A Resolute Heart Jan 18th 2026

Dearest Mum, I heard John Newton preach in church last Sunday. He has had an interesting life as a slave ship captain, but now he realizes slavery is sinful. He has asked for God's forgiveness for the way he has treated the people of Africa. He said he wants to treat all people with more love. I am thinking about committing my life to Jesus. I'd like you to come with me to hear Mr. Newton preach sometime. Your loving son, Willy.

He was about 12 years old when he wrote the letter to his mom. The mother discouraged him. And he lost the path and indulged in drinking until he was 21. He joined British parliament as one of the youngest law makers , very influential because of his great speaking skills and intellect.

In 1784, 25-year-old William and his family took a vacation to France. William invited along his friend Isaac Milner but hoped Isaac wouldn't talk about his Christian beliefs. But, with so much time together, discussions of faith were bound to happen. Isaac patiently answered William's questions and even gave William a book on faith. Within a few months, William was on his knees speaking to God. He had become a committed Christian, and his life's purpose would soon become clear.

The he went back to  John newton asking if he needed to quit politics and become maybe an evangelist-Newton told him he was where he needed to be to serve God.

William Wilberforce declared the two evils he will fight as the suppression of the slave trade and the reformation of manners. 

In March of 1807, nearly two decades after first introducing his bill to end the slave trade, it finally passed, 283 to 16. The movement then turned to the abolition of slavery itself. That battle took another 26 years. By that time, the abolitionist forces were no longer led by William Wilberforce. Forced to leave Parliament due to a significant decline in his health, Wilberforce was on his death bed when the bill abolishing slavery was passed. He received the news three days before he died.

Miriam webster dictionary: resolute decision is marked by firm determination, bold, steady.

·        Honest resolution must come from an honest heart.

·        While we so much need the Grace of God, we have a role to play.

·        Christians must understand the role they play in their Walking the path after resolution.

·        It is not enough to resolve and declare and then decree what you want to happen this year, you must also demonstrate your desire.

·        Demonstration of your desire will call for sacrifice, the unpopular word.

·        A resolute man Draws strength from scripture [Standing on the promises and commands of the master]

·        He is steadfastness,

·        He is courageous.

·        He is obedience.

·        Our obedience is ultimately to Christ, not a cause. [Remains steadfast and focused on Christ and hi will]

·        He finds sufficiency in Christ, not circumstances. [In pleasing the master]

·        Faithfulness, not success.” [focus on success can weaken faithfulness when successive failures come]

A Resolute man is a THOUGHTFUL man

·        Some decisions take me long in this church, even before I bring them in the leaders' minutes. I take time t pray for them and listen to God as I also thoughtfully consider them.

·        That’s one way I can confidently explain them to leaders and friends.

·        And when I finally do start, no discouragements can stop me.

2 Kings 7  There were four men sick with leprosy near the city gate. They said to each other, “Why are we sitting here waiting to die? ⁴ There is no food in Samaria. If we go into the city, we will die there. If we stay here, we will also die. So, let’s go to the Aramean camp. If they let us live, we will live. If they kill us, we will just die.”⁵ So that evening the four lepers went to the Aramean camp.

·        Before you make a resolution, it is important to take time and the re-evaluate yourself.

·        Its wisdom also to go back and reflect on the many things that has happened in your life including reflecting on the faithfulness of God.

A resolute man is not intimidated.

Daniel 1:8: But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.

·        A resolute heart decides before a test to remain pure, choosing God's will

• Resolved to overcome worldly temptations (king's food/wine).

A Resolute Man is a Systematic Man.

2 Timothy 4:7-8 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: ² Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 

Nehemiah 2:11-18 Nehemiah Inspects Jerusalem’s Walls: 11 I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days 12 I set out during the night with a few others. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on.

13 By night I went out through the Valley Gate toward the Jackal[a] Well and the Dung Gate, examining the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire. 14 Then I moved on toward the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but there was not enough room for my mount to get through; 15 so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and reentered through the Valley Gate. 16 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work.

17 Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” 18 I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me.

They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So, they began this good work.

