Cultivating Faith and Discipline for the New Year

Good night.

We thank you, Lord, for bringing us here to rise together to worship you, to honor you in this place as we kick off this new year.

Coming before you tonight, coming before your throne, to give you our worship, to give you our prayers.

Thank you, Jesus, for all that you've done, for what you're going to do in 2025.

We look forward to everything that you have for us.

We look forward to everything that you want to do in us and through us, and we love you and we honor you in Jesus' name.

Amen, amen, amen, Hallelujah, Can we put our hands together this morning?

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.

This is where I believe you are more than enough, more than enough for me.

You are faithful to your promise.

You are strong when I am weak.

When I'm standing in your presence, I have everything I need.

The joy of the Lord, the joy of the Lord, is my strength.

The joy of the Lord, the joy of the Lord, is my strength.

The Lord, the joy of the Lord, is my strength.

Oh my soul, bless His name.

Oh, there is within me safe.

The joy of the Lord, the joy of the Lord, is my strength.

Jesus, come what may, you are worthy Lord, worthy of all my praise.

You are faithful to me, o Thomas, you are strong when I am weak.

When I'm standing in your presence, I have everything I need.

The joy of the Lord, the joy of the Lord, is my strength, and the joy of the Lord, the joy of the Lord, is my strength.

Oh, my soul.

Blessed is he, all that is in His hand.

The joy of the Lord, the joy of the Lord is my strength.

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.

Overflowing Holy Spirit.

Let it pour out with no limit.

Overflowing Holy Spirit.

Let it rise, let it rise like a river, like a river, so it flows tonight.

Overflowing Holy Spirit, with no meaning.

Overflowing Holy Spirit.

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.

My soul bless His name, all that is.

You need me say the joy of the Lord, the joy of the Lord.

The joy of the Lord Is my strength.

Give it to Jesus, give it to Jesus, give it to Jesus, give it to Jesus, give it to Jesus.

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah.

You are the joy of my life, thank you.

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah.

You are the joy of my life, thank you.

Do you see what I see?

Do you see what I see?

I see the light in the darkness.

Something's going to stay under.

There is something that's lying in me.

I believe that the're not the same.

The red dead show 10 days coming back tonight, 10 days coming back tonight.

My sleep was a waving gun Dead things coming back to life again.

I believe that's about to be another resurrection For my life, with no sleep.

He is risen.

We are risen with Him.

Hallelujah, he is created.

See the rain, the body and the air.

Ten weeks, I'm about to die again.

I believe there's a God to give my resurrection.

Oh, my God is.

We are risen with him.

Thank you.

I know anything is possible.

If you see what I see, that the grave is empty.

Do you know what I know?

Anything is possible.

Do you see what I see?

Do you see what I see?

Do you see what I see?

I see something.

I see a wonder.

Do you see what I see?

I see my own wonder.

Do you see what I see?

Something's not as safe to you as I am.

You are my life With your sweet word.

He is risen.

We are risen with the heaven's eyes.

Come by your bed.

He is risen.

We are risen with him.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you for my.

I have witnessed the precious power, still, the miracle that I just can't get over my name is registered again.

Oh, my praise belongs to you forever.

This is my testimony, forever.

This is this is my testimony.

Oh, together, sons and daughters, of your blood and washing water, sing the praises of the Spirit, son and Father, our God, you finished what he started.

Yes, our God, you finished what he started.

This is my testimony.

From death to life, the grace we grow by storm.

Now there's a path From death to life.

Just raise me from my storm.

Now I'm standing high by Jesus Christ the righteous.

My curse is mine.

This is my testimony.

This is my testimony.

Oh, if, oh, I believe in what I did and what I've done, and we're looking to steal the crown.

Oh, I believe in what I did and what I've done, and what I've done and what I've done.

Yeah, yeah, oh, I believe in what I did and what I've done, and we're looking to steal the crown.

Oh, this is.

I'll testify by Jesus Christ the righteous.

I'll testify.

This is my testimony.

Oh, I will lie.

This is my testimony.

I'll testify by Jesus Christ the right.

I testify.

This is my testimony.

This is my testimony.

Oh, I can't deny.

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.

How many of you are excited to be in God's house on the first day of the year?

I am glad that you're here.

You guys look great tonight.

I know the team was debating we didn't have church on Sunday, should we?

have church on the first day of it's a holiday.

We can still have church on a holiday, y'all.

There's nothing that says we can't have church anytime.

We want to have church now that we have a building.

That's the main thing about being in our own place.

So we're going to continue worship in just a second and we're going to open up right over here in the corner.

We have a community prepared for you and I'm going to invite you to take that together during the next song, but before that, I just want to encourage you with this.

A brand new year, the first day of the year.

There are moments in history.

There are moments in life there are moments in the year where we're primed and we're ready, it's easier to take steps, it's easier to accomplish and to move, move the needle.

Sometimes it feels like you're stuck.

Or it feels like I'd like to make a change, but now's not really a good time.

Or I'd like to get closer to God, but now's not really a good time.

I got a lot of things going on and listen, I understand going through holidays.

We all know what it feels like to just finish Christmas and feel like we're barely sliding into the home plate for New Year's and we can just take a break.

But can I encourage you with something Now?

There's no better time than right now to make a decision that I'm going to make my life align with God's Word.

I'm going to make my life align with faith that God planned for me, and there's no better time than the beginning of the year to decide.

