New Year’s Service
God’s Wish for the Twenty-First Century
Joshua 1:1-9; 1 Timothy 6:17-21; Titus 2:12-14
Joshua 1:1-9 Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying, 2 “Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel. 3 Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses…. 8 This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
1 Timothy 6:17-21 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed. 20 O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge”— 21 which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith.
Titus 2:12-14 Instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
Bread of Life
Yesterday, the curtains have closed on the year 2000. How many challenges have we faced the past year? Yet, each time, we have found comfort in the living word of God and have made it thus far. As we welcome this first day of the new year of 2001, just as it is written in Philippians 3:13, I pray in the name of the Lord that we may forget what lies behind and purify our hearts so that the blessed work of the seed of the holy Word being sown can take place, yielding abundant fruits of light according to God’s will.
A new morning of 2001 has dawned. However, in Christianity, there is no distinction between the new year and the old year, because in Jesus Christ, we are not limited by time (Heb 1:12). So we are not living according to the concept of worldly time but living according to the Word of God that transcends time and space. The living Word of God has no limits. However, over the past year, have we not failed to carry the gospel of eternal life because of our disbelief? Wouldn’t we only try to do things our way and falter if we didn’t get what we want?
Those who live by the Word of God are a new creation (2 Cor 5:17). Although we currently live in the flesh, we are not of this world because, through faith, we have become a new creation. As Romans 8:6 states, “For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.” When you reared your children and took care of your congregation last year, have our thoughts been filled with the Spirit, working with the heart of Christ? God will reward us according to our deeds. As we believe, so it will be done unto us, and as we sow, so shall we reap. The strength provided by God and the comfort in our homes are for the progress of faith and the advancement of the gospel. God desires us to run the race, yet have we not sometimes held back instead of running forward?
We must not live a foolish life, counting time and determining our life’s direction by the earth’s rotation around the sun. Rather, we must live a Jesus-centered life. We have learned much about Joshua, whose faith was hotter than the blazing sun (Josh 10:12-14); we must repent for our faith not being as fervent. Let us welcome the new year with a repentant heart.
With that said, let us take a look at what God desires as we welcome the new millennium, the 21st century.
We must start off this year with a correct view of history.
Saints must be precise in their starting point and running course. An accurate course must have a clear finish line. So, whom should we set out towards? We must set out only towards Jesus Christ because He has already reached the destination. The world’s view of history is cyclical, with an unclear beginning and end, and lacks a central figure. In contrast, the Christian perspective on history is linear, with a clear beginning and end. History began and will end by God (Isa 41:4, 44:6, 48:12; Rev 1:8, 22:13). Both the beginning and the end are in God’s hands. However, the word “beginning and end” is meaningless to our living God who exists from eternity to eternity. This beginning and the end is needed for the work of redemption for mankind. Therefore, we must dwell in God and walk with Him. Whatever we do, we should have this clear awareness of history.
Therefore, knowing when God started history is crucial. When we precisely understand the beginning of creation, we can also be certain about the future. The Bible describes the first day of creation as this.
Genesis 1:1-5 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.
The biblical worldview is hopeful about the future. A typical day begins in the morning and ends at night. Spiritually, it can be seen as moving from light to darkness, entering into death. However, the first day described in the Bible moves from night to morning, from death to life, from darkness to light, and from despair to eternal hope. When we understand the mystery of the first day of creation, God will allow us to plan and live our lives in hope. That is why the Israelites lived to believe that life begins in darkness and will gradually become brighter. Throughout their 6000-year history, despite enduring unbearable pain through countless cries and persecutions, the Jewish people resiliently continued their legacy by holding onto the blessing of “And there was evening and there was morning.” Grasping the belief that “after this time passes, a bright morning will surely come,” they could remain optimistic in all circumstances, never losing heart or giving up.
The night does not last forever. It will surely pass. Revelations 21:23, 25 explains that lamps are not needed in heaven because there is no night, as Jesus the Lamb is the Light. We may encounter dark nights in our individual lives, families, or work, but please believe that the bright morning will surely come. I would like all of you to hold tightly onto this Word and stride forward with confidence. May you believe in the victory that comes with having the Christian faith, trusting that the promises in the Word will be fulfilled. That is why there is nothing but “Amen” in Christianity. I pray and bless you in the name of the Lord that the upcoming year will be a hopeful one, with evenings turning into mornings in all aspects of life.
