Amen. Thank you for tuning us in here in our new year of 2025. January the 1st, amen. We look at the 1st of Tevet, 5785 of the Hebrew calendar. I'm Darrell Bay. Thank you for joining us Wednesday in the Word tonight as we step back in 2024, amen. I'm glad that God had a lot of great times as we step our paths all the way back up to where we currently are and look back at the path that we've all followed, amen. We look and realize that as we reflect on the past year, of 2024 and we let go of all of the past failures and distractions and renew our commitment to pursue God's purposes, amen, with focus and determination. It challenges every one of us to examine our walk with God and to step forward in faith as we enter a new year. Now, if the Lord gives us another day, we're going to finish up the book of Ezekiel on Wednesday nights after tonight. and we'll be picking back up in the 45th chapter of the book of Ezekiel going all the way to the end of the chapter to chapter 48 or as we look at and so of the book of Ezekiel and finishing up and then after that we'll be going into the book of Revelation in our doomsday time series as well and so here tonight in Wednesday in the Word we have a step back in time, amen. Now, you know, when we look at this, I want to open up with a time of prayer and want to remember some of, I want to praise the Lord for Don Massey's recovery and his procedure for those stents and for his heart and all, and praise God for the answer into prayer. Continue to remember all of the ones that are doing a recovery. I also send it out to my sister, That's just got back home is in the hospital and I see you through the holidays very very trying time for us And I'm thankful for her recovery and she's doing a little bit better each day. And so please You continue to remember all of the many families that here during the holiday season where the death angel has come where something has transpired that is taking the place of a loved one or As some of my unspoken ones for my co-workers at work at GNTC, we want to lift them up tonight. I won't be specific because a lot of people are very private, but they know who they are and they know that I'm not mentioning names and so I want to remember those ones as well. There's about three different things that's going on that needs the power of prayer in those lives amen and so we want to open up this new year in January the 1st of 2025 in the mighty name of Jesus Christ and we want you to join us as we open up with that prayer as we step back in 2024 and tonight in Wednesday in the Word. Let's pray, Heavenly Father. Thank you so much, Lord, as you have given us another year, another blessing that we look back and how you have given us everything that we have. You have supplied all the means and necessities of our life. You're the one, Father, that gave us the spouses that are in our lives, and Lord, you're the one that's able to give, and you're the one that's able to take away. And Lord, we know, Father, that this life is not forever in this fleshly nature because it cannot inherit the kingdom of God. This old fleshly nature has to go back to the dust of the ground. And so every voice that's listening tonight, every body that's across the world, that body will diminish and get older over time, and it will go back to the dust of the earth. But Lord, until that time of the rapture, when we shed this old jailhouse of this fleshly body and leave it behind and be able to go into the presence of the Lord. I pray tonight for the many families, God, Lord, that they're sitting in front of a full plate. They're sitting in front of a traditional plate of all the black-eyed peas and greens and cornbread and hog jowls and all that. They're Chinese. They're sitting in front of the typical Chinese festival New Year meal with all of the noodles for long life. They're Jews and, Lord, they're sitting back and they're performing and doing all of the things that they do in their tradition. Everyone is sitting today. They sit in front of a full plate. But, God, we look back at the scripture of Philippians and we ask you tonight to guide us and Lord as we look back Lord and realize Lord the message that you have given us tonight that will reflect back and realize how blessed that we've been this past year and Lord no matter what has happened You are always better to us than we are to our own selves. And so tonight, I add, please, Lord, let this message find a lodging place in the hearts of those that are listening, wherever it goes, even if it's just one household. Lord, thank you so much for this opportunity. Lord, we don't do it for our face and our recognition, but we do it to give glory and honor to Jesus Christ. And Lord, hopefully that we can leave enough messages behind before we leave this walks of life. Whether no one around here even listens to it, somebody will be listening to it in the end of times. Thank you, Father, for being so good and saving us by your marvelous grace. That's why we do it in Jesus' mighty name. Amen. All right, I thank God as we step back in 2024, Abe Man. Each and every one of us, in the word of God, we all are looking at that full plate, Abe Man. And so I'm glad that whatever that plate might be of your tradition, that we look and that we see, Abe Man. Sometimes, Abe Man, I was reading about a man who was juggling