And the reason I tell you this right now is because all of us are thinking New Year's resolutions.

And what am I going to do to put my life in order and start to align things To me?

That's what worship is.

Worship is me realigning my life in order and start to align things To me.

That's what worship is.

Worship is me realigning my life with God.

It's me realigning my heart with His heart.

So in this moment of worship, can I just encourage you.

Sunday morning we're going to start 21 days of prayer and fasting.

We're going to start a brand new series called Stretch Out Several places, lots of places where God wants us to stretch out.

Jesus asked the layman to stretch out his hand.

The prayer of David says to stretch out your tent pegs, because he wants to increase.

He wants his territory to increase, but to do that we have to stretch out.

So often there's this we want to be alive with God, we want to be in God's purpose, we want to be in his plan for our lives, we want to walk by faith, but it requires some stretching.

So just can I say right here, going into this next song and we're going to take communion, can I just ask you to raise your faith level, to stretch yourself just a little bit, to raise your expectation of what God can do in your life and what it can look like.

If this was the moment where your life began to look like what the design that he has for you, if you stopped making excuses and stopped thinking, well, I just have too much going on, or this is not the right time, or if I just had different circumstances, or if this would happen, can I just ask you to put your paws on all of that and just wonder and begin to lean into the Holy Spirit and say God, I believe that this is the moment that you can change my life.

I believe that this is the moment that you can change my life.

I believe that this is the moment that you can take control of my life and begin to make me what you want me to be.

Would you pray with me right now, father, tonight, as we approach your table, as we prepare our hearts and our minds for your body and your blood, to remember what sacrifices were made that we might approach you and have everlasting life and have a redeemed life.

Lord, as we prepare our hearts for that, we ask you to cleanse us and purify every sin, every wrong thing in us, but also God.

Every wrong thought, wrong thing in us, but also God.

Every wrong thought, every hesitation that we've had to walk by faith, to live by faith, to move closer to your word, to move closer to your design for us To move closer to the image that you desire for us, god, we ask you to remove all of those things from us.

Forgive us for those things and help us tonight, god, to move closer to you, to lead into your Holy Spirit, to listen to your voice tonight, as the word is open, that we might hear what you have to say to us, that we might see what you have to show to us.

God.

We are your people and we love you.

We honor you in this place.

Let's continue to worship.

Thank you.

I'm held by my defender and my father.

And wherever, all my things.

Nothing can steal my praise and I will praise you, I will praise you.

Nothing can separate us.

Your love has made a way and I will praise you.

I will praise you.

Take you home your faithfulness In all that we feel.

You are my faithfulness.

You hold my faith, your righteousness.

I know that in holiness you're my heart's word.

I'm here by my faith in the heart of God, heaven, I will write the joy that's made of my life and I will praise you, I will praise you, I will praise you.

Jesus is the one.

Oh, I'm so sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry.

Yes, I know when you're gone, standing on the line.

If we all get together they cannot be found.

I know when we're gone.

Nothing can steal my praise and I will praise you, I will praise you.

Nothing can separate your love that made your way and I will praise you.

You're the love of my soul, the kingdom of my heart, and you're not the one.

I'm sold to.

You keep me high on the high, and I'm torn into a slant.

Before you, on the bright island, and only you are my.

I'm standing on the high and you know the days are dead.

I'm waiting on you there and when all the days are gone, my faith will not be gone For all the days.

Nothing can steal my praise.

I will praise you and I will praise you.

I will separate your past, make a way and I will praise you.

I will praise you.

Hallelujah Jesus, hallelujah Jesus, hallelujah Jesus.

I need Jesus, I need Jesus, I need Jesus, I need Jesus, I need Jesus.

Take me unto your secret place.

Take me unto your secret place.

There are cars and the oasis.

There are cars and the oasis.

There are saints and angels would bow before you.

There's nothing like your presence, just the elders from the clouds before you.

Holy, surrounded by holy.

There's no one more holy.

I'm in wonder and awe, in wonder and awe.

King, who is wrapped in majesty, you alone will always be.

All creation joins in heaven.

Sing, hold me, surround me, my, hold me.

There's no one to hold me.

I'm in wonder and awe, in wonder and awe.

In wonder and awe.

Hold me, surrounded by hope.

There's no one to hold me.

I'm in wonder and awe.

In wonder and awe.

The more that I enter it Into her light, I lose myself and no one looks for me.

As we walk face to face, you take my breath away.

All I can do is cry holy, holy Only.

The more that I am to me, you consume all I am.

I lose myself and no one who is holy has become face to face.

You take my breath away.

All I can do is cry Holy, surrounded by holy.

There's no one more.

Holy.

I'm in wonder and awe.

In wonder and awe.

Holy, surrounded by holy.

Hold me, surround me by.

Hold me.

There's no one more.

Hold me.

I'm in wonder and awe.

In wonder and awe.

The more that I get into it, you get to know what I am, I into it, you can tell the more I am.

I lose myself in the one who is holy.

As we come face to face, you take my breath away.

All I can do is smile and dream of you.

Holy, surrounded by holy.

There's no one more holy.

I'm in water and I in water and hope.

I don't know what you know about me, but I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love.

Let's go, let's go, let's go Say hi, say hi to the audience.

I'm not sure if anybody's here?

oh, I can't take all those cookies.

Y'all have to take a cookie list.

Resolutions, resolutions.

