Summary: Its time to leave the past ’winters’ behind, and ’spring forth’ and do a new thing...repent, ask forgiveness, and allow Jesus Christ to give you life anew.

Spring Forth – A call to repentance

3/18/07

Isaiah 43:18-25 KEY: I AM DOING A NEW THING

BIG IDEA – Its time to leave the past behind, and do a new thing.

Its time to repent and ask forgiveness. Its time to start new, spring forth. Through Jesus, the way, who blots out our transgressions and washes away the sins of the world

Scriptures Referenced

Isaiah 43:18-25

Psalm 51:7

Psalm 42:1-2

John 14:6

John 7:37-38

John 4:14

John 1:29

Romans 6:3-5

Tuesday marks a new season. SPRING IS HERE!

Its amazing that in just 2 days we will come out of winter and begin our spring season.

Just yesterday, we were battling a harsh winter storm of cold and ice, in the dead of winter.

But in 2 days, everything changes. Right?

A lot of things can happen in 2 days. And you know…Jesus will come back in a twinkling of an eye.

Change is inevitable. Everything changes, bar one.

God does not change. The message has been handed down from generation to generation. The message never changes. God never changes. He was from before the beginning, and is beyond the future.

Out of our text for today, I want to look at verse 19 in particular.

It starts in vs 18 saying, remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. 19. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

1. SPRING is here TUESDAY, SOON EASTER.

2. CHANGE from WINTER – harsh and cold, dead of winter. Nothing grows, period of rest. Time to reflect.

3. CHANGE TO SPRING - BUDS SWELLING, SOON FLOWERS, SPRING, GREEN EVERYWHERE.

Song of Solomon 2:11-13

For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land;

The fig tree puts forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.

4. PAST SNOW, -INTERVIEW ON TELEVISION – PERSON LOVES THE SNOW BECAUSE IT COVERS THE DIRT AND MAKES EVERYTHING CLEAN

Psalm 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Jesus washes our sins away, whiter than snow.

Are you ready for this?

5. HAVE YOU EVER FELT LIKE THIS…

a. IN A DESERT – THIRSTY, needing a drink. Cracked dry lips, tongue and mouth.

b. IN THE WILDERNESS – LOST YOUR WAY, lost your direction or purpose.

6. WINTER IS A TIME THAT THE WORLD TAKES A BREAK ON LIFE OUTSIDE. ITS LIKE BEING IN A DESERT OR WILDERNESS. It sits back and the sap stops flowing. The trees wait. And wait.

I will do a new thing. It shall spring forth. A way in the wilderness, Have you found yourself, lost, alone, without a direction…

Rivers in the desert. A desert is hot, dry. Water is foreign to the desert. It makes one thirsty. Images of mirages and sand, hot...

Have you ever felt like your life has been dry, without sustenance? You know what its like to be thirsty.

Have you found yourself, alone, without a direction…feeling like your in your own wilderness, Having lost your way?

What would it be like if every day was winter? Like Narnia in the Lion,Witch and Wardrobe. Every day is winter, ice and cold, never any sunshine, there is never spring. UNTIL…

7. JESUS IS THE WAY John 4:16

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

8. JESUS GIVE LIVING WATER THAT QUENCHES OUR THIRST

John 7:37-38 …Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

9. As the Deer panteth for water, so my soul longs after thee O God , My soul thirst for the LIVING GOD Psalms 42:1-2

10. JESUS COVERS OUR SINS BY WASHING US WITH HIS BLOOD,

John 1:29 …John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Isaiah 43:25 I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins.

AS WINTER IS BEHIND US, ARE YOU READY TO MOVE FORWARD….SPRING FORWARD IN NEWNESS OF LIFE?

Romans 6:3-5 …even so we also should walk in newness of life…

11. HAVE YOU ASKED JESUS TO FORGIVE YOU. AND CHANGE YOU

ISAIAH 43:19 Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth, Shall you not know it?

12. TODAY IS A DAY OF REPENTANCE

ISAIAH 43:25 I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins.

13. TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF YOUR LIFE

14. WHY NOT START IT OFF ON THE RIGHT. WITH CHRIST…

Today is a call of repentance – today we must go before the Lord and put winter behind us. Put the dead and sinful past behind, so that we can spring forth, in newness of life. We must get rid of the past to be free of them

Ask Jesus into your hearts today. Believe on Him, Repent of your sins, Confess them to Him so that HE will do a NEW THING in your life today.

Let’s Pray…

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Today’s Word

Isaiah 43:18-25

18 Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old.

19 Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

20 The beast of the field will honor Me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I give waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My people, My chosen.

21 This people I have formed for Myself; they shall declare My praise.

22 But you have not called upon Me, O Jacob; and you have been weary of Me, O Israel.

23 You have not brought Me the sheep for your burnt offerings, nor have you honored Me with your sacrifices. I have not caused you to serve with grain offerings, nor wearied you with incense.

24 You have bought Me no sweet cane with money, nor have you satisfied Me with the fat of your sacrifices; but you have burdened Me with your sins, you have wearied Me with your iniquities.

25 I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins.

Psalm 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 7:37-38 …Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

John 1:29 …John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Romans 6:3-5 …even so we also should walk in newness of life…

Copyright 2007 Harford Senior Worship Center