What You Can Expect In the Future

YOU CAN EXPECT THREE THINGS IN THE FUTURE

• New Problems
• New Pressures
• New Possibilities

How are you are going to manage the new things tomorrow will bring? Most of us spend more time in front of the mirror than looking inside. The less we work on the inside, the more we worry about the outside. If you are like most of us you will tend to work more on enhancing our image than developing who we are.

However, most of the changes we need to make are internal not external.

Jesus says; "New wine must be put into fresh wineskins." Luke 5:37-38. In other words, the best way to deal with tomorrow is with a new you!

HOW DO I DISCOVER A NEW ME?

CREATIVITY IS THE FIRST STEP
Creativity breeds hope. Creativity invents an opening at the end of the tunnel so you can see the light. A lot of the problems we face require a different perspective - a bit of creativity. If you will get creative when you face problems one of the byproducts you gain is confidence.

There is a great story about a great baseball player, Ty Cobb's confidence. I don't recommend the movie by the way.... When Cobb was seventy years old, a reporter asked, "What do you think you'd hit if you were playing these day?" Cobb a lifetime .367 hitter, said, "About .290, maybe .300." The reporter said, "That's because of the tavel, the night games, the arificial turf, and all the new pitches like the slider right?" "No," said Cobb, "its because I'm seventy."

A lot of times our problem is perspective. There is more than one way to look at something. Two people look at the same situation. One sees a dead end and the other sees a place to start a new road. In both cases there are changes that need to be made, but one is defeated and the other is excited about the possibilities.

The intelligent person is always open to new ideas. In fact, he looks for them. Prov 18:15

Sometimes when we see change coming we think we have to have a problem. Let the changes in life be a catalyst for creativity. Let it be the avenue God uses to bring something new and good into your life.

I have a Johnny Rivers album from the early seventies and the only thing song I know the words to says, "the only thing thats permenant is change."

Back in the '80s pollsters documented that we change our jobs ever five years, our friends every four, our cars every three, our churches every two, our styles every year and our minds ever month! I don't think we have slowed down.

Some of us look at that and are paralyzed. We don't know what to do. Everybody changes. Even Superman changes. Do you hear he is getting a new suit? One with lightening bolts and no cape!

God is the only one who does not change. Jesus: The same yesterday, today and forever. That is why we say His is faithful. It is His nature: Mal 3:6 "I the LORD do not change." The rest of us need to learn to deal with it.

The ancient Greek philosopher, Heraclitus saw all the change in his day and got creative. He built his system of thought on one key principle. He said: "Nothing endures but change."

Last week Ken Rice introduced our speaker and asked how many of our people were here two years ago. A lot of us are new. New to the area, new to our church. I like that. I am glad you are here.

The fact is the last census showed that 25% of the people living in Pleasant Hill move every two years. I'm not encouraging that.... some of you think it is a goal.

In fact another 33% will move in the following three years. I do think one of the things we need today are roots... roots where we can learn what friendship and relationship and family is about.

As a church we can look at that and say we have too much turnover. Or we can say God has given us this opportunity to share the good news of God's love with an ever changing body of people while encouraging those who "endure" with us to experience His love.

Problems are tests that come into our life. They will either throw us off track or launch us down the track. How? By forcing us to focus on precisely what God has given us to do. It is in the beginning of a problem our faith is challenged. It is at the end it is rewarded. It's during the middle of the problem, if we are creative, our faith is strengthened.

Washington Irving had a creative way of looking at the problems change brings. He said, There is a certain relief in change, even though it be from bad to worse; I have found in travelling in a stage-coach, that it is often a a comfort to shift one's position and be bruised in a new place.

The Bible talks about two kinds of people in Hebrews chapter 10. 36 NAS You have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.

Circle "endurance."

39 NIV We are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved. Circle "shrink back."

Two kinds of people, those who endure in faith, and those who shrink back. How would you describe yourself? When problems come up, do you put your trust in God - I mean before you know the solution, do you endure in faith - trusting God is able? Or do you tend to shy away, move away from the center, to shrink back.

God says to "shrink back" is the alternative to faith. It comes from the Greek word upostellw, it means "to retreat, to find a way out."

The opposite of `upostellw, is `upomenw, to endure. It means to stay with it, to find a way through."

A sense of Divine creativity is where we get a second wind to go on. We throw ourselves in faith before God and say, "I don't know how to deal with this, but you are the God if infinite possibilities. Is there perhaps something I have not thought of?"

As you look at the men and women in the Bible who did great things for God, you will find they are most all people who learned what it meant to endure in faith.

God's answer to the problem they faced was often very creative.
Parting the sea.
Water from a rock, manna from heaven.
Marching in circles for - 7 days, horns and pots.
A floating axe head.
Oil and meal that would not run out.
A smooth stone and a sling shot.
A coin in a fish's mouth to pay the tax.
Man's problem - answered by a virgin Birth, death on a cross, and resurrection.
Salvation by grace not by works.

