One Thing

Joke:  A bagpiper who plays at many gigs was recently asked by a funeral director to play at a graveside service for a homeless man. He had no family or friends so the service was to be at a paupers cemetery in the back country of Kentucky .

As he was unfamiliar with that area he got lost and as a typical man did not stop and ask for directions.  He finally arrived an hour late and saw that the funeral guy had already left and the hurst was no where in sight.  There were only the diggers and the crew left and they were eating lunch.

He felt bad and apologized for being late.  Went to the side of the grave and saw that the fault was already put in place.  And not really knowing what else to do he just started to play.

The workers put down their lunches and started to gather around.  He played his heart and soul out for this man with no family or friends.  He played like never before for this homeless man.    As he played Amazing Grace the workers began to weep.  They wept, he wept, they all wept together.

When he finished he packed up his bagpipes and began to walk away.  Though his head hung low his heart was full.  As he opened the door to his car he heard one of the workers say, sweet mother of Jesus I ain’t ever heard anything like that before and I’ve been putting in septic tanks for 20 years.

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One Thing

Well, Happy New Year, here we are the first Sunday of 2025.

Man did last year fly by.

Question, How many of you would say; “I’m a little bit relieved, glad even that last year is over?”  Anybody?  I know it’s been a tough year for so many people.

My prayer as we start the new year is that the message today would speak to your heart and bring some application into your life.

We are going to start in the Book of Isaiah, the 43rd chapter.

God was speaking to the people of Israel. If you read the whole chapter, He went through a list of incredible and powerful promises.

One of the things God said that I believe can still apply to us today is found in verses 18 and 19 verse 18 says this. . .

Isaiah 43:18 – (NIV): Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.

Some of you today, the Holy Spirit is going to speak directly to, and He’s going to ask you to let go of, forget some of the things that have been holding you back. There are some things you have been holding onto from your past that He wants you to let go of.

It said, Do not dwell on the former things.  In other words the things of the past, and then it continues and God says,

Verse 19. . .

Isaiah 43:19 – (NIV): 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

And I believe God may speak to you and let you know that He wants to do a ‘new thing’ in this new year.

Some of you have faced circumstances and situations last year that have challenged your faith.  And you have said to yourself, if not out loud, I don’t know how in the world I can make it through this. It’s bad and I don’t see a way.

But I’m here today to tell you that God can see a way when no one else sees a way.  He can make a way when there seems to me no way.

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

Let me ask you, did you make any New Year’s resolutions?  Anybody?

Do you know what they call the second Friday in January?  Quitters Day.   Because that’s the day nearly half of those that made New Year’s resolutions give up on those New Year’s resolutions.

See the problem is for a lot of us, we have what is called good intentions, but may I propose that we need more than good intentions, we need some God intentions.

And there is a difference.

Many of us have got some good intentions, some things that we want to accomplish, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with setting goals.

I mentioned last week I set some goals for this year.

The top 5 New Year’s resolutions for 2025 are to save more money, to eat healthier, to exercise more, to lose weight, and to spend more time with family and friends.  How many know those are all good things to do?

But I want to challenge you this year to go beyond just having some good intentions, I want to challenge you to have some God intentions

What are those?  That’s where you listen to the Spirit of God, and church I believe He will speak to you, and He will show you one thing that He wants for you and/or from you.

And listen church, I believe that God wants to do a new thing in your life in this New Year and that thing will help you to have a better year.

My prayer is that the Spirit of God will show you one thing, that instead of having just good intentions that are me centered, you will have some God intentions that are God centered.

Because and this is important, when God births something in you, it will come about. And some of you are pregnant to propel with potential and promise.  I want you to, no you need to understand that God doesn’t abort His promises.

You see, “I am doing a new thing!”

What I am going to do today, is I am going to ask you 4 one-thing questions. Four one-thing questions, and my prayer is that God will birth in you one God centered thing that will be different for you this year.

