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In Victory Outreach San Francisco, we are looking forward to an acceleration to take place and see the promises of God fulfilled. For the acceleration of these promises to be fulfilled, we must be resolute in our commitment to our Lord, Jesus Christ, and to one another.

Every year, millions of people make New Year’s resolutions. A resolution is a firm decision to do or not to do something, the quality of being determined or resolute. A resolution is a commitment.

Why do people make New Year Resolutions? People want to better their life. People are hoping for a positive change and a better future.

Here is a list of the top 10 resolutions that people make:[i]

1. Exercise more

3. Get organized

4. Learn a new skill or hobby 

5. Live life to the fullest

6. Save more money / spend less money

7. Quit smoking

8. Spend more time with family and friends

9. Travel more

10. Read more

2. Lose weight

A study (by the Journal of Clinical Psychology) showed that only about 46% of people who made New Year resolutions were successful. This reveals that more than half failed.

Many times, resolutions are not completed because motivation is lost, the focus is lost, problems arise, and distractions get in the way.

The apostle Paul made a resolution and was determined to fulfill it. He said in Philippians 3:10, “I want to know Christ …”. Wow, what a resolution to make. He made a “Heavenly Resolution”. This is a resolution that we all need to make and keep. This will transform our lives.

Paul was a Christian for about 30 years when he wrote to the Philippians, and he said he did not just want to know Christ as Savior. He wanted to know Christ as his Lord. He wanted a personal relationship with Jesus, to obey Him, be faithful to Him, praise Him and celebrate Him. Just look at the rest of Philippians 3:10-11 and you will see Paul’s commitment to his “Heavenly Resolution”:

I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!
(Philippians 3:10–11 NLT)

At the end of Paul’s life, he was able to say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7 NIV). He fulfilled the “Heavenly Resolution” he made.

You and I can also make this “Heavenly Resolution”, To Know Christ, and fulfill it. We can learn from Paul and the attitude he had toward Jesus. Even though Paul wrote this letter to the Philippians while he was in prison for preaching the gospel, he wanted the Philippians to know that he was joyful and not discouraged. He encouraged them to have the same attitude, to be joyful also.

Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith. (Philippians 3:1 NLT)

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! (Philippians 4:4 NLT)

Paul says to continually hear and receive the importance of having joy, safeguard’s your faith. The word safeguard means, that which cannot be thrown down, firm, sure, steady, immovable as an anchor. Joy keeps your faith in the Lord strong and from growing cold.

How does Paul say he is going to stay joyful and fulfill his Heavenly Resolution to know Christ? The way Paul did it, is the same way you and I can do it.

I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. (Philippians 3:12–14 NLT)

1. Focus on one thing. Don’t allow distractions to get in the way. Whether it is circumstances, people, finances (or lack of finances), sickness, etc., trust in Jesus.

Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine and learn from those who follow our example. For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. (Philippians 3:17–19 NLT)

2. Forget the past and look forward. Jesus said that focusing on the past (failures, mistakes, victories, successes) and looking back makes you unfit.

But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62 NLT)

3. Press on. This means to follow hard after, to pursue with earnestness and diligence in order to obtain, to go after with the desire of obtaining. That’s what Paul did. Paul also says you and I can Press on to win the heavenly prize of knowing Christ.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing. 2 (Timothy 4:7–8 NLT)

Victory Outreach San Francisco, let’s turn the page and begin this new year of 2022 resolved to “Know Christ”, not just as Savior but also as Lord. Seeking Jesus for a personal relationship with Him, to obey Him, be faithful to Him, praise Him and celebrate Him. When we do this, we will see an acceleration of the promises of God fulfilled in our lives, our families, and our church.

Pastor Ed Gonzalez
Victory Outreach San Francisco
http://www.vosf.org

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[i] Zomick, Brad. “Top 10 Most Common New Year’s Resolutions (and How to Follow Through on Them)”. Go Skills, goskills.com/Soft-Skills/Resources/Top-10-new-years-resolutions

January 6, 2022

Isaiah 55:8–9 (NIV) 8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8–9 (The Message) 8 “I don’t think the way you think. The way you work isn’t the way I work.” God’s Decree. 9 “For as the sky soars high above earth, so the way I work surpasses the way you work, and the way I think is beyond the way you think.

There is excitement in the air. The new year brings new hope, revived dreams, a feeling of a new beginning. This is happening in the people and ministry of Victory Outreach. It’s time for Acceleration.