To do the work of God, one must become someone who is with God.
No matter how much God’s desires are directed towards the 21st century, if God is not with us, we cannot fulfill those wishes or understand God’s will. Looking at Joshua 1:5, the God who was with Moses also encouraged Joshua, saying, “ I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.”
There must be someone to start a new work in the new year. But if we are not in God’s presence, how can we embrace His work? God is with us when we delight Him. Have we received the testimony of being one who pleases God, like Enoch did (Heb 11:5)? What employer in the world will pay your wages and supply you with the tools to work if you don’t meet his expectations? Jesus said in John 8:29, “And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.”
John 8:16 “But even if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Fa- ther who sent Me.”
John 16:32 “Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.”
Acts 10:38 “You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”
During His ascension to heaven after His resurrection, as Jesus instructed his disciples to teach others to obey everything He commanded them, He said, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt 28:20).
Looking at 1 Timothy 6:10, it indicates that the inability to empty the heart is due to greed for wealth. This leads to deceit, theft, and the pursuit of more. Let’s try emptying our hearts like Jesus. When Jesus came to this earth, He did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself completely to come as a servant.
How meaningful is the statement in 1 Timothy 6:17?
1 Timothy 6:17 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.
How can man empty his heart? He can do so with the grace of God, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the power of the Word. That’s why when the Messiah came to this earth, He was called “Immanuel,” meaning “God with us.” When we grasp onto this promise, we can receive the blessing of being “richly provisioned with everything for our enjoyment,” just as it is stated in 1 Timothy 6:17. When God is with us, we can empty our hearts with the work of grace and will not put our hopes on wealth that is so uncertain. When we live such a life, God will provide everything in abundance.
When the Israelites, who had been delivered from Egypt, arrived in the land of Moab after 40 years for a new chapter in the conquest of the Promised Land, God showed Moses from Mount Pisgah the land flowing with milk and honey. However, Moses was not allowed to enter it due to a single act of disbelief (Numbers 20:12). All the wisdom, insight, and commands that God had given to Moses were transferred to Joshua. Moses prayed and pleaded three times to enter the land of Canaan, but God refused (Deut 3:23-28). If Moses, due to one act of disobedience, couldn’t enter the land of Canaan, then we, as sinners, deserve to die a thousand times over. Therefore, through the words given today, let us earnestly pray to God to live continually in His grace, without doubt or lethargy.
We now stand at the threshold of a new year, a new work. We can define “new work” many ways, but in short, it is “whatever we eat or drink, whatever we do, we do it for the glory of God.” It is holding onto and pursuing God’s will for His glory, even when feeling upset or distressed, even if one’s body is breaking down. When Jesus prayed in Gethsemane, He said, “Not my will, but yours be done.” For whom was Jesus enduring such toil and pain? Jesus so fervently prayed until His sweat became like drops of blood. All for us. When we pray, we can live for the glory of God. Ephesians 6:18 says to “pray at all times.” It’s telling us to pray without ceasing, to never stop praying. Prophet Samuel said, “Far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray.” When we pray, God draws near. If we believe and pray, we will receive an answer (Deut 4:7; Matt 7:7, 21:22; Mark 11:24; Luke 11:9).
Today, God is giving us a blank sheet of paper and is instructing us to write out how we will live. Like an architect who draws out a blueprint before building a house, we are going to draw out how we will start a new work this year. Who starts this new work? The one whom God is with.
When Abraham, acting on human reasoning, was about to lose his wife Sarah to King Abimelech, God intervened and prevented the crisis. Later, at the age of 100, Abraham witnessed the birth of Isaac when Sarah was 90 years old. After this, Abimelech and his army commander Phicol confessed to Abraham, “We see that God is with you.”
Genesis 21:22 Now it came about at that time that Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, “God is with you in all that you do.”
Seeing these unprecedented and astonishing things, the foreign king realized that God was protecting Abraham. Only when God is with us and protects us can we partake in His new work. I believe that He who sent us will be with us. The God of Abraham is our God.
To have God with us, our hearts must be pure. Our hands must be clean (Ps 24:3-4). Our thoughts, ideologies, and every aspect of our lives must be pure. When a room is clean, we will gladly accept the invitation to sit, but if it’s dirty and emitting foul odors, we would quickly find an excuse to leave. It is likewise with God. Will He stay with us if our hearts are ugly, and our faith is gone, and our church life is unstable? Through the work of the Holy Spirit, I believe that we who partake in the new work will be made clean by the blood of Jesus that was shed on the cross.
