Making End-Year Resolutions - Santosh Poonen - January 1, 2017

Santosh PoonenJanuary 2, 201739mWatch on YouTube

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Santosh Poonen Sermons - 2008-2018185 messages

(Note: Due to technical difficulties, the audio only has mono output. We apologize for any inconvenience.) http://rlcf.church/sermons/making-end-year-resolutions River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA

Summary

The speaker encourages the congregation to view life not through the lens of New Year's resolutions, but through the focus of how they will finish their race. True Christian living requires dying to self and putting others first, allowing God's love to flow through us. Ultimately, the speaker emphasizes that lasting change comes from seeking the Holy Spirit and focusing on finishing well, rather than just starting strong.

Outline

The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.

Why New Year's resolutions failPeople often look back on past years with regret and discouragement because of the tradition of New Year's resolutions.

It is not how you start, but how you finishThe Bible does not focus on how we begin the race because Jesus already began it for us; the most important day is the end of the year.

Enduring to the end to experience salvationJesus warns that when lawlessness increases, many people's love grows cold, but the one who endures to the end will experience God's salvation.

Fix your eyes on December 31stIf you mess up early in the year, do not despair over January 1st; instead, keep your eyes fixed on finishing strong at the end of the year.

Always pray and not lose heartJesus told a parable to show that believers ought to always pray, watch, and be on the alert so they do not fall asleep spiritually.

What does it mean to have faith in every moment?Faith truly matters in the specific moments of temptation, trial, and devilish oppression when our response proves whether we trust God.

The parable of the persistent widowUsing the example of the unrighteous judge and the persistent widow, Jesus encourages believers to pester God in prayer and not give up.

Will the Son of Man find faith on the earth?Jesus is looking for believers who live moment by moment with a desperate, clinging faith that holds tightly onto God.

Our future is determined by our daily choicesThe condition of our spiritual life is the sum total of the choices we make in every moment, which open the door for God's transforming power.

Run in such a way that you may winPaul instructs believers to exercise self-control in all things and run with a specific aim rather than beating the air.1 Corinthians 9:24–25

Making the body do what it should doRunning to win means making your body, mind, and time do what they should do rather than what your flesh wants them to do.

Pressing on toward the goalFollowing Paul's example, believers must forget what lies behind, count earthly gains as rubbish, and press on toward the upward call in Christ.Philippians 3:13–14

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Making End-Year Resolutions - Santosh Poonen - January 1, 2017

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