Embracing God's Faithfulness and New Beginnings

Devotional

Day 1: God's Unwavering Presence in Chaos

In Isaiah 43, God promises His unwavering presence and faithfulness, assuring us that He has called us by name and redeemed us. This promise is a powerful reminder that no matter the chaos or challenges we face, God will not allow the waters of life to overwhelm us or the fires to consume us. This is a call to trust in God's steadfast love, as He is our God and we are His people. In times of uncertainty, we can find peace and strength in knowing that God is with us, guiding us through every storm. [49:12]

Isaiah 43:1-2 (ESV): "But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.'"

Reflection: Think of a current challenge you are facing. How can you invite God's presence into this situation and trust Him to guide you through it today?

Day 2: Embracing God's New Work

Reflecting on our past, we see how God has led us through challenges, such as the pandemic, and brought growth and transformation. God's work is ongoing, and He is doing a new thing in our lives. We are invited to perceive it and trust in His plans for our future. This requires us to let go of the past, both the good and the bad, and to embrace the new things God is doing. Our identity is not defined by our past mistakes or achievements but by the work of Jesus in us. [51:32]

Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV): "Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to let go of the past to embrace the new work God is doing? How can you take a step towards this today?

Day 3: God's Presence in Daily Life

God desires to be present in every aspect of our lives, not just in moments of worship. He wants to do something unprecedented, requiring us to let go of the past and embrace the new things He is doing. Our identity is defined by Jesus' work in us, not by our past. This means inviting God into our daily routines, relationships, and work, allowing Him to transform every part of our lives. As we do this, we can experience the fullness of His love and the joy of His presence. [01:01:32]

Colossians 3:17 (ESV): "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Reflection: How can you intentionally invite God's presence into your daily routine today? What specific action can you take to acknowledge Him in your work or relationships?

Day 4: Trusting in God's Guidance

As we move forward, we are encouraged to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Trusting in His guidance and acknowledging Him in all our ways will lead us to the good things He has planned for us. The best days are ahead because God is faithful. This requires us to be strong and courageous, knowing that the Lord our God is with us wherever we go. By trusting in His plans, we can walk confidently into the future He has prepared for us. [01:10:40]

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to trust God's guidance more fully? How can you practice acknowledging Him in this area today?

Day 5: Communion and Unity in Christ

Communion is a reminder of the new thing God is doing through Jesus. As we gather around the Lord's table, we are one in Him, one with each other, and one on mission in this world. Let us celebrate the goodness of God, who is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine. This unity in Christ calls us to live out our faith in community, supporting and encouraging one another as we pursue God's mission together. [01:13:46]

1 Corinthians 10:16-17 (ESV): "The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread."

Reflection: How can you actively participate in the unity and mission of your faith community this week? What is one specific way you can support or encourage someone in your church today?

Sermon Summary

In our time together today, we explored the profound truth of God's unwavering presence and faithfulness in our lives, as illustrated in Isaiah 43. This chapter serves as a powerful reminder of God's promise to be with us through the chaos and challenges we face, just as He was with the Israelites during their exodus from Egypt. God reassures us that He has called us by name, redeemed us, and will not allow the waters of life to overwhelm us or the fires to consume us. This is a call to trust in God's steadfast love and His ability to lead us through the most difficult times.

Reflecting on the past, we acknowledged the trials and triumphs we've experienced, including the challenges of the pandemic and the ways God has led us through them. We celebrated the growth and transformation within our community, recognizing that God's work is not confined to the past but is ever-present and ongoing. God is doing a new thing, and He invites us to perceive it, to see beyond the clouds of our current circumstances, and to trust in His plans for our future.

God's desire is to show up in every aspect of our lives, not just in the moments of worship but in our daily routines, our relationships, and our work. He wants to do something unprecedented in our lives, something that has never been seen or imagined before. This requires us to let go of the past, both the good and the bad, and to embrace the new things God is doing. Our identity is not defined by our past mistakes or achievements but by the work of Jesus in us.

As we move forward, we are encouraged to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, trusting in His guidance and acknowledging Him in all our ways. The best days for us, our families, and our church are ahead because God is faithful and His plans for us are good. Let us be strong and courageous, knowing that the Lord our God is with us wherever we go.

Key Takeaways

1. God's promise in Isaiah 43 is a reminder of His unwavering presence and faithfulness. He assures us that He has called us by name and redeemed us, and He will not allow the chaos of life to overwhelm us. Trusting in God's steadfast love is essential, as He is our God and we are His people. [49:12]
2. Reflecting on our past, we see how God has led us through challenges, such as the pandemic, and brought growth and transformation. God's work is ongoing, and He is doing a new thing in our lives. We are invited to perceive it and trust in His plans for our future. [51:32]
3. God desires to be present in every aspect of our lives, not just in moments of worship. He wants to do something unprecedented, requiring us to let go of the past and embrace the new things He is doing. Our identity is defined by Jesus' work in us, not by our past. [61:32]
4. As we move forward, we are encouraged to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Trusting in His guidance and acknowledging Him in all our ways will lead us to the good things He has planned for us. The best days are ahead because God is faithful. [70:40]
5. Communion is a reminder of the new thing God is doing through Jesus. As we gather around the Lord's table, we are one in Him, one with each other, and one on mission in this world. Let us celebrate the goodness of God, who is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine. [01:13:46]
** [73:46]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[49:12] - God's Promise and Presence
[51:32] - Reflecting on Our Past
[53:26] - Trusting God's Guidance
[61:32] - Embracing the New
[62:22] - God's Unprecedented Work
[63:21] - Seeing Beyond the Clouds
[64:44] - Prayer for Guidance
[66:20] - God's Pathway and Provision
[67:40] - Identity in Christ
[69:43] - Moving Forward in Faith
[70:40] - Best Days Ahead
[71:29] - Encouragement to Trust
[72:31] - Communion: A New Thing
[73:46] - Prayer and Communion Invitation

