## Happy New Year!

## Psalm 32:1

I realize that it has been a couple of weeks, but I still wanted to say 'Happy New Year' to everyone. But how can that be? The way things are shaping up in this world, how can we have a 'Happy' New Year?

I. It will be 'Happy' if Jesus is our Lord and Savior!

(Psa 32:1) "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered."

- Forgiven! a clean slate!
- Jesus removes all our sin and all the stain.
- "…though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow: though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Is. 1:18
- Our happiness isn't dependent upon circumstances … it is based upon our relationship with the Lord.
- Remember the happiness that flooded your soul when you first accepted Christ?
- 2001 will be a 'Happy New Year' if Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior.

II. It will be 'Happy' if we are serving God.

(Psa 65:4) "Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple."

- We will not be happy unless we are living our lives for the Lord all of the time.
- God has chosen us to be His servants.
- Happiness comes from fulfilling our purpose…
- You may wonder how you can serve Him…but the opportunity is there 24hrs a day and 7 days a week!
- Time is so precious, let's not waste it…but rather let's take every opportunity to serve our Lord.
- Happiness comes from knowing the Lord as our Savior, and from doing His will.
- We can have a 'Happy' new year if we will get involved in serving Christ.
- That means that we get involved in helping others…and ministering to them.

III. It will be 'Happy' if we are looking for His return.

(Luke 12:37) "Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them."

- This may be the year that the Lord comes back.
- Are we expecting Him to come…are we watching for Him?
- The danger in our lives is that we get so busy with other things…
- We get our focus on the things of this world rather than the promise of His Word.
- The nation of Israel was guilty of this…when they went into the land of Canaan, they began to focus on the giants, and on the walled cities…
- The result was that they forgot the promise of God…it was the 'Promised Land'!
- While we need to serve Christ with our lives here on this earth, we must remember that we have a bright future!
- One day, Jesus will come again and take us home with Him.
- We will be 'Happy' if never forget that Jesus is coming soon!

How can 2001 be a 'Happy New Year'?

1. Accept the gift of salvation, place your faith in Jesus Christ…be born again.

2. Serve God with your life…make use of every opportunity to minister for Him. J.O.Y.

3. Keep looking up! Jesus is coming soon, and it may be this year.