Sermons

21 Days: Your Choice, His Will – A New Beginning for 3C South Coast

January 5, 2026

Happy New Year, church family! We have officially entered 2026, and there is a powerful sense of divine momentum in the air. This past Sunday, Pastor Larry brought a stirring message to conclude our “Joy, Joy, Joy” series by weaving in the prophetic challenge shared by Pastor Charné. As we move forward with the exciting transformation of Rhema South Coast Family Church to 3C Ramsgate, we are making a collective decision to ensure Jesus is the center of everything we do.

Today, 05 January 2026, we begin our 21 Days of Fasting and Prayer. This is not just a corporate habit; it is a spiritual necessity to align our lives with the purposes of God for the year ahead.

The Heart of the Fast: 05 – 25 January

We are honored to join Pastors Bert & Charné Pretorius and the global 3C family for this consecrated time. Our mission is to set ourselves aside, sanctifying our hearts for what God wants to do in and through us.

Our Prayer Schedule:

Monday – Friday: 5:00 am – 6:00 am Prayer.
Friday Nights: 7:00 pm Vision Revival Nights.
Saturdays: 7:00 am – 8:00 am Prayer.

You can join the online prayer sessions directly by clicking here: Join Online Prayer.

As we fast, we remember the words of Jesus in John 4, 34: “My food (nourishment) is to do the will (pleasure) of Him Who sent Me and to accomplish and completely finish His work”. Whether you are committing to a Daniel Fast like Ps Mandy, or to Ps Larry’s 6-to-6 water fast, the goal is to find our satisfaction in His pleasure.

Our 2026 Declaration

Pastor Charné has issued a challenge that will serve as our anchor for 2026. We encourage every member of the congregation to make this their daily declaration:

“NOT MY WILL, OH LORD, BUT YOUR WILL BE DONE IN MY LIFE, IN 2026!”

This declaration is rooted in the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6, 9-10: “Our Beloved Father, dwelling in the heavenly realms, may the glory of your name be the center on which our lives turn. Manifest your kingdom realm, and cause your every purpose to be fulfilled on earth, just as it is in heaven”. 2026 is the year of complete surrender.

The Lessons of Surrender: The Rich Young Ruler and Peter

Pastor Larry highlighted two contrasting examples of surrender from the Gospels. The Rich Young Ruler had everything but could not surrender the one thing that controlled him. In contrast, Peter was a man with a strong will who had to be broken of his own self-reliance. Once Peter surrendered, he went from backsliding to preaching a message that birthed the Church with 3,000 souls. Both men made choices that impacted their destiny. The choice is now yours.

Divine Alignment: Assignment vs. Dreams

One of the most profound insights shared was from Bishop Oriel: “People think God will fund their dream, but God funds His assignment (purpose), not our dream”. There is a massive difference between the two.

We must stop asking God to pay for things He never ordered for our lives. We must stop asking Him to bless what He has not commanded. Instead, we seek Divine Alignment. We ask: “God, what is Your assignment for me this year? Who do You want me to win to Christ?”. When we align with what He assigns, the provision follows.

The Blueprint for Victory: James 4

We learn from Mary, the mother of Jesus, that God’s greatest works are not born in halls of fame, but in the obscure rooms of submission. James 4, 7 provides our blueprint: “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you”.

The Passion Translation says the devil will flee in agony. However, your power to resist evil is directly proportional to your decision to surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. If you want authority over the obstacles in 2026, you must first submit to His authority.

Drawing Near and Cleansing the Heart

James 4, 8 commands us to move our hearts closer to God. He promises that as we move, He will move even closer to us. But this requires us to be honest about two major roadblocks: Sin and Doubt.

1. Addressing Sin

Sin is insidious; it creeps in unnoticed. Pastor Larry reminded us of the heavy cost of sin:

Sin will take you further than you want to go.
Sin will keep you longer than you want to stay.
Sin will cost you more than you want to pay.

Until you allow the Lord to heal you everywhere you hurt, you remain toxic to those who try to love you. If you feel like a victim because of what others have said or done, you need to allow the Lord to cleanse and heal that area so you can move forward in power.

2. Stopping Doubt

Doubt is the greatest thief of God’s blessing. To doubt is to be “double-minded”—swayed between two opinions and making excuses for a lack of progress. When you guard your heart from unbelief, your life immediately gets stronger. We must stay away from negative influences and ungodly people who seek to steal our joy and peace.

The Caleb Spirit: Possessing the Land

In Numbers 13, 30, Caleb quieted the people and said: “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it”. While others saw giants and felt like grasshoppers, Caleb saw the promise.

People who are too weak to follow their own assignment will always try to discourage yours. Do not listen to the bad report. In 2026, we are following the one who always leads us in triumph. As 2 Corinthians 2, 14 states, we are the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere we go.

Who Do You Need to Become?

Instead of asking what 2026 will look like, we should ask: “Who do I need to become so I can meet the challenges and opportunities of 2026?”. When we build the person who can handle the commission, the path will reveal itself.

Take a moment to think soberly. Be willing to be made low before the Lord so He can exalt you. Chuck Colson remarked that the most joyful thing was looking back and seeing his life used by Jesus to help others. Let that be our testimony.