That is creative! God has an answer for your problem. Jesus said, "you can't but new wine into old wineskins."

You can't deal with all the problems you will face in the future the same old way. We need to face problems with creativity.

ASK
God is there another way to do this?
Is there some other way YOU want me to deal with this?
A new you means we are creative in facing problems, and we have conviction - conviction this problem is worth dealing with and we need courage.

A SECOND STEP
New Pressures will require CONVICTION.

You have heard it said, "if you don't stand for something you will fall for anything."

Beevis and Butthead the Movie, made 120 million its opening weekend! The life story of Larry Flint is getting a big push. The President who said his cabinet would have the highest character, had the most ethical problems in history and was re-elected. The Speaker of the House is himself being investigated for admitted ethics violations.

In his book Make It So, Wess Roberts relates an entry by Admiral Andrea Brand, Superintendent, Starfleet Academy.

"True to his convictions, Captain Picard set the example for all to follow. His was an infectious example, which caused the crew of the Enterprise to place their full trust and confidence in him. Likewise Captain Picard placed his full trust and confidence in his crew."

Have some real conviction about how you lead and who you follow into tomorrow.

Here is a good check for your thinking, Don't let the world squeeze you into its own mold, but let God remold your minds {your whole attitude} from within. Rom 12:2Ph

Conviction: means to have strong belief, to be convinced of something. A conviction is something you'll die for, something you will make sacrifices for, something you will alter your life for.

What is something you are convinced of?
Are you convinced God loves you? If you doubt it, look back historically - to the cross. 2 Cor 5:17 When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun! Let the love of God change your life.

Are you convinced God loves you friend?
2 Cor 5:18, and God gave us the work of telling everyone about the peace we can have with him. If it is a conviction it will cause you to tell them.

Are you convinced God wants to share His love the community you live in? 2 Cor 5:20 We are Christ's ambassadors. God is using us to speak to you: we beg you, as though Christ himself were here pleading with you, receive the love he offers you-- If it is a conviction it will cause you to pray for and the churches in the area. If it is a conviction you will invite an unchurched person to church.

A new you means we are creative in facing problems we have conviction - conviction this problem is worth dealing with and we need courage. we have courage - courage enough to say I am the one who is going to tackle this problem.

A THIRD STEP
New Possibilities will require COURAGE.

At the end of a year we can become tentative in our desire to look forward because all we can see in our rear view mirror are a lot of hurts and failures.

Courage comes from knowing that every tomorrow is a day of hope filled with possibilities. The past neither has to define who we are nor confine what we will be.

Courage says I can face the future knowing what is past can be used for the good in my future.

One prayer puts it this way, "Lord, we're not what we want to be, we're not what we need to be, we're not what we are going to be, but thank God Almighty, we're not what we use to be."

Norman Cousins, "People are never more insecure than when they become obsessed with their fears at the expense of their dreams."

People who focus on fears don't grow. Heb 10:35NCV Do not lose the courage you had in the past, which has a great reward. But don't just leap out saying I'm going for it.

Nike says "Just Do It." Government says, "Just say no." I'm saying "Just ask God."

Daniel, spent the night with the lions, I'll do it. David wrestled a bear.... Look to see that God is going with you first. That God is leading the way. I wonder how many kids - and even grown ups have been inspired by Peter's attempt, and Jesus' invitation to walk on water? He invited Peter, not you. Dream about it don't try it.

Storyteller, Garrison Keiller, in an address to Carlton College in Northfeild MN; "Life is far too complicated to live all of it. We can only live a slice of it and dream the rest of it."

As the audience sighs with a bit of remorse Keiller continues: "We were not really meant to. That kind of life is really only for raccoons. Raccoons shrink around in the dark and fling themselves onto the road, and are smashed by a car."

If you think you are you have it all, you will find yourself shrinking around in the darkness of dispair and one day fling yourself recklessly toward dangerous illusions.

The point is choose your dreams wisely, and deal with problems courageously. HAVE THE COURAGE TO EXPECT A NEW YOU IN THE FUTURE AND MAKE IT SO!

God says, "Forget what happened before, and do not think about the past. Look at the new thing I am going to do. It is already happening. Don't you see it? Isa 43:18-19

When was the last time you renewed your commitment to God. If you ask Me anything in My name...

Someone suggests we asks to be;
A little less impatient with those we deem too slow;
A little less of arrogance because of all we know;
A little more humility, seeing our glory is slight;
We are such trivial candles compared to stars at night!
A little more forgiving and swifter to be kind;
A little more desirous the word of praise to find;
The word of praise to utter and make a heart rejoice --
A little more careful to speak with gentle voice.
A little more true eagerness to understand each other;
A little more real striving to help a shipwrecked brother;
A little more high courage to each that must be done;

These are big convictions -- and God give us the courage we need to live out more than one.