1993 Biblical Compass & Sextant for the New Year

In this part of the sermon: Martin begins by reflecting on the passing of 1992 and the arrival of 1993, urging listeners to approach the new year without sinful anxiety or presumptuous planning, as…

Martin describes removing and discarding his 1992 calendar, symbolizing the irreversible passing of time and the sober reality of facing a new, uncharted year.

I rose up from my desk and walked over to my study door and performed a very sobering act. Those of you who are familiar with what's in my study will know that on the back of my study door, I generally keep a calendar that has the whole year spread out before me. And the sobering act was to take, remove the two thumbtacks that held that calendar to the door, remove them, remove the calendar, fold it, and deposit it in the wastebasket.

2:43 - 3:21 Read in full sermon

The point: Enter this new year with a renewed confidence in the absolute sovereignty of God.

An adventurous explorer sailing uncharted seas relies on an accurate compass, sextant, and charts; this illustrates the believer's need for biblical principles (sovereignty, presence, provision, hope) to navigate the unknown new year.

And therefore, while our thoughts about the future should not be marked either by sinful anxiety or presumptuous planning, there are biblical principles which tell us what a godly perspective on a new year truly is. And I would like to introduce several of those perspectives by the use of an illustration to which I will make reference several times throughout the message. In days past when an adventurous explorer was setting out to sail uncharted seas,

6:23 - 7:04 Read in full sermon

Driving home: And he said, It is Jehovah, let him do what seemeth him good.

A patient needing life-saving surgery might fight the orderlies out of fear, but will be subdued. This illustrates that God will have His way regardless, but willing submission makes the process different, like Pastor Lamar's voluntary surgery.

It's like a group of doctors determined to operate on a patient who is going to die without that operation and he's consented to it on paper, but when the time comes for him to be wheeled into the operating room, he's so gripped with fear that he fights the orderlies and the attendants. Well, sooner or later they're going to pin him down, give him a shot and get him out and put him under and operate.

29:01 - 29:26 Read in full sermon

The point: Exercise faith unto a renewed awareness of the promised blessing of God for the good of your own soul and for the difference between a life of courage and cowardice, stability and instability.

Two kids face a bully named Fonzie. Both have a big brother who can handle Fonzie. The difference in their response (courage vs. fear) depends on their present awareness and belief in their big brother's presence, illustrating the difference between courage and cowardice for a Christian with God's promised presence.

as a present reality and the one who doesn't my mind went back to my experience as a kid on almost every block there was a bully the kid who matured earlier than others and took advantage of it and I know who the bully was on our block there was a bully his name was Fonzie that's right that was his name way back in the 40's and nobody wanted Fonzie to get on the wrong side of him because he was bigger and stronger and he could just pulverize any one of us but you know some of the guys had an older brother if ever they had their big brother at their elbow they could walk right by Fonzie and loo...

48:53 - 49:36 Read in full sermon

The point: Face the new year with a renewed hope in the glorious return of the Son of God, living in conscious waiting and expectation.

Martin recounts meditating in his study on how Christ will return, wondering how the trumpet will sound globally, emphasizing the certainty of the event despite the unknown mechanics.

2 Peter 3.10-13 a host of other passages out of the parables and what a difference it will make as we face this coming year as we had occasion to say a week or so ago one year ago in human history we'll have a bunch of calendars that will never be used they'll be printed up for the year but the heavens will part and the voice of the archangel will sound and the trumpet of God will blast as I sat in my study yesterday meditating upon it and looked out the sun was not shining at the time the skies were still grey I said Lord I wonder how you're going to do it will you circle the globe how will y...

62:06 - 62:50 Read in full sermon