You've got to take a cookie list.

Pastor Sean said we're having cookies.

I said, well, ain't nobody going to eat them?

I got cookies.

I'm so happy to be with you tonight.

Happy New Year.

What a year 2024 was.

I think the best is yet to come, guys.

I have a feeling about 2025.

Hang on a second, bernie.

Don't leave yet, just keep playing on the line.

I'm just excited.

And Pastor Sean told me that Wednesday night we're going to have a pizza.

So I thought we could talk about the four horses and the apocalypse.

Happy New Year, I'm just kidding.

The van can dismiss.

So I thought we could talk about the four words.

Someone can fade it out.

Whenever they're ready, you can jump in there.

Happy New Year, I'm just kidding.

Somebody got up, they got their purse.

They were leaving.

They were going to say they got money.

Yeah, he's faded.

Give these musicians a hand.

Give them a hand.

Thank you.

Thank you Is this right, new Year's is actually probably my favorite holiday.

I love Christmas.

God bless Christmas for me.

I love our family we love poems.

God bless Indians.

But New Year's, that's my jam.

And when Pastor said, do you want to preach on New Year's Day, I said yes, I mean, let me pray about it.

Yes, I do, yes, I do.

And so I like New Year's so much because it's like the ultimate fresh start.

I think every Monday is a fresh start and Monday is my day to make my list and my stuff, but New Year's is like the ultimate restart and I am a big believer Don't come at me, but I'm a big believer in intentions and vision.

I don't know about resolutions, I don't know about that, but I have a big believer life or vision, people perish.

You gotta have a vision of your year and so, uh, and that it is such my favorite holiday that I actually start asking people in October, like my children what is your plan for 2025?

They are sick of me by the time New Year's Eve rolls around.

They are so sick of me.

When they were kids, they had to have vision boards, we had meetings, we had little magazines.

What do you want?

I'm eight years old.

I have no idea.

I'm all in for New Year's Day.

So I feel like, in preparing this message, and I was praying.

How can I set my family welcome up for success in 2025, and I think I have the secret for you to have your best year yet.

Are you ready?

You're gonna wanna get a pin.

You're gonna get a piece.

It's deep.

I hope you're ready and I'll just give you a preview.

It's not a new planner, ladies.

No, it's not a vision board.

We like vision boards.

In fact, I think we're having a vision board day on January 11th.

Ladies, sisters, when you're invited, ask somebody, I'll be here.

It's not a new app on your phone.

I know it's not a podcast or a YouTube channel.

None of that.

It's not good.

Yeah, I know it's not going to change your life, but this one secret, if you can get this under control, 25 minutes until we get there.

Let's pray, lord Jesus, we know that you're already here.

We can already feel you here.

Your presence is so precious, lord.

We thank you that you are about to open some lines.

You're about to break some things off your people.

Somebody in this room is about to break through God Things that have held them back for years, for decades.

Something is about to break through, god, things that have held them back for years, for decades.

Something is about to break through.

They're going to hear something the way they've never heard before and it's going to change their lives because you are still the breaker of chains, the changer of lives and the miracle maker In Jesus' name.

Everybody said Amen.

So the secret is probably more easier than you think and it's in this book, which, if you don't know, is the blueprint to the best life ever.

If you'll just read it I know it's heavy Like just open it and read it, something will change your life, I promise, but Solomon the wisest man in history.

he had it, and it's Proverbs 25, 28.

This is the secret.

A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

You see in a biblical world.

A city without walls was open for invaders.

A city without walls was open for people to come in and just take all your stuff.

We don't have that.

We have public service, we have police, we have fire, we have all the.

We don't live in cities with walls, but we certainly do have fences.

Right, those aren't just to keep your dogs in, those are to keep people out.

But self-control is the same way.

The secret to success is controlling yourself.

That's it.

Something like oh great, thank you, thank you.

English.

That's very deep.

But see, if you don't have it, you lead yourself to destruction.

That's it.

That's the message.

If you can't control yourself, you will lead yourself to destruction.

And this kind of advanced technology, technology we can light our homes, we can heat our homes, we can keep food cold forever.

Who's got a frozen pizza?

That's 20 years old?

That's me.

It's on my list today.

I would clean that freezer out at some point this year.

But yet we still cannot get control of ourselves.

All the way back in Solomon's time, he knew that this was an issue, and it's still an issue today.

And if there is a parent in the room and you ever did have a two year old you know that at our base level we are mine my way.

No, get me now and stop.

A lot of us are still right there.

We're still stuck in that two-year-old phase.

Solomon went on to say in Proverbs 16.32, it is better to have self-control than to control an army.

And just for your information, in case you don't know, mr Solomon had some issues with self-control himself.

He had like 100,000 wives.

So just you put the puzzle together on our own self.

Who was he talking to?

You are your own greatest enemy.

That mouth, those thoughts.

You can talk yourself out of a good idea in a heartbeat.

Tomorrow morning you're gonna wake up, think I gotta go to the gym.

Well, it's cold outside.

Don't wanna get a cold.

I guess I shouldn't go to the gym.

It is January 2nd.

You've already broke your resolution.

We're good, we should be smart.

We can talk ourselves out of a good idea on heartbeat, but your doubts are triggers to your dreams and your fears strangle your hopes.

Paul said in Romans for if you are living according to the impulses of the flesh, you are going to die.

