Let Us...

Have you ever wondered what it would take to have a successful year?

Not just the kind of year that you get through, or the kind that you feel OK about.

I am talking about a truly life-altering kind of year. The kind that causes you to look back and shout "Hallelujah!!" when you see all the growth and transition God has brought forth in you.

What would it take for 2018 to be that year for us?

At the beginning of 2018, when everyone was knee-deep in their resolution making process, I had the privilege of listening to a series of messages by world-renowned Bible teacher, Derek Prince. If you have not experienced the pleasure and the challenge of his teaching, I would encourage you to seek him out (derekprinceministries.org). 

In this series, entitled Twelve Steps to a Good Year, Derek walks us through the book of Hebrews, and points out twelve specific verses that point us towards a life more set on God -- more set on service -- and much less set on ourselves.

That really is the key to a banner year -- less of me...more of Him!

I want to share the takeaways with you - all twelve steps in one easy-to-reference location, along with their respective verse reference. I would strongly encourage you to engage...and to listen to the full teaching from Derek. I believe...if you really want it to...God can use this to ensure that your life through 2018 and beyond -- is never the same!!

Let Us…

1.    Let Us Fear -         “Therefore, let us fear lest, while a promise remains of entering God’s rest, any of you should seem to have come short of it.” Hebrews 4:1

2.    Let Us Be Diligent -         “Therefore, let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.” Hebrews 4:11

3.    Let Us Hold Fast Our Confession -         “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.” Hebrews 4:14

4.    Let Us Draw Near to the Throne of Grace -         “Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

5.    Let Us Press on to Maturity -         “Therefore, leave the elementary teaching about Christ, let us press on to maturity.” Hebrews 6:1

6.    Let Us Draw Near to the Most Holy Place -         “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” Hebrews 10:19-22

7.    Let Us Hold Fast Our Confession Without Wavering -         “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” Heb 10:23

8.    Let Us Consider One Another -         “And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.” Heb 10:24-26

9.    Let Us Run with Endurance the Race -         “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb 12:1-2

10.     Let Us Show Gratitude -         “Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.” Heb 12:28-29

11.     Let Us Go Out to Him -         “Therefore, Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. So, let us go out to Him outside camp, bearing His reproach. For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.” Heb 13:12-14

12.  Let Us Offer Up a Sacrifice of Praise -         “Through Him (Jesus) then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.” Heb 13:15