The first one-thing question if your taking notes is this; in your prayer time is there one thing you are seeking God for this year?  What one thing do you desire from God?

Above everything else, if God said to you; “I will do one thing that you ask”, what is it that you would go to the throne of grace for this year?

1 John 5:14–15 (NIV): This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

That’s an incredible promise.  Amen.

In Psalm 27:4; David asked for a few different things, but they were all related to one another.

Maybe you recall that David was described as a man after God’s own heart.

And perhaps the reason he was called a man after God’s own heart, is because he desired one thing, and this is what he desired.

Psalm 27:4 (NIV): One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.

If I could have one thing he says, I want to be with God, I want to know Him deeply, I want His presence, I need His goodness, I need to know that He is with me. . .always. If there is one thing that I need in the good times, and especially in the bad times it’s God.

If there is one thing that I desire above all else, it is to dwell, to live with the presence of God.

So church what one thing do you desire of God?

Some of you, you may be at a place in your life where you say, “You know what? There is someone close to me that is not a believer, and if there is one thing that I would want God to do for me, it would be for God to use me in this person’s life to help bring them into a relationship with Christ.”

So, the driving force of your prayers this year would be; God help me love that person into a relationship with you.

And let me say this, I heard someone say this week, there are two reasons why people are not yet Christians.   Two.  Would you like to know what they are?  Yes?   Are you sure?

One. . .they have never met a Christian.  Two. . .they have met a Christian.

See, the truth is we can either help or hinder someone in their journey of faith.  And I don’t know about you but I want to help.

I heard a pastor share a story of a woman that came to him and said she was being tormented at her place of work because of her faith in Jesus, and she asked him, do you have any advice for me.

To which the pastor looked at her and said I don’t believe you.

The pastor then just stood there, waiting for a response and all the woman could say was what?  And again he said I don’t believe you.

Then he went on to clarify I don’t think your lying, a lie is an intent to deceive and I don’t think your intending to deceive.

I just think you think your being tormented because of your faith in Jesus at your place of work but your absolutely not.

She said what do you mean?

The pastor went on to say, you mean to tell me that at your place of work your the first one there and the last one to leave, and that you have the highest amount of work ethic and the lowest amount of laziness.  The highest amount integrity and of compassion as well as the highest amount of generosity.

That you’re the best peacemaker in your whole place of work, that you turn the other cheek and go the extra mile, you give your tunic and your cloak and you regularly and steadily put other people in front of yourself. . .and people don’t like you.

I don’t believe you.

She said what do you think happened, to which the pastor said I can only guess.

But my guess is that at your place of work you’ve turned Jesus into an argument to win instead of a life of love to demonstrate.

Two reasons why people are not yet Christians.

One. . .they have never met a Christian.  Two. . .they have met a Christian.

So, if the Holy Spirit speaks someone into your heart that doesn’t yet know Him.  Let that be your driving force in your prayer life.

Just do it with the right spirit and attitude because you may be the only Bible they will ever read.

For others of you maybe there’s an addiction or stronghold; and that is the one thing that is keeping you from going further with God.

You can say, and maybe this isn’t just your New Year’s resolution, this is a God burden, that you will no longer let this one thing keep you from pursuing God.

And your saying, if there is one thing, God; I believe with all of my heart that your Holy Spirit is going to give me is the power to overcome that addiction, that stronghold, that one thing that is in the way of my walk with You.  I’m going to instead of letting it get the best of me walk in my new identity I have in Christ.   For I’m not a victim, I am a victor.

Maybe you’re looking at your marriage and thinking you know what? It’s not where God wants it to be. It’s not where I want it to be.

And let me just say this, It could be that the one thing that God wants to do is to change your heart so He can heal your marriage.

So, let your driving force in your prayer life be for that stronger marriage you desire to have.

Some of you; you may not be married and all of your friends are getting married, and you’re like, I love them, but I hate them!