his career, his family, and volunteer work that he was doing and he said that his life felt like a dinner plate that was piled up high at the buffet and he tried to balance everything but eventually something slipped off that plate Life is just like that because every one of us, sometimes we get overloaded, we get a little messy, but what if God wants to help us this year prioritize what's on our plate so that we can run the race that he's set before us? And so many of us forget, as the scripture is telling us, amen, that we get into, he's saying, brethren, I count it, I count not myself to have apprehended but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth under those things which are before. And I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. And so he wants us to forget what's behind, forgetting those things which are behind. Let go of all the past failures of 2024. Don't let yesterday's mistakes weigh you down. Release all of the past successes, amen. Even the victories that can keep us from moving forward, amen, that we have today. And embrace God's grace, amen, that he has for us. God's mercies are new every morning, amen. And so, Max Licato said one time, God has not called us to a life of regret. but to a life of redemption. And so I'm glad that every one of us, we forget what's behind, he tells us here, which are behind in reaching forth, which are before. And so every one of us, as we look, we reach for what is ahead, amen. I bet your New Year's plate was filled up. this year. Boy, I bet you had all the goodies and all the trimmings on that plate. Oh my goodness, amen. But we need to embrace God's grace and God's mercies are new every morning. And so he says, reach for what's ahead. Amen. Reaching forth under those things which are before and so God's calling is upward hallelujah Amen, we've got to focus on the eternal rewards praise his mighty name and not the earthly distractions that's out there today growth requires effort and so you can just go to work every day and then just rush into the church house and You know try to do your thing, but you know what you need to take some time out for God every single day God's calling is upward And so growth requires effort, and growth in Christ demands intentionality, praise God. And so we run with a purpose. We aim for that glory, God's glory, in all that we do, praise God. You know what? As the Olympics were having their sprinters, they don't look back at the starting line. Their eyes are fixed on the finish line. And so we press toward the prize. I'm glad each and every one of us, we press with perseverance. The Christian race that requires endurance. The prize is Christ himself, that eternal fellowship one of these days. With him is the culture. That's the reward for all of us, that we encourage others in this race out there today. Help others keep their focus. Boy, that plate of yours was filled up, I bet. And so, can you imagine, we've got to encourage others in this race, help others keep their focus on Christ, amen. And so, the goal is not to finish first, but listen, but to finish faithful. Charles Stanley said that, amen, God rest his soul. And so every one of us, life is indeed a full plate, but God has given us a divine strategy to handle it. Forget what's behind, reach for what's ahead. Press toward the prize, Eggman. And as you navigate your responsibilities in 2025, remember that Christ is your ultimate goal, and he equips us to finish the race well. And so I'm glad that when we look and realize, I was reading about a woman named Sarah, who after a tough year of job loss and personal trials, she decided to make basically a change. and each day she would write something positive no matter how small and she would place it in a little jar, a mason jar, and put a cap back on it. At the end of the year she looked back and she realized how much God had carried her through when she looked at all of the little notes inside that mason jar. She didn't see her faithfulness day to day but stepping back revealed the tapestry of his grace. And so as we step back and look at 2024, no matter how full your plate was this past year or how full it was today, listen. 2024 has been a year of trials and triumphs and transitions. And as we step back and look at the year, it's a time to reflect on what God has done, what he's calling us to do moving forward, amen. And so we look back and we realize that the world population increased by more than 71 million people in 2024. Boy, that's a lot of people. That brings us to 8.09 billion people in the world that's celebrating New Year's Day according to the U.S. Census Bureau. estimated that was just released. And so, 0.9% increase in 2024 was a slight slowdown from 2023, where the world population grew by 75 million people. In other words, because of all the sickness and everything, it slowed down. This past year, 71 million, but before it was 75 million. Can you imagine? That's a lot of people. Here in January 2025, 4.2 births and 2.0 deaths were expected worldwide every second. according to the estimates of the census of population. United States grew by 2.6 million people in 2024 and the U.S. population as we look on New Year's Day have of all the many millions of people out there, according to the Census Bureau, the United States is expected to have one birth, like