Audio 🔉 and Notes 📝for Sunday Service December 28, 2025

 

Key Points - More detail in Sections Below

• Scripture reading from 1 Timothy 4:12-16 emphasized not letting anyone despise youth but being an example in word, conduct, love, spirit, faith, and purity.
• Many believers today have the misconception that it's okay to sin because God will forgive them, but God has a timeframe and gives everyone time to get it together.
• God is an expert at humbling people when they don't humble themselves, often allowing trouble to get their attention and save them from hell.
• Victory in Jesus Christ means spiritual freedom and overcoming worldly challenges, but many believers bind themselves again in worldly lusts and sins.
• Believers have been given authority over Satan, sin, sickness, situation, and self through Jesus Christ's resurrection, enabling them to overcome temptation, fear, and spiritual opposition.
• Apostle Paul instructed young minister Timothy to focus on his lifestyle because people listen with their eyes and actions speak louder than words.
• Believers are an open letter to the public to be read, requiring accountability in their lives rather than playing the blame game or avoiding judgment.
• Aligning with God's will for 2026 is essential because if plans are not God's will, He won't support them regardless of prayer and fasting.
• Creating positive atmospheres is the responsibility of believers, as they have the power to create good or bad environments through their words and actions.
• Christians must embrace higher standards and lead by example rather than following worldly trends, as the Holy Spirit should convict them of proper behavior.
• Matthew 24:10-12 warns that in the last days many will be easily offended or triggered, which has accelerated in today's generation.
• Colossians 3:13 teaches that Christian attitudes should avoid revenge, vindictiveness, and rebellion, with rebellion being considered witchcraft in the Bible.
• God has delivered believers from darkness into light, requiring them to submit, surrender, and consecrate their hearts to see behavioral transformation.
• Making things right in the new year requires understanding that sin is sin and the wages of sin is death, emphasizing the need for genuine spiritual transformation.

Summary

Believer's Authority and Spiritual Victory

• God has given believers authority over Satan, sin, sickness, situation, and self through Jesus Christ's resurrection
• Victory in Christian life means overcoming temptation, fear, and spiritual opposition while reflecting God's character and nature
• Believers must understand that spiritual freedom comes from allowing Christ's power to be rooted in their hearts

Misconceptions About God's Forgiveness

• Many believers today hold the misconception that it's acceptable to sin because God will forgive them under the "once saved, always saved" mentality
• God has a timeframe and gives everyone time to get their lives together, but this message isn't being preached in many churches today
• Pastors often avoid preaching about holiness because they fear people will leave their congregations

Personal Responsibility and Accountability

• Everything about a person speaks about who they are, and individuals cannot blame their parents, grandparents, or circumstances for their current state
• Believers are responsible for their own lives and the atmospheres they create around them
• Christians serve as open letters to the public to be read, requiring some form of accountability in their lives

Living as Examples to Others

• The Apostle Paul instructed Timothy not to let anyone despise his youth but to be an example to believers in word, conduct, love, spirit, faith, and purity
• Actions speak louder than words, and believers' lifestyles must align with their Christian testimony
• Christians should measure their lifestyle by the condition of their hearts rather than by what people say about them

God's Will Versus Personal Plans

• Believers need to align themselves with God's will for 2026 rather than making their own plans without divine guidance
• God will not support or back up plans that are not according to His will, regardless of how much someone prays or fasts
• Many people may have ideas about marriage, career, or other goals, but they must ensure these align with God's timing and purpose

Signs of the Last Days and Easily Offended Generation

• Jesus warned in Matthew 24 that in the last days, many people will be easily offended or triggered
• This behavior has accelerated in modern times, where people become upset over simple comments or blessings
• Society today justifies bad behavior and dismisses accountability, even extending this to children's conduct

Holiness and Separation from Worldly Ways

• God commands believers to be holy and set apart from the world according to 1 Thessalonians 4
• Christians cannot talk, walk, or think like the world because they serve a God who owns everything on earth
• Believers are called to higher standards and must be good stewards of their resources, learning to save, pay bills, and bless others

Creating Godly Atmospheres in Homes

• Believers have the power to create good or bad atmospheres through their words and actions
• Parents should establish godly routines with their children, including prayer and scripture reading before meals and bedtime
• Homes should reflect the peace and order of God rather than chaos and dysfunction

Financial Stewardship and Church Support

• Christians must learn to be good stewards of their finances and support the church through tithes and offerings
• Many believers will pay for entertainment and sports but hesitate to give to God's work
• Church expenses like lights, building maintenance, and facilities require financial support from the congregation

Warning About False Doctrines and Deception

• The pastor warned about bizarre false teachings spreading globally, including African pastors promoting strange healing methods and fraudulent schemes
• Great apostasy is coming to the world, and believers must stay rooted in biblical truth
• Christians need to be prepared for spiritual attacks and deception that will test their faith

Next Steps

• Believers must commit to living holy lives that reflect God's character and stop making excuses for sinful behavior
• Christians should establish godly routines in their homes and take responsibility for creating peaceful atmospheres
• The congregation needs to embrace accountability and align their personal plans with God's will for the coming year while supporting the church financially and spiritually