YOUR NEXT STEP, A NEW THING
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (I do this lesson in 3 parts… I like series.)
HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT YOUR NEXT STEP? WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF A NEW THING.
There was a song of yesteryear called “THE NEXT STEP” The words were powerful. (Unknown)
WHY WORRY ABOUT TOMORROW, WHY WORRY IF YOUR STEPS ARE SLOW?
IF YOUR LIFE HAS BEEN SPENT FOR JESUS YOU DON’T HAVE MUCH FARTHER TO GO.
CHORUS: FOR THE NEXT HAND YOU SHAKE MAY BE THE HAND OF THE SAVIOR.
THE NEXT STEP YOU TAKE COULD BE ON STREETS OF PUREST GOLD;
AND YOUR NEXT MEAL COULD BE THE MARRIAGE SUPPER (OF THE LAMB)
AND THE NEXT TOUCH YOU FEEL, HE COULD BE BLESSING YOUR SOUL.
BE STRONG AND KEEP ON GOING, DON’T BE ANGRY WHEN THINGS GO WRONG.
DON’T GIVE UP, FOR IT IS ALMOST OVER, ALL THE SIGNS ARE POINTING TOWARD HOME.
HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT: ONE DAY WILL BE YOUR LAST DAY, THE LAST STEP?
If life only had that two minute warning that a football game has? Have you ever thought about your next step? How about your last mile of the way? Have you ever thought about what will be the last gift you will give? Have you ever thought about the last word you will say? Years ago before all the “MERCY MEDICINE” many last words were known. There is a little book called “VOICES FROM THE EDGE OF ETERNITY” that records the last words of people. It is an interesting read. What did Christians say? What did atheist say? The real question is WHAT WILL YOUR LAST WORDS BE? Many times I have sat by the bed of a dying person and listened as they talked.
THE NEXT STEP COULD BE WITH MANY REGRETS? OR A NEW THING COULD BE FORGIVENESS.
I AM TOLD EVERY PERSON CARRIES TWO HEAVY BAGS WITH THEM. One bag is carried in front, the other bag is carried on their back. But bags carry the same luggage, the HUMAN FAULTS, FAILURES AND DISAPPOINTMENTS. The bag in front carries the faults of your friends and neighbors. The bag on your back carries your own personal problems and faults. Seems it is so much easier to focus on the faults and disappointments of others than to see your own…
LISTEN TO MY HEART. I WAS SITTING WITH A FELLOW PREACHER that I loved. He had pastored several decades. In great hurt the pastor left the ministry and found a secular job. Now years later the man was dying and I spent hours with him. He was placed in the hospital and was facing exploratory surgery the next day. The doctor came in and explained the man had a few days, probably hours to live. When he left we started talking. He had been a very successful pastor. But his last church he was faced with a crushing blow and he decided to leave the ministry.
The dying man would never discuss what happened. Now that he knew he was dying he talked to me about doing his funeral. There was a long time of silence. Then he told me of a woman in the church that had absolutely crushed him. He told me he was not totally innocent, he allowed that lady to birth a spirit of bitterness and hurt in his heart. This bitterness grew until he could no longer stand behind the sacred desk. So he threw up his hands in disgust and left the ministry. He wished he could go back and he would have had compassion and worked out the problem.
As he was finishing his regrets we heard a commotion in the hall. The nurses were pushing in a new patient in the next room. You would never believe what God was doing. IT WAS THE LADY THAT HAD HURT AND CRUSHED THE OLD PREACHER. I stepped out in the hall and talked with the daughter. The lady from the church was dying. Her heart was in terrible shape. They did not think she would live through the night. We had a prayer together. I went back in the old preacher’s room and we talked. I told him how serious the lady was. Visitation was over and we all had to leave.
The preacher was praying as I left. The next morning I returned to spend time with my dear friend. The lady was gone into emergency heart surgery. My preacher friend and I prayed for her. He explained to me that during the night he stepped into her bay and talked to her. He said: I ASKED HER FORGIVE ME FOR ALL I HAD DONE AND SAID YEARS AGO. HE SAID MANY THINGS I HANDLED WRONG. HE TOLD HER I HAVE ASKED JESUS TO FORGIVE ME AND NOW I BEG YOU TO FORGIVE ME. He said he was crying like a baby. He said she was crying…
He went on to say: THE LADY SAID: I HAVE PRAYED FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH YOU. SHE SAID YOU KNOW I AM DYING… I HAVE LAID MANY LONELY NIGHTS AND THOUGHT ABOUT YOU AND THE CHURCH. HE TOLD ME IN A BROKEN AND CONTRITE SPIRIT SHE ASKED ME TO FORGIVE HER. SHE SAID IT STARTED AS A MISUNDERSTANDING THAT SNOWBALLED INTO GREAT BITTERNESS AND MEANNESS.
The old preacher and I were crying: HE TOLD ME THE BITTERNESS WAS GONE AND FORGIVENESS WAS SOUGHT AND RECEIVED. HE SAID THAT SHE TOLD HIM SHE COULD DIE IN PEACE. EVERYTHING WAS UNDER THE BLOOD OF JESUS. The old preacher looked me in the eye and said: HOW NEAT IS OUR GOD. HOW GOOD GOD IS. God had put them in the same hospital, same floor, in adjourning rooms on the same day. They both were dying and broken. The bitterness was gone. The forgiveness freely given and freely received. The families were once again together.
