Embracing the Future: A New Song of Faith

Devotional

Day 1: Letting Go of the Past

Description: God calls us to forget the former things and not dwell on the past. Holding on to past failures and disappointments can imprison us and limit our faith in what God can do in our future. Trust in God's promise to do a new thing in your life. [44:44]

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: Think of a past failure or disappointment that you are holding onto. How can you begin to release it to God today and trust Him for a new beginning?

Day 2: Trusting in God's Higher Ways

Description: We may not always understand why God asks us to let go of past blessings, but His ways are higher than ours. He knows that clinging to the past can limit our future. Trust that God has greater plans for you than anything you have experienced before. [45:49]

Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Reflection: Reflect on a past blessing that you find difficult to let go of. How can you trust God’s higher ways and believe that He has even greater plans for your future?

Day 3: Embracing the New Song

Description: Embrace the new song that God is writing for your life. This new song represents a future filled with God's blessings and miracles. Let go of the emotional experiences of the past and live by the song that God is writing for you. [48:29]

Psalm 40:3 (ESV): "He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord."

Reflection: What new song do you feel God is writing in your life right now? How can you start living by this new song today?

Day 4: Faith for the Future

Description: Our past should not set the standard for our future. God is calling us to look forward with faith and expectation, believing that He has greater things in store for us. Do not let past blessings limit your faith in what God can do next. [51:38]

Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV): "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."

Reflection: Identify one area of your life where you need to increase your faith for the future. What steps can you take today to trust God more in this area?

Day 5: Expecting Greater Things

Description: God promises that our future will be greater than our past. He calls us to stop looking back and to start expecting greater things. Trust in God's promise and look forward to the new things He is about to do in your life. [52:01]

Haggai 2:9 (ESV): "The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts."

Reflection: What greater things are you expecting from God in your future? How can you actively prepare your heart and life to receive these greater things?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we explored the profound message from Isaiah 43, where God calls us to forget the former things and not dwell on the past. This passage is a powerful reminder that while our past experiences, both good and bad, shape us, they should not define our future. God promises to do a new thing in our lives, making a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. This new thing requires us to let go of past failures, disappointments, and even past blessings that might hold us back.

We often find ourselves stuck in the songs of yesterday, reliving past hurts or clinging to past victories. These memories can imprison us, limiting our faith and expectations for what God can do in our future. God’s ways are higher than our ways, and His plans for us are far greater than anything we have experienced before. He calls us to trust Him, to let go of the past, and to embrace the new song He is writing for our lives.

The story of Israel serves as a poignant example. They were at a crossroads, stuck in the memories of their past deliverance from Egypt, while God was trying to lead them into a future filled with even greater miracles. God’s message to them, and to us, is clear: we must not let our past define our future. Instead, we should look forward with faith and expectation, believing that God has greater things in store for us.

As we move forward, we are encouraged to sing a new song, a song of faith and expectation. We are reminded that our past, with all its failures and successes, is not the testimony of our future. God is calling us to a future filled with His blessings, a future where He will do new and greater things in our lives. Let us embrace this promise, let go of the past, and look forward to the new things God is about to do.

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Key Takeaways

1. 0c&t=2684s'>[44:44]
2. God's Ways Are Higher: We may not always understand why God asks us to let go of past blessings, but His ways are higher than ours. He knows that clinging to the past can limit our future. Trust that God has greater plans for you than anything you have experienced before.

3. Sing a New Song: Embrace the new song that God is writing for your life. This new song represents a future filled with God's blessings and miracles. Let go of the emotional experiences of the past and live by the song that God is writing for you.

4. Faith for the Future: Our past should not set the standard for our future. God is calling us to look forward with faith and expectation, believing that He has greater things in store for us. Do not let past blessings limit your faith in what God can do next.

5. God's Promise of Greater Things: God promises that our future will be greater than our past. He calls us to stop looking back and to start expecting greater things. Trust in God's promise and look forward to the new things He is about to do in your life.

### [44:44]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[20:47] - Prayer and Praise
[36:56] - Introduction to Isaiah 43
[38:21] - Reading of Isaiah 43:18-19
[40:08] - The Songs of Yesterday
[42:24] - God's Promise to Israel
[44:09] - Forgetting the Past
[45:17] - Holding on to the Past
[47:33] - God's Simple Logic
[48:29] - Writing a New Song
[49:08] - Debating with God
[50:12] - God's New Song
[51:15] - Moving into the Future
[52:01] - Expecting Greater Things
[53:26] - What Are You Carrying?
[54:09] - The Little Boy and His Cat
[56:03] - Confessing and Forgetting Sins
[57:03] - God's Redeeming Power
[58:20] - Faith for the Future
[59:23] - Testimonies of the Past
[60:39] - Deleting the Song of the Past
[61:39] - The Past is a Prologue
[62:36] - The Man at the Gate Beautiful
[63:30] - God's Hand of Healing
[64:49] - Moving On from the Past
[65:39] - The Little Boy's Excitement
[66:43] - Thanking God for Tomorrow
[67:15] - A New Song in Your Heart

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Isaiah 43:18-19 instruct us to do with the former things and the things of old?
According to the sermon, what are some examples of "songs of yesterday" that can hold us back? ([40:08])
How did God describe His relationship with Israel in the past, according to the sermon? ([42:24])
What is the significance of God asking Israel to forget their past deliverance from Egypt? ([43:34])