I said, every nine seconds, one death every 9.4 seconds in upcoming January of 2025. My goodness, that's a lot of stuff that's going on. And so the leading cause of all the death when we look back in 2024 of the people, the leading cause was heart disease. The deaths from heart disease back in 2023. Man of the CDC, it was 702,880 in the country of Romania, which is the leading country, is the only reason I put Romania up here, is the leading cause of cardiovascular diseases in that country. And the death rate was 13.4 deaths per 1,000 population of the World Population Review. The global overview in most countries, the leading causes of death or cardiovascular diseases are cancer. Those are the two main things that are affecting everyone from staying alive. Because remember, this old fleshly nature, I don't care who you are. I don't care what your doctors are. I don't care what kind of vitamins you take every morning. I don't care what's your routine. I don't care if you run up and down all the hills and everywhere in the country. You're going to die. unless the Lord comes back. And so, when we step back again, as of January the 1st of 2025, the global population is estimated to be approximately 8.09 billion, reflecting on the increase of over 71 million people during the 2024, where they were 70, what'd I say, 73, 74 million back in 2023. And so, all of the people this past year you know what of all the the death rates that declined across the racial and ethnic groups under both men and women of all the provisional data for the first 10 months of 2024 that it suggests that the country is on track to see even fewer deaths this coming year. Perhaps about 13,000 fewer deaths this coming year. That is only predicted. They don't know. Only the Lord knows when the death angel is coming. But the difference is likely to narrow as more death certificates come in. And so, that's the CDC of Robert Anderson talking about the life expectancy of the coming year. And so, as we look and realize of all of the technology that has transpired this past year, that they kicked off the Apple Vision Pro, the Apple's long-awaited entry into the world of spatial computing. It was impressive because with the Verge's potential of talking about it, where they did a review on it, described the device as a magic until it's not. But it still remains to be seen that if Apple's first MR device can kick off computing and all of the other developments that are investing billions into all of the new technologies of all the most memorable tech of 2024, Last year they came out with these little AI pens. They also came out with a little AI toy that would talk to you. But it has not been perfected of all the things that they keep coming up with technology these days. But what is the highlight as we step back in 2024? Probably one of the best highlights that we look at was the medicine of Lena Capovar for HIV prevention was one of those main ones that kicked off, that began to come back in and help a lot of people that had HIV. Uh, not of all, we could talk about all the smartphones, we could talk about all of the newest technology of computers and everything like that, but we won't do it, man. And you can run, grab all of those things, and you know what? You can just fill your plate full of whatever technology you want to fill it full of. But when we look at the prevention of this, this is an injectable drug for HIV prevention, demonstrating a near perfect in trials. That's the best medicine for HIV that has come out in some time, a man, a medical breakthrough. We also look, secondly, at the space technology reusable rocket boosters. That is one of the leading things that has happened. It's SpaceX that has achieved a milestone by safely catching a returning rocket booster, paving the way for more cost-effective and reusable space travel infrastructure. I don't know about you, but I'm not planning on going to Mars. Are you planning on going to Mars? I believe I like it right here where I am, but the only place I want to go other than here is in heaven with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And so we look at not only these two, but the third thing, the quantum computing advanced problem solving. They have come up with some quantum problem solving where Google's new quantum computer solved complex problems at unprecedented speeds, emphasizing the transformation potential of quantum computing despite its current challenges and so all of the technology that we look and step back in 2024 a man the artificial intelligence generative AI advancements that's out there right now that they're working on praise God And all of the general AI continued to astonish technologies, outperforming experts in various tasks from medical diagnosis to weather forecasting to all of the models capable of interpreting and designing genetic sequences that would be developed in the near future. I don't know about you, but I know I'm not faster than a computer, but I know one thing. I'm God-given, and whatever God gives, that's what I'll use, praise God. And so I thank God. We look, lastly, at the consumer technology, Apple's Vision Pro that I was talking about. And so, everyone, these are the five top things that are out there today, and I'm not going to explain it because it's self-explanatory, but I thank God when we step