AS WE ENTER THIS YEAR, THERE ARE THOSE THAT WILL MAKE RESOLUTIONS AND USUALLY NOT KEEP THEM.

I BELIEVE GOD IS CALLING US TO MAKE SOME COMMITMENTS FOR THIS YEAR AND NOT RESOLUTIONS.

WE ARE TO MAKE THESE COMMITMENTS TO THE LORD BY AND THRU A HEART THAT IS SUBMITTED TO HIM.

TOO MANY TIMES THE REASON WE DO NOT SEE THIS CHANGE IN OUR LIVES IS BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT SURRENDERED COMPLETELY TO HIM.

I HAVE BEEN BLESSED ESPECIALLY THE LAST 6 MONTHS AS I HAVE WITNESSED GOD MOVING IN CERTAIN PEOPLES LIVES

BECAUSE THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO SURRENDER AREAS IN THEIR HEARTS, ON THE OTHER HAND I HAVE WITNESSED OTHERS CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE BECAUSE OF THEIR REFUSAL TO SURRENDER CERTAIN AREAS OF THE HEART. 

HIS DESIRE IS TO SEE HIS REDEEMED FOLLOW HIM WITH STRONG FAITH AND SURRENDER TO HIM. 

WHY ARE THESE TRUTHS SO POWERFUL?

A SURRENDERED LIFE WILL CREATE THE ATMOSPHERE OF FAITH, WHERE THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN THEN OPERATE AND MOVE YOU AWAY FROM THE DEAD ISSUES IN YOUR LIFE.

IF YOUR DESIRE IS TO EXPERIENCE A POWERFUL ENCOUNTER WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, START BY SURRENDERING YOUR HEART TO HIM.

MOST OF THE PROBLEMS WE SEE IN PEOPLES LIVES CAN BE DEALT WITH BY SUBMITTING THE HEART TO THE WORD OF GOD AND THUS ALLOWING IN IT TO BRING THE NECESSARY CHANGE TO OUR LIVES.

THIS WILL REQUIRE OUR FAITH. WE NEED FAITH TO ARISE AND LEAVE THE DEAD ISSUES OF LIFE BEHIND AND MOVE ON WITH OUR LIVES.

THESE 3 THINGS WILL DETERMINE YOUR ABILITY TO ARISE AND MOVE FORWARD IN THIS FAITH.

I. YOUR HEART. (SPIRITUAL CONDITION OF IT)

GOD CAN DO MUCH WITH A SURRENDERED HEART AND GOD IS LOOKING FOR HEARTS THAT ARE WILLING TO SURRENDER TO HIS PLAN AND HIS PURPOSE.

HE IS LOOKING FOR HEARTS THAT ARE PLIABLE AND WILLING TO BE CHANGED BY HIS HOLY SPIRIT AND WILLING TO YIELD TO THE TENDER LOVE OF GOD.

A HEART THAT IS QUICK TO FORGIVE, PATIENT, TOLERATES OTHERS AND LOOKS FOR THE GOOD IN PEOPLE NOT ALWAYS THE BAD, AND A HEART THAT IS WILLING TO SURRENDER THE OLD WAY OF DOING THINGS AND EMBRACE THE NEW MOVE OF THE SPRIT. THIS KIND OF HEART IS WILLING TO UNDERGO CHANGE AND WILLING TO ALLOW THE CUTTING AWAY OF ANY
HARDNESS THAT HAS FORMED THRU HURTFUL EXPERIENCES THAT HAVE OCCURRED.

OF COURSE THE ONE WHO IS TO CUT THRU THESE HARD AREAS IS THE HOLY SPIRIT. HE IS OUT TO REMOVE ANY THING IN YOUR HEART THAT IS AN ENEMY TO YOUR FAITH.

II. YOUR REVELATION OF YOUR DIVINE PURPOSE AND DESTINY?)

IS YOUR REVELATION TIED UP ON HOW YOU FUNCTION, YOUR GIFTING, YOUR CALLINGS, OR IS IT TIED UP IN YOUR IDENTITY IN CHRIST.