Interpretation Questions

Why might God ask us to forget past blessings as well as past failures? How does this align with His higher ways? ([44:44])
How can holding on to past experiences limit our faith and expectations for the future? ([45:17])
What does it mean to "sing a new song" in the context of our faith journey? How does this concept apply to our daily lives? ([48:29])
How does the story of the man at the Gate Beautiful illustrate the idea of moving beyond past limitations? ([52:01])

Application Questions

Reflect on a past failure or disappointment that you have been holding onto. How can you begin to let go of it and trust in God's promise to do a new thing in your life? ([44:44])
Think about a past blessing that you often reminisce about. How might this be limiting your faith in what God can do next? What steps can you take to focus on the future instead? ([45:49])
What is one "new song" that you feel God is writing for your life right now? How can you embrace this new direction with faith and expectation? ([48:29])
Identify a specific area in your life where you feel stuck in the past. What practical steps can you take to move forward and embrace the new things God has in store for you? ([51:38])
How can you encourage someone else in your life to let go of their past and look forward to the new things God is doing? Share a personal story or scripture that might inspire them. ([52:01])
Reflect on the story of the little boy who thanked his father for tomorrow. How can you cultivate a similar attitude of gratitude and expectation for what God will do in your future? ([06:14])
What are some practical ways you can stop revisiting and reliving past sins or mistakes? How can you remind yourself of God's forgiveness and move forward with confidence? ([56:03])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "How many of you here today, honestly, would be honest with yourself that you need God to do a new thing in your life? Amen. You need God to do a new thing in your life. Let's put everything down and lift our hands and pray one more time in Jesus' mighty name. Lord, I just praise you. I magnify you, God. Lord, I pray for your anointing upon this message, God, in Jesus' mighty name." [38:55] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "God desires to bless your future way more than your past was ever blessed. Amen. But holding on to the songs of yesterday only holds you hostage and keeps you imprisoned by the things that could be. Amen. But we can't beat ourself up off of the memories of what I should have done, what I wished I had done, and what I needed to do. You can't beat yourself up on past decisions and past choices, but you've gotta trust in God that He has you in the moment." [45:17] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "God said, forget the times that you made a mess of your life, because I'm writing a song where I bless your life. Amen. Don't relive the songs of yesterday, because God has a new song for you to sing. Could you say, glory? Oh, hallelujah. Come on, somebody get excited about the song that God is writing in your life." [50:12] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "God's about to do a new thing in your life. God's about to bless you if you feel the desire right now or you feel the pull right now would you reach over just go to someone and pray for them would you look at somebody and say God's about to bless your future God's about to bless your future far greater far greater than he ever blessed your past oh hallelujah some of us can't see it right now for the struggle of the moment some of us can't see it right now for the hurt and the pain but God is about to bless your future far greater far greater than he ever blessed your past oh somebody's got to believe that right now" [01:07:46] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "In Isaiah chapter 43, Israel is at a crossroads. They're stuck in the past while God is trying to pull them into their future. And God gives Israel a promise. And the promise is that your future is greater than your past. reminds them of His song that He has for them, His song of yesterday. And it goes a little something like this. Through all your trials and blessings, I was the God of your past. I never left you, and I never forsook you. I created you, I formed you, I called you by name, I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel. The Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I have loved you, I have saved you." [42:24] (63 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "But we gotta trust and have faith that God knows us better than we know ourselves. God knows that if we continually relive our past, we'll put limits on our future. Amen. God desires to bless your future way more than your past was ever blessed. Amen. But holding on to the songs of yesterday only holds you hostage and keeps you imprisoned by the things that could be. Amen. But we can't beat ourself up off of the memories of what I should have done, what I wished I had done, and what I needed to do. You can't beat yourself up on past decisions and past choices, but you've gotta trust in God that He has you in the moment." [45:17] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "When a person chains their memories to the past faith fails to see what God can do in the future amen I imagine that God said forget me bringing you out of bondage because if you don't forget that I can't do something greater forget walking across on dry ground and the sea being departed on each side because I am a God there's nothing impossible with me I can do greater than that in your life yes I delivered you from bondage yes I freed you and killed and drowned all of your enemies but you can't be stuck in that because I'm a God that's greater than that amen" [58:20] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "God's point is this don't forget your past blessings but don't live there amen he wasn't telling them to he wasn't telling them to like like we would do us old folks we would break an LP y'all don't even know what that is he's he said delete the song of the past some of y'all got that one delete the song of the past quit playing that broken record of what God did do because you've chained me and that's the only thing possible that I can do amen God's about to do a new thing in your life" [01:00:39] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Paul said forget those things which are behind somebody say move on move on only God can heal your past and help you move into your future and God can do what you've been struggling with and that's to move on he's just a little boy I've got little boy stories today I guess I'm reliving some of my past he's just a little boy when his mother died when he was a child his father was doing the best that he could do trying to be both a mom and a dad the little boy had never been on a picnic so he planned a picnic for the little boy the evening before the picnic the man and the son made their plans fixed the lunch and packed the car and when it was time for bed the boy said daddy I just can't sleep he said son why can't you sleep and the little boy said I'm just excited about tomorrow I can't sleep I can't sleep well the father could he went fast asleep and in the middle of the night the little boy got up and shook his dad and shook his dad and shook his dad and the dad woke up and wanted to say something harsh but he saw the look on the little boy's face and he said what's wrong and he said daddy I just want to thank you for tomorrow he hadn't experienced it but he just wanted to thank you I want to know if there's anybody right now that will come to this altar and say Lord I just want to thank you for tomorrow come on I know that I just want to thank you for tomorrow" [01:05:39] (114 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?