How to prepare New Year (2 Timothy 4:7-17)

How to prepare New Year

2 Timothy 4:7-17

King James Version (KJV)

⁷ I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

⁸ Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

⁹ Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:

¹⁰ For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

¹¹ Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.

¹² And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.

¹³ The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.

¹⁴ Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:

¹⁵ Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.

¹⁶ At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.

¹⁷ Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

 

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A lady rode the taxi and asked the taxi driver a question. “Mister, where did I say I was going? Did I say I was going to my sister in law? Or my sister’s house?” The taxi driver turned back to me and said, “Oh, Lady! When did you ride the taxi?”

People in the world; usually celebrate farewell party of their year. What is a farewell party? In the dictionary, it says, looking through your past and thinking of the future ahead. Because of this party, people usually drink a lot. Also, they go karaoking; they dance, sing, drink and celebrate the end of the year like that.

By drinking a lot, that doesn’t make your sins go away. Right? Do you think when you’re wasting your life, someone will recover it? Every year people celebrate the farewell party, but nothing will change. There is no progress. However, even though there aren’t changes, they still have the farewell party by sinning. How should we, Christians, spend our last day of the year?

B) Body Paragraph

1. Expect  rewards from God. (7,8)

Long ago during the Olympic, if a wrestler was a champion, they gave them a Laurel tree. Imagine you were a champion , you should think about getting that laurel tree and  think about how happy you will be.

Apostle Paul thought about this and wrote a letter. Old Apostle Paul thought about getting the reward and was waiting for death.

Throughout 2012, everyone did a fantastic job. In the church, some taught bible study, some financially, some by singing, and many volunteered. Even though, people went through a lot, people didn’t appreciate them. However, everyone did their job and because of that our church developed and made progress.

Even though people doesn’t praise and acknowledge you, you shouldn’t give up because God will always remember and give you your reward in the future. Everyone should believe that God prepared your golden crown as your reward.

Also, people who evangelized, they did a good job. By trying to save ones soul, we became their friends, gave love to them, and prayed for them and everyone did a fantastic job. Although the people who doesn’t believe in Jesus, we still showed them the love of Jesus

Jesus will remember all the things we’ve done for him. So, expect many rewards .

2. Think about Grace and face the New Year ahead. (17, 18)

Spiritually, Apostle Paul is superman. Throughout his life, he’s done many great things. He meet lots of people and gave them the gospel of God and saved them While he was at a village, he almost got kill. But he still built lots of churches. He took many of his students and made turned them to useful famous people. Even though he was busy, he wrote lots of letters to cheer people up, that became part of the bible.

He did lots of work, but got attacked by people and Satan. Because of the damages, he almost died many times. He had to deal with hunger, cold and dangerous stuff. How did he survive the dangerous things?

Apostle Paul, he wrote in the bible, verses 17, “But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that though me the message might be full proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered form the lion’s mouth.”

Apostle Paul didn’t admit he went through the hardships because his heart was strong. It wasn’t also because of patient. What was the reason? Jesus gave him the power to keep me strong.

1 Corinthians 15:10 “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them – yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.”

Apostle Paul was humble and put God as his number one priority. He didn’t show off his talents, he told people it was God who helped him. So, until he died, God used him.

Everyone, good job and did great this year, 2012. But don’t be arrogant because Satan is waiting to take a chance. Everyone should believe we can get through things because God is with us.

There are people who live in a castle, but are always sad and depressed. There are people who live in ruined houses, but are happy and thankful towards God.

Think about this year, and also think about God who guides you through this path. Thank him for guiding you and using you.

3. Open your heart and forgive one another (16)

“At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.”

Apostle Paul’s life looked lonely before he died because all his students left him. Demas, his student, loved following into the wrong path and moved to sin city Thessalonians. Alexander, his student, betrayed him and hurt Paul.

Apostle Paul was betrayed, sad and lonely.  Betrayal is something that is hard to handle. Usually when humans are stressed, their instinct will hate others and hate life, but he wasn’t like this. He thought it was his fault so he prayed for forgiveness.

There was a person named Cody Timber who was tortured and her older sister was killed by a guy a prison guard. She met the guard after a war and told God that she cannot forgive that person. But God told her she should forgive him, but she said he couldn’t forgive him.

God told her once again, I am not asking you to forgive her, and I am ordering you to forgive her. Cody Timber decided to follow his word and agreed to forgive him and as if God was pouring his blessing to her. When she telling God she couldn’t forgive him, she already forgave him.

Everyone, is there anything you guys got hurt from church? While you were working for God, were there any misunderstanding or pain that you went through? Were there any struggles you went through with others? Are there any disappoint you remember? Now, you should forgive and move one. You should try to be like Apostle Paul and rely everything to God.

Conclusion) Let’s think about this year and let God reward you. Let’s thank God for guiding and helping you. In addition, let’s open our hearts and forgive everyone. So, let’s conclude 2012 and look forward for the future ahead of us.