IF THE REVELATION YOU HAVE OF YOUR LIFE IS BASED ON YOUR IDENTITY IN JESUS CHRIST, THEN YOUR LIFE WILL NOT BE ALL ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU ARE DOING FOR GOD, BUT RATHER ON THE ONE WHO EQUIPPED YOU TO ACCOMPLISH WHATEVER YOU ARE CURRENTLY DOING.

REMEMBER; IT IS MORE ABOUT WHO JESUS CHRIST IS IN US THAN WHO WE ARE IN JESUS CHRIST. 

A POWERFUL SCRIPTURE EVERY CHRISTIAN SHOULD STRIVE FOR IS; Matthew 23:12 "And whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.  NAS

IF THIS TRUTH IS PRESENT IN YOUR LIFE, THAN A PRIDEFUL HEART WILL NOT BE DICTATE YOUR ACTIONS. 

III. YOUR VISION (DO YOU HAVE A VISION FOR YOUR LIFE?

YOU CANNOT HAVE REVELATION WITHOUT A PROPHETIC VISION)

A PROPHETIC VISION WILL PRODUCE REVELATION OF GODS PURPOSE AND DESTINY. OF COURSE THIS BEGINS WITH A FAITH FILLED HEART. A BELIEVING HEART WILL ARISE AND TAKE HOLD OF THAT VISION AND MOVE FORWARD IN YOUR LIFE TO ACCOMPLISH GODS PURPOSE AND REACH YOUR DESTINY.

A LOT OF TIMES WE RETREAT IN THE MIDST OF THE BATTLE BECAUSE IN OUR HEART WE START TO QUESTION GODS PROMISE. THIS WILL CLOUD YOUR VISION FOR YOU LIFE.

THE SEED OF UNBELIEF IS PLANTED IN THE HEART, AND THAT SEED WHEN CULTIVATED BY LACK OF REVELATION OF GODS WORD CRUSHES THE VISION WE HAD RECEIVED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD.

WHEN WE ALLOW THE SEED OF UNBELIEF TO FESTER IN OUR HEARTS IT STARTS TO FORM IN US A LACK OF TRUST IN OUR MINDS FOLLOWED BY A DESPISING OF THE WORD OF GOD.

IT IS NOT A LACK OF GODS PROMISE, IT IS UNBELIEF

IT IS WRITTEN IN: Ps 1:1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. NAS

WE START TO THINK, GOD IS NOT ABLE, GOD IS NOT FAITHFUL, AND GOD IS NOT TRUSTWORTHY.

IT IS TIME TO ARISE BECAUSE GOD IS LOOKING TO WORK GREATER WORKS THAN WHAT WE HAVE SEEN THRU US.

AND IN OUR FAITH WE MUST BELIEVE THAT GOD IS THERE TO GUIDE US.

I HOPE I NEVER OUTGROW THE DEEP NEED FOR HIS GUIDANCE.

THIS REQUIRES A HUMBLE HEART. THE GREATEST VIRTUE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS HUMILITY

AND AS LONG AS WE WALK IN THIS HE WILL CONTINUE TO PREPARE US FOR GREATER THINGS AHEAD.

BUT DEAD ISSUES FLOWING OUT OF OUR HEARTS INTO OUR MINDS WILL HOLD US BACK FROM RECEIVING FROM GOD.

BUT YESTERDAY’S DEAD ISSUES WILL HOLD US BACK IN YESTERDAYS DESTINY. WE NEED FAITH TO RELEASE DEAD ISSUES. 

THE BAD NEWS IS THAT EVERY ONE OF US AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER HAS HAD A BAD NIGHT, A NIGHT SEASON IN OUR LIVES.

IT IS OUR CHOICE TO CONTINUE TO FEED THAT NIGHT SEASON OF OUR LIFE OR TO LOOK FOR THE NEW MERCIES THAT COME FROM THE NEW DAY THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR EACH ONE OF US.

YOU HAVE TO REALIZE THAT IT IS YOUR FEEDING WITH YOUR MIND INTO THIS NIGHT SEASON THAT WILL KEEP YOU BOUND.

