Do you believe it is possible that next year at this time, you could be amazed and thrilled at how God has grown you? I am sure everyone here would love for that to happen! Well now is the time to think about how that could actually be possible. Many come to this time of year and make resolutions for the upcoming year. Probably two at the top of the list are physical health and personal finance. But in all your resolutions, resolve to know Christ and to grow in Christ in 2016. Don’t scrap the others off the list, just put this one at the top. Listen to what Paul says in 1 Timothy 4:7-8:

“Train yourself for godliness, for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”

Bodily training is good and important – it has “some value”, but godliness is of value “in every way!” So resolve in 2016 to grow in godliness, to be trained in godliness.

Every Resolve For Good

Paul prays for God to fulfill their resolve for good. “May God fulfill every resolve for good…” Why make a resolution to grow in godliness? Because it growth in godliness won’t happen by accident. You and I won’t drift toward godliness; we will drift toward ungodliness, sin, and being worldly. So resolve to train yourself in godliness.

Resolve means fixed purpose of mind or a settled determination and I find it deeply encouraging that God loves our good resolves! But it is just a matter of willpower; of you and I finding the inner resources to accomplish something we put our minds to. Christianity is no religion built upon human strength.

God Fulfills by His Power

Paul prays that God would fulfill every resolve for good by his power. He prays that God completing or bringing to completion your resolve for good. So this is accomplished by God’s power - God fulfilling by his power. Therefore our resolve is in reliance upon his power. Here is how New Year’s Resolutions typically go. I, a mere human being with all kinds of limitations, am going to do this near impossible thing by my own sheer willpower. For example, I love sweet food – candy, cookies, pie, cake a lot. Let’s say I put out the near impossible resolution that 2016 will be a sugar free year for me. I right this down or make the resolution on December 30. Then on December 31, the eve of when my resolution kicks in I frantically remember that the Iowa Hawkeyes are playing in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day. And of course I want to be free to eat whatever I want while watching the big game, so I start cheating before the resolution even kicks in. And before you know it, the first week into the new year I have followed through on my resolve one day out of seven. Before long, I give up because my resolve is built upon human strength.

But here is how a good resolve made in reliance upon the power of God seems to me this works. We prayerfully and in faith make resolutions that are pleasing to God and are going to help us grow in godliness. And day by day, we rely upon the power of God to fulfill in us these good resolves as we work them out in faith. We resolve, we work out our resolves as “works of faith”. Faith in God’s power. We will look practically at how this works toward the end of the sermon. So we need to seek the power of God to fulfill every resolve we make for good!

The reason God supplies his almighty power: Glory

When we make good resolves and work them out by faith in God’s power, it results in two things that God is really pleased with. First, Jesus is glorified in you and second, you will be glorified in him. This is what we see in verse 12.

“So that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you and you in him.”

So that you might bring glory and honor to Jesus Christ. As we make resolves for good and work them out by faith in God’s power – we begin to reflect Christ more and more. And the name of the Lord Jesus is glorified. Others begin to see him in us. This is why we are alive! The Westminster Shorter Catechism poses the question “What is the chief end of man?” It gives a great answer. “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.” So our good resolves worked out in faith in God’s power glorifies Jesus.

But there is another result: “so that you may be glorified in him.” What does this mean? Romans 8:17 uses a phrase that is not quite the same phrase, but close.

“[We are] heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”

Back up and take the resolution: growing in Christ-likeness or godliness. The first result is that Christ would be glorified. That makes sense – the more we reflect him the more glory he gets from our lives. But what about this? I think it point forward to us being glorified when Christ returns. Being glorified with Christ is the end goal of our salvation. It is to be fully and finally saved forever with glorified bodies in the new heavens and new earth. And so God’s purpose of fulfilling our resolves for good is that we would reach this. Our final salvation in which being glorified in Christ is the final goal and end is guaranteed through Jesus Christ, but it will not be reached apart from the working out of good resolves by faith in God’s power. So the result of good resolves worked out in faith in God’s power is glory.

Four Resolves To Help You Grow

Resolve to daily linger over the word of God by faith

Why am I wording it like this? It is more than checking a box or just rushing through a certain number of chapters in the bible. The man in Psalm 1 who is so fruitful, whose leaves never wither or fail “meditates on the law of God day and night.” This is how we grow. How could it be otherwise – the entire universe was formed by the word of God! Suppose you resolved to read and meditate over the bible daily in 2016. How is that a work of faith? By overcoming obstacles and believing God’s promises. Here are some promises:

The word of God guards us from sinning (Psalm 119:9-11).

The word of God revives, gives live, and is precious (Psalm 19:7-11).

The word of God gives wise guidance through life (Psalm 119:105).

The word of God fully equips us for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Resolve to approach God daily in prayer by faith

Do you know the privilege you have in prayer as a Christian? We are privileged to approach God almighty in prayer, coming right into his presence. So how does this become a work of faith? In the same way – overcoming obstacles, banking on God’s promises. Consider Hebrews 4:15-16:

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

The implication is clear. Go to the throne of grace with your own needs, your family, needs of others you’re aware of, Real Life, missionaries, etc.

Resolve to connect deeply with others in the body here at RLC by faith

Nine times John writes the words, “love one another”. Four times he is recording the words of Jesus and another five times he repeats in his letters 1 and 2 John – he learned his lesson well. This is because loving other Christians in the church is the natural outward working of Christ’s love in us. But it should go without saying that we cannot love “one another” if we are not connected with “one another.” We work this out by faith by seeing the promises of God that are for our good.

Growing in godliness is a community project (Hebrews 3:12-13).

In the church, God has blessed Christians with a community to help bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2).

Resolve to be a giver by faith

How does this become a work of faith? The same way.By believing in God’s promises. Promises like Acts 20:35:

"It is more blessed to give than to receive."

According to God’s grace

This is all of grace - our resolves, works of faith in God’s power. The last phrase of verse 12 says:

“According to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ”

All of this: the resolves, our works of faith in God’s power, God fulfilling our resolves; it is all according to grace or in line with grace or in step with grace. In other words, it is for people who have not reached perfection yet, but are chosen by God and purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ. Our resolves should never be an attempt to gain God’s approval or his love. We pursue godliness according to God’s grace because the Father has loved us and approved of us in Christ.

During her final adoption hearing, when it was made official, Lucy Rye was asked the question “What does it mean that you are being adopted?” Her answer was amazing – I lost it when she answered. She said, “It means my mommy and daddy are my forever mommy and daddy and nobody can take me away from them.” That’s it. We have a Father who is our forever Father and nobody can take us away from him. Therefore, make resolves for good by faith in his power, for the glory of Jesus Christ, and according to grace.