Behold the New! | Now Faith, the God Factor & Repairing the Altar of Prayer

Isaiah 43 is lifted as the hinge of a new season: a divine promise that God will do a new thing and will make a way through wilderness wandering. The scripture is used to call people out of cynicism and into faith that acts in the present — "now faith" — so that God does not marvel at unbelief but instead counts belief as righteousness. The narrative emphasizes the God factor: the hand and finger of God that interrupts human systems, casts out demonic opposition, and turns attacks into openings for miracles, healing, and expansion. Historical patterns from Exodus, Matthew, Acts, and Revelation are read as paradigms: when the divine presence moves, chaos often erupts first, then supernatural restoration follows.

Prophetic accountability is a major concern. The audience is warned about a lying spirit and urged to test every spirit by root and fruit, not by viral shock value. Longevity, doctrinal coherence, ethical life, and proven prophetic accuracy are presented as the means to discern authentic voices from sensational ones. The real spiritual danger, however, is not merely false words but the erosion of prayer and trust. The concrete call is to rebuild the altar of prayer, to pray for the plan God intends for the nation and for families, and to prioritize intercession over panic or speculative fascination.

Practical theology here is both pastoral and militant: God is portrayed as the Lord of the fight who troubles opposing powers for the sake of deliverance. Believers are called to stop warring against God through unbelief and to align with the Spirit’s disruptive work, expecting that after storms God will bring extraordinary fruit. The closing summons is urgent and hopeful — repair the altar, increase fervent prayer, and stand expectant for the "new thing" God has promised, trusting that God’s purposes for individuals and nations will be fulfilled when faith replaces doubt.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Belief unlocks the present "now" Faith must be active in the present, not deferred to a distant hope; the biblical "now" is the arena where God’s promises begin to manifest. When belief is present, God’s timing moves from potential to eruption, and people move from wandering to way-making. Choosing to believe reorients perception so that obstacles become stages for the God factor rather than reasons to despair. [04:25]
• 2. The God factor intervenes supernaturally Scripture points to a decisive, tangible action of God's hand—"finger" and "hand" imagery that interrupts human systems and neutralizes demonic power. This is not a vague spiritual sentiment but a historical pattern: God’s presence produces both disturbance and deliverance. Expect disruption that clears a road for revival, healing, and exponential growth. [08:36]
• 3. Discern prophets by root and fruit Prophetic words must be judged by longevity, character, doctrine, and consistent fruit rather than novelty or virality. A healthy prophetic ecosystem produces overlapping testimony and accountability; lone sensational claims warrant careful testing. Testing spirits, examining the prophet’s life and track record, and consulting established, righteous voices protect the church from deception. [24:40]
• 4. Pray for the plan, not panic Focus intercession on God’s larger purposes—the plans that protect families, religious liberty, and national flourishing—more than on personality outcomes. The spiritual battle often targets the strategic agenda; praying for the plan preserves both people and purposes. Rebuilding the altar of prayer shifts attention from rumor and fear to sustained, effective spiritual warfare. [50:52]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:14] - Habakkuk and the new season
• [01:42] - When Jesus marveled at unbelief
• [04:25] - Isaiah 43: "Behold, I do a new thing"
• [07:06] - Wilderness seasons and way-making
• [08:36] - The God factor: "I AM" intervenes
• [11:44] - Casting out demonic opposition
• [24:40] - Prophetic discernment: root and fruit
• [35:10] - Pray for the plan, not personalities
• [50:52] - Repair the altar of prayer

1. The sermon mentions that Jesus "marveled because of their lack of faith" in Mark 6. What does it mean for God, who is all-knowing, to "marvel" at something? [02:41]
2. The summary highlights Isaiah 43:19, stating, "I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." How does the sermon describe the "God factor" as the force that makes these ways and rivers appear? [07:06]
3. The sermon warns about a "lying spirit" and the need to "test every spirit by root and fruit." What specific criteria are given for discerning authentic prophetic voices from sensational ones? [21:42]
4. The summary states, "The real spiritual danger, however, is not merely false words but the erosion of prayer and trust." How does the sermon connect the erosion of prayer and trust to the danger of "lying spirits" and sensationalism? [50:52]

1. The sermon emphasizes that "Belief unlocks the present 'now'" and that "now faith is" (Hebrews 11:1). How does embracing the "now" of faith, rather than deferring hope, change our perception of obstacles and our engagement with God's promises? [06:37]
2. The "God factor" is described as God's hand and finger interrupting human systems and neutralizing demonic power. How does this tangible intervention differ from a general sense of God's presence, and what does it imply about God's active role in our lives and in the world? [08:36]
3. The sermon suggests that when God's divine presence moves, "chaos often erupts first, then supernatural restoration follows." Why might chaos be a precursor to God's intervention, and what does this pattern reveal about spiritual warfare? [11:44]
4. The call to "repair the altar of prayer" is presented as a shift from panic and speculative fascination to sustained, effective spiritual warfare. What does rebuilding the altar of prayer signify in terms of our spiritual posture and our engagement with God's plan? [50:52]

1. The sermon challenges us not to cause God to marvel at our unbelief, but rather to believe Him so that He might marvel at our faith, as He did with Abraham. In what areas of your life are you currently struggling with doubt or unbelief, and how can you actively choose to believe God's promises in those situations? [03:34]
2. We are encouraged to expect disruption as God's hand intervenes to clear a road for revival, healing, and growth. Can you identify any areas in your life or community where you've experienced disruption, and how might that disruption be a sign of God's "God factor" at work, preparing the way for something new? [08:36]
3. The sermon stresses the importance of discerning prophetic voices by their "root and fruit," looking at longevity, character, doctrine, and consistent results, rather than just novelty or shock value. How can you practically apply these principles to evaluate the spiritual messages and voices you encounter daily, especially in the age of social media? [24:40]
4. Instead of focusing on panic or sensational news, the sermon urges us to "pray for the plan, not personalities." What are some of the "plans" God has for our nation, our families, or our communities that you can begin to intercede for more fervently? [35:10]
5. The message calls us to stop warring against God through unbelief and to align with the Spirit’s disruptive work, expecting extraordinary fruit after storms. When you face difficult circumstances or "storms" in your life, how can you shift your perspective from seeing them as obstacles to seeing them as opportunities for God to bring forth extraordinary fruit through your faith? [55:49]
6. The sermon emphasizes rebuilding the altar of prayer. What is one concrete step you can take this week to prioritize and strengthen your personal prayer life or your family's prayer life, moving from panic to purposeful intercession? [50:52]