INTRODUCTION
Many of you are celebrating or preparing to celebrate the New Year, while others have already ushered in the New Year! We count down to the New Year, we hug friends and loved ones in joy, we exchange wishes for blessing and prosperity, some run to church services to mark the turn of the year, while others gather in public spaces to sing, dance or party as they suck in the joyous mood.
Whatever you persuasion, anything ‘new’ that one beholds or expects, is a cause for joy and hope, as the old gives place to the excitement for the new. The ‘New Year’ is no different! This ‘New Year’ Unto you be ‘Newness of Spirit’, the covenant gift of God.1.
1. ‘NEW YEAR’: THE COVENANT GIFT OF GOD
The ‘New Year’ is a covenant gift of God, to birth in us ‘newness of spirit’, of joy and hope in God’s divine care over the earth and mankind. But this biblical symbolism does not always gain prominence in our celebrations.
‘New Year’ is indeed a commemorative festival to hold “In the first day of the [specified] month, [on which], ye shall have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation”. It marks the beginning of months [and] it shall be the first month of the year to you”. (Leviticus 23:24; Exodus 12:2).
On this day, like the sabbath, people shall do no servile work, but must offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. (Leviticus 23:2, 25; Numbers 29:1-2). The offerings – (burnt, meat, sin, and drink), were “according unto their manner, for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the lord”. (Numbers 29:6). God commanded Moses to “write thou these words, for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel”. (Exodus 34:27).
Brethren, ‘New Year’ is one of three convocations on which God commanded his people to appear before him; and for their obedience, He promises to cast out the nations before them, and enlarge their borders; and that no one shall desire their land. (Exodus 23:17; 34:24).
What is important to note about the ‘New Year’ is the unity in celebration before God, in reliance on God for personal and national security for the coming year. Israel was always before God both as a congregation, tribal and individual entities. It was a way to encourage a reflection of God’s power, goodness and mercies in them, for the deliverances from their enemies.
2. THE ‘NEW COVENANT’ AND ‘NEWNESS OF SPIRIT’
But Israel’s disbelief or disobedience to God’s covenants, was always before God including, the Prophet Moses, who was the mediator of the old covenant. (Numbers 20:1-13). Since the people continued not in God’s covenant with them, God ordained a “New Covenant” through the excellent ministry of Jesus Christ, His son, on their behalf. The “new Covenant” held better promises for all God’s people. (Jeremiah 31:31-32; Hebrews 8:6-9). “The Lord knoweth them that are his”. (2 Timothy 2:19).
The New Covenant in Christ is Spirit led, the perfect medium to remind all of God’s power, his goodness and mercies year on year. The New Covenant is not written on tables of stone as the ‘Old Covenant’, that God made with Israel when he brought them out of the land of Egypt. It needed to be memorised or be taught for observance. The tables of stone symbolised Israel’s “stony heart”, hardened towards God’s work in their lives, his might and power. The ‘New Covenant’ is spiritual, written upon “hearts of flesh” that loves God. (Jeremiah 31:31-32; Ezekiel 36:26).
2.1 PROMISES OF THE NEW COVENANT
Under the ‘new covenant’, God himself promises his people saying:
- “I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people”;
- “And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest”.
- “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more”. (Hebrew 8:10-12; Jeremiah 31:33-34; Ezekiel 36:26; 18:31).
Brethren, God promises to give you a “new heart” and put a “new spirit” within you. Under the ‘New Covenant’ mediated by the Christ, those who believe on his name, receive ‘newness of Spirit’. And you shall not need anyone to teach you the fear of God or remind you of his goodness, as you celebrate His gift of life and hope for his mercies and favour in the New Year.
3. CELEBERATE IN ‘NEWNESS OF SPIRIT’
People of God, “…now we are delivered from the [Old Covenant] law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter” of commandments. (Romans 7:6). There is therefore no special manner of celebrating New Year under the ‘New Covenant’. So “let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days” as you celebrate. (Colossians 2:16).
3.1 RENDER YOUR HEARTS TO GOD
Brethren, render your hearts to God on this New Year, so that He can be your God and you will be His child; that you may know him in “newness of Spirit”, and recognise his power and grace upon your life, no matter your circumstances. The New Year under the “new covenant” signify hope for us of a new (or renewed) life in the spirit of Christ, and not in the death of the past lusts and transgressions of the forgoing year(s) that held us bound. (Galatians 5:16).
Each person born of the Spirit of God, believing in Christ Jesus by conviction of the Holy Spirit, and confessing Christ is Lord, will be taught by the Holy Spirit how to celebrate the New Year in Holiness, love for God and your neighbours; and how you may “live by the Spirit” and walk with God, who is a Spirit. (Romans 10:9; 1 Corinthians 12:3; Galatians 5:18; John 4:23-24; 1 John 4:2; Matthew 22:43).
Believers should therefore not be concerned with pagan traditions, heathen philosophies, devilish cultural practices, or worldly norms over the New Year celebration. But live by the “Holy Spirit of Truth”, “the comforter” whom God the Father sends in the name of Jesus Christ, to believers. The Spirit shall dwell in you and be in you; and shall teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all things of Christ’s words. (John 14:16-17, 26; 15:26).
Let us thus, aspire to the New Year with utter reflection and repentance on how we spent the old year(s) especially the dead works we indulged in. Let us make a firm commitment to allow God’s Spirit to guide us in the coming year, in grace and mercies through Christ Jesus. For “He has qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Corinthians 3:6).
PRAYER
Almighty Father, I thank you for your Word.
We praise you for the gift of the ‘new covenant’ of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.
We invite you dear Father to forgive our transgressions of the forgoing year(s). Create in us a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within us. That we may know you, love you, and walk by the leading of your Holy Spirit this New Year.
Help us dear Lord to forgive those who have caused us hurt in the former year(s) and give grace to endure the challenges that overcame us.
Help us to look with hope for the Holy Spirit which shall perfect all things in the New Year.
I make this prayer IN JESUS MIGHTY NAME.
“AND UNTO YOU, YOU LOVED ONES AND FAMILY, ‘NEWNESS OF SPIRIT’ AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Lots of Love, P. Schwartz (SOG) 31 December 2021.
