Embracing God's Newness: Witnessing His Transformative Power
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound truth that God is always doing something new in our lives. Just as He promised to make rivers flow in the desert, He is capable of bringing life to the barren areas of our existence. This is a reminder that we are not defined by our past failures or the limitations imposed by the old ways, much like the Jews were bound by the law of Moses. Jesus, who was lifted high, draws us to Himself, demonstrating His immense love and desire for each of us. Even if you were the only person on earth, He would have gone to the cross just for you. This is the depth of His love and the newness He brings into our lives.
Reflecting on the vastness of the universe, which continues to expand beyond our comprehension, we are reminded of God's greatness and His ability to communicate with us, His creation. Whether you have been walking with the Lord for decades or are just beginning your journey, the question remains: where do we go from here? Jesus laid a foundation through His death and resurrection, and He calls us to bear witness to His resurrection power. This is the greatest honor and commandment we have—to be His witnesses.
The story of Peter and John healing the lame man at the temple gate illustrates the power of expectation and the supernatural work of God. The world is longing for something real, something beyond the ordinary, and as believers, we are called to demonstrate the love and power of Jesus. The miraculous events in Juarez, Mexico, where God multiplied food and healed the blind, serve as a testament to His supernatural presence. These acts of God cannot be replicated by human means, and they ignite revival and transformation.
In our lives, we are encouraged to live like Jesus, allowing His love to draw others to Him. No matter what we have done, Jesus is always ready to welcome us back. He is not changing His mind about us; He is calling us to come to Him, to experience His rest and peace. As we go forth, let us be vessels of His love and power, bringing healing and restoration to those around us.
Key Takeaways:
1. God's Newness in Our Lives: God is constantly doing new things, bringing life to barren areas and redefining us beyond our past failures. His love is so profound that He would have gone to the cross for each of us individually. This newness is a reminder of His desire for a personal relationship with us. [04:50]
2. Bearing Witness to Jesus: The greatest honor we have is to bear witness to Jesus' resurrection. This involves living out His love and power in our daily lives, demonstrating the supernatural work of God to a world longing for something real. [09:58]
3. The Power of Expectation: The story of Peter and John healing the lame man highlights the importance of expectation. When people encounter us, they should expect to see something of Jesus, something supernatural that goes beyond mere words. [18:21]
4. Supernatural Acts Ignite Revival: The miraculous events in Juarez, where God multiplied food and healed the blind, show that supernatural acts of God cannot be replicated by human means. These acts ignite revival and transformation, drawing people to Jesus. [30:31]
5. Living Like Jesus: We are called to live like Jesus, allowing His love to draw others to Him. No matter our past, Jesus is always ready to welcome us back, offering rest and peace. Our lives should reflect His love and power, bringing healing and restoration to those around us. [35:12]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [04:50] - God's Newness in Our Lives
- [06:07] - Where Do We Go From Here?
- [07:44] - The Resurrection Perspective
- [09:02] - Witnessing the Ascension
- [09:58] - The Promise of the Father
- [11:32] - Peter and John's Encounter
- [12:33] - The Beggar at the Gate
- [14:06] - The Religious Spirit
- [15:17] - Longing for the Supernatural
- [16:04] - Peter's Transformation
- [18:21] - Expectation and Encounter
- [19:03] - The First Evangelistic Encounter
- [20:37] - Revival in Juarez
- [30:31] - Supernatural Acts Ignite Revival
- [35:12] - Living Like Jesus
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. Acts 3:1-10 - The story of Peter and John healing the lame man at the temple gate.