And for you that one thing may be, God, I need you to be enough, I need to be satisfied with You this year.  I need You to be that friend that sticks closer than a brother.

And hear this church, I’m not saying don’t date, but for some of you maybe your desire for finding that match made in heaven has stopped you from experiencing your Father in heaven.

You’ve pursued relationship with people over your relationship with God.

And again nothing wrong with good relationships, as a matter of fact they are vital.  But nothing is more so than knowing Jesus and having a relationship with Him.

What one thing do you need from God? What one thing do you desire from God?

Maybe you desire what Solomon desired.  One time God asked Solomon what is that you want.  He could have said, a boat load of wealth, or I want to be healthy.  But He asked for wisdom.  And God gave him wisdom as well as the others.

And church I have done that as well many times in my life asked for wisdom.  With situations I had going on in my life, things at home, work, or how to handle some things here in the church.  How to counsel someone because I needed wisdom.

So, I looked through the wisdom book of Proverbs, prayed and remembered God’s promise in the Book of James that says. . ,

James 1:5 (NIV): 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

And do you know what He did?  Time and time again He gave me wisdom for that situation, that circumstance, or problem.

Second question I want you to ask yourself is this; When it comes to your relationship with God, is there one thing, one thing you feel is missing?

In Mark, Chapter 10, there is a story of a rich guy who encountered Jesus.   Let’s begin with verse 17. ..

Mark 10:17 (NIV): 17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

And how does Jesus respond?

Mark 10:18–19 (NIV): Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’”

And that guy proudly said, “Check, check, check, and check; I’ve done all of that.”

Look at it. . . .

Mark 10:20 (NIV): Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

And then Jesus looked through His outward obedience and looked into His heart.

And when Jesus looked at the heart of this rich young ruler he saw a problem that this guy didn’t even know he had.

And Jesus said to him something that He had never said to anybody else. . .verse 21.

Mark 10:21 (NIV): Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Jesus looked at him and in love said, one thing, not 2, not 10, one thing you lack.

“Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

If there is one thing that is standing in the way of you completely following Jesus, and for this guy it was material possessions and what he thought would bring security which was his wealth, Jesus said, that one thing is in the way.  Sell it all so you can follow me.

And verse 22 gives us a glimpse into how he responded.

Mark 10:22 (NIV): At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Think about that, God specifically showed him the one thing that he lacked, and he was unwilling to do the one thing that would have benefited him spiritually.

And it wasn’t that his money was bad, it was the fact that his money was keeping him from relationship with God.  Scripture tells us it’s the love of money, not money itself, but the love of money that’s the root of all evil.

And I wonder how many times God has spoken into your life, into mine and has shown us one thing that if we were to do it, sell it, would propel us into our destiny.

Listen church, God wants to do a new thing in you and through you in this new year.

Maybe God is telling you less TV, Facebook, or games, and more of His word.  That would be your one thing.

Maybe for others it’s less gossip and more prayer.  That would be your one thing.

I don’t know what one thing it is for you.  But what is that one thing you lack?

The third thing and this is a close cousin to what I just talked about, what one thing do you need to let go of?

What one thing do you continue to hold unto to that holds you back from where God wants you to be?

There were about 170 woman that are either mentioned by name or alluded to in Scripture.  But how many did Jesus ever tell us to remember?  Any guesses?  Just one.  Do you know who it was?

She’s found in Genesis 19:26 and in the middle of a dialog he’s having about the end times Jesus says, remember Lot’s wife.

And the only thing we know about her is her name and that she looked back after the angel said not to and she turned into a pillar of salt.

It’s like God was saying, don’t look back at what I’m burning down, don’t look back at what I am finished with, don’t look back at the thing I am delivering you from, don’t look back I want you to look forward to the future.

Lot’s wife looked back and got stuck in a place she was only meant to be passing through.  Her attachment to the past was greater than her commitment to the future.

