February 1, 2026 | "A New Direction, Go With God - Pt. 4," Rev. Jamaar Trumane Jones

First Baptist Church East End gathers in a virtual sanctuary with an urgent, confident call to move into a new season. The congregation is invited to embrace 2026 as a year of divine direction, reciting a prophetic declaration rooted in Isaiah 30:21: when the way is unclear, a voice will say, “This is the way; walk in it.” The emphasis is not on convenience, habit, or comfort but on attentive obedience to where God is leading, trusting that God will open appointed doors and close those not meant for the season. Movement with God is described as measured by obedience, discernment, wisdom, excellence, and power—attributes that will position the church for growth, transformed hearts, and clearer witness.

Central to the declaration is the sustaining work of the Holy Spirit. Scripture references—Acts 1 and 8, David’s anointing, and Jesus’ own proclamation—frame the Spirit as the empowering presence that equips believers to be witnesses. That empowerment is activated through faith, and faith itself is defined precisely: not as mere tradition, superstition, or opinion, but as trust in Jesus Christ who gives salvation and steadiness amid turmoil. Concrete struggles—economic strain, social ills, personal crises—are acknowledged, yet faith in Jesus is presented as a stabilizing reality that keeps believers from unraveling.

The speaker invites a posture of holy expectancy: God knows the present location and future destination simultaneously, so obedience often requires stepping forward without full disclosure of the details. The narrative encourages delighting in the Lord, seeking God first, and praising in advance for what God will do—because God is already present in the future being walked toward. Practical next steps are offered: continued giving to sustain ministry, subscribing to the church’s online presence, and connecting with the community for follow-up and discipleship.

The conclusion issues a clear invitation to repentance and faith, offering a simple prayer to receive Christ and an open door to connect with the church family. Finally, a virtual altar call and a post-service Bible study Zoom session are provided as immediate places for prayer, counsel, and incorporation into spiritual life. The tone is pastoral, expectant, and mobilizing: move with God, rely on the Spirit by faith, and walk obediently into the new direction already prepared.

Key Takeaways

• 1. 2026: A year of direction God’s intention for the year is corporate movement under divine guidance rather than repetition of past rhythms. This is a call to discernment—refusing both impulsive rushes and stubborn resistance—and to step when God signals, trusting that doors will align with kingdom purposes. The emphasis is on collective obedience shaping God’s unfolding plans for the church. [22:00]
• 2. Spirit empowers through faith The Holy Spirit’s primary role is empowerment for witness and kingdom work, not abstract spirituality. That empowerment is mediated through faith; faith is the conduit by which God's presence energizes action, testimony, and ministry effectiveness. Remembering the Spirit’s work in the church’s founding reframes current challenges as continuous participation in a historical movement. [25:57]
• 3. Faith rooted in Jesus alone True saving faith is not cultural habit, opinion, or superstition but a specific trust in Jesus Christ—his life, death, and resurrection. This faith is simultaneously a gift and a stabilizing force that holds when systems fail and circumstances shift. It reorients identity and endurance, shaping how believers respond to trials and opportunities. [27:28]
• 4. Obedience over complete certainty God does not always disclose every detail; obedience becomes the primary posture when full clarity is withheld. Walking by faith means responding to God’s voice even when the map is incomplete, trusting that God sees the present and the destination together. Such obedience often reveals the pattern of God’s direction as events later display divine ordering. [32:20]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [11:42] - Giving and Sustaining Ministry
• [20:57] - Introducing the 2026 Declaration
• [21:47] - Theme Scripture: Isaiah 30:21
• [22:00] - Reciting the 2026 Declaration
• [24:04] - The Holy Spirit Empowers
• [27:28] - Defining Faith in Jesus
• [32:20] - Walking in Obedience and Trust
• [37:54] - Invitation to Receive Christ
• [40:29] - Virtual Altar Call and Next Steps

1. The sermon declares that 2026 is a year of divine direction. What specific phrase from Isaiah 30:21 is used to illustrate this divine direction? [21:47]
2. The sermon emphasizes that movement with God is not based on habit, convenience, or comfort. What are the attributes that *do* guide this movement? [22:46]
3. The sermon highlights the role of the Holy Spirit in empowering believers. According to Acts 1:8, what is the result of the Holy Spirit coming upon believers? [24:39]
4. The sermon contrasts different forms of "faith." What are some examples of secular or traditional beliefs mentioned that are *not* the same as saving faith in Jesus Christ? [26:24]

1. The declaration for 2026 states, "We will not rush ahead of God nor will we resist his direction." [23:08] How might a church or an individual "rush ahead of God" or "resist his direction" in practical terms?
2. The sermon explains that the Holy Spirit empowers us by faith. [25:57] What does it mean for faith to be the "conduit" or the way this empowerment is activated?
3. The sermon defines saving faith as "trust in Jesus Christ—his life, death, and resurrection." [27:28] How does this specific trust in Jesus differ from simply having an opinion or following a tradition?
4. The sermon suggests that obedience is the primary posture when full clarity is withheld, and that God "sees the present and the destination together." [32:20] What does it mean to obey God's voice even when the "map is incomplete"?

1. The sermon calls for a move into a new season with divine direction for 2026, moving "not by habit, convenience, or comfort, but by the voice of the Lord." [22:14] What is one area in your life or in our church where you sense God might be calling you to step out of comfort and into a new direction?
2. We are reminded that "the spirit of the Lord empowers us by faith." [24:04] In what specific situation or challenge are you currently facing where you need to lean more on the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit through faith?
3. The sermon stresses that true faith is a specific trust in Jesus Christ, which provides steadiness amid turmoil. [28:31] When facing personal crises, economic strain, or social ills, how can you actively remind yourself and rely on your faith in Jesus as a stabilizing force?
4. The message encourages a posture of "holy expectancy," trusting that God knows our present location and future destination. [31:19] How can we cultivate a greater sense of trusting God's plan, even when we don't have all the details about where He is leading us?
5. The sermon invites us to "walk in obedience and worry about the details later" because God sees both the present and the future. [32:20] What is one step of obedience God might be asking of you right now, even if the full outcome isn't clear?
6. The sermon concludes with an invitation to repentance and faith, and a call to connect with the church family. [37:54] If you haven't already, what is one tangible step you can take this week to connect more deeply with God and with our church community?