back in 2024, one of the first things that we're going to notice is we see we step back to see God's sovereignty. Because in Psalms 46.10, the Bible says, be still and know that I'm God and I will be exalted among the heathen and I will be exalted in the earth. We've got to be still amidst all of this chaos. Because back in 2024, the world faced a lot of turmoil, political division, deep and natural disasters that shook the earth. and things that were of entertainment that today that seems darker than it's ever been. Darker. Yes, God's call to be still reminds us to pause and recognize His control. Because all of this technology and whatever else, nothing will ever surpass Almighty God's sovereignty. So we got to be still in all of that chaos as we step back to see God's sovereignty, amen, over the past thing, amen. Of all of the many things that people have done through this. We know not only that we look at the rate of being in all of this chaos that's out there to be still, but also we look back and know His exaltation because the Hebrew word for know in Psalms 46 verse 10, he says, be still and know that I am God. And so I'm glad that it implies an experimental knowledge that God isn't distant, but that he's actively working even when we can't see it. We've got to recognize his sovereign plan as we reflect on the lives that were lost back in 2024, including all of our prominent figures. Countless unnamed best friends, for me, reminds us that life is but a vapor, as James 414 says, and yet every event falls within God's eternal purposes, amen. And so, with all of the medicine, with all the space technology, with all the quantum computing, with all the artificial intelligence, of all the consumer technology that is out there, amen. Tony Evans shared a story about a puzzle that his son was struggling to complete back when he was little. And when his son asked for help of Evan, Tony Evans turned over the pieces to reveal the larger picture that was on the back, making it much easier. You see, God holds the picture of our lives, and when we step back, His design becomes clear as we begin to look at the path that we've come from. And so not only that we step back to see God's sovereignty, but we look and we step back to examine our walk. Paul said in 2 Corinthians chapter 13 verse 5, he says, examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith, prove your own selves. Other words, you need to test your faith. And so every one of us, this coming year in 2025, we saw, as we get ready for the anticipation of what's gonna happen next in our lives, when we step back in 2024 and look at some of the things, the cultural shifts that were in religion, They were some people that stepped out that had been serving God and are no longer serving God. Don't let none of that stuff blind you. I don't care who it is. I don't care if it's a pastor. I don't care if it's a Sunday school teacher or somebody. Help them back up, amen. Don't let yourself look at them and say, oh my goodness, if there ain't no hope for them, there ain't no hope for me. Yes, there is. Because God has got his hand out and he loves us more than you can ever imagine. And so, churches that face both persecution and revival forced Christians to evaluate their faith this past year. Many church doors shut down in 2024, and they're constantly shutting down as people quit going to the house of God. There's a test of your faith when you step back to examine your walk. And not only that you test your faith, but it examines your priorities. What have your priorities been? Oh, you just started coming back to church. What happened the years before that? What caused that? You let something get in the way that Well, what happened? The main thing is, as you're in church now, stay in the house of God and fellowship and stay in that close relationship. But think about what you could have had, what you missed, because you begin to have a full plate of whatever it is that you filled that plate so full of stuff, it was falling off in the floor, and all of a sudden, you know what? You let that full plate, your job, your money, and everything else in your family keep you out of the house of God. And so, when we step back in 2024, as your faith will be tested, as you examine your priorities, because Paul said, examine yourselves in 2 Corinthians 13, 5. And that means to test for authenticity. What idols have crept into your life and my life? Is it the pursuit of the entertainment out there? Is it the career? Is it the social media that focuses all of your attention? That everything about you is all about those things in 2024? Oh man, I'm going to tell you, your faith will be tested when we step back to examine our walk. You will need to examine your priorities and you need to strengthen those weak foundations that are happening. Jesus taught in Matthew chapter 7, verses 24 to 27, a house built on the sand cannot withstand storms. And so we reflect on whatever you've been building on Christ or on the worldly foundations. As a pastor for many years, I saw some folks that come in and join and they never sought themselves, they never had a desire to come back. The only time I saw some of them come was when there was some food or something like that. They didn't have enough desire in their heart to get in the house of God. You know what? I'm