Embracing God's New Beginnings in Our Journey
Summary
As we celebrate the 19th anniversary of our church and step into our 20th year of ministry, we reflect on the profound truth that God is always doing a new thing in our lives. Drawing from Isaiah 43:19, we are reminded that God is making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. This passage challenges us to perceive the new things God is doing, even when they don't align with our expectations or past experiences. It's easy to get stuck in nostalgia, celebrating past victories and miracles, but God calls us to look forward and embrace the new paths He is creating.
The journey of faith is not about dwelling on past achievements but about trusting God's ongoing work in our lives. Isaiah's message to forget the former things is not a call to disregard God's past faithfulness but to recognize that His work is not confined to what He has done before. God is consistent in His character and promises, yet He is also creative in how He fulfills them. This duality means that while God remains the same, His methods and the ways He chooses to bless us can change.
In Mark 8 and 10, we see Jesus healing two blind men in different ways, illustrating God's creative approach to our needs. One man receives healing through a messy, gradual process, while the other is healed instantly with a word. This teaches us that God's methods are not bound by our expectations. He is both consistent and creative, meeting us in our unique circumstances with exactly what we need.
As we move forward, we are encouraged to let go of our preconceived plans and trust in God's purpose. The foundation of our faith is not the finish line but the starting point for what God is building in our lives. We are called to embrace the new things God is doing, confident in His faithfulness and creativity. Let us celebrate the consistency of God's love and the new beginnings He offers, knowing that He is with us every step of the way.
Key Takeaways:
1. God's New Thing: God is always doing something new in our lives, and it's crucial to perceive it. While it's easy to cling to past victories, God calls us to look forward and embrace the new paths He is creating. This requires faith and a willingness to let go of nostalgia. [16:32]
2. Consistency and Creativity: God is both consistent and creative. His character and promises remain unchanged, but His methods can vary. This duality means that while God remains the same, His ways of blessing us can change, challenging us to trust Him in new ways. [43:06]
3. Letting Go of the Past: Isaiah's call to forget the former things is not about disregarding God's past faithfulness but recognizing that His work is not confined to what He has done before. We must let go of our preconceived plans and trust in God's purpose. [20:38]
4. Faith as a Foundation: The foundation of our faith is not the finish line but the starting point for what God is building in our lives. We are called to embrace the new things God is doing, confident in His faithfulness and creativity. [21:23]
5. God's Faithfulness: God's faithfulness is consistent, regardless of the circumstances. He meets us in our unique situations with exactly what we need, whether through a gradual process or an instant miracle. Trusting in His faithfulness allows us to embrace the new things He is doing. [30:26]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [02:11] - Introduction and Prayer
- [03:34] - God's Word and Its Power
- [05:50] - Hearing God's Voice
- [08:29] - Context of Isaiah's Message
- [11:00] - Remembering God's Past Works
- [12:16] - God's Eternal Perspective
- [14:17] - The Challenge of New Things
- [16:32] - Forgetting the Former Things
- [18:23] - Growth and Change
- [20:38] - Letting Go of Nostalgia
- [22:32] - Drawing from Past Experiences
- [24:51] - Foundations vs. Finish Lines
- [26:54] - God's Consistency and Creativity
- [30:26] - God's Faithfulness and Provision
- [34:19] - Healing and Spiritual Sight
- [43:06] - Embracing God's New Thing
- [50:00] - The Power of Jesus' Name
- [52:04] - Invitation to Salvation
- [57:07] - Closing and Blessing
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Isaiah 43:19 - "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."
2. Mark 8:22-25 - The healing of the blind man at Bethsaida.
3. Mark 10:46-52 - The healing of blind Bartimaeus.
#### Observation Questions
1. In Isaiah 43:19, what new thing does God say He is doing, and how does this relate to the context of the Israelites' situation? [05:50]
2. How does the healing of the blind man in Mark 8 differ from the healing of Bartimaeus in Mark 10, and what does this illustrate about Jesus' methods? [37:43]
3. What does the pastor mean when he says, "God is consistent, but He's also creative"? How is this demonstrated in the sermon? [33:11]
4. According to the sermon, why is it important to "forget the former things" as mentioned in Isaiah 43:18-19? [20:38]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. What might Isaiah's call to "forget the former things" suggest about how believers should view past experiences and God's past works? [20:38]
2. How do the different methods of healing in Mark 8 and Mark 10 reflect God's creative approach to meeting our needs? What does this say about our expectations of God? [43:06]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that God's consistency and creativity can impact a believer's faith journey? [33:11]
4. How does the pastor's emphasis on God's faithfulness challenge the congregation to trust in God's ongoing work in their lives? [30:26]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you were stuck in nostalgia. How did it affect your ability to perceive the new things God was doing in your life? What steps can you take to focus on the present and future? [16:32]
2. Consider a situation where you expected God to act in a specific way. How did His actual response differ, and what did you learn from it about His consistency and creativity? [43:06]
3. How can you actively let go of preconceived plans and trust in God's purpose for your life? What practical steps can you take this week to align your plans with His? [20:38]
4. Identify an area in your life where you need to trust in God's faithfulness. What specific actions can you take to strengthen your faith in this area? [30:26]
5. Think about a recent challenge you faced. How did you perceive God's presence and guidance during that time? How can you improve your spiritual sight to better recognize His work in your life? [34:19]
6. How can you celebrate God's past faithfulness while remaining open to the new things He is doing? What is one way you can practice this balance in your daily life? [12:16]
7. Reflect on the foundation of your faith. How can you ensure it remains a starting point for growth rather than a finish line? What new steps can you take to build upon this foundation? [21:23]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing God's New Paths
God is always at work, creating new paths and opportunities in our lives. Isaiah 43:19 reminds us that God is making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. This calls us to perceive the new things God is doing, even when they don't align with our expectations or past experiences. It's easy to get stuck in nostalgia, celebrating past victories and miracles, but God calls us to look forward and embrace the new paths He is creating. This requires faith and a willingness to let go of nostalgia. [16:32]
Isaiah 43:19 (ESV): "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 feel God is calling you to embrace a new path? How can you take a step of faith in that direction today?
