Choosing God: A Commitment to Faithfulness in the New Year
Summary
This is a day of celebration and reflection as we gather on the last Sunday of the year, rejoicing in the faithfulness of God. We are reminded of the many blessings and challenges we've faced throughout the year, and we stand here today because of God's unwavering faithfulness. As we prepare to enter a new year, we are called to make a conscious decision to choose God again. This choice is not just a one-time decision but a continual commitment to follow God in every season of our lives.
The message from Deuteronomy 30 emphasizes the importance of choosing life and prosperity by loving and obeying God. It is a reminder that our choices have significant consequences, and choosing God leads to a life of divine favor and blessings. As we transition into a new year, we are encouraged to reflect on our past choices and make a renewed commitment to follow God wholeheartedly.
Choosing God again means trusting Him in every new season, whether it's in our personal lives, careers, or relationships. It requires us to guard our hearts and minds against distractions and temptations that may lead us away from God's path. By choosing God, we align ourselves with His will and open ourselves to the abundant life He promises.
As we stand on the brink of a new year, let us be reminded that God's faithfulness is our assurance. He has kept us through the ups and downs, and He will continue to guide us as we choose Him again. Let us enter the new year with a renewed commitment to trust and follow God, knowing that He will keep us and bless us abundantly.
Key Takeaways:
1. Choosing God Again: As we transition into a new year, we are reminded to choose God again. This choice is not just a one-time decision but a continual commitment to follow God in every season of our lives. It requires us to trust Him and align our lives with His will, opening ourselves to the abundant life He promises. [01:13:09]
2. Guarding Our Hearts: New seasons come with new temptations that can lead us away from God. We must guard our hearts and minds against distractions and influences that do not align with God's word. By doing so, we protect ourselves from disqualification and remain in God's favor. [01:35:15]
3. The Power of Obedience: Obedience to God's commandments is key to experiencing His blessings. Our future is shaped by our willingness to live according to God's word. By choosing to obey, we position ourselves to receive God's best for our lives. [01:23:27]
4. God's Faithfulness: Throughout the year, God's faithfulness has been our assurance. He has kept us through the ups and downs, and as we choose Him again, we can trust that He will continue to guide and bless us. God's faithfulness is our foundation as we enter a new year. [01:59:29]
5. Life and Prosperity: Choosing God leads to life and prosperity. It is a choice that sets us up for divine favor and blessings in every area of our lives. By choosing God, we align ourselves with His will and open ourselves to the abundant life He promises. [01:27:39]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [21:59] - Praise and Worship
- [30:40] - Greeting and Acknowledgments
- [34:10] - Fellowship and Community
- [41:30] - Announcements and Celebrations
- [43:49] - Offering and Giving
- [48:31] - Preparing for the Word
- [59:27] - Great is Thy Faithfulness
- [01:00:40] - Opening the Word
- [01:02:14] - Deuteronomy 30: Choose Life
- [01:05:24] - The Second Giving of the Law
- [01:09:59] - Lessons from the Past
- [01:13:09] - Choosing God Again
- [01:18:14] - God Favors Faithfulness
- [01:22:23] - The Gift of Choice
- [01:27:39] - Outcomes of Obedience
- [01:31:40] - Consequences of Disobedience
- [01:35:15] - Guarding Your Heart
- [01:42:29] - The Reassurance of God's Keeping
- [01:53:22] - Family Prayer and Closing
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Deuteronomy 30:15-20
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Observation Questions:
1. What are the choices presented in Deuteronomy 30:15-20, and what are the consequences of each choice?
2. According to the sermon, what does it mean to "choose God again" as we enter a new year? [01:13:09]
3. How does the sermon describe the role of obedience in experiencing God's blessings? [01:23:27]
4. What are some of the new temptations mentioned in the sermon that can lead us away from God? [01:16:26]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of "choosing God again" relate to the idea of continual commitment in one's faith journey? [01:14:19]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that guarding our hearts can protect us from disqualification from God's blessings? [01:35:15]
3. How does the sermon interpret the relationship between God's faithfulness and our choice to follow Him? [01:42:29]
4. What does the sermon imply about the significance of making choices that align with God's will for our future? [01:22:23]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a past decision where you chose to follow God. How did that decision impact your life, and how can you apply that experience to future choices? [01:13:09]
2. Identify a specific area in your life where you need to "choose God again." What steps can you take to make this choice a reality in the coming year? [01:14:19]
3. What distractions or temptations are currently present in your life that could lead you away from God's path? How can you guard your heart against them? [01:16:26]
4. Consider the role of obedience in your relationship with God. What practical steps can you take to align your actions with God's commandments? [01:23:27]
5. How can you remind yourself of God's faithfulness during challenging times, and how does this assurance influence your decision to trust Him again? [01:42:29]
6. Think about a decision you are facing as you enter the new year. How can you ensure that this decision aligns with God's will and leads to life and prosperity? [01:22:23]
7. In what ways can you involve your family or community in your commitment to choose God again, and how can this collective effort strengthen your faith journey? [01:57:50]
Devotional
Day 1: Renewing Our Commitment to God
Choosing God is a daily decision that requires intentionality and dedication. As we stand on the threshold of a new year, we are reminded that this choice is not a one-time event but a continual commitment to follow God in every season of our lives. This involves trusting Him and aligning our lives with His will, which opens us to the abundant life He promises. By choosing God again, we reaffirm our faith and trust in His guidance and provision. This decision is a powerful declaration of our desire to live a life that honors Him and seeks His presence in all aspects of our lives. [01:13:09]
Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (ESV): "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them."
Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to renew your commitment to God and align your life with His will as you enter the new year?
Day 2: Guarding Our Hearts Against Distractions
In every new season, we face new temptations and distractions that can lead us away from God's path. Guarding our hearts and minds is crucial to maintaining our focus on God and His word. This involves being vigilant about the influences we allow into our lives and ensuring they align with God's truth. By doing so, we protect ourselves from disqualification and remain in God's favor. As we transition into a new year, let us be intentional about guarding our hearts and staying true to our commitment to God. [01:35:15]
Proverbs 4:23-27 (ESV): "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil."
Reflection: What are some distractions or influences in your life that you need to guard against to maintain your focus on God?
Day 3: The Transformative Power of Obedience
Obedience to God's commandments is key to experiencing His blessings and favor. Our future is shaped by our willingness to live according to God's word. By choosing to obey, we position ourselves to receive God's best for our lives. Obedience is not just about following rules; it is about aligning our hearts with God's desires and trusting His plans for us. As we reflect on our past choices, let us make a renewed commitment to live in obedience to God, knowing that it leads to a life of divine favor and blessings. [01:23:27]
1 Samuel 15:22 (ESV): "And Samuel said, 'Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.'"
Reflection: In what areas of your life is God calling you to greater obedience, and how can you take steps to align your actions with His word today?
Day 4: Trusting in God's Faithfulness
Throughout the year, God's faithfulness has been our assurance. He has kept us through the ups and downs, and as we choose Him again, we can trust that He will continue to guide and bless us. God's faithfulness is our foundation as we enter a new year. It is a reminder that we are never alone and that His promises are true. As we reflect on His faithfulness, let us be encouraged to trust Him more deeply and rely on His guidance in every aspect of our lives. [01:59:29]
Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV): "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
Reflection: How has God's faithfulness been evident in your life this past year, and how can you trust Him more deeply in the coming year?
Day 5: Embracing Life and Prosperity Through God
Choosing God leads to life and prosperity. It is a choice that sets us up for divine favor and blessings in every area of our lives. By choosing God, we align ourselves with His will and open ourselves to the abundant life He promises. This choice is not just about material prosperity but about experiencing the fullness of life that comes from living in relationship with God. As we enter a new year, let us embrace the life and prosperity that God offers by choosing Him wholeheartedly. [01:27:39]
Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV): "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."
Reflection: What does embracing life and prosperity through God look like for you, and how can you actively choose this path in the new year?
Quotes
We greet you in the name of God, our father, our Lord and liberator, Jesus Christ and the precious Holy Spirit who is our comfort and our guide. How blessed of God we are to be able to gather in this space on this Sunday to worship our great God and to thank him and praise him for he has been so faithful to us. That's what today is a reminder of. God has been faithful. Amen. I thought I would at least got five amens right there. God has been faithful. He's been faithful. There have been frustrations for sure, but God has been faithful in that he has allowed us to be here this day. [00:31:07] (43 seconds)
Deuteronomy, chapter 30. By loving the Lord your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away, and you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. [01:03:12] (45 seconds)
And if you do choose God again, you'll discover that the long-term benefit. The benefits of choosing life with God far outweigh any short-term inconveniences that may show up along the way. Why am I preaching this this morning? I want to say to you and I, as we stand poised and positioned to cross over into all of the promises and possibilities and prospects of a new year, a new season, new terrain and new territory in life. I came to be your Moses this morning. [01:11:40] (42 seconds)
You may have chosen God in the past. But that decision was for that season. But now. If you're preparing to enter into another season, into a new space, you're going to have to choose God again. See, that's what a sober picture of following God and faith looks like, church. Trust in God. Trust means that you got to have the resolve to keep choosing and re-choosing God again. [01:13:37] (42 seconds)
After struggle, you have to re-choose. After accomplishments and achievements, you have to re-choose. You have to choose, trust, and follow God. At every place of transition. And here's why. New territory comes with new temptations that are designed to deceive you into forgetting God. Can I say that again? New territory is going to come with some new temptations that are designed to deceive you into forgetting God. [01:16:19] (40 seconds)
And so this is why after the options are presented, obedience is proposed because Moses wants them to possess the blessed future that God has already set up for them. Here's the proposal. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God walking in his ways and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, you you don't have to be an Old Testament scholar to pinpoint that obeying and observing commandments is the key to what the future of Israel is gonna look like. [01:24:07] (39 seconds)
child of God, if you make the choice to exchange God's grace and God's goodness to go bow down and serve something else that over promises but under delivers, there'll be a prematureness. You'll be disqualified to an exit from a peace that you had with God that could have been permanent. You'll disqualify yourself from God's favor if you make the wrong choice. So choose wisely and then you have to spiritually manage and maintain the choice that you've made. [01:34:19] (42 seconds)
He says if your heart's turned and you do not hear that you can forfeit the favored future God has set up for you when you don't pay attention to what's feeding your I know y 'all don't like this kind of preaching. I know y 'all don't like this kind of preaching. I know y 'all don't like this kind of preaching. You can't listen to everybody without that having some kind of impact on your choice to follow God. And too many times we're letting fools and foolishness have a louder voice in our spirit, have a louder voice in our lives then we do the spirit of God and the exchanges we have with them. [01:35:15] (53 seconds)
That choosing God will completely transform your present and your future, your right now and your not yet, your today and your tomorrow. But more than that, there's a reassurance of something more significant that comes with choosing God. What is it? The preserving of your life. Yeah. When you choose God, here's Moses' final appeal. God will keep you. I ain't got nothing better than what I just said. When you choose God, God will keep you. [01:42:07] (50 seconds)
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