IT IS TIME FOR A CHANGE: FROM THE FORMER TO A NEW THING.
Study Text: Isaiah 43: 15 - 21.
Introduction:
- God is sharing with us what we need to do whenever life gets stressful and we are overwhelmed.
- We need to forget the past and the ways things used to be and look up unto Him for a new thing.
- We need to get stirred up with a determination that comes from the Holy Spirit in us to believe God for a new thing, which is more glorious than those of yesteryears.
- As Christians, we are working together with God; He has a part and we have a part. And the simple truth is, if we will do what we can do, God will do what we cannot do. We need to Let Go of the Past and Get a New Beginning from God.
- God has good plans for our lives and He wants to do a new thing in us and through us today. But if we are stuck in the past, thinking about the bad things that happened to us or the things we regret and cannot do anything about, then we would not be able to see what God is doing right now.
We shall discuss the topic under three subheadings:
1. The Proclamation of a New Thing
2. The Performance of a New Thing
3. The Possession of a New Thing
1. The Proclamation of a New Thing:
- A New Thing is one of God’s promises to us, and we know that all of his promises are fulfilled in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20).
- Whenever a promised is made, the reliability of the promised depends on:
1. The Integrity of the Person:
- What are the things he has said before, and how committed and faithful he has been with his words in time past.
- God is known through out the scriptures to be a promise keeper and a covenant keeping God. Nehemiah 1: 5.
- He had never failed in His words, but He is always faithful and committed to bring them to pass.
2. The Ability of the Person:
- The power and resources that are at the disposal of the person will determine whether he can do what he promised to do.
- Our God is all knowing and all powerful. He has the power and resources to accomplish whatever He chose or promised to do.
3. The Generosity of the Person:
- How much the person can sacrifice and be willing to part with for the blessings of others.
- We have a testimony that our God is a gracious and generous giver. He gave us the best, His Son, willingly and freely.
- The Bible assured us that we can trust His generosity to freely give us all things. Therefore, we can truly rely and stand on His words and promises for us. Romans 8:32.
- As believers, our hope ultimately rests in the promise that Christ will come back for us one day and make all things new (Revelation 21:5). But what about the here and now?
- In this life, God promised to do a new thing in every area of our lives and we can stand secured on His words and promises.
- We can believe God for a new thing in our homes, in our jobs and businesses, in our studies and careers, in our ministries, in our nation, concerning our health, concerning our finances and above all, concerning our relationships and services unto God.
- God promises to do it now. Right away, you can believe God for glorious new things and receive them by faith.
- He said the new thing will spring forth. That is it shall be a glorious thing that cannot be hidden, people will see it, talk about it, desire it and glorify God for it.
- God will even make a way in the wilderness and give rivers in the desert. That is, the new thing shall include unimaginable things and those seemingly impossible.
2. The Performance of a New Thing:
- The Scripture is full of stories that show us how God makes things new for his glory and for the good of his people.
- There are several ways recorded in the scriptures by which God did new things for the blessings of His people and to the glory of His name, some of which include:
1. Divine Creation:
- In doing something new, God can create what was not in place before. For example, for the deliverance of the Israelites from the oppression of the stubborn pursuers, He created a way in the Red Sea.
- Or it can be a recreation of what used to be, but was destroyed by the enemy. For example, our new birth is an art of recreation. 2 Corinthians 5:17.
2. Divine Restoration
- God can do a new thing by restoring to us what the enemy has stolen or destroyed, or by recovery of our wasted years through divine speed and accelerated progress.
- We can believe God for the restoration of our lost peace and joy, our lost health and wealth, our lost reputation and glory.
3. Divine Protection:
- The new thing may be in terms of divine protection and preservation of our lives against all attacks and intentions of the enemy and powers of darkness. Isaiah 54:17.
- God laid ambush against all the warriors that came to attack Jehoshaphat and his people, without making use of any physical warriors or weapons, and the people and their belongings were divinely protected and preserved.
4. Divine Renaming:
- Names carried a lot of significance in Scripture. Throughout the Bible, people are introduced to us by name and by the meaning of their name. Eve was “the mother of all the living,” Isaac was “laughter,” and Samuel was “asked of God” (Genesis 3:20, 21:6; 1 Samuel 1:20).
- What’s even more significant is the renaming of people in Scripture. When God gave someone a new name, it was always a sign of renewed purpose and a redeemed life.