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What specific promises does God make to His people in Isaiah 43 regarding their protection and redemption? [49:12]
How does the sermon describe the significance of the Exodus event for the Israelites, and how does it relate to God's promises in Isaiah 43? [51:32]
What examples from the sermon illustrate God's ongoing work and presence in the lives of the church community? [53:26]
How does the sermon describe the new things God is doing, and what does it mean to perceive them? [01:03:21]

Interpretation Questions

In what ways does the promise of God's presence in Isaiah 43 encourage believers to trust Him during difficult times? [49:12]
How does the sermon suggest that reflecting on past experiences of God's faithfulness can strengthen our faith in His future plans? [51:32]
What does the sermon imply about the importance of letting go of past achievements or failures to embrace the new things God is doing? [01:01:32]
How does the concept of identity in Christ, as discussed in the sermon, redefine how believers view their past and future? [01:09:43]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt overwhelmed by life's challenges. How did you experience God's presence during that time, and how can you apply that experience to current challenges? [49:12]
The sermon mentions the pandemic as a period of growth and transformation. How has God led you through recent challenges, and what new things might He be doing in your life now? [51:32]
Consider an area of your life where you feel stuck in the past. What steps can you take to let go and embrace the new things God is doing? [01:01:32]
How can you actively seek to perceive the new things God is doing in your life and community? What practical steps can you take to be more aware of His work? [01:03:21]
In what ways can you invite God to be present in your daily routines, relationships, and work? Identify one specific area where you want to see God's unprecedented work. [01:02:22]
How does understanding your identity in Christ change the way you approach your past mistakes or achievements? What practical changes can you make to live out this identity? [01:09:43]
The sermon encourages loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. What is one specific way you can deepen your love for God this week? [01:10:40]

Sermon Clips

"And I want you to know this morning that God says, I am your God. You're my people. And that means that if you're following him, that he's your God and you're his people. But I would tell you that even if you're here this morning and you're not into God or not into Jesus or whatever and you're going, I don't even know why I'm here, that God goes, hey, listen, I'm your God because I've created you." [00:49:12] (22 seconds)

"And this is what God's speaking through the prophet Isaiah after telling them, listen, I know things are rough. And this is where the people were. I know things are rough. It's not looking. I mean, you're just kind of wondering if you're ever going to get out, if you're ever going to survive. And so it's like God takes them back in verse 16 and he says, I am the Lord who opened a way through the waters." [00:49:51] (23 seconds)

"one of the things i hope you know and i hope you never forget is that what god wants to do in your life and even in the life of grace church but i i want you to just know in your life and in your family's life and the life of this church and the life of this community is honestly unprecedented it's never been seen before it's never even been thought of before god's like i don't want you living in the past because i'm the one that takes all the old and i go i want to do something brand new" [00:59:49] (33 seconds)

"Lord, I need a word from you. I need you in my kid's life. I need you to work in my life. I need you to work in my marriage. I need you to work in my job. Lord, I need you. And I think it's at this moment, and I went back, I did, I told you in nostalgic, I went back to this prayer that I talked about so often for so long whenever we came here. And it's just this simple prayer, which is like, Lord, help me to see you." [01:04:20] (24 seconds)

"who has led you this far is the very same God who's faithful to lead you forward. He's already at work. He always has been. I know some of us tend to hold on to things and some of us hold on to good things, right? I mean, I remember when God did this and I remember when God did that and I remember when I can't do anything and I came down to the altar and got saved and praise the Lord that was when I was three years old and that defines us." [01:08:02] (31 seconds)

"Forward in every aspect and every part of life. He's called you by name. He's led you through all of those times. You've got your stories, good and bad, whatever it is, and he wants to lead you forward. The best days for you, the best days for your family, the best days for Grace Church are ahead. They really are. Because God is doing something new." [01:10:40] (28 seconds)

"We've celebrated what God had done and we're celebrating the Passover, but Jesus says, no, no, no. No, you've got to understand it. He began to pull his disciples in and he began to take some bread and he broke it in front of his disciples and he handed it to them. He said, listen, this is the new thing that I'm about to do. And he said, take and eat." [01:12:31] (21 seconds)

"And so he gave him a cup and he said, this is my blood which washes you white as snow. It's life. Life is found in me, Jesus said. And so today we want to receive communion together because we've gathered around the Lord's table. We are one in him, one with each other and one on mission in this world." [01:13:46] (30 seconds)

"some of us in here are desperate to know that you're doing a new thing. We've got our own context. We've got our own situations. We've got the waters that are rushing by. We've got the fire that we feel like we're getting burned. But Lord, you're the one that says, I am your God and you are my people. You're the same God who's been faithful all of these years and you will be faithful to lead us forward." [01:14:26] (29 seconds)

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