Introduction: As we begin this year there are two ways to view the future. There is the world’s view, which at the moment is totally caught up in the worldwide recession. There are still wars and rumors of more wars such as is now happening between Israel and Hamas of Palestine. (We do not have money to buy new homes, cars, or sometimes even the basic necessities, but we have money to fight more wars.) The world view therefore is naturally one of anxiety, fear and doom.

Here in Taiwan, the year 2008 was one of “CHANGE.”

The second view is the Christian belief system which relies on God as its source of help and strength. We are realists, and know that we also are in the same recession and worldwide downward spiral of the economy, but we endeavor to keep our eyes on God and not the world situation.

This week the weather in Taipei has been cooler with overcast clouds and rain. Fortunately, we do not have the snow and ice that some places in colder climates have. When we go out in the rain we need protection so we use an umbrella. The rain is still there, the dark clouds still hover overhead, but a jacket wards off the cold. The umbrella that shields us from the dark clouds cast by the world view is our faith in God. Faith in God keeps us from the direct hit of the overhead problems. We still are surrounded by problems and troubles, but as long as we put up our Shield of Faith we are protected from the problems.

What We Expect For The Year 2009 Will Depend On Our Spiritual Outlook

1. God Has Made A Positive Outlook Available To Us.

   The verses we are starting 2009 with come from Matthew 7:7, “Ask and it will be given you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”

   1. As Jehovah Jirah, God places the responsibility on us to start the process of receiving His abundant blessings.
      1. “Ask and it will be given you.”
      2. “Seek and you will find."
      3. “Knock and the door will be opened to you.”
   2. God wants the year 2009 to be full of abundant blessings for YOU!
      1. Notice these are unconditional promises!
         1. it will be given you
         2. you will find
         3. the door will be opened to you
      2. Notice who does these things--GOD!
      3. Don’t make excuses why God can not do things for you. Make Opportunities for God to do things for you!!!!!!!!!

         Illustration: Your father putting a baseball in your hand to give you lessons how to pitch baseball.

   3. Our attitude and expectations will largely determine how much of the “abundant blessings of God” we will receive in 2009.
2. We Expect Everyone To Grow Spiritually In The Year 2009.

   God’s plan for growing in 2009:

   1. 2 Peter 3:18, "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…"
   2. Colossians 1:10, “And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way; bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.
   3. Faith and love go hand in hand. 2 Thessalonians 1:3, ”We should always thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love everyone of you has for each other is increasing.”
   4. People do not grow without exercise! Isaiah 40:31, ”...but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

3. We Need To Expect To Dream Big Dreams For God in 2009.
   
   (Some of this material from The Student Bible Dictionary by Dockery, Godwin, and Godwin.)
   
   
   1. Separate your dreams into two categories:
      
      1. Dreams that result from eating too much before you go to bed.
         
      2. Dreams that originate from God. Some have a message for you while others will have vision for what God wants you to do. These usually come in limited time frames.
      
      
   2. In religious terms we usually define a dream as “thought or experience while asleep.” Examples of this are found as:
      
      1. Revelation Genesis 20:3, “But God came to Abimelech in a dream one night and said to him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, she is a married woman.”
         
      2. Action Acts 2:17, “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.”
         
      3. Communication I Kings 3:5, “At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” Verse 6, Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day." Verse 9, "So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” Verse 12, “I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.”

      4. Another example can be found in Matthew 1:20
         
         Ability to Interpret Dreams
         
         Examples: Joseph in Genesis 40:5-23, Daniel 4:19-27.
   
   

   Conclusion: What to expect in the year 2009? Only God knows for sure. If we cooperate with God the year will be an excellent year regardless of what happens around us. Commit your way to the Lord, and He will be the light to guide you. Remember, His Will Is For Good In Your Life This Year.