Introduction: Do you need some GREAT advice for 2022? Will you listen to Someone who knows the future? While living in a crazy and mixed up world, it is good to know we can have PURPOSE and MEANING in this life. 

1. Walk Cautiously!

2. Use your Time Wisely!

3. Pursue the Will of God Daily!

4. Praise the Lord Joyfully!

5. Get Filled Up Continuously!

Conclusion: One last bit of advice from our Lord. 

“20Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;” (Eph 5:20) 

Introduction: That title describes 2022! Or does it? Do you have VISION, PASSION, MISSION? A word from the prophet Habakkuk gives these perspectives.

1. What is your VISION?

“2And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.” (Hab 2:2)

Habakkuk needed a word from the Lord. May I suggest to you we also need a word from the Lord. Not our agenda, but His! We are notoriously known for conjuring up a man-made VISION, instead of waiting on the Lord to really get in on His VISION. Or worse, not pursuing any VISION, and therefore having a blurred VISION.

2. Do you have PASSION?

“1I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.” (Hab 2:1)

What do we mean by PASSION? Habakkuk had a PASSION to hear from the Lord during a most difficult time. Reminder: We do not snap our fingers and God respond to our every beckoning. Rather, we submit to His Will. Artificial obedience is disobedience. However, since we are His children, He desires to have a relationship with us, not just a casual chat every once in a while.

3. Do you have a MISSION?

“3For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” (Hab 2:3)

Watching expectantly, writing obediently, and waiting patiently should guide us in 2022.

Introduction: Do you plan? How should we plan? What if our plans get interrupted? What kind of plans do you have have in 2022?

• Family
• Financial
• Spiritual

Check out Proverbs 16:9:

1.We should not be passive but – in Faith – active by Planning!

“A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.” (Prov 16:9)

The word “deviseth” is חָשַׁב: (khaw-shab’), which means to think or to account.

Are you thinking?

2. We should not be passive but – in Faith – active in Planning and allowing the Spirit of God to change our Plans!

“9A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.” (Prov 16:9)

The word “direct” is : כּוּן, (koon), which means to be firm.

Aren’t you glad that our God overrules… but with firmness.?

3.We should not be passive but – in faith – active in  Planning and allowing the Spirit of God to change our Plans because our Lord knows what’s best, and sees down the road!

“A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.” (Prov 16:9)

Will you trust our Lord Jesus right now for 2022?

Conclusion: Will you plan? But remember. Allow for room for our Lord to change your plans.

1. One day at a Time!

“34Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Matt 6:34)

2. Don’t Worry about the stuff you can’t control!

“25Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” (Matt 6:25-32)

3. Trust Jesus!

“Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?” (Matt 6:30,31)

Introduction: What were your TOP CONCERNS in 2021? Where have you been BURNED in 2021? What can we DISCERN in 2021? Where have you TURNED in 2021? Here are probably the TOP (3) CONCERNS in 2021, and going into 2022.

1. Do you need to INCREASE your FAITH in the PRESENCE of JESUS CHRIST?

“5And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.” (Luke 17:5)

Fear of Losing…
HEALTH.
Fear of Losing…
WEALTH.

FEED your FAITH!
FIGHT your FEAR!

2. Do you need to INFLUENCE your FAMILY by the POWER of JESUS CHRIST?

“32Remember Lot’s wife.” (Luke 17:32)

**Lot’s “Little COMPROMISES”!
(Gen 13)
BLESSINGS can lead to BICKERING!

**Lot’s “BIG CONSEQUENCES”!
(Gen 19)

Lot’s wife was in Sodom. Lot & Ms. Lot LOST their INFLUENCE with their daughters.

3. Do you need to INSURE your FUTURE with the PEACE of JESUS CHRIST?

“6And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. 27They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. 28Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 30Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.” (Luke 17:26-30)

Is Your FUTURE frightening? Or…
Is your FUTURE SECURE?