The theme for 2022 in Victory Outreach is Acceleration. It’s time to accelerate the expansion that is taking place within Victory Outreach. The raising up of new young people in the Third Wave and the establishing of Base churches (in Mexico, Panama, South Africa, Whittier CA, San Diego CA, Chino CA, San Jose CA) throughout the world is just the beginning. In the words of Founder, Pastor Sonny Argunzoni Sr., “We are just scratching the surface.”

2020-2021 has been a difficult year for many people. Pain and hardships have come in many ways: loss of loved ones, loss of jobs, and even separation from family and friends. This has led many people to feel depressed and hopeless.

As we begin this New Year 2022, It does not have to be that way. We may not be able to control what goes on in the world we live in, but there is one thing we can control. How we think.

In 2022 let’s put on the mind of Christ and Think BIG. God thinks Big for you, your family, and your church.

Isaiah 55:8–9 (NIV) 8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

When I say. “Think BIG” I mean, “Believe In God”. Believe that God has something special for you, your family, and your church. Believe that God will do this even when it seems impossible. To “Believe in God” means you need a Mega Mentality. It means it’s going to take faith.

Hebrews 11:6 (NIV) And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Thinking Big is not going to just happen. We must Decide to Think Big. We must Want to Think BIG. We must Plan to Think BIG.

What is it going to take to see God’s thoughts for you come to pass in 2022, to stay on the Pathway God has for you in 2022, to Think B.I.G.

1. Fellowship: With Christ, other Believers, your Church

The Greek word for fellowship is koinonia. It means, having in common, partnership.

We must fellowship and partner with Jesus by coming to him in prayer.

Isaiah 55:1–2 (NIV) 1 “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. 2 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.

Fellowshipping with Jesus in Prayer every day will help you to partner and be led by the Holy Spirit and not waste time and money on unnecessary things that keep God’s plans coming to pass and fulfilling your life.

We also need to fellowship and partner with the Church and other believers who love Jesus.

Ps. 122:1 (NIV) I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.”

Hebrews 10:24–25 (NIV) 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

If there is ever a time people need the church, it is today. The church is the Body of Christ. Jesus is coming soon for a church that is without spot or wrinkle. We need each other to encourage us to say on the path that God has for each and every one of us.

Ephesians 5:27 (NKJV) that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

Think BIG when it comes to giving. By giving tithes and offerings to your church and to UWC, you are fellowshipping with Jesus and your Church. Read these two scriptures to see this is means:

2 Corinthians 9:6–8 (NLT) 6 Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.

Malachi 3:8–12 (NIV) 8 “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.

2. Fight: Sin, Temptation, Laziness, Becoming Cold and Indifferent.

Understand that you are in a Spiritual Battle whether you like it or not. The question is, are you fighting in this battle or are you giving in to the enemy of your soul. The devil does not want you to “Think BIG”. He does not want God’s thoughts for you, your family, and your church to come to pass. He wants to rob you of all the blessings Jesus has for you.

John 10:10 (Mess.) A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.

You begin to fight in this spiritual battle when you take control of your thoughts and align your thoughts to obey Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:4–5 (NIV) 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

When you have a mindset to obey Christ, then you can fight and defeat sin, temptation, laziness, becoming cold and indifferent.

Understand that the devil has taken steps to set you up to fail but Jesus has given us the strength to stand and not fall when we get in the fight to glorify Him.

Ephesians 6:10–13 (NIV) 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

3. Follow

Jesus called His disciples to Follow Him

Matthew 4:18–19 (NIV) 18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”

Jesus is still calling people to follow Him. You must answer the call He has for your life. Answering the Call is the beginning of being able to “Think BIG”.

Following Jesus is not sitting back and waiting for something to happen. Following Jesus is taking Leadership of your flesh and worldly thoughts and surrendering them under God’s Authority.

Isaiah 55:7 (NIV) — 7 Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

When you surrender to follow Jesus, you can begin to:

-Live a godly life;

-Follow God’s vision for yourself, your family, and your church;

-Answer God’s call and fulfill His purpose for your life;

-Obey God’s command to love Jesus first and love your neighbor as yourself;

-Obey the great commission to preach the gospel and make disciples of all nations of the world.

When you Think B.I.G. and Believe In God, you can say what Isaiah said.

Isaiah 6:8 (NIV) — 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

Let’s Think B.I.G. in 2022 and Believe In God.

Let’s Fellowship, Fight, and Follow.

Pastor Ed Gonzalez
Victory Outreach San Francisco
http://www.vosf.org

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