A Thousand May Fall: Seven Disciplines to Build Your Year On

Sermon outline

Because God has set His love on you and promises to protect you, build your year on seven simple disciplines: hearing and studying the Word, gathering at church, singing, praise, prayer and tithing.

1. God is not against you, He is for you (Psalm 91)

   Psalm 91 is a statement of fact, not a wishy-washy promise: when you call on God, He will answer. Salvation covers life, preservation, wellness, healing and blessing. You do not stand before God in your own righteousness but in His, and when the devil pushes you down, God has angels assigned to bring you up.

   Illustration: He says he would like his tombstone to read that he was a man God loved and a man who loved his God, and he tells how he ran from the call of God for many years before God finally caught him.

   “God is not against you, he's for you.”

   • Psalm 91:1-16

2. 1. Listen to the word of God

   Faith comes by hearing, but you need a preacher, a local shepherd who mentors you, leads you and brings faith to you as a motivational teacher. Many who were healed drifted back to a form of religion, but we are saved by faith, not works, and faith only works alongside love. Leave your enemies to God, because He hears every word spoken against you.

   Illustration: Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses, and God heard them even though Moses did not. He also pictures pushing a beach ball under water: let go and it pops straight back up.

   “Every time somebody puts you down God will bring you up.”

   • Romans 10:17
   • Romans 10:14-15
   • Luke 19:13
   • 2 Timothy 3:5
   • Romans 4:18
   • Hebrews 11
   • Numbers 12:1-10
   • Numbers 23:19

3. 2. Study the word of God

   Do not read the Bible superficially; dig into it. The more you hear God's Word, the more your confidence in Him grows, so that when others say it can't be done, you say God will bring you through. Every believer needs their own private quiet time with God, beyond family prayer.

   Illustration: Studying the Word is like peeling an onion, layer upon layer, always fresh and invigorating.

   “The more I read, the more I understand how much I don't know.”

   • Exodus 14

4. 3. Come to church regularly

   Just as you make sure your children go to school, make sure you come to church, not to please the pastor but because you love God. Coming regularly leaves a legacy for your children and grandchildren and honours God. After COVID many prefer to watch preachers on TV, but everyone needs a local shepherd, and we should not judge the whole church by the few bad examples we see.

   Illustration: Every profession has good and bad people, doctors and builders included; you don't stop having babies because some people go to prison. He also admits he was arrogant when he was younger and had to learn to put self on the altar.

   “When you make time for God, he'll make time for you.”

   • Hebrews 10:25
   • 1 Corinthians 11:29

5. 4. Singing

   Scripture tells us to sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness. God is not concerned with how well you sing in private worship. Singing roots you deeply in the Word so that storms cannot sway you, and someone watching your worship may become a worshipper too.

   Illustration: He jokes that his son can sing but he cannot.

   “It's you making melody in your heart to God.”

   • Colossians 3:16

6. 5. Praise

   Set apart a place to praise God, because the Bible commands it. Praise chases away despair and doubt and is a weapon that declares to the spiritual realm that God is worshipped here. We are not afraid of the devil; he is under our feet.

   Illustration: A woman in the church testified that she once picked food out of bins and became a millionaire. Job refused to curse God and ended with double for his trouble.

   “Praise is where God lives.”

   • Psalm 150:6
   • 1 Corinthians 1:27
   • Job 1:8-10
   • Job 2:9
   • Job 42:10

7. 6. Prayer

   Prayer is the greatest power on earth. It brings God on the scene, delivers you and promotes you. As a king and a priest you have an open line to God, and your prayers must be based on the Word and come from deep within your heart, not be superficial.

   Illustration: Unlike call centres that keep you on hold for fifteen minutes, God never puts you on hold.

   “Prayer is the greatest power on earth, not money.”

   • Revelation 1:6

8. 7. Returning your tithes and offerings to God

   Tithing is a holy act that shows God honour and gratitude. He does not need the money; He asks for the first portion so that the rest is blessed. When you give, you walk under an open heaven and God uses people to promote you and bring unexpected income.

   “When you return your tithes and offering to God, you display your gratitude to God.”

   • Malachi 3:10-12