Wow, pastor Angie, that is very encouraging.

That is very encouraging.

But if you are living by the power of the Holy Spirit, you are habitually putting to death the sinful deeds of the body and you will live forever.

But that's the thing.

We have to die to flesh Over and over.

We have to control ourselves, and every person in this room, at some point in some area of your life, struggles with controlling force, so that two-year-old inside of you is still mine.

Give me and now.

Self-control is a key for successful 2025.

Because if you're wealthy but you lack self-control, that's full 2025.

Because if you're wealthy but you lack self-control, poverty is just behind the next add to cart.

Poverty is just behind the.

I don't need one pair of shoes, I have two, because if I get two pairs of shoes, I get free shipping.

That is a real map.

I don't want three ones.

If I have two, get one free.

I really just need one.

But if I get, and then all of a sudden you're over a hundred dollars, I can't.

I will not go into target, because I cannot leave target without spending a hundred dollar bill every.

I was just coming in for toilet paper and somehow have left 150 dollars poor.

If you're powerful but lack self-control, weakness is coming Because you can't think, because in those moments when you can't control yourself, you can't control anything.

Jesus said in Mark 7, out of the heart of man come evil thoughts.

Sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness All these evil things come from within and they defile a person.

That is our base nature, that is our flesh.

Well, pastor Angie, I'm not any of those things.

Oh, oh.

You scroll through Facebook look at somebody else's life and think, oh, I wish my husband bought me flowers every Monday.

That'd be nice, must be nice, must be nice to have children.

They move out, they leave.

It's fine, I'm YOLO.

The heart will tell you YOLO, you only live once.

See, in 16 days, after you've made all these resolutions, that's what they were told.

I read 16 days from today, yolo, you're going to think I don't need to go to the gym anymore.

I have seen nothing.

There is no change.

I'm going to eat this slice of cake because I haven't lost a single pound.

Well, guess what?

It took longer than 16 days to gain that weight.

Just put that out there.

Well, I haven't saved any more money than I would have.

Well, it's only been one cake period.

Keep trying.

Amy didn't follow the budget at first Add to cart.

Sometimes we blame the devil for a tax, but really it's just our self-control.

Like we're just financially attacked right now.

No, you need a budget.

Somebody needs to take your credit card away.

You need to go to Dave Ramsey in the spring.

Well, you know, I'm just physically attacked right now.

I'm just like no it's not a demon.

You're dehydrated.

Go sit in some sunroof, take care of yourself.

Go to the doctor, you're okay.

Can't fix it to the other work or somebody.

The enemy's really attacking my marriage right now well, maybe you need some more basic face time and less screen time.

Well, my kids, you know, and if you've got all my kids, well that's because sports are a priority in churches.

If you feel like it, I'm just saying.

I'm just saying I don't want to hurt your feelings, but somebody's got to tell you, because your two-year-old is showing, my two-year-old is showing, my two-year-old is showing First.

Corinthians says, not everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything.

We're all competing, we all have purpose, we all have calling, but not all of us are running at full potential, and I think that's because we don't like the race we're running and we don't like the calling that's been placed in our life.

We don't like the job that we're doing, we don't like our assignment, so we spend more time whining about it than actually doing it, and that makes me think of this.

That's really not a great story to tell you, but here we are.

I go to boot camp most days.

Well, I try, I intend to, I have intentions to go to boot camp three times a week.

I make it twice sometimes.

What I recognize about myself is that I whine the entire time.

I whine on the way I whine daring I whine when I leave.

Jeanette goes sometimes too.

She hears me.

I just whine on the way I whine.

Daring I whine when I leave.

Jeanette goes sometimes too.

She hears me.

I just whine the whole time.

But there is a 70 year old woman who whines zero.

She's a zero whiner.

She does all the mountain climbers, she does all the burpees, she does the pushups, she does these things called man makers.

It's bad, horrible.

Zero stars Do not recommend.

She does not whine and I recognize, last time I went, I'm the only one who's whining.

Out of everyone, I'm the only one.

So guess what one of my intentions is Next time I go?

Let's take a look.

Who thinks I can?

I know, I know, I know who I am.

Just run the race, just do the bandmaker, just do the burpee, just do whatever you're called to do.

Quit running from your calling and just take your boots in and let's go.

You have to discipline yourself to accomplish God's call in your life, because if you just sit back, the calling doesn't change you.

Just don't.

You're not going anywhere with it.

He doesn't say, oh, you don't want to do that, oh, we'll figure something else out.

He doesn't say, oh, you don't want to do that, oh, we'll figure something else out.

In fact, just about 15 minutes ago, rachel says to me I don't know what I'm doing today.

I guess I'm doing this.

I said oh, kids, man, let's meet you upstairs.

She goes no, I'm happy right where I am.

I thought I'm going to use that.

Wherever you are, do it as unto the Lord.

Mother those children.

They are your first ministry.

Those kids are your calling.

They are your calling.

If you don't have any kids.

Guess what?

There are plenty of orphans rolling around.

Gentlemen, we are a lack of fathers.

These boys, they need you.

You can take them to coffee and say tell me about your father, what's your struggling with?

How's the car?

All the things your dad did for you.

They need that from you.

Women, there's little sisters here who desperately need an older woman to say hey, hey, hey, who's this guy?

Has he got a job?

He got a car.

How old is he?

He lives in his three-months-old Hold on.

How old is he?

