TITLE: THE YEAR OF STEP UP INTRODUCTION

SERIES: New Year 2026 Vision

Bible Verse : Isaiah 43:18-19; Philippians 3:13-14; Joshua 1:9

Isaiah 43:18-19  “Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands.”

Philippians 3:13-14  “Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.”

Joshua 1:9  “Haven’t I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don’t be timid; don’t get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take.”

04 January 2026

INTRODUCTION: THE INVITATION TO ELEVATION

Welcome home, NEWLIFE4YOU!

Can you believe it? We are gathering here on the very first Sunday of 2026. How was your New Year celebration? Did you have a good time with your family? Did you get a moment to breathe and enjoy the fireworks?

I have a short message for you today to kickstart our year, but I believe it is going to set the trajectory for your next 12 months.

There is something undeniably powerful about the turning of a calendar page. It acts like a psychological reset button. But I want to challenge you this morning with a hard truth: A “New Year” does not automatically mean a “New You.”

We often get confused. We think the date on the calendar changes us. But hear this clearly: Time changes automatically; people change intentionally. The calendar will turn whether you grow or not. The sun will rise on 2026 whether you are ready or not.

Usually, when we enter a new year, we enter with the mindset of moving forward. We think of life as a timeline, moving horizontally from yesterday to tomorrow.

But I believe God is calling us to a different dimension this year. He isn’t just calling us to move forward horizontally; He is calling us to move upward vertically.

I want to declare over your life, over your family, and over this community: 2026 is The Year of Step Up.

What does it mean to “Step Up”? It implies that where you have been living—your spiritual level in 2025—is too low for where you are going. It implies that the ground you are standing on has served its purpose, but it cannot support the weight of your future.

It implies effort. Gravity pulls us down; comfort keeps us level. Only purpose can make us climb.

Today, quickly, here are four specific areas where we must Step Up this year.

1. WE MUST STEP UP OUT OF OUR HISTORY

The first step of any climb is leaving the base camp. You cannot climb the mountain if you refuse to leave the valley floor.

In Philippians 3:13, the Apostle Paul gives us the secret to spiritual momentum: “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.”

To Step Up in 2026, you must Step Up out of your History. This doesn’t just mean leaving behind your failures; it also means leaving behind your past successes. Some of us are stuck in the “Good Old Days,” holding onto trophies from yesterday while God is trying to give us armor for today.

Your history is a reference point, not a residence. You learn from it, but you don’t live in it. Drop the weight.

2. WE MUST STEP UP OUR EXPECTATION

Once we leave the past, we must change how we view the future. Isaiah 43:19 says: “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”

God asks, “Do you not perceive it?” This implies He is moving, but we often miss it because our expectation is too low.We tend to pray “survival prayers”—Lord, just help me get through the week. But God is calling us to pray “revival prayers.”

Stop praying to get by and start praying to take over. Stop bringing a teaspoon to the ocean of God’s grace. In 2026, Step Up your expectation. Believe that God can do the impossible.

3. WE MUST STEP UP TO RESPONSIBILITY

We live in a culture that loves rights but hates responsibility. But in the Kingdom, elevation requires participation.

To Step Up, you must move from being a Consumer to a Contributor. A consumer asks, “What can the church do for me?” A contributor asks, “What has God called me to do?”

Spiritual maturity is measured by the weight you are willing to carry. It is time to stop waiting for someone else to do the work God called you to do. It is time to serve, to give, and to lead.

4. WE MUST STEP UP WITH COURAGE

Finally, if we leave our history, raise our expectation, and take responsibility, we will face one thing: Fear. That is why we must Step Up with Courage.

In Joshua 1:9, God commands: “Be strong and courageous… for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Stepping Up is scary. The air is thinner. The pressure is higher. But your courage does not come from your ability; it comes from His presence. You can Step Up because He is stepping with you.

CONCLUSION & PRAYER

Time changes automatically; people change intentionally.

This is your moment of intention. I am asking you to make a decision today. Refuse to stay on the flat ground.

Let’s pray together.

CLOSING PRAYER:  “Heavenly Father, we thank You for the gift of a New Year. We thank You that Your mercies are new every morning.

Lord, today we stand at the foot of this new year, and we make a covenant with You. We refuse to stay on the level of average. We declare that 2026 is our year to Step Up.

We ask for the strength to leave our history behind. We ask for the faith to raise our expectations. We ask for the wisdom to take responsibility, and the boldness to walk with courage.

Take us higher, Lord. Not for our glory, but for Yours. In Jesus’ mighty name, we pray, AMEN.”

 God bless abundantly.