- God changed Abram’s name to Abraham to signify his promise to make him the father of many (Genesis 17:5).
- Simon became Peter, and Saul became Paul when they became Jesus’ disciples (Matthew 4:18; Acts 13:9). They received new identities in Christ as they forsook life in the flesh.
- The change of name, may be in the spiritual realms, that is, without a physical change in name, but with the physical manifestations of divine blessings, as in the case of Jabez.
- If you are in Christ, you have been given a new name, a new identity. Are you living according to your new name with renewed purpose and redemption?
5. Divine Resurrection:
- God makes dead things alive again. Literally. He has power over death in every sense, and he demonstrated that to us when he raised Jesus from the grave.
- He can bring back to life everything that is dead in our bodies such as wombs, brains, etc, homes or in any aspects of our lives.
6. Divine Intervention:
- There are some hopeless and seemingly impossible situations, where the wisdom, knowledge and power of man cannot help, except the hand of God.
- A very good example was the miraculous deliverance of the Jews from death plotted against them by Harman. The law of the land does not permit the reversal of anything written and sealed with the King's ring, but by divine intervention, the people of God were delivered. Esther 8: 3 - 8.
- No case is closed, unless God closes it. No situation is hopeless, unless God has nothing to do with it. No one says something that come to pass, unless God allows it.
- One of the new thing you can believe God for is divine intervention in all hopeless situations and all seemingly impossible cases. He has done it before, and He can do it again and again.
7. Divine Exchange:
- There are several portion of the scriptures that promised us glorious exchange for our blessings.
- There is a promise of renewal of strength for those that wait upon the Lord. This means God will take away our weakness and give us His strength. Isaiah 40: 31.
- There is a promise of exchanging our ashes for His beauty, our mourning for His joy, our heaviness for His praise. Isaiah 61:3.
- Moreover, we have a promise of receiving a double portion of glory and honour, for every single portion of shame we suffered or experienced in life. Isaiah 61: 7.
3. The Possession of a New Thing:
- When God does a new thing, it is for the blessings and joy of His people and for the glory of His name.
- Until we can possess the blessings, the purpose of it being given cannot be fully accomplished.
- For us to be able to believe and receive the blessings promised by God, He gave us an instruction: Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.
- The message that God is passing across to us, can be summarized in the following points:
1. Do not remember your past to hurt you, only remember it to help you.
- There are several failures, disappointments and discouragements in the past, dwelling on them will negatively affect our faith and confidence in God for the new thing.
- There are several victories, successes and breakthroughs in the past, dwelling on them may hinder us from reaching out to behold and to possess the new thing.
- The children of Israel remembered the garlics and cucumbers they ate in Egypt, and they could no longer believe God for a new thing at the promised land.
- We can remember the past to help us by avoiding the errors, mistakes and wrong doings of the past, so as to be positioned for the new thing in Christ. Revelation 2:5.
2. Do not compare yourself with others to hurt you, but to help you.
- You are unique in the program of God, and different from every other person in purpose and timing. Comparing yourself with others will make you to miss the definite and unique plans of God for your life.
- Whenever you consider the blessings of others, let it be with thanksgiving to God who did it for them, and let your faith be helped that He can do it and much more in your own life.
3. See yourself in the light of the word of God, and not by sight or by the comments of others.
- Your true situation is as described by the word of God, and not as described by yourself or by others.
- Through the word of God, you need to develop a faith that can see the invisible, so that you can reach out to possess the impossible.
- Hannah became joyful for the gift of a son after her prayers. She saw the invisible Samuel and she was able to receive the blessing even after several months later.
4. Stop murmuring or complaining over the situation but be thankful for it.
- Thank God wholeheartedly for the situation, whatever it is, and with thanksgiving, pray for the new thing you are believing Him for. 1 Corinthians 10:10, Philippians 4:6.
5. Patiently wait for the new thing with persistent prayer.
- Never allow distraction or discouragement. Keep hoping and keep believing as you persist in prayers. God will not fail His promises, but will watch over His words to perform it. Luke 18: 1.
Conclusion:
- In John 15:5, Jesus says, I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
- God is the power source and gives us the grace and strength we need to do what is right so as to be positioned for the new thing He promised to do in our lives.
- Look up unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. He is dependable, and He will do the new thing He promised to do in every area of your life.
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