Feeling good as three-month-olds?

Hold on, 45 years old?

Hold on, Lifetime student.

Hold on.

Find someone.

Love that wife, Love that husband.

That is your first ministry.

Those are your people.

Quit looking for.

Your calling your family is your calling.

Your purpose is your first ministry.

Those are your people.

Quit looking for your calling.

Your family is your calling.

Your purpose is your calling.

I'm sorry that they're grumpy.

If they didn't say it in the Bible, it would be easy Love them anyways.

Get that paycheck.

I'm sorry, your boss is grumpy.

Get the paycheck, just get the paper.

The scripture says whatever you do work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord.

That takes discipline, it takes self-control.

It takes incredible discipline to go to a job that you hate and smile at everyone that you hate and continue to do what you hate and say, okay, Lord, as unto the Lord, but I bet you, if you continue to do that, your heart will change because that's how God works.

And if those kids really get you mamas, you raise them.

They're just how you raised them.

Small work for that.

There's small work for that.

I may not be asked back, so we'll get it all out there.

Be a good friend, don't wait for them to ask you, but they'll be asking you for coffee, pastor Angie.

Well, that's because they're waiting.

Everyone's waiting, everyone's waiting to be asked, ask someone to call you, reach out, and when somebody says could you pray for me, say, oh yeah, I want to pray for them.

Come on, come on, brothers, sisters, pray for them, like, text it, like, call them.

Hey, why are you calling me?

You asked me to drink, but that was shocking.

I'll never ask you again.

If you really want to get crazy, lead a small group.

Well, pastor Angie, I don't have nearly enough time, but guess what?

We all have the same 24 hours Hashtag, netflix.

You have to decide.

You have to decide what's important in 2025.

You have to get this self under control.

Discipline is the name of the game, but you don't know my kids and you don't know my boss.

It says as unto the Lord, this is where we exhibit a fruit of the Spirit, which is self-control, where we exhibit a fruit of the Spirit, which is self-control.

Great men have been taken down by their lack of self-control, and I have two for you.

Moses was a warrior leader.

He was a poet and a prophet.

He led his people.

He spoke to the Egyptian pharaohs.

He led his people out of decades of slavery.

But because he could not get his anger under control remember, he was a murderer.

It was way back.

He never got it under control the last time he let his hothead show stole his victory.

He never got to see the promised land that he walked for 40 years in the desert with those griping.

Israelites who knew they were right.

You know they were worse than a bunch of middle schoolers.

You know Kim can laugh because she goes.

They wanted to go back to slavery for garlic and onions.

Could you imagine you just got them out.

You want to go back?

Oh you imagine, you just got them out.

You want to go back?

Oh, you do.

I might be a little upset too, but because he could not get himself under control, he never saw the promise in it.

King David the legendary warrior he saved the Israelites.

He cut the head off the giant.

He took that thing and walked it through the streets.

He cut the head off the giant, he took that thing and walked it through the streets.

Legend says he carried Goliath's sword his entire life on his back, but he couldn't get his lust under control.

He couldn't get it.

And when he saw that woman he manipulated and twisted and nothing he could.

He could only think about that.

He could not put it under control.

And because he couldn't get himself under control, the scripture said that god said the sword will forever be in your house.

His legacy is shame and violence.

His sons turned against him because he could not get control.

So I asked you what has your lack of control stolen from you?

Your health, your family, your relationships, financial stability, your hope, your peace?

We must learn to control ourselves or we will lose ourselves.

That's heavy.

Well, you're lucky because I have five ways.

Five ways to give yourself some self-control.

So if you haven't taken notes, now's your time.

Number one seek God's help.

Paul says I want to do good, but I can't.

Paul.

That's Saint.

Paul said I want to do good, but I can't, paul.

That's Saint.

Paul said I want to do good and I can't do good.

Saint.

Every day I want to eat vegetables and drink water, but I eat Dr Pepper and whiskey cream Every day.

I know that's not true, just lying.

I want to not lie and then I get up here and I just lie.

We cannot do it by sheer will.

We have to invite God into the situation.

This is where daily time with the Lord is a game changer, and I think we have an idea that we go and get our perfect cup of coffee and our Bible and read it and we get up and we leave.

He wants to be invited into your struggle Newsflash.

He already knows what's going on.

You're not hiding anything.

What he would really love is for you to say could you come help me, would you come in?

In fact, when my dad was headed to like a really intense meeting, he would go open the passenger side door true story and say Lord, will you?

come with me to the scene and they thought he was insane.

I think Jesus got in the car.

When I'm praying in the mornings, I picture the Lord sitting on the other end of the couch.

Nothing holds your attention like pretending that Jesus Christ is sitting on the other end of your couch, because I need him to be a part of my quiet time.

Meditate on scriptures that are related to self-control.

If this is something that you struggle with, if self-control is something that has plagued you your entire life, pastor Sean gave you such a good tip not last Sunday, but the Sunday before.

Google scriptures about self-control.

That's your reading plan, that's what you study.

Well, there's 67 scriptures about self-control.

Well, that seems to be exactly a 67 reading, but less.

Reflect on his word and align your thoughts with his will.

Second, timothy says for God has not given us a spirit of fear, but a power in love and self-control.

You're looking inward for self-control.

You're looking for that.

Come on, be better.

Come on, like you're trying to start your motor.

Hey, it's not in there.

You have to ask for it.