#### Observation Questions
1. What new thing does God promise to do in Isaiah 43:19, and how does this relate to the sermon’s message about God bringing life to barren areas? [04:50]
2. In Acts 3:1-10, what was the condition of the man at the temple gate, and how did Peter and John respond to his request? [11:32]
3. How does the sermon describe the reaction of the people in Juarez, Mexico, to the miraculous events they witnessed? [30:31]
4. According to the sermon, what is the significance of Jesus' resurrection and ascension for believers today? [09:02]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the promise of God doing a new thing in Isaiah 43:19 challenge the way believers view their past failures and limitations? [04:50]
2. What does the story of Peter and John healing the lame man teach about the power of expectation and faith in witnessing the supernatural? [18:21]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that believers can bear witness to Jesus' resurrection in their daily lives? [09:58]
4. How do the miraculous events in Juarez serve as a testament to God's power, and what impact did they have on the local community? [30:31]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a barren area in your life where you need God to do something new. How can you invite Him to bring life and transformation to that area? [04:50]
2. When you encounter people in need, like the lame man at the temple gate, how can you demonstrate the love and power of Jesus in practical ways? [11:32]
3. The sermon emphasizes the importance of expectation. How can you cultivate a sense of expectation for God to move in your life and the lives of those around you? [18:21]
4. Consider a time when you witnessed or heard about a miraculous event. How did it impact your faith, and how can you share that experience with others to ignite revival? [30:31]
5. Jesus calls us to live like Him, offering rest and peace to others. What specific steps can you take this week to reflect His love and power in your interactions? [35:12]
6. How can you be a vessel of God's love and power in your community, bringing healing and restoration to those around you? [35:12]
7. The sermon mentions that Jesus would have gone to the cross for each of us individually. How does this truth affect your understanding of His love and your personal relationship with Him? [04:50]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing God's Newness in Our Lives
God is always at work, doing something new in our lives, even in the most barren areas. This truth reminds us that we are not defined by our past failures or the limitations of old ways. Just as God promised to make rivers flow in the desert, He brings life and transformation to the desolate parts of our existence. His love is so profound that He would have gone to the cross for each of us individually, demonstrating His desire for a personal relationship with us. This newness is a testament to His immense love and the fresh beginnings He offers. [04:50]
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 barren area in your life where you need to invite God's newness and transformation today?
Day 2: Bearing Witness to Jesus' Resurrection
The greatest honor we have as believers is to bear witness to Jesus' resurrection. This involves living out His love and power in our daily lives, demonstrating the supernatural work of God to a world longing for something real. Jesus laid a foundation through His death and resurrection, calling us to be His witnesses. Whether you have been walking with the Lord for decades or are just beginning your journey, the call remains the same: to testify to His resurrection power and love. [09:58]
Acts 1:8 (ESV): "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
Reflection: How can you bear witness to Jesus' resurrection in a practical way in your community this week?
Day 3: The Power of Expectation
The story of Peter and John healing the lame man at the temple gate highlights the importance of expectation. When people encounter us, they should expect to see something of Jesus, something supernatural that goes beyond mere words. The world is longing for something real, and as believers, we are called to demonstrate the love and power of Jesus. This expectation opens the door for God to work in miraculous ways, just as He did through Peter and John. [18:21]
Acts 3:6-7 (ESV): "But Peter said, 'I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!' And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong."
Reflection: What expectations do you have when you pray or interact with others? How can you cultivate a greater expectation for God to move?
Day 4: Supernatural Acts Ignite Revival
The miraculous events in Juarez, where God multiplied food and healed the blind, show that supernatural acts of God cannot be replicated by human means. These acts ignite revival and transformation, drawing people to Jesus. The world is longing for something beyond the ordinary, and as believers, we are called to be vessels of His supernatural power. These acts of God serve as a testament to His presence and ignite a hunger for more of Him. [30:31]
John 14:12 (ESV): "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father."
Reflection: How can you position yourself to be a vessel for God's supernatural acts in your community?
Day 5: Living Like Jesus
We are called to live like Jesus, allowing His love to draw others to Him. No matter our past, Jesus is always ready to welcome us back, offering rest and peace. Our lives should reflect His love and power, bringing healing and restoration to those around us. As we go forth, let us be vessels of His love and power, demonstrating the reality of Jesus to a world in need. [35:12]
1 John 2:6 (ESV): "Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked."
Reflection: In what specific ways can you live more like Jesus today, allowing His love to draw others to Him?
Quotes
"See, I'm gonna just tell you something. I'm just, just bear with me here this morning. But many people are standing right outside. And when I'm saying the church and the temple, I know that it's a natural thing there outside of a natural temple, outside of this natural church. But in a more potent way, in a deeper way, there's people that are laid out outside of us." [00:12:33] (22 seconds)
"This world is asking for something. They want to find it in politics. They want to find it in media. They want to find it in technology. They want to find it in entertainment. They want to find it in other ways, man. They're longing for something. And I'm going to tell you pretty much what I think at heart. What I really long for is for something supernatural." [00:15:29] (30 seconds)
"Because you want to see revival in your life. You want to, if you're a believer up in here today, and I hope that you are, and if you're not, I hope by the time the service is over, you've given your heart to Jesus at least. Come on, y 'all. But if you're a believer up in here, man, produce something that looks like Jesus, and something that looks like Jesus is always going to be supernatural." [00:20:13] (24 seconds)
"We're going to feed and oh well we're going to have a feed I'm showing up so we so that night and two two basic two powerful miracles happened that night and Donna was there with some of the other ladies and some of the higher paying girls that were on the trip with us and and and we had enough to probably feed about 70 80 people that night." [00:22:34] (26 seconds)
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