Spiritual Strategies for the New Year

Spiritual Strategies for the New Year
Heb. 6:11,12 and 2 Peter 1:5,10


Intro: I won’t take a long time talking about the motivation we all (or at least most) feel at the coming of a new year. Whether we write down resolutions or not, most all of us have made some in our mind; at least we’ve considered some things that we need to change in the new year; some things we need to Stop Doing and some things we need to Start Doing.
So it is with our Spiritual Life.
We need to plan some strategies Right Now for this coming year because we all Know that we have not fully Perfected our Christian life; we have not Lived it out to its fullest potential; we have not reached the pinnacle of Spiritual success.
So, what strategies will you employ in this new year?
I have three suggestions.


I. Revive in 2025.
The number one meaning of revive is to restore to life.
Is it possible that your spiritual life has actually died in the past year? I hope not but it is possible for our spiritual life to die in the midst of the details of earthly life.
There are literally thousands of incidents each year where a person’s Life ceases but they are revived and continue to live. Think about that! They were dead! Their life was over; they were not breathing; their heart had stopped beating; their existence in the world was ending; THEN
Someone Intervened! The intervention actually brought them back to life. Sometimes it required that CPR be administered by someone’s hands; sometimes it also required mouth to mouth resuscitation; sometimes it required the intervention of high voltage electricity to shock the heart back into action.
One thing is sure- whatever intervention is required; relatively gentle or extremely violent; IT HAS TO BE ADMINISTERED QUICKLY!
There is a point where life cannot be restored no matter what you try to do.
Let me Urge you today- if your spiritual life is ebbing and dying- REVIVE!
Take whatever action is necessary to restore Life to your Christian experience.
You May need to actually leave your pew and kneel at the altar; I know for some that’s really drastic action but it could be necessary.
You certainly need to make a special place of prayer and Pray all the way through. Pray until you have repented of your disobedience; of your neglect and laziness; of your lack of diligence in your Christian life.
The second definition of Revive is: to make active or flourishing again; to bring back into use.
Hopefully you haven’t actually died as a Christian but maybe you have become listless and inactive. Maybe you have allowed the details of earthly life to overload you and you are no longer Active in your spiritual life.
Are you Active in your prayer?
Are you Active in studying the Word of God?
Are you Active in Obeying the Word of God?
Are you Active in your church attendance?
Are you Active in Worship when you are here?
Are you Active in Service for the Lord and the church?
This year would be the right time to become active and flourishing again;
II. Strive in 2025.
If you need to be revived; that’s first on your to do list.
Then, all of us who are Alive Spiritually; all of us who are Active and Flourishing; Need to maintain our Diligence and Strive in 2025.
Not talking about strife between us that causes us to strive with or fight with one another.
Talking about what the Bible has to say about being Diligent in our Christian life and walk.
Our text in Heb 6 instructed us to “show diligence...unto the end.” We are told to “follow those who through faith and patience inherited the promises.”
Our text in 2 Peter commanded us to “give All diligence...” and to “give diligence to make your calling and election sure...”
Jesus said in Lu 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
Paul wrote in Php 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ...(and) stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
1Cor 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.
This is No Time to Slack Up or Back Up; this is a Time to Press Forward and Strive to show diligence Unto the End.
Listen brothers and sisters to these words of Paul in Rom 13- knowing the time...it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering (immorality) and wantonness (indecency), not in strife and envying. 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.


Revive and Strive and...
III. Prioritize in 2025.
The key to being Revived and the key to Striving Diligently in the Christian life is to Prioritize.
We all have differing amounts of money; differing amounts of material resources; differing degrees of wealth and health; BUT we all have the Exact Same amount of Time.
The richest and the poorest; the most able and the least able; we all have 7, 24 hour days each week; we all have about 52 weeks in the year; and the Key to being Revived and Striving diligently is how we Use our Time.
Twice (in Eph 5:16 and Gal 4:5) we are exhorted to Redeem the Time!
Use your time to its Best Advantage.
Don’t Waste your time on frivolous matters. Spend it on the important things of life.
Sure you must spend some time for Work to earn money and material things.
Certainly you need to spend some time for Family; family relationships are an important part of human life.
Sure you need some recreation and leisure time; everyone needs to step away from the hustle and bustle of work, earning, toiling, paying bills, fixing cars, maintaining houses, and host of other earthly matters; need some relaxation and recuperating time.
BUT WHATEVER You Do- Don’t Forget that Spiritual Matters are to be Your Number One Priority.
Jesus was asked what was the Number One Commandment, the most important one of them all; you know what he said?.....
Yes- Love the Lord your God with ALL your Heart, soul, mind, and strength.
(With your spirit (heart), soul (mind, emotions, will) and body (strength).
Love God with your Entire Being!


Then Jesus also said this:
Seek ye FIRST The Kingdom of God and his righteousness!
First! First!
Jesus knew we needed material things like money- but he made it clear that earning money is NOT To be our main priority.
Jesus knew that we needed to care about our family- but he made it clear that family is NOT to be our Main Priority.
Jesus knew that we needed some “down” time to catch our breath- but he made it clear that relaxation and recreation were NOT to be our main priorities.
You need to make it one of your spiritual strategies in this new year to Prioritize!
Put first things first; put what God says are the first things first.
KEEP the first things first throughout the year.
When you Love God with All of your heart, soul, mind and strength; you will still be able to work hard and earn money and pay bills and take care of your earthly possessions.
When you love God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength; you will still be able to Love your family and care for them properly.
When you love God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength; you will still be able to enjoy times of leisure and recreation.
You don’t LOSE those Other things just because you set your priorities right.
Remember the words of Jesus- Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness... (but that was not the end of what he said) the then said “and all these things shall be added unto you.”
God will help you take care of your earthly responsibilities when YOU take care of your Spiritual responsibilities.
Spiritual Strategies for the New Year: Revive, Strive and Prioritize in 2025!