It's a fruit of the Spirit.

It is a fruit of time with the Lord.

Number two set boundaries and practice discipline.

So here's what it is.

You've got to identify where you struggle.

Is it your diet?

Is it your spending?

Is it your time?

Do you look up and it's 5 o'clock in the afternoon and you don't know what you've done?

Is it your kids?

Is it your marriage?

Is it your relationships?

You know where you struggle, so start small with daily commitments.

This is where we really get off track as human beings, because on January 1st 2025, we now are vegans and we go to the gym for three hours every day and we no longer use gasoline.

we're solar-powered 100% and we only drink water from Iceland and we can't do any of that for long-term.

And we fail, and then we don't do anything different and we live off of Dr Pepper.

Small daily commitments.

How about you just start with a walk, like a round of cul-de-sac?

Well, in general it only takes five minutes and it's five minutes more than you did yesterday.

Start slow, learn to say no to things that hinder spiritual growth.

You see, our time is time.

There's a saying I might butcher it, but the devil can't make you sin, he'll make you busy.

We have to say no to the things that hinder our spiritual walk, because in the end, it doesn't matter all the things that you did if you never spent time with the Lord.

If the kingdom of heaven does not come in the end, it won't matter.

It won't matter how many times you went to the gym, it won't matter how many glasses of water you drank every day, it won't matter if you took all your vitamins.

If the kingdom of God has got to be paramount, matthew 6.33 says by the kingdom of God, god's got to be paramount.

Matthew 6, 33 says he first became the king of heaven and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you.

You see, pastor Sean preached a Christmas message two or three years ago and it really struck me because he had the nativity scene, and some of you might remember this.

He moved all the pieces around in the nativity scene, and some of you might remember this.

He moved all the pieces around in the nativity scene.

He put the king in the middle, he put the shepherd in the middle, he put Mary in the middle, but when he put Jesus in the middle, everything worked just right.

And that is exactly how life is.

When you put Jesus at the center of your life, when you make his stuff your primary goal, everything else falls into place.

This book has every answer you need.

I promise.

I promise it will tell you how to pay your money.

It will tell you what to eat.

Daniel has a whole thing on it.

He's got a fast in here.

It's a diet book.

Did you know?

It's got relationship advice, parenting advice.

If you're depressed, it can help you with that anxiety.

This is a one-stop shop.

In fact, this is like one of those commercials and you too can have this for night market.

When we align our lives with the Word of God, everything else falls into place.

But the thing is is we have FOMO, we have fear of missing out, like well, if I don't do nothing, I'm not going to Guess what.

Jesus has got to come first in 2025.

He has to, because when everything falls apart, that's where you end up anyways, like when your life falls apart because you put him on the cabinet and you can all hang out with you later.

You know I'm going to do this first.

You're going right back down when this falls apart.

Number three Rely on the Holy Spirit.

Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit.

When your branches and your vines touch the vine, jesus, fruit comes from you.

Self-control is why you cannot create self-control on your own.

You have to have help.

Self-control is why you cannot create self-control on your own.

You have to have help.

Maybe it's not showing because you're not hanging out with the one who gives it.

Invite him into your actions, invite him into your decisions.

But also you have to listen Like you can't just say Lord, help me, not get this ticket when the police officer pulls up behind you.

Lord, you know the prayer.

Don't act like you, don't I, lord, help?

me not get this ticket when the police officer pulls up behind you.

Lord, you know the prayer Don't act like you don't?

I pray that prayer all the time, lord, don't let me get it to him.

Just a warning, just a warning.

Just a warning.

No hold on this is the better prayer.

You've got something better to do, officer.

You have something better to do, Because guess what he has things to say to you.

He has opinions on your situation.

You've got to listen.

You've got to yield to his promptings and situations and life's challenges.

You've got to slow down.

And guess what?

You don't have to have the answer right away.

In the moment.

You can say in fact, I'll self-practice, let me think about that.

Doesn't that feel good?

I know I'm going to say that to you a lot this year.

Let me think about that.

And we need to get back to.

My grandma used to say I need to pray on that and we need to get back to that.

Yeah, I need to pray on that.

Well, I'm just asking you to coffee.

That's okay, ab.

I need to pray on that.

I have no idea what's happening next Friday.

I already have a coffee date.

I need to pray on that.

Philippians 2.13 says because God is working in you to help you want to do and be able to do what pleases him.

He is working in you but you have to let him work.

You have to hang out with people that are going to pull that out of you.

You've got to hang out with people and say hey, what's your name this morning?

What's God speaking to you?

Hey, what?

Tell me?

What are you doing at church these days?

What are you serving?

Don't like get your motor running.

What's happening?

What's the best sermon you've heard all year?

Somebody asked me that the other day and I was like I have no idea.

I've never heard a sermon in my life.

My brain went completely blank.

I sit on that chair every Sunday and hear two sermons?

I can't think of one.

Don't have one Trust in his power to transform your habits.

Number four Build accountability and community.

Quit acting like you have it all together.

It's a killer.

We as a culture, we as a nation, have to appear like we have it all together.

I'm fine how you doing, fine, fine, fine.

No, you're not Put your lipstick on.

Ladies, I look like we got our stuff together.

No, you don't.

You have to share your goals.

You have to share your stuff with trusted friends, mentors or a small group.

You know what's coming.

You have to allow others to encourage and pray for you.

You've got to be open and honest.