WHY NOT THINK POSITIVELY UNTIL EVERY NEGATIVE THING THAT IS A RESULT OF DEAD ISSUES TURNS BLUE AND RELEASES ITS GRIP ON YOUR HOME AND YOUR DESTINY.

YOU HAVE THE POWER TO BE RELEASED FROM THE DEAD ISSUES OF YOUR PAST.

IN PSALM 51: DAVID PRAYS, CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART.

I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT THE VERB; CREATE. ORIGINALLY THIS VERB IN THE HEBREW “BAH-RAH” (CREATE) CARRIED THE IDEA OF CARVING, CUTTING OUT; AND THIS CONCEPT IS EXPRESSED HERE BY DAVID; HE IS PRAYING; CUT OUT ALL THE DEAD ISSUES OUT OF MY HEART, CARVE THEM OUT OF MY HEART MY GOD. BUT IT CONTINUES IN ITS MEANING. THE WORD BARA IS A FITTING WORD BECAUSE IT ALSO CARRIES THE MEANING; TO BRING INTO EXISTENCE BY FASHIONING EXISTING MATTER INTO SOMETHING NEW. JUST LIKE GOD CREATED MAN FROM DIRT,

DAVID IS PRAYING CUT OUT THE DEAD ISSUES, CARVE THEM FROM THOSE PLACES I HAVE HID FROM YOU, AND FASHION WITHIN ME SOMETHING NEW THAT IS FORMED BY YOUR HOLY SPIRIT.

AS HE FORMS THIS NEW HEART; GOD’S WORD WILL TAKE HOLD OF YOU IN A NEW WAY AND YOU WILL FACE THE CHALLENGES WITH A RENEWED SENSE OF PURPOSE.

YOUR MIND WILL THINK DIFFERENT THOUGHTS, BECAUSE YOU HEART IS FILLED WITH GOD AND NOT DOUBT, UNBELIEF.

THE MIND OF CHRIST WILL HAVE INFLUENCE IN YOUR DAILY CHOICES. YOU WILL HAVE THE FAITH TO LEAVE YESTERDAYS DEAD ISSUES RIGHT WHERE THEY BELONG, IN YESTERDAY.

IF YOUR PEACE HAS BEEN ROBBED BY YESTERDAYS DEAD ISSUES, PAUL TAUGHT THAT IF WE WOULD STOP DWELLING ON THOSE DEAD ISSUES AND DISCIPLINE OUR MINDS INTO THINKING POSITIVE THOUGHTS WE COULD HAVE THAT INNER PEACE.

EVERY DEAD ISSUE IN YOUR MIND MUST BE ABORTED. THOSE DEAD ISSUES ARE SEEDS OF FAILURE. PULL DOWN THOSE STRONGHOLDS IN YOUR MIND, DON’T LET THEM KEEP YOU IN FAILURE. ALLOW THE KINGDOM OF GOD TO RULE IN YOUR MIND RATHER THAN STRONGHOLDS OF YOUR PAST.

IT IS TIME TO OVERTHROW THE KINGDOM THAT HAS RULED IN YOUR MIND AND HEART. LET GODS AUTHORITY AND THE LORDSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST RULE AND REIGN IN YOUR LIFE.

SACRIFICE DEAD ISSUES AND ALLOW JESUS TO TAKE THAT PAIN AND TURN IT IN POWER. THE ISSUE IS NOT IF WE REMEMBER OR NOT BUT HOW WE CHOOSE TO REMEMBER WHAT WE’VE BEEN THRU. GOD IS ABLE TO TAKE THE STING OUT OF THE MEMORY OF WHAT WE HAVE BEEN THRU AND LEAVE THE SWEET TASTE OF VICTORY. GIVE YOUR HEART A BATH IN THE PURITY OF GODS WORD. LEAVE THE DEAD ISSUES BURIED, THEY MAY BE KEEPING YOU FROM PARTICIPATING IN THE MOVE OF GOD.

A CLOUDED HEART CANNOT MOVE INTO THE REALM OF FAITH. GET READY FOR A FRESH AND NEW VISION AND NEW MOVE OF GOD.

CLEAN YOUR HEART AND CLEAR YOUR MIND. HE IS HERE READY FOR YOU!!

May God richly bless you!!!!!!