not picking on them, but I'm going to tell you, I'm going to tell you the truth, whether you like it or not. And I'm going to tell you, there's a lot of folks that could have got back in the house of God that deliberately did not. They could deliberately come when there was food and some kind of singing and something like that going on. But when it come to the word of God, they failed in every area. every possible area. And so we look as we step back and look at 2024 as we step back to see God's sovereignty in Psalms 4016. We step back and examine our walk of what Paul said of examining ourselves in 2 Corinthians chapter 13 verse 5. But thirdly, we step back to renew our mission. which is our main attraction of our scripture of Philippians chapter 3 verses 13 and 14 that we read. And he says, brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth under those things which are before. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in, listen, Christ Jesus. And so when we step back and look at ourselves in 2024, we forget, he's saying, as we step back to renew our mission, forget our past failures. This past year has been probably a lot of personal failures and setbacks for many of us. The devil loves to remind us of all of our shortcomings, but God calls us to press forward. And so he says, forget the past failures, but also secondly, he says, reach forward in faith. And so the Greek word for press, because he tells us, hey man, forgetting those things which are behind, reaching forth under those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling. And so the word press, diakon, it means to pursue with an intensity, to pursue God's calling with that same vigor that athletes pursue for a gold medal. We forget those past failures. We reach forward in faith, and then we embrace the prize of eternity. And so, as believers, our mission is to conform to the culture of the past, of 2024. but to transform it by living for Christ. Paul talked about that in Romans chapter 12, verse two, read about that later on. And so Warren Risby wrote one time, outlook determines outcome. You see, the way that you view yourself back in 2024 will shape how that we walk in 2025. And if we focus on God's eternal promises, we'll walk in hope. and we'll walk in purpose. And so what one thing is, is God is asking you and me and everyone else to focus on in 2025. is that ministry, that relationship, and that habit that he's calling you and I to renew. Amen. Let me say it again. He's calling us in 2025 to focus on that ministry, that relationship, and that habit that he's calling us to renew, praise God, as we step back and look at those things, amen. How has God shown his sovereignty in your life this past year? I tell you, there's been some moments of provision. There's been many moments of protection and many, many answered prayers. He doesn't always answer what I ask for because I don't always need what I ask for. But boy, because I've got some needs and I got some wants. And I wonder what areas of your life need to be tested. What areas of your life need to be refined this coming year of 2025? Examine your priorities and ask God to reveal any idols or any distractions that's in your life. Remember, I'm not worried about your life. That's your life. But I want to encourage you. No one else knows what it is except you. I can't say something for my wife or my spouse or somebody else, but listen, I want to encourage them to focus because if they're not focusing in the right area, that's the thing that we need to be doing. Amen. What is that one mission God is calling you to pursue this coming year in 2025? Oh, you want to build something else? You want to go bigger and bigger and bigger? Oh my goodness. You need to pray for some clarity. and you need to take some practical steps to embrace that calling. Man, I want to tell you, as I close out, each and every one of us, as we step back in 2024 and look at these things, And we're reminded of what we just said, amen. When we step back and we look and we realize that we step back to see God's sovereignty of Psalms 46.10, amen. And I'm glad that we can step back and begin to look and realize that to examine our walk in 2 Corinthians 13, verse five. And lastly, step back to renew our mission in Philippians 3, verses 13 and 14. Every one of us, as I close out, as we reflect back on those things, we see a year of challenges and blessings. And from all the political unrest to the artistic triumphs and from loss to revival, God has been faithful. Let me say it again. God has been faithful. Let us pause to see His sovereignty, examine our walk, and renew our mission, each and every one of us, as we look back and as we get ready to close out. I hope and pray that you yourself, let the Lord help you this coming year to look at yourself the sovereignty of God and examine our walk and to renew our mission. Thank you for tuning us in. Happy New Year to you. Lord, thank you for the lessons of 2024. Forgive us for where we have fallen short and renew our hearts. and presses toward the right mark in 2025. Lord, as we look at the things that we walk in faith and not fear, live with purpose for your glory, protect us with your armor, guide us with your spirit, and keep us steadfast in the hope of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen. God bless you.