There was nothing the doctors could do for her. They brought her back to the room and allowed all the family to be with her as she moved to her NEXT STEP IN ETERNITY. A short time later my preacher friend stepped into eternity. THINK ABOUT THE NEXT STEP INTO A NEWNESS OF LIFE. Exhaling air in great pain and then to breath in celestial air with strength and invigorated stepping into eternity.
HOW CAN I FIND THE NEW THING? WHERE CAN I FIND THE NEW THING? AM I FOREVER TRAPPED IN THE SAME OLD SAME OLD? THE SECRET PLACE OF PRAYER IS NOT SECRET.
Some very, very poor person is kneeling somewhere in a War Room (Prayer Room) with some soft music playing in the back ground. The birds are singing outside as the wind gently blows and they are feeling a touch of heaven. That person in intense prayer is not judging and putting down people from the past hurts. That person has laid aside their computer, their I Pad and their cell phone. That person in the WAR ROOM has turned off CNN and FOX news. That person in the room with Jesus is not worried about their finances or even about COVID. That person is totally unaware that they are supposed to be depressed, frustrated, worried and all stressed out as they sit in the presence of a Holy God that is in control. Tears are running down their face, their hands are uplifted in praise and worship. Their focus is clear. The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. That person praying in the WAR ROOM is standing on the word of God to do the work of God. NO WORRY, NO FEAR, NO FRUSTRATION AND DEPRESSION JUST PEACE OF MIND BY TRUSTING IN THE NAME OF JESUS. IN THE PRAYER ROOM WE FIND A COMPLETE TRUST IN THE PLAN OF GOD. THE NEW THING WAS FOUND BY FAITH AND TRUSTING IN THE UNSEEN HANDS OF A MIGHTY GOD… THE NEXT STEP?
WHY NOT TAKE THE NEXT STEP: GOD DESIRES TO GIVE US A NEW HEART. GOD DESIRES OUR HEARTS TO LOVE HIM AND LOVE EACH OTHER. A NEW HEART OF SUBMISSION, OBEDIENCE AND LOVE.
A NEW HEART TALKS DIFFERENTLY, BEHAVES DIFFERENTLY …
Ezekiel 11:19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:
Ezekiel 18:31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
Ezekiel 36:26 (KJV)
26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
Saul receives a new heart and a new mind…
1 Samuel 10:9 And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.
2 Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
TAKE ANOTHER STEP INTO THE REALM OF GOD BY SEEKING A NEW MIND… GOD WILL TEST YOUR MIND AND YOUR HEART…
Psalm 26:2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.
Examine me, try me, test my mind and my heart.
Ephesians 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
We can often grow weary and tired. By waiting on God we can renew the inner person.
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Jeremiah 17:10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
LET US NOT JUST STAND AND LOOK INTO THE PROMISE LAND… AS CALEB AND JOSHUA SAYS: WE ARE WELL ABLE, LET US CLAIM THE NEW HEART, THE NEW MIND… LET US TAKE THE NEXT STEP INTO THE MORE THAT GOD OFFERS… DARE TO TAKE THE NEXT SPIRITUAL STEP!
Isaiah 42:9 Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
God’s word is T&P, TRIED AND PROVEN. God’s word is truth and you can bank on it. God has a new work in your heart and mind.
ONE OF THE HINDERANCES TO RECEIVE GOD’S PLAN FOR THE NEW IS HOLDING ON TO THE PAST…
Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
REMEMBER NOT THE FORMER THINGS, FORGET IT, NIP IT IN THE BUD…God’s new thing for us… LET GO OF THE PAST HURTS AND BITTERNESS…God has new things for us. God can change the hard rocks… and lead us to his plan.
Bury the past or it will bury you.
Isaiah 43:18 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.
NEW DREAMS? NEW VISIONS? NOT STALE MOLDY BREAD… LISTEN TO THE DIVINE HEART BEAT, GOD HAS NEW THINGS --- YOU CAN SEE THEM, YOU CAN TASTE THEM, YOU CAN ENJOY THEM…
Isaiah 48:6 Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it? I have shewed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them. 7 They are created now, and not from the beginning; even before the day when thou heardest them not; lest thou shouldest say, Behold, I knew them.
GOD TAKES PLEASURE IN REPLACING THE HEARTS OF STONE AND GIVING US A NEW SPIRIT WHEN WE OBEY. COME CLEAN?
Ezekiel 11:19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: 20 That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
THE NEXT STEP TO RENEWAL IS NOT A HARD, STUBBORN AND HARD-HEARTEDNESS. BUT GOD DESIRES TO RENEW OUR ATTITUDES, WORDS AND DEEDS. GOD’S PLAN IS NOT A SELF WILLED HEART BUT A GOD WILLED HEART.
Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com I do this lesson in three parts.
Thank you for reading my materials. I pray God blesses you to find the fresh anointing.
