Resolved

RESOLVED

Text; I Cor 2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

Intro: Determination; often this is the deciding factor between success and failure: WORK WILL WIN WHEN WISHING WON’T! Perhaps the custom of writing out a list of New Years resolutions is dying out because most of them were merely fantasizing of wishes rather than expressions of real resolve.

I. Examples of RESOLVE.
A. Moses-
1.Before pharaoh. Standing before a wicked king and Israel.
2.Before God. Between a wrathful God and a disobedient people. Result? A nation moving after God and all the world in awe!

B. The signers of our Declaration of Independence. Result? Our nation!

C. In the business world. Most large corporations began as the resolve of one man.

D. In the religious world.
1.Many churches stand today because someone was resolved NOT to give up.
2.Your salvation is the result of someone’s determination that YOU would not go to hell!

II. Proposition: From the human viewpoint there is always a certain amount of risk in resolve. Pharaoh might have killed Moses. [But he didn’t] God was on his side! Colonies Might have lost the Revolutionary War! Businesses HAVE gone under.

In the Religious world, from the viewpoint of faith, there is NO RISK OF FAILURE EXCEPT TO NOT ACT!
1.The prodigal son is assured of a loving reception.
2.Though Paul risked his physical life, he never had any doubts as to the success of his mission. His destiny was Not determined by the safety of the ship!

III. There is an inner peace to be had in determination.
Here is no reed in the wind or storm tossed ship but the solid strength of the Rock committed to us!. “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.”

IV. Give real meaning to your life by facing the future with REAL determination. Leave all Ifs behind and say, “Lord, I WILL!”