Man will see a panoramic view of his entire life three days before he dies. Everything he has done all his life will be displayed before him, like a film. But there won’t be a chance to repent. After death, he will immediately go to either heaven or hell. There’s no waiting room where you can sit and, if your children or your church prays for you, you can receive forgiveness. Did the rich man die and go somewhere before he went to Hades (Luke 16:22-23)? There is no middle ground. When the thief who was crucified alongside Jesus asked to be remembered, Jesus replied, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). There is no middle ground! But amazingly, if we repent while we live on this earth, all our past sins will be completely forgiven and erased.
That is why the first message of both Jesus and John the Baptist was, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” Repentance is the key to entering heaven. Even if we live well, we’d be lucky to live 70 to 80 years. You can kick and scream all you want but you won’t be able to live for an entire century. Please repent while thinking about the future, so that you can depart this world with a joyful heart, even if it were to happen today. Isn’t there a better world for us? Imagine moving out of a shack and into a mansion. This is heaven.
Nothing is lacking when God is with us
In Joshua 1:5 and 17, God assured Joshua, “Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you.” When David was about to be killed by King Saul, God spared him through Saul’s son Jonathan. During a drought, God sent ravens to sustain Elijah. Please believe firmly that God will protect your souls, bodies, and families from enemies and evil forces.
1 John 5:18 We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was [b]born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him.
Our lives are fragile. Can a child grow and develop without the presence of parents? Similarly, as God grants us the new year of 2001, please do not forget His words, “I will be with you.”
When God was with Isaac, Isaac was able to reap a hundredfold in the land of the Philistines. Even the Philistines acknowledged to Isaac, “Surely, God is with you” (Gen 26:12, 28-29). In this new year of 2001, may all our saints in all our churches, wherever they may be, believe in experiencing a harvest of more than a hundredfold.
How much immense hardship did Joseph, at the age of 17, experience for thirteen years after he went on one simple errand for his father? He was thrown into a pit, sold into Egypt, and imprisoned due to false accusations by Potiphar’s wife. Nevertheless, God was with him and protected him. Ultimately, by God’s providence, he interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams and became second-in-command, the prime minister of Egypt, at the age of 30.
Genesis 39:2-3 The Lord was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian. 3 Now his master saw that the Lord was with him and how the Lord caused all that he did to prosper in his hand.
Genesis 39:21-23 But the Lord was with Jo- seph and extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer. 22 The chief jailer committed to Joseph’s charge all the prisoners who were in the jail; so that whatever was done there, he was responsible for it. 23 The chief jailer did not supervise anything under Jo- seph’s charge because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made to prosper.
How many things around us make our lives difficult? Families lose their homes, get expelled from their jobs, and borrow money here and there in order to pay off their bank loans. Labor without God’s presence ends in vain. I pray in the name of the Lord that everyone will receive the Proverbs 10:22 blessing of “wealth without sorrow.”
We cannot see even one minute into the future. Without God, our lives are like a waterless desert. Relying on God and dwelling with God will make every aspect of life become rich and abundant like a well-watered garden.
Jeremiah 17:5-8 Thus says the Lord, “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the Lord. 6 For he will be like a bush in the desert and will not see when prosperity comes, But will live in stony wastes in the wilderness, a land of salt without inhabitant. 7 Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord. 8 For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit.”
Please do not go to palm-readings or fortune-telling like the rest of the world, in hopes to see and interpret the future and fortunes. This is what God despises the most. God said, “You shall have no other gods before me.” I beg you to please put your future and destiny in His hands. Please entrust your future to God who gave us Psalm 23:1-2, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes in vain. I pray in the name of the Lord that everyone will receive the Proverbs 10:22 blessing of “wealth without sorrow.”
We cannot see even one minute into the future. Without God, our lives are like a waterless desert. Relying on God and dwelling with God will make every aspect of life become rich and abundant like a well-watered garden.
Jeremiah 17:5-8 Thus says the Lord, “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the Lord. 6 For he will be like a bush in the desert and will not see when prosperity comes, But will live in stony wastes in the wilderness, a land of salt without inhabitant. 7 Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord. 8 For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit.”
