The Newness of the Old Old Story
-God is into new things. Just think about the fact that He is the Creator. When something is created, it is new. Even if it is made of old material, it is new.
-One day a group of scientists got together and decided that man had come a long way and no longer needed God. So they picked one scientist to go and tell Him that they were done with Him. The scientist walked up to God and said, “God, we've decided that we no longer need you. We’re to the point that we can clone people and do many miraculous things, so why don’t you just go on and mind your own business?”
God listened very patiently and kindly to the man. After the scientist was done talking, God said, “Very well, how about this? Let’s say we have a man-making contest.” To which the scientist replied, “Okay, we can handle that!”
“But,” God added, “we’re going to do this just like I did back in the old days with Adam.”
The scientist said, “Sure, no problem” and bent down and grabbed himself a handful of dirt. God looked at him and said, “No, no, no. You go get your own dirt.”
-Anyway, if you’re a person who likes new things, you just might be in good company. God makes new things all the time – and He makes old things new all the time. Just think about the blessings of God and how they are a form of creative newness from God: Salvation = God’s new covenant that brings newness of life, a new beginning, a new heart, a new family, a new name, making us a new creation, giving us a new love and a new song; Healing = new health, new energy, new freedom; Provision = new resources; Faith = new perspective; Baptism in the Holy Spirit = new freedom and power to share Christ with others.
-So if for some reason you think that God can be reduced to something called religion that limits Him to old rituals of the past or to someone’s idea of Him, I have news for you! God is into new! He invented new! And one day He will make all things new!
-Today I’d like to talk about how new the old, old story of Jesus is and how it can bring newness to you! Regardless of how long you may have known the Lord, (and even if you don’t know Him yet), He wants to do something new in you today!
Isaiah 43:1-21
I. A New Identity
Isaiah 43:1 But now, this is what the LORD says-- he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
-We try to define ourselves in a variety of ways. Some define themselves by their accomplishments. Some by their wealth. Some by their work. Some by their friends. But the people of God are defined by who made them, by the One who redeemed them and called them by name. God’s people are defined by who they belong to.
-Paul said it like this to the Christians in Corinth: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price.
-What price was paid to redeem us? We were enslaved to sin, but someone paid the price to set us free. Jesus paid for us with His own life. He died on a cross in my place so I could be forgiven and have peace with God.
-My part is to receive God’s forgiveness by confessing my wrongs to Him and accepting what Jesus did for me. When we do this, something happens inside of us. We don’t become good people. We become live people! A spiritual birth takes place within us as God’s Spirit puts the work of Christ into effect in us.
1 Peter 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
-Robin and I are anticipating a new birth in a few weeks. It’s hard to believe that it is only 6-7 weeks away! We’ve discussed names and have some ideas, but aren’t totally sure what name we will use. But we know one thing: This baby already has an identity that is greater than the name we will give her. Her birth will allow us to get to know her and allow her to get to know us. Her new life will grow and flourish as we all do life together! That’s kind of what it is like for those who are born into God’s family with this new birth. They find their identity in who they belong to and in their new spiritual family.
-God loves to make new things and He loves to make things new!
II. A New Companionship
Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3 For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
-As we live life with God and find our place in His family, we will hit some pretty hard times. We might even compare some of those times to being nearly swept away by a flood or walking through fire. But God promises to be with us through it all! He can calm waters and He can make us fireproof! Notice, it doesn’t say that He will put out the fires. It just says that you will not be burned because the Lord is with us!
-Jesus told His followers, “I am with you always.” “With God all things are possible.” Hebrews 13:5 God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
-God and His people do life together.
III. A New Mission – to know God and to make Him known
Isaiah 43:10 "You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. 11 I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior. 12 I have revealed and saved and proclaimed-- I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "that I am God.
-It is our mission to get to know this Creative God who makes things new. He is the only One worth living for. He is the only One who can help us through the difficulties of life. Lamentations 3:22-23 22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
-We have new mercy for a new mission! Our mission: Get to know God, and help others find Him too!
-After Jesus went back to heaven, His disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and given power to become His witnesses. Acts 1:8 … you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Later, several of them were arrested and thrown in jail, but an angel of the Lord let them out and gave them these instructions:
Acts 5:20 "Go, stand in the temple courts," he said, "and tell the people the full message of this new life." God is into new! He wants people to have a new life that comes from knowing Him – and that is why He wants us to know Him and to make Him known to others!
IV. A New Future
Isaiah 43:18 "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. 20 The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the desert and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, 21 the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.
-Now I realize that this is Israel or Judah specifically mentioned here. However, you cannot read Isaiah without seeing that God’s plan extends to the Gentiles, so that they might become His people too! Israel was to be witnesses of the one true God to all the nations. God calls all of His people to display who He is to others!
-So, whatever your past, you can put that behind you with God’s help and forgiveness. And realize that God wants to do a new thing in your life! He wants to make a new You! He does this from the inside out. When we come to Him in faith, He gives us a new heart and a new start!
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
-So with a new creation comes a new future. The newness that comes from God’s life will show up in our own lives as we love and honor God.
Ephesians 4:22-24 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
-God helps us do this, but we must cooperate with Him and give up our old way of living.
-And when this world comes to an end, we have a lot more to look forward to.
2 Peter 3:13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
Revelation 21:5 He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!"
Conclusion: God is the God of the new! His life makes us new! The question that needs answered today is this: Do you have the life of God in you, making you a new person? 2 Corinthians 5:17 isn’t a onetime thing! It is a continual state based on a new identity that never gets old. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! And the new is here to stay and grow each day!
-So, are you a new creation? Is the life of God in you? If not, the incredible news is that God is ready to give you His new life right now if you will ask. You may not understand everything about God. Who does? You may have a lot of questions that you want to find answers for. But at some point in our journey, we have to respond to the infinite God of this universe on His terms - even in the midst of all our questions and confusion - and ask Him to give us new life. When we do that, we will come alive on the inside, and become that new woman or new man.
-Let’s all bow our heads for a moment. If you want to become a new person and receive God’s life right now, would you just slip up your hand so I can pray for you? This is the most important decision a person can make so I understand if you need to think it through. But don’t let it lie! Talk to somebody. Please come talk to me if you feel comfortable doing so. No question is too silly and I won’t think any less of you for asking it. But if you feel something going on in your heart and mind right now, I would encourage you to act on it and come speak with me right after we pray.
-Maybe you have already decided to do life with God and you’ve prayed and made a commitment to follow Him. But you are going through a dry spell and really need more of His life flowing through you. Maybe you need to be renewed by the Holy Spirit and filled with the power of His love. If you’d like to be included in a prayer for that, would you raise your hand?
-Let’s pray.