Day 2: Trusting in God's Consistency and Creativity
God is both consistent and creative. His character and promises remain unchanged, but His methods can vary. This duality means that while God remains the same, His ways of blessing us can change, challenging us to trust Him in new ways. In Mark 8 and 10, we see Jesus healing two blind men in different ways, illustrating God's creative approach to our needs. One man receives healing through a messy, gradual process, while the other is healed instantly with a word. This teaches us that God's methods are not bound by our expectations. [43:06]
Psalm 33:11 (ESV): "The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations."
Reflection: Think of a situation where you expected God to work in a specific way. How can you open your heart to trust in His creative methods today?
Day 3: Letting Go of Preconceived Plans
Isaiah's call to forget the former things is not about disregarding God's past faithfulness but recognizing that His work is not confined to what He has done before. We must let go of our preconceived plans and trust in God's purpose. This requires us to release our grip on what we think should happen and embrace the unfolding of God's plan, which may look different from what we imagined. Trusting in God's purpose means believing that He knows what is best for us, even when it challenges our understanding. [20:38]
Proverbs 19:21 (ESV): "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand."
Reflection: What is one preconceived plan you need to let go of to trust in God's purpose? How can you begin to release it today?
Day 4: Faith as the Starting Point
The foundation of our faith is not the finish line but the starting point for what God is building in our lives. We are called to embrace the new things God is doing, confident in His faithfulness and creativity. This perspective shifts our focus from merely achieving goals to participating in the ongoing work of God in our lives. Faith is the beginning of a journey where God continually shapes and molds us, inviting us to trust Him more deeply with each step. [21:23]
Hebrews 11:1 (ESV): "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."
Reflection: How can you view your faith as a starting point for God's work in your life? What new step of faith can you take today?
Day 5: Trusting in God's Faithfulness
God's faithfulness is consistent, regardless of the circumstances. He meets us in our unique situations with exactly what we need, whether through a gradual process or an instant miracle. Trusting in His faithfulness allows us to embrace the new things He is doing. This trust is built on the assurance that God is with us every step of the way, providing for our needs and guiding us through life's challenges. As we trust in His faithfulness, we can confidently move forward, knowing that He is working all things for our good. [30:26]
Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV): "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to trust in God's faithfulness today? How can you remind yourself of His consistent love and provision?
Quotes
The journey of faith is not about dwelling on past achievements but about trusting God's ongoing work in our lives. Isaiah's message to forget the former things is not a call to disregard God's past faithfulness but to recognize that His work is not confined to what He has done before. [00:20:38]
God is consistent in His character and promises, yet He is also creative in how He fulfills them. This duality means that while God remains the same, His methods and the ways He chooses to bless us can change. [00:43:06]
The foundation of our faith is not the finish line but the starting point for what God is building in our lives. We are called to embrace the new things God is doing, confident in His faithfulness and creativity. [00:21:23]
God's faithfulness is consistent, regardless of the circumstances. He meets us in our unique situations with exactly what we need, whether through a gradual process or an instant miracle. Trusting in His faithfulness allows us to embrace the new things He is doing. [00:30:26]
When there is a truth spoken over your life concerning what God has given you, concerning who God has called you, concerning who he has made you to be, let's get that phrase embedded, who he has made you to be, when God has planted that truth inside of you, that is a foundational, but the foundation is not meant to be the finish line of your faith. [00:23:20]
God doesn't talk about future. God talks about eternity, and God who sits out of time gives you a box called time so you don't go crazy. He allows you to think about the future because you cannot compartmentalize well, and so he allows you to think of something called tomorrow, even though to him, God, tomorrow is already history. [00:12:28]
God can find so many ways to feed his children. If it's not manna in the wilderness, it will be the fruit of Canaan. But I'll tell you one thing. He's consistent, and he'll feed you. Whether it's ravens bringing you food, which were considered unclean, bringing to a Hebrew prophet. [00:29:18]
The biggest wrestling match of my life standing before you each and every week is to figure out what comes after this phrase. This is what the Lord says. Notice that the text doesn't remark, this is what the Lord said. [00:06:40]
I declare over your life today that everything you have seen God do was a foundation. He is not done building in your life. He is not done building in your bloodline. He is not done building on your life. He is not done building on your experience. He is not done building through your pain. [00:25:24]
God is consistent, but he's also creative. And I was praying, Lord, give me something special to show them today. This is our anniversary. It's the beginning of our 20th year of ministry. I want us to have a 2020 vision. Come on, Lord. [00:33:23]
I realized something in that moment that gave me confidence that I've held on to through many situations in my life, and maybe it'll bless you too. I realized that although the numbers are much bigger, the faithfulness of God, has always been the same. [00:56:38]
I declare Isaiah 43, 19 over every man, woman, boy, girl, and family in elevation. Church today. See, I am doing a new thing. Now it springs up. Now it springs up. Do you not perceive it? [00:57:42]
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