God Is Doing A New Thing Series

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Matthew 4:18-22New Life Version (NLV)

Jesus Calls Peter and Andrew

18 Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee. He saw two brothers. They were Simon (his other name was Peter) and Andrew, his brother. They were putting a net into the sea for they were fishermen. 19 Jesus said to them, “Follow Me. I will make you fish for men!” 20 At once they left their nets and followed Him.

21 Going from there, Jesus saw two other brothers. They were James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were sitting in a boat with their father, mending their nets. Jesus called them. 22 At once they left the boat and their father and followed Jesus.

Forget the former things says the Prophet Isaiah – Behold I am a new thing.

Isaiah was a Prophet of God and here he is telling Israel that despite it’s painful past despite the agony of the nations heart God was going to do a new thing with his people Israel so new so beautiful that at the beginning of this passage he says When you pass through the waters I will be with you.

Throughout scripture God often brings people to a new place where he does something completely new = amazing and literally world changing.

We have just witnessed one such new thing in the life of Mary a young country girl who was entering what she thought was an ordinary world of being a wife and parent and respectable citizen she did all these yet God transformed her life and did a new thing.

Or what about Joseph – favoured son that he was whose life was privileged – multi coloured coat who was plunged into the deepest despair exiled – betrayed imprisoned and then promoted and elevated to be the most powerful person in Egypt and probably the known world all to fulfill the purposes of God. God was doing a new thing in Joseph and at the end of his life he could say The devil meant it for harm yet God used it for God.

There are crossroads ahead in our life and God will use them for his glory or not depending on our response.

I was thinking of two early examples from the twentieth century – The Duke of Windsor Edward future King of England who chose a shadowy relationship with a women Mrs Simpson from the USA A divorcee – and married her and gave up the throne of England in those days one of the most powerful positions in the world – a man who retreated into the shadows and gave up his God given destiny compare him with Eric Liddell subject of the blockbusting movie Chariots of fire – Eric Liddell

Eric Liddell who was selected to run for Great Britain in the 100 metres final for the Olympics until he discovered that the heats were run on Sunday a practice which Liddell felt dishonoured God and so he was transferred to run the 400 metres an event that he won the gold medal in – God was doing a new thing in both these men's lives one chose God’s way the other chose the way of the flesh you can guess which one is remembered well by history.

Imagine if you will Peter in the Bible reading this morning

were putting a net into the sea for they were fishermen. 19 Jesus said to them, “Follow Me. I will make you fish for men!” 20 At once they left their nets and followed Him.

I wonder what Peter was thinking that morning as he went out and started fishing but suddenly into his life came Jesus and Jesus was planning a new thin g for him and his brother.

Here was the opportunity for a whole new life of adventure and walking with God and Peter instantly knew it was the right way and followed it. Drops the net and – well just goes.

God wants to do a new thing in all of our lives – we Christian's should smell of constant freshness of God’s hand on our lives. Just as people after the Christmas giving of gifts might smell of lynx or eu de cologne so we should smell of the freshness of Jesus. Because God is wanting to do a new thing in our lives as well.

Our scriptures this morning lead us down a path of adventure with Jesus and we can’t do boring because a moment by moment life with Jesus doesn’t allow for that at least not in a crusty way.

This morning I want to encourage you that whatever your situation is then god want’s to do a new thing with you as you walk with him and as it says in Jeremiah29 11 as the prophet speaks to Israel.