She wanted what she was leaving more than she wanted what God had for her.

And church I’m afraid too many of us are still clinging to what is instead of reaching for what could be.   Stop wanting what was, God is saying put it down because I have something more for you.

Stop looking at the old and start moving into the new.

The Apostle Paul in the New Testament, in Philippians 3, he was talking about how he wanted to know Christ, not just know about Him, but really know Him.

So, he tells us this in verses 13 and 14. . .

Philippians 3:13–14 (NIV): Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Paul said, I am forgetting what is behind and I am pressing on. It’s my one decision, I must move forward.

And honestly I don’t know what he was letting go of.

Maybe he was looking back at his life before Christ and thinking I was the guy that gave the go a head to stone Stephen.  I was the one that persecuted the church.

Maybe that is what he was letting go of.   The regrets of it all.

It could have been the pain that he experienced as he was suffering for Christ.  I mean think about it, 5 times he was whipped with 40 lashes across his back.  Not only was he whipped but was also beaten with rods and shipwrecked 3 times. He was stoned and left for dead and perhaps he was saying, I have got to let go of that to move forward.

And there may be some of you, that the reason you are not moving forward to where God wants you to be is because you are holding on to something from the past, and I’m here to tell you it’s time to let it go.

You can’t live in the regrets of the past it’s time to press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Someone hurt you, and you’re holding on to it, and it has caused bitterness and your struggling with unforgiveness. God would say, I want to do something new in you but, you can’t dwell in the past, forget what is behind and press on.

Some of you failed at something and you are wrongly believing that you are a failure because you messed up.

But let me give you the truth and the truth is something just   happened, that is not who you are.

Or you might have let yourself down and you think, you know what? God is going to hold this against me.  And church I get it I’ve let myself down as well more times than I care to admit.

I planned on fasting for a day or two, then I saw that cookie.  I was going to read the Bible or pray for an hour, but I lasted 20 minutes until that distraction found its way over to me.

Scripture tells us in Proverbs, though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again. . .

The whole idea is to rise again.   The enemy will try to get you to focus on the failure, on the misstep, or on the sin.   But I’m here to let you know it’s a new day, it’s a new year and God is doing a new thing.

Let it go, press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

God isn’t holding it against you, don’t you hold it against you either.

What is one thing that you need to let go of so that you can become all that God wants you to become?

The fourth question I want to ask you is this; What one promise do you need to claim?

In the Old Testament, David, he was a young man about 15 when he was anointed by Samuel to be the next king over Israel.

Samuel came looking at all of Jesse’s sons, and he’s like; “Tall, dark, and handsome but that’s not him, talented – not him, strong – not him”; and he went down the line.

And after looking at the boys thinking that one of those has to be the one Scripture says. . .

1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV): But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

And after going through all the boys and hearing the same response over and over again.  Nope not him, he says. . .

“Do you have any others?”

And Jesse was like, “Well, there’s the runt of the litter he’s out taking care of the sheep; I don’t think he’s the one.”

And they call for David and God says; “I don’t look at what people look at, I look at the heart, and that boy right there there is the next king”.

And there was a promise that God gave.

And some of you you’ve had a promise. God has shown you a vision for your future and it’s not coming about and you’re going, “Where are you, God?”

You showed me something special but the special hasn’t happened

And that’s exactly what happened to David. As soon as he was anointed to be the next King over Israel, every time he’d have a victory, there was Saul coming after him to try to run him down and destroy him.

And the whole time, he could have been thinking, I don’t see it, God; I know the promise , but I can’t see it.

David anointed king at around 15 became king at 30.

But how many of you know we walk by faith and not by sight.

There was one particular time where David was running from Saul who was trying to kill him. That’s not a good thing, when the current King is after you.

So, he decided to go and hide among the Philistines, which he thought was a good idea.  And what you need to remember is that this is after he had killed Goliath who by the way was a Philistine from Gath.