Introduction: Do you know the greatest LOVE Story ever told? John writes this familiar passage in John 3:16:

1. First, consider what is the GREATEST LOVE ever shown!

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

2. Second, consider what is the GREATEST GIFT ever given!
(John 3:16)

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” 

3. Third, consider what is the GREATEST GIFT ever received!

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

4. Fourth, consider what is the GREATEST LOVE ever shown!

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

Jesus was willing to take my Place, My Sin, My hell, My Punishment; and He being the only one who was perfect and without sin, could thus pay the total DEBT I owed because of the penalty of my sin.

When we exchange our SIN DEBT for His SUBSTITUTIONARY death on the cross, God accepts that as a FULL PAYMENT! Jesus Christ’s redeeming blood SATISFIES the HOLY DEMANDS of a JUST and RIGHTEOUS God. Therefore, we get to go FREE from eternal death and separation from God in the lake of fire.

Introduction: What gifts will you give Jesus this year? Can I make a suggestion? Why not give Him these three gifts:

1. Our Selves!

“….there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.” (Matt 2:1,2)

2. Our Substance!

“… and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.” (Matt 2:11)

3. Our Service!

“9When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.” (Matt 2:9,10)

Introduction: Is there PEACE on earth? When has there ever been PEACE on earth? Maybe in the garden of Eden when Adam and Eve experienced the presence of God without the curse of sin, there was perfect PEACE, but only temporarily. Will there ever be a time on earth when we will enjoy PEACE?

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:14)

1. PEACE came from heaven and was born on the earth – wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger!

“And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:12)

Jesus Christ fulfilled the promise that God made with Adam & Eve along with the pronouncement of judgment upon the serpent.

“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” (Gen 3:15)

Are you experiencing God’s PEACE?

2. PEACE came from heaven to be born and take away sin for all people!

“I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” (Luke 2:10)

The angel told Joseph the following: 

“1And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” (Matt 1:21)

Have your sins been forgiven?

3. PEACE came from heaven and was born on the earth to be our SAVIOR!

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11)

Luke records these words of Jesus:

“10For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10)

Have you trusted Jesus Christ to take away your sins by His redeeming blood?

4. Jesus Christ offers PEACE between God & man!

“14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:14)

Luke records these words in the book of Acts:

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

Do you feel far away from God? We are brought near to God by the blood of Jesus Christ.

“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;” (Eph 2:13,14)

What does CHRISTmas mean to you?

C – Jesus Christ was born.

H – He was born to die and take away our sins.

R – Jesus has Risen, proving He was God.

I – Nothing is Impossible with Him.

S – Serving Him is the greatest joy in life.

T – Troubles & trials will come but we can TRUST Him through them.

M – He is a Mighty God that can move Mountains.

A – Always remember He Loves you.

S – We should Sing and rejoice because we will Spend all eternity in heaven (New Jerusalem) with Jesus Christ and our loved ones.

Introduction: Do you believe that God is in CONTROL? It looks like things are spinning out of Control! But are they really? Since Luke’s gospel pinpoints the events that led up to birth of Jesus Christ, it is obvious that God is in Control.

1. God is in CONTROL of RULERS!
(Luke 2:1-2)

“And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.” (Luke 2:1-2)

God raises up who He chooses to use. What about in Daniel’s day? Esther’s reign? Nehemiah’s return? Could it be that our God has chosen to allow the present administration in Washington in the White House for our day in order to fulfill His will?

2. God is in CONTROL of His people!

“And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.” (Luke 2:3-5)

Imagine that. Taxes. Really? Did God use a world ruler to get His purpose fulfilled? In other words, do you see how our Lord orchestrated His providential will in getting Joseph and Mary to BETHLEHEM, the place where Micah the prophet had predicted Jesus would be born?

3. God is in CONTROL with the timing of the birth of God the SON!

“6And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:6-7)

Wow…do not just read that and let it go over your head! While Joseph and the virgin Mary were traveling to their hometown, she experienced birth pangs and delivered Jesus Christ who was God in the flesh.

Conclusion: This was God’s supernatural plan, which was designed from eternity past. God the Son would come to earth for the purpose of living a life without sin in order to die a sacrificial death – in our place – to pay for all of man’s sin debt. Proving He was God and His sacrifice was sufficient, He was raised from the dead. Jesus promises to come again.