Please do not go to palm-readings or fortune-telling like the rest of the world, in hopes to see and interpret the future and fortunes. This is what God despises the most. God said, “You shall have no other gods before me.” I beg you to please put your future and destiny in His hands. Please entrust your future to God who gave us Psalm 23:1-2, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.” Don’t we seek fortune- tellers because we are lacking in something?
Take a look at the wilderness journey, of Moses leading 2-2.5 million Israelites out of Egypt. They were guided by a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire. Were there any flashlights during that time? Were there any umbrellas? God had already prepared ahead the resting place for His people (Exod 13:21-22; Num 10:33). God commanded the east wind, summoned quails, and made them obedient so that the people could catch them when they desired meat. He kept their clothes from wearing out and their shoes from wearing down for 40 years (Deut 29:5; Neh 9:21). This God of miracles is our God. Trust in the words of the Lord who said, “Do not worry about what to eat, drink, or wear. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matt 6:31-33).
Conclusion
For the year 2001, let us all, pastors, elders, deacons, unite as one without placing blame and revive the church. Instead of sighing and worrying, spend your time in prayer. Don’t just make excuses when it comes to doing God’s work. A new work cannot take place if people only place their trust in other people and move with that heart. A foul odor will be emitted soon enough. The path set ahead of us is a new path that has never been tread, but one thing is certain: “He who sent me is with me.” Let us sing Hymn 502.
Hymn 502 (New Hymn 445): Walking In Sunlight My Entire Journey
1. Walking in sunlight my entire journey,
Over the mountains, through the deep vale, Jesus has said, “I’ll never forsake thee,” Promise divine that never can fail.
2. Shadows around me, shadows above me, Never conceal my Savior and Guide;
He is the light, in Him is no darkness,
Ever I’m walking close to Him side.
3. In the bright sunlight, ever rejoicing, Pressing my way to mansions above, Singing His praises gladly I’m walking, Walking in sunlight, sunlight of love.
Refrain: Heavenly sunlight, heavenly sunlight, flooding my soul with glory divine;
Hallelujah! I am rejoicing,
Singing His praises, Jesus is mine.
Beloved saints, if there is a rugged mountain to climb and a river to cross, would you send your child alone on an errand? Wouldn’t a parent accompany their child if they’re not at ease? If even earthly parents think this way, believe that the God who is even more merciful and loving will never leave you alone. Pursue your faith journey in peace. If a child asks for fish, what father in the world will give a snake instead (Matt 7:9-11)? As Psalm 27:10 says, “Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.” Believe that, just as mentioned in Isaiah 49:15-16, God has inscribed us on the palms of His hands and will never forget us.
Isaiah 49:15-16 “Can a woman forget her nurs- ing child and have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. 16 Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me.”
There’s a lot of talk that the economy will be unstable in 2001, but it is the duty of the saints to pray, not only for the nation and people, but also for our country’s leaders, public officials, and corporate workers. Please pray. David said in Psalm 23:4, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Please believe in this Word. God will depart from those who do not believe. When King Saul abandoned the Word, God also abandoned him. And God was with David who trusted Him (1 Sam 16:18, 18:12). I would like all of you to trust and rely on the Word of Isaiah 41:10.
Isaiah 41:10 “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
When Apostle Paul was facing martyrdom, the people who had received grace through him all left his side. In 2 Timothy 4:10-11, it is mentioned that Demas abandoned Paul because he loved the world. Paul then said, “Only Luke is with me.” Do not be discouraged even if the rest of the world is arrogant and makes things difficult for you and speaks ill of you. Because our God is constant and unchanging, the words that come from His lips are also constant and unchanging. I sincerely pray that all of you who receive His unchanging Word will likewise remain steadfast in your faith, never leave the church, and be commended like Luke who said, “I am here.” I pray in the name of the Lord that we may all take part in the new work through the Word, firmly believing in “God with us.”
God is with those who begin the new work.
Just like with Abraham, only when God is with us and protects us can we actively participate in God’s new work. I sincerely believe that He who sent us is with us.
The path ahead of us is new and never before traveled. But one thing is certain: “He who sent me is with me. And He will never forsake me.” Believe firmly that the God who has inscribed us on the palms of His hands will never forget us.
2001 New Years Sermon From the first Huisun Sermon book, 「8,760 Hours of a Blessed Life, Every Day」
*This post can also be read in 'Champyungan'. (http://champyungan.com)
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