Christmas & End of Year Thanksgiving
Remember, Reflect, Refocus
(Jer 6:16 NIV) “This is what the LORD says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls….”
INTRODUCTION:
Socrates, “The life which is unexamined is not worth living.”
An unexamined life is not worth living.
The unexamined life is not the life for man.
Life without enquiry is not worth living for a man.
(Jer 6:10-20 NIV) To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are closed so they cannot hear. The word of the LORD is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it. {11} But I am full of the wrath of the LORD, and I cannot hold it in. "Pour it out on the children in the street and on the young men gathered together; both husband and wife will be caught in it, and the old, those weighed down with years. {12} Their houses will be turned over to others, together with their fields and their wives, when I stretch out my hand against those who live in the land," declares the LORD. {13} "From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit. {14} They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. 'Peace, peace,' they say, when there is no peace. {15} Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when I punish them," says the LORD. {16} This is what the LORD says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, 'We will not walk in it.' {17} I appointed watchmen over you and said, 'Listen to the sound of the trumpet!' But you said, 'We will not listen.' {18} Therefore hear, O nations; observe, O witnesses, what will happen to them. {19} Hear, O earth: I am bringing disaster on this people, the fruit of their schemes, because they have not listened to my words and have rejected my law. {20} What do I care about incense from Sheba
{16} This is what the LORD says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, 'We will not walk in it.'
Hebrew: owlam. It means:
1) long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world
a) ancient time, long time (of past)
b) (of future)
1) for ever, always
2) continuous existence, perpetual
3) everlasting, indefinite or unending future, eternity
Hebrew word, Derek
1) way, road, distance, journey, manner
a) road, way, path
b) journey
c) direction
d) manner, habit, way
e) of course of life (fig.)
f) of moral character (fig.)
Hebrew word: halak.
1) to go, walk, come
a) (Qal)
1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away
2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)
b) (Piel)
1) to walk
2) to walk (fig.)
c) (Hithpael)
1) to traverse
2) to walk about
d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk
(Heb 10:25 NIV) Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
(Deu 8:18 NIV) But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.
(2 Chr 7:14 NIV) if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
1. Remember.
(Deu 6:12 NIV) be careful that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
(Josh 4:2-7 NIV) "Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, {3} and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan Jordan Jordan Jordan , the waters of the Jordan Israel
(Josh 4:24 NIV) He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God."
2. Reflect.
(Psa 107:8 NIV) Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men,
(Nahum 1:7 NIV) The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him,
When others behave badly to us, it should only stir us up the more heartily to give thanks unto the Lord, because He is good; and when we ourselves are conscious that we are far from being good, we should only the more reverently bless Him that He is good. We must never tolerate an instant’s unbelief as to the goodness of the Lord; whatever else may be questioned, this is absolutely certain, that Jehovah is good; His dispensations may vary, but His nature is always the same. (C. H. Spurgeon).
3. Refocus.
(2 Cor 4:18 NIV) So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
(1 Cor 2:9 NIV) … "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"--
How are you in your relationship to God?
