:14-15 –> Isaiah 9:1-7 –> Malachi 3:1

1.    Suddenly – their world was interrupted (Luke 2:9)

 2.    Suddenly – praise erupts (Luke 2:13-14)

• 100 Sheep (Luke 15:7)

 3.    Suddenly – they were changed (Luke 2:16) 

FINAL THOUGHT: If the Good News of the Messiah is for everyone, then who will you tell?

Jesus was given to be King. (vs 26-31)

• Jesus was born into the royal bloodline of King David.

• Joseph’s lineage Matt 1:1-16

Jesus was given to reign and rule over His Kingdom. (vs 31- 33)

• What is the Kingdom of God?

• The Kingdom to come

• What can you give now to impact God’s Kingdom?

Jesus was given to reign in us. (vs 34-38)

• God can and does the Impossible!

• Seek First the Kingdom of God Matt 6:31-34

Final Thought: Jesus wants to be the King of your heart, but that begins with surrender and obedience.

For-Given: For Unto Us a Son is Given

Given to Be With Us

Matthew 1:18-25

1)   Jesus, the Messiah, was given to the world. (vs. 18)

a.    Jesus fulfilled every messianic prophecy.  (Luke 2:25-32)

b.    Jesus was given at the height of despair when hope was needed. (Isaiah 9:1-2)

2)   Jesus was given a name with a purpose. (vs. 21)

a.    … and you are to name him “the Lord saves” for he will save his people from their sins.

b.    … We are saved for a purpose. (2 Cor 5:18– 6:2)

3)   Jesus was given to be WITH us. (vs. 23)

a.    Practicing the presence of Christ matters. 

-     Practicing His presence brings peace into a chaotic world.  

b.    Sharing the presence of Christ matters. (Missions Video)

-     Don’t be afraid to step out and share.

Final Thought: God is with you and for you.  Are you with Him and for Him?

Context: A collision course in the making.

Avoiding The Trap (Mark 12:13-34)

Taxes/Politics (vs. 13-15a)

Marriage/Family (vs. 18-23)

Theology/Religion (vs.28)

Living In The Truth

You are created in the image of God. (vs. 15b–17)

Eternal life is found in the power of the resurrection. (vs. 24-27)

True life in Christ reorients everything in our life toward God. (vs.29-31)

What we believe.

How we live.

Not Missing The Twist (Mark 12:41-44)

The poor widow - a picture of trustworthiness in the midst of the chaos.

Final Thought: Become more trustworthy by living your life for Jesus, the only one who is worthy.