A RESOLUTE MAN REMAINS STEADFAST, HE STAYS FOCUSED.

Psalm 112:6-7 Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.

Nehemiah 6:1-4 Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages^[a] on the plain of Ono. ”But they were scheming to harm me; ³ so I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?” ⁴ Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer.

·        A Resolute heart does not look aside, the voices may call from the sides, but he stay focused.

·        A Resolute heart does not waver in focus.

·        Bad and terrifying news may come but they will not sway your resolve.

A RESOLUTE MAN KNOWS TO TAKE RISKS WHEN NEEDED

Esther 4 :15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: ¹⁶ “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law.”¹⁷ So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.

Daniel 3:16-28 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us[a] from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

Characteristics of a Resolute Heart

• Grounded in God's Word: Firmly rooted in the Bible as God's will, even when personal experience contradicts it.

• Purpose-Driven: Understanding one's divine purpose drives resolute following of Christ.

• Full of faith: Making a pre-emptive decision to walk by faith, preparing for trials.

• Content in Christ: Finding strength and contentment in Jesus, not circumstances .

Philippians 4:13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Cultivating a Resolute Heart (Practical Steps)

• Resolve to Seek God Daily: Read His Word, attend worship, and put God's kingdom first.

• Guard Your Focus: Set your affection on things above and look straight ahead.(Colossians 3:2)

• Choose Obedience: Make a conscious decision to obey God, even when it's hard, proving your faith genuine.

• Trust in God's Sufficiency: Rely on Christ, not yourself, as your provider and strength.

• Ask for Forgiveness: Seek God's pardon when you sin/remain steady.

Courage precedes a resolute action.

God's word has prepared us for courageous, resolute obedience in all of life's

·       God doesn’t call us to step into roles he has not prepared us for.

·       We may feel unprepared and inadequate, but he has surely prepared us.

We are packaged to be able to stand in a position to decide and change.

Joshua 1:5-9 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land, I swore to their ancestors to give them.7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 24:15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

2 Corinthians 11:22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I. ²³ Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. ²⁴ Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, ²⁶ I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. ²⁷ I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. ²⁸ Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. ²⁹ Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?

·        A man with a resolute heart has unwavering commitment to God's will,

2 Timothy 4:7-8 I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have served the Lord faithfully. 8 Now, a prize is waiting for me—the crown that will show I am right with God. The Lord, the judge who judges rightly, will give it to me on that Day. Yes, he will give it to me and to everyone else who is eagerly looking forward to his coming.

His plan unfolds and becomes CLEARER after we make those DANGEROUS resolutions.

Ruth 1:16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.

·        He is at work even when he seems to be silent and away from you.

·        Do not step away from him in assumptions.

Ruth 4:13,21-22  So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. 21 Salmon the father of Boaz, Boaz the father of Obed,22 Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David.

WHAT ARE YOUR RESOLUTIONS?

·       Are you that person who wants t read the whole bible from genesis to revelation this year?

·       Is it to serve more fervently?

·       Is it to start something new ? Ministry, business.

·       Build a new routine of fellowship with God? Quite times and rotine prayers daily.

·       Is it to say no to an addiction?

·       To do everything at your power and by grace of God to build your family foundations?

We have many examples of men and women who made resolutions never to turn back. I have mentioned many in scripture.

My father started drinking alcohol when he was about 12 years old. As an adult he drunk almost daily to the extent that one day he came home and he couldn’t recognize my two oldest brothers. One day he staggered to the crusade to respond to an altar call when drunk. He tells us though he was drunk, he had mumbled to his friends that he wanted to be born again and never wanted his newborn daughter [my older sister] to see him drank.

He was prayed for that day in Dec 1974. His drinking friends said it would be a matter of time before he joined them back. But instead, 4 years later 1978 he was the founding member and the chairman  of the local methodist church he and a few people had started.

I stand today as a pastor, from a family where two other siblings are pastors and all my brothers are church leaders because my father made a decision , a resolute decision to stop alcoholism and follow Christ.

·       Some of you will make decisions today and in the coming days, these decisions will be the foundation to hold generations of your families. You must stop being lukewarm.