Embracing New Beginnings: Taking Your Next Step

Devotional

Day 1: Prayer as a Continuous Dialogue

Prayer is not merely a scheduled event but a continuous dialogue with God that permeates every aspect of our lives. By making prayer a lifestyle, we align ourselves with God's will and open our hearts to the new things He desires to accomplish in and through us. This ongoing communication with God is essential for spiritual growth and transformation. It allows us to remain sensitive to His guidance and receptive to His blessings. As we cultivate a lifestyle of prayer, we become more attuned to the divine opportunities and challenges that God places before us. [43:42]

"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison." (Colossians 4:2-3, ESV)

Reflection: How can you incorporate prayer into your daily routine in a way that feels natural and meaningful, rather than forced or obligatory?

Day 2: Letting Go to Embrace the New

God is constantly at work, doing new things in our lives, and He calls us to let go of the past to fully embrace these new opportunities. Just as He promised to make a way in the wilderness for the Israelites, He is making a way for us today. Our challenge is to perceive and receive the new things He is doing, which requires a willingness to release old patterns, regrets, and fears. By trusting in God's promises and His ability to create streams in the wasteland, we can step confidently into the new paths He is carving out for us. [49:29]

"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." (Isaiah 43:18-19, ESV)

Reflection: What is one thing from your past that you need to let go of in order to embrace the new things God is doing in your life?

Day 3: Pressing On with Purpose

Growth in our faith is not accidental; it is intentional and purposeful. Like the Apostle Paul, we are called to press on toward the goal, recognizing that God has a specific purpose for each of us in His kingdom. This journey requires us to be rooted in the Word, to overflow with thankfulness, and to continually add to our faith. By understanding that we have not yet arrived, we are motivated to pursue spiritual maturity and to fulfill the unique calling God has placed on our lives. [55:04]

"Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead." (Philippians 3:12-13, ESV)

Reflection: What specific goal or purpose do you feel God is calling you to pursue in this season of your life?

Day 4: The Vitality of Spiritual Growth

Spiritual growth is crucial for our overall spiritual health. If we find ourselves plateauing or regressing, it indicates a problem in our relationship with God. We must continually add to our faith and strive to be effective and productive in our walk with Him. This growth is not just for our benefit but also for the benefit of those around us, as we become more effective witnesses of God's love and grace. By prioritizing spiritual growth, we ensure that our faith remains vibrant and impactful. [01:01:15]

"For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love." (2 Peter 1:5-7, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your spiritual life do you feel you have plateaued, and what steps can you take to reignite your growth?

Day 5: Taking Intentional Steps Forward

Taking intentional steps in our spiritual journey is vital for experiencing the fullness of what God has for us. Whether it's engaging more deeply with the Word, prayer, worship, or community, each step brings us closer to the new things God is doing. We must be ready to receive what He is passing to us, which requires a proactive approach to our spiritual development. By identifying and taking our next step, we position ourselves to catch the new opportunities and blessings God has in store. [01:19:37]

"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." (Colossians 2:6-7, ESV)

Reflection: What is one intentional step you can take this week to deepen your engagement with God and His community?

Sermon Summary

Summary:

Today, we embark on a new series that challenges each of us to take the next step in our relationship with God. This series is born out of a month dedicated to prayer, emphasizing that prayer should be a lifestyle, not just an event. As we seek God's direction for our church, He has clearly spoken a challenge to us: to identify and take our next step in our spiritual journey. This call to action is rooted in Isaiah 43:18-19, where God promises to do a new thing, making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Just as God spoke to the Israelites in captivity, urging them to forget the past and embrace the new, He is calling us to recognize and receive the new things He is doing in our lives.

The Apostle Paul, in Philippians 3, echoes this sentiment by urging us to forget what is behind and press on toward the goal. Growth in our faith is purposeful, expected, necessary, and intentional. It requires us to be rooted in the Word, to overflow with thankfulness, and to continually add to our faith. We must be intentional about our growth, recognizing that God has a purpose for each of us in His kingdom.

As we move forward, we are encouraged to deepen our engagement with the Word, prayer, worship, and community. Whether it's through participating in Discover, being baptized, or seeking the baptism of the Holy Spirit, each step is a move towards the new thing God is doing. The question is, do we see it? Are we ready to receive it? God is passing something new to us, and we must be prepared to catch it by taking our next step.

Key Takeaways

1. Prayer as a Lifestyle: Prayer should be an integral part of our daily lives, not just an event. It is through constant communication with God that we align ourselves with His will and direction for our lives. By making prayer a lifestyle, we open ourselves to the new things God wants to do in and through us. [43:42]
2. Embracing the New: God is always doing something new, and we must be willing to let go of the past to embrace it. Just as He promised to make a way in the wilderness for the Israelites, He is making a way for us. Our challenge is to perceive and receive the new things He is doing. [49:29]
3. Purposeful Growth: Growth in our faith is intentional and requires us to recognize that we have not yet arrived. Like the Apostle Paul, we must press on toward the goal, understanding that God has a specific purpose for each of us in His kingdom. [55:04]
4. The Necessity of Growth: Growth is crucial for our spiritual health. If we find ourselves plateauing or regressing, it indicates a problem in our relationship with God. We must continually add to our faith and strive to be effective and productive in our walk with Him. [61:15]
5. Intentional Steps: Taking intentional steps in our spiritual journey is vital. Whether it's engaging more deeply with the Word, prayer, worship, or community, each step brings us closer to the fullness of what God has for us. We must be ready to receive what He is passing to us. [01:19:37]
** [79:37]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:30] - Introduction to the New Series
[02:15] - The Importance of Prayer
[05:45] - God's Challenge: Take Your Next Step
[10:20] - Isaiah 43: A New Thing
[15:00] - Forgetting the Past
[20:30] - Seeing and Receiving God's Work
[25:00] - Illustration with Pastor Corbin
[30:00] - Philippians 3: Pressing Forward
[35:00] - Purposeful and Expected Growth
[40:00] - The Necessity of Growth
[45:00] - Intentional Growth Steps
[50:00] - Areas for Growth: Word, Prayer, Worship
[55:00] - Discover and Baptism Opportunities
[60:00] - Baptism in the Holy Spirit
[65:00] - Invitation to Take the First Step

Sermon Clips

Look what he says. Forget about what I've done in the past. I'm already working. I'm already moving. I'm already doing a new thing. Do you not see it? Do you not see it? And so the challenge for us today is to grab a hold of the new thing that I believe that God wants to do. [00:48:35] (18 seconds)

Growth is necessary. It's crucial for you that you are growing in your faith in fact let me just say this if you're at a place where you've plateaued or maybe you're even going backwards that's a sign that there's something wrong with your relationship with God can I just be real enough to say that to you. [01:06:13] (17 seconds)

Your time in the Word of God. Do you know the Word of God? Do you read the Word of God? Have you studied the Word of God? You say, I want to live for God. I want to serve God. Okay, how? How are you going to do that? I'm not sure. Well, you've got to get in the Word. [01:09:25] (15 seconds)

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