And David thought it was a good idea, turns out it was’t.  You can read the story in 1 Samuel chapter 21.

But he got himself caught between a rock and a hard place, and it didn’t seem like anything was going the way it should. Certainly not the way he was hoping.

Basically, here is what he said; ‘There are so many things I don’t know right now, there are so many questions that I can’t answer, so many details that are not going the way that I wished they would.’

But then that same David would later write this. . .

Psalm 56:9–10 (TPT): The very moment I call to you for a father’s help the tide of battle turns and my enemies flee. This one thing I know: God is on my side! 10 I trust in the Lord. And I praise him! I trust in the Word of God. And I praise him!

This one thing I know: God is on my side!

The enemies are coming after me, I don’t know what to do, it seems like it’s been 3 steps backwards, and I’m scared and I don’t know what is going to happen next, but this one thing I know beyond anything else; that my God is for me, He’s on my side!’

He says, “I am trusting God and his promises!

David was like, this one thing I know, there are so many things I do not know, but I know this; God is for me! And because that one promise is true in my life, that if I don’t see anything else that I want to see, that is enough!   I’m standing on the promises of God.

This one thing I know, God is still on the throne and He is for me!

Some of you, God already has, for others He is going to give you a promise.  Hang on to it with every part of your being because it will sustain you. It will sustain you like food nourishes your body. It will carry you when you are weak. This one thing I know.

2 Corinthians 1:19–20 (TPT): Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and he is the one whom Timothy, Silas, and I have preached to you—and he has never been both a “yes” and a “no.” He has always been and always will be for us a resounding “YES!” 20 For all of God’s promises find their “yes” of fulfillment in him. And as his “yes” and our “amen” ascend to God, we bring him glory!

What promise do you need to claim?

Let me give you a few of the promises mentioned in Scripture

• He has plans for you plans for a hope and a future
• He has promised eternal life to those who believe
• God promises in His Word to meet every need you have according to His glorious riches.
• He promises that you will not be tempted beyond what you can bear.

What that means is for those of you that continue to struggle with sin, guess what? There is a way out. There is a power through Christ to help you overcome the temptation and sin that has gripped you. He has made you more than conquerors.

And I love this next one. . .

• God promises to forgive all of your sins.

If you are hurting today, and the weight of the past; that feeling of I did it and I shouldn’t have and I feel ashamed. Guess what? It’s forgiven. God will cast it into the sea of forgetfulness and he will remember it no more.

• God promises to make everything, even the bad things, especially the bad things; God promises to make everything work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purposes.
• God promises if you feel alone or abandoned that He will never leave you. He will never forsake you, He will be with you forever.
• God promises to be your ever present help in trouble.
• He promises to guide you and give you direction.
• He promises to give you a peace that goes beyond your ability to understand.

And some of you are facing tough circumstances and you don’t know how to get through it. The good news is there is a peace where others will look on and say, “How can you be calm in the middle of your crisis?”  And you can say, “I don’t know, but God promised and He is faithful.”

Which by the way is another promise.

• God promises to give you power to defeat Satan, to overcome the work of the evil one. You resist him and he will flee from you.
• God promises that nothing will separate you from His love.

And I mentioned his one already but let me say it again. . .

• God promises you that you are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus.

There are a bunch of things that I don’t know, but this one thing I know; God is with me, God is with you.

What one thing do you desire from God above all else?  What one thing do you lack?  What one thing do you need to let go of? It’s time to forget it. Let it go, let it go and press forward.

What one promise do you need to claim?

Forget the former things, do not dwell in the past. For our God who is a good God who is with you now, He is doing a new thing.

Prayer

God, I thank you, that you are a God of new beginnings.

And in this new year we receive that new thing.

God, I pray that you would give us the power to change that one thing for your glory.

Papa help us cling to your promises for we know they are yes in Christ Jesus.