I love the Facebook posts that say just pray for me.

Well, okay, I mean Lord, whatever they're doing, I sure would love to pray scripture over you, though.

I mean, I sure would love to like pray, pray Well, and you're just nosy.

Well, that's true too.

But I sure would like to like check on you in a couple weeks and say, hey, how's your grandma Like?

Hey, I was like, but how did that person let me go?

But we're so I can't let anybody know.

And then you say it in the same breath I'm so alone.

Well, that's your own offense.

James 5.16 says invest your sins to each other and pray for each other so God can heal you.

When a believing person prays, great things happen.

Share your struggle.

We say it all the time.

Don't do life alone.

There's no reason for it.

When you embrace accountability, you stay on track, and it doesn't have to be me, it just has to be someone.

In fact, this morning, pastor Ryan had probably one of the most clear and honest conversations that we have had in 25 years of marriage, and it is going to make 2025 so much better Just because we both let our guard down and said some really clear things.

That is life changing.

When you have somebody that you can say, hey, I have a weird thing I need to say and I need you to be okay with it, and then you say it and they are okay with it, and then they have feedback and you're okay, that's like a really mature adult conversation.

You should try it.

It's great.

Number five, last one Reflect, repent, sell it.

You must evaluate your actions and seek forgiveness when you fall short.

You see, we are such all-or-nothing people.

When we mess up.

Oh, that's it.

I'm the kind.

I literally, literally the kind of person.

I promise you that if somehow I eat too many calories too early in the day, oh, ice cream's happening, so it doesn't even matter at this point.

Maybe I'm the only one.

It's fine, carla.

Carla knows, carla knows me.

Might as well, just might as well.

Let's go.

But the thing is, is we gotta get up dust our knees off?

Try again when your kids are learning to walk, and they and they got up and they did their little and they fell.

Did you say oh, we've got a crawler, everyone He'll, that's what he does.

He's got a crawler, everyone, that's what he does.

He's just a crawler.

He'll be 25 crawling into college.

Bye, no, you say you're OK, get up, you're OK.

And if you're really smart, you're like oh, you're fine, you're fine, you don't want to cry You're fine, you're fine, you're fine, gentle parent yourself.

You're okay, you're okay.

Just a trip, just a fall, just a little setback.

It's not forever.

Give yourself some grace.

You would give your friend's grace.

You would give your loved one's grace.

Give yourself a some grace.

You would give your friends grace.

You would give your loved ones grace.

Give yourself a little grace.

Philippians 3 says Brothers and sisters, I know that I have not yet reached that goal, but there is one thing I always do Forgetting the past, straining toward what is ahead.

I keep trying to reach the goal and get the prize for which God called me through Christ to the life of love.

Even Paul struggled.

If Paul struggled, surely we struggled.

Paul wrote it for all of us to read thousands of years later.

I'm not asking you to find a clue.

I'm just asking you to find a friend and tell him.

This is what I want to do.

I need some accountability.

We should seek, and that leads me to celebration, because it's very hard to celebrate something if no one knows, like if you've never told anyone, if you've never told anybody, hey, I'm going to try to read your Bible every day of the week, and then you get to Sunday and you're so excited.

And you tell them.

You come and tell me and I'm going to be like, yeah, awesome, but I didn't know that was a goal in the first place.

So I'm like, well, aren't we all going to read the Bible every day of the week?

I'm like, yeah, except when, if I know it's a challenge, I'm like, come on, let's go, let's do it again.

Do you see the difference?

You gotta tell somebody you have to share your life, because then you get your feelings hurt when no one celebrates you, when they don't know they can't know what they don't know.

My heart for you in 2025 is for you to be peaceful, joyful and blessed, but none of those things just happen.

We got to be intentional about becoming disciplined and exhibiting self-control in our life.

Thank you, my boy.

If you would close your eyes and open your hands, lord, show us the areas that we have not controlled ourselves about.

Help us to supernaturally mature in 2025.

Let this be the year that we get our prayer life on track.

Let this be the year that we put you in the center of our lives, that we remember that you want to be a part of our minute by minute, not just our Sunday mornings.

Help us to slow down and take care of you.

Help us to leave the hurt and brokenness of 2024 behind and walk out of here as new nations.

Lord, help your children.

You are a compassionate father.

That's what your word says.

You are a compassionate father that loves your people.

You see them struggle, god, and I ask that you help them In Jesus' name, amen.

We're going to worship for a few minutes and I'm actually going to call the prayer team because I believe that self-control is something that we, as a people, struggle with.

So my challenge to you is to worship God, and I'm going to agree with our prayers from now on that God is going to help you, that God is going to help you get whatever area in your life that is out of your control, and you have tried it your way for so long.

It's time to invite the Lord.

Let's worship for so long.

It's time to Call me out of darkness and you silence every lie and no other voice will define Cause.

I belong to, because I belong to you.

I belong to you by your blood.

I've been Adopted and I'm taking on your name and I need to be Revived.

I'm taking on your name and I need to be made by you.

I belong to you, I belong to you.

In the end, we can Take what I have.

I'll change who I am.

I belong to you, but the enemy cares.

Take what I have.

I'll change who I am.

I belong to you.

I belong to you by your word.

I've been loved up and I'm taking on your name and I need to be made mine.

I belong to you, I belong to you, yeah, will you give me care?

Take what I have, change who I am.

I belong to you.

