2023 is God’s Year, not Yours

False prophets continue to prosper as they peddle their “Here’s what God is saying for 2023” scams. They never point people to get into God’s Word for themselves because they are building a following, a busine$$ (2 Timothy 2:15). If they were truly “of God” they’d point people to and desire to see them get into God’s Word for themselves (John 8:47). Instead they want people following them, not Jesus!

Yet the LORD changes not, beloved saints – “For I am the LORD, I change not” (Malachi 3:6). God’s Word tells us His will, His counsel, His hope, His blessings, His future, His plans, His return for His own!

“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:” Colossians 2:8-10

All those without God are continuing to attempt to live their lives without their Maker. It will never work out for them – until they repent and receive Jesus into their lives.

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33

God’s people are bought by the blood of Jesus and the only portion of humanity who are known of Him and going to Heaven to be with Him. They are filled with hope and need not partake in false promises reserved for those with no hope.

“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:1-10

The LORD is calling His people to cease following the heathen, the world system which is under Satan’s control (Ephesians 2:1-3; Romans 12:1-2).

“Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.” Jeremiah 10:2

The true disciple serves Jesus Christ for who He is and what He’s done and not because the clock reaches a certain place in this temporal world. It’s time to repent authentically and stop living a lie and living by the lies of the world.

Turning over a new leaf, making just another fake “resolution” is not what is needed. True repentance is what is needed. Now.

It would be amazing if we had a few prayer requests we lifted before our Heavenly Father in Jesus’ Name for this year…..for the members of His body.

“ASK and ye SHALL receive” right? (Matthew 7:7)

Here’s a start:

• That Jesus would be magnified in our individual lives (2 Corinthians 4:10-12).
• That the members of Christ’s body would live and fellowship organically and not follow the whims and self-serving agenda of sinful men who are running business enterprises they call “church” (2 Peter 2:1-3). Read the book of Acts.
• That our LORD would anoint each of us to the death and burial of self that Christ might reign supreme (Luke 9:23-24; John 3:30; Romans 6; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12; Galatians 2:20; 6:14 etc.). The daily cross. Memorize John 3:30 and Galatians 2:20.
• That His body, the body of Christ would operate together as “labourers TOGETHER with God” to make Jesus known and feed, equip His beloved saints (1 Corinthians 3:9; John 21:15-17; Ephesians 4:11-12).
• That Jesus would bless us to cease being unnecessarily distracted from the Gospel mission, the Great Commission Jesus sent, equipped, and anointed us to accomplish (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20; Acts 1:8; 8:4, etc.).
• That our God would bring His unmarried saints (if they so desire) together with God fearing mates (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).
• That there would continue to be direction with wisdom to spread His Gospel farther and wider across His planet to reach every person alive for whom Jesus died to save (Matthew 24:14).
• That the LORD Jesus would teach each of us to be consummate soul winners (Proverbs 11:30; Luke 19:10).
• That each of us, the blood bought members of Christ’s body, would be freshly filled with His Holy Spirit and keep ourselves in the love of God (Jude 20-21; Romans 5:5).
• That the holy fear of God would fill and fuel each of His saints as we look eagerly for His soon return (Psalms 86:11). Like the joy that fills our hearts when we’re packing and preparing to go on a vacation (1 Corinthians 2:9; Hebrews 13:14; Revelation 21).
• That the blessings Jesus pronounced upon the church at Philadelphia would be upon our lives (Revelation 3:8-10).
• That Christ’s body would be holy as He is holy (1 Peter 1:15-16).

Declare that God’s written Word is the final divine authority of your life (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:12-21). If something pretends or is said to be of God and yet isn’t aligned with God’s Word, it’s to be rejected. While God’s Word reveals that at times He speaks to His people  by way of dreams, visions, prophecy, etc., the written Word is the primary way He leads His sheep and New Testament church. The written Word is “the MORE sure word of prophecy.” He said it’s “more sure,” more divinely authenticated than the literal audible voice of God speaking (2 Peter 1:12-21).

Filling the War Chest [podcast]

Quick Test of Your Personal General Knowledge of the Bible [podcast]

Blessed is He that Watcheth [podcast]

A Plea to Return to the LORD [podcast]