Sermon: Something New, And Extraordinary Is On The Way

Sermon: Something New, Extraordinary Is On The Way

Text: Isaiah 43:14- 21“This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “For your sakes I will send an army against Babylon, forcing the Babylonians to flee in those ships they are so proud of. I am the Lord, your Holy One, Israel’s Creator and King. I am the Lord, who opened a way through the waters, making a dry path through the sea. I called forth the mighty army of Egypt with all its chariots and horses. I drew them beneath the waves, and they drowned, their lives snuffed out like a smoldering candlewick. “But forget all that—it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. The wild animals in the fields will thank me, the jackals and owls, too, for giving them water in the desert. Yes, I will make rivers in the dry wasteland so my chosen people can be refreshed. I have made Israel for myself, and they will someday honor me before the whole world.”

Introduction: Don't you just love the word new! It conjures up images of something just discovered or uncovered; something that has never been used before; starting over; rejuvenate.... and the list can go on and on! The Bible is full of new things- here's a few times the word new comes up: A new season is here, along with new desires and new aspirations. Everyone looks forward to a fresh new start, moving from the present and looking to the future. Here are a few things the Bible says about New Beginnings: First, new beginnings happen in seasons. Life can be so wonderfully measured by seasons and stages. Fall begins with the shedding of colorful leaves; winter begins with a cold bed of snow; spring begins with the sprouting of new life; and summer begins with warm sunny days. Ecclesiastes 3:1-5 says, “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;”

There’s a time for everything in life. What a great confidence this brings us to know that we can expect a warmer season after a colder one. God allows seasons to change and new beginnings to ascend.

Often times, the end of a thing is more valuable than the beginning of it. Ecclesiastes 7:8 says, “The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.”

Isaiah 43 reminds us that God has promised that the former things will pass away and all things are made new. God doesn’t remember our past with regret, He offers us a fresh new start. Isaiah 43:18-19 says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

Selective memory and perseverance are the path to new beginnings. Perseverance is the pathway to a new start because a new beginning often requires patience. James 5:11 says, “As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the LORD finally brought about. The LORD is full of compassion and mercy.”

A new beginning can start right where you are, in this present moment. A new beginning awaits anyone who is willing and wanting to make Jesus Christ the Lord of their life. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” In Revelation 21:5 reads, He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" You see, God is about doing new things. The creation screams of new: every year as it changes from winter to spring or spring to summer or summer to fall or fall to winter. The leaves change, the flowers bloom, even the sunshine and the new moon all point to something new. It's all new! God loves new and He created us new when we became followers of Jesus. We are brand new – we are called babes in Christ. He gives us a new heart and a desire to follow Him - to live, love and lead as Jesus did. God, who is excellent in everything, will end it all by making it all new - back to the original design; completely rejuvenated; like it was never used before! Don't you just love the word new! It is my prayer that this new season will be the best New season you have ever experienced.