Who's the enemy there?

Take what I have, change who I am.

I belong to you, I belong to you, I belong to you.

Yeah, I belong to you.

Greater are you, whose hands many use in the world.

We have to go.

Thank you.

Far stronger than the birds.

Where are you looking?

Where are you looking?

The world, the words that you have spoken?

Far stronger than the birds In the beginning.

Take what I have, I'll change who I am.

I belong to you.

No, the enemy cares.

Take what I have.

I'll change who I am.

I belong to you.

You're the inner deep end.

Take what I have.

I'll change who I am.

I belong to you.

You're the inner deep end, babe.

Take what I have.

I'll change who I am.

I belong to you, I belong to you.

I'm moving, I'm moving, I'm moving.

Hallelujah, jesus, hallelujah Jesus, hallelujah, hallelujah.

The other six again Holy, holy are you, lord, god Almighty, you are holy, holy Are you, lord, god Almighty?

What is the land?

What is the land?

You are holy, holy Are you.

Lord, god Almighty.

What is the land?

What is the land?

What is the land of man?

Forever he is glorified.

Forever he is lifted high.

Forever he is risen, he is alive, he is alive.

Forever he is glorified.

Forever he is lifted high.

Forever he is risen, he is alive, he is alive.

Is is lifted high.

Forever he is risen, he is alive, he is alive.

Here I am to worship.

Here I am to worship.

Here I am to bow down.

Here I am to say that you're my God, you're altogether lovely, altogether worthy together, wonderful to me.

Sing it.

Here I am to worship, here I am to bow down, here I am to say that you're my God, you're altogether lovely, altogether worthy, altogether wonderful to me.

Here I am to worship, here I am to bow down.

Here I am to bow down, here I am to say and you're my God, you're altogether lovely, altogether worthy, altogether wonderful to me, and I exalt Thee, I exalt Thee, I exalt thee.

Oh, oh, oh, come on, just the voices, let me hear you sing.

I exalt thee, hey, I exalt thee, I exalt Thee, I exalt Thee.

Oh, come on sing, we exalt Thee.

We exalt Thee, we exalt the, we exalt thee, we exalt thee, we exalt thee in one voice.

We exalt thee, we exalt thee, we exalt thee, we exalt thee, oh, oh, oh, we exalt thee, we exalt thee, oh, we exalt thee, oh, we exalt thee, oh.

So, yes, yes, hallelujah Jesus.

Hallelujah Jesus.

Come on, let me continue to worship.

Hallelujah Jesus, You're so great, so thanks God.

Thank you, jesus.

It was lonely, it took time, my middle were working, it was painful, it was hard.

My middle were working.

All these old lines, all things for my love.

You can feel it at the time when you are working no questions will be found when you were working all day for my room.

When I look back over my head and I think how good you have been in my soul since Days, days, praise your faithfulness.

I feel the wrath come from my heart and my soul sings praise, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.

With a body, with a soul, you are worthy.

I will worship you.

Worship, oh Lord, because you are worthy of this glory In my good, bad old.

But I'm not empty.

How could you have been?

My soul sings Praise, praise your faithfulness.

When I get your love, I can pray For all over.

Again, my soul sings Praise, praise your faithfulness.

Oh, my sources cradles, bring it your way for best.

Oh, my sources, cradles, bring it your way for best.

You turn it around, you turn it around, you turn it around, you turn it around, you turn it around, you turn it around, you turn it around, you turn it around, you turn it around.

Don't know if you know how, but you always do, but you always do.

Sometimes you turn it around.

We don't know how, but you always do it so well.

You turn it around.

You turn it around.

Don't know, we don't know how, but you always do it so loud You're turning it around.

You're turning it around.

Don't know where you're going when you always do it so loud.

You're turning it around.

You're turning around, you're turning around.

Don't go where you're going, but you always do it somehow.

When I look back over my life and I think, how have you do again?

My soul sings praise, praise your faithfulness.

When I get your love on my mind, I'll be grateful.

All over again, my soul sings praise, praise your faithfulness.

Oh, my soul sings praise, praise your faithfulness.

You're turning around.

You're turning around To the way of your power and you always do it so well.

You're turning around.

Don't know when, don't know how, but you always do it.

So now You're turning around.

You're turning around.

Don't know when, don't know how, but you always knew so well.

You're the one that you always knew so well.

I'm so proud, I'm so proud, I'm so proud.

I'm so proud, I'm so proud, I'm so proud, I'm so proud.

I'm so proud, I'm so proud, I'm so proud, I'm so proud, I'm so proud, I'm so proud, I'm so proud.

So so, thank you for joining us today.

Wasn't that a great part of our pastor's day?

You know, I love these first verses, and there's no better way to keep up 2025 than the way we did today.

There's no better way to keep up the new year than how we just did by giving God glory, by giving God praise, by seeking God for more than we can ever know that we need, but just by wanting to get to his presence on the very first day of the year.

So we are going to sing one more song, but I'm going to go in this missing band.

I'm going to worship some more.

You want to worship some more?

We'll have all those persons.

Again, we turn to your presence, eager to meet you, lord, and filled with a new expectation for the wonders we haven't seen yet.

So we lift our eyes to the one we love, to the one, and this is who God calls for love.

We look to you, we look to you.

I'm walking in touch with your presence.

I'm walking to meet face to face.

I enter your call to please give.

I'm waiting here for you.