A NEW THING IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN

ISAIAH 43: 16-22

PASTOR JOJO BORTOLOTTI

INTRO:

We live in a society that is obsessed with new things, cars, houses, clothes, gadgets, etc.

But what is interesting to me is that we come to church week after week expecting the same
old, same old. Not realizing that God has something new for our lives.

I remember in the book of 2 Kings, that when the young prophets came to Elijah saying:
“The place that we have been living with you is too small for us. Let us go to the Jordan
and build another place.”

They had came to a realization that the place was too small, uncomfortable, restricted, and
they were willing to build something bigger.

Today, God is setting you up for a new dimension, for a new level, for a new blessing.

But before that, we must deal with those things that do not allow the new things:

I. If we are going to a new level and a new thing, we must let go of the past
and the old.
 In verse 16 & 17, God is reminding Israel of how awesome and spectacular
his deliverance was.
 But in verse 18 something very peculiar is stated: “Forget the passed things
and do not dwell on the past.”
 God is making a point. History has to do with the past, life has to do with the
future.
A. Some of you today, are paralyzed because of a tragedy, a
disappointment or failure, and you are not able to move on. Youre
stuck in a bad experience that filters everything else that happens in
your life.
 I remember a lady that went to her lawyers and asked
once again to sue her ex-husband; the reason is that he
continues to manipulate her child against her. When the
lawyers asked how long ago the divorce was, she said 17 years
ago. They asked her how old her son was, she said 33. She did
not let go of the past. She was stuck.
 Remember David that fasted, prayed and mourned
after the son was dead, he got up and had a meal.
B. But its not only to be stuck in our past failures and hurts that stop
us from getting to a new level, but also to be stuck in our victories.
  When Jesus took John, Peter and Jacob to the mountain and
allowed them to have a glimpse of His glory, (transfiguration)
the first thought that came to Peter was to build 3 tents to stay
there, but the Lord did not allow it.
 Some times we stay too long in a place that was meant to be
temporary. We build residence.

II. To get to a new level we must change our thinking that says it must be big
to be God.
 In verse 19, God refutes that way of thinking: “I’m doing a new thing! Now
it springs up, do you not perceive it?”
 God can do big things, but its not the only way God can work. The
connotation relates to a seed thrown on the ground and begins to germinate,
and breaking up from the ground.
 When you ask God for an apple, He gives you a seed. Don’t be confused;
the apple that you asked for is in the seed.
 Elijah in a drought prays 7 times to see a small cloud in the size of a mans’
hand.

III. To get to a new place we must accept new possibilities.

 In verse 17: “I’m making a way in the desert and streams on the west land.”
 Abraham would have never ventured from Heram to become a father of
many nations without accepting new possibilities.
 The problem here is that we think that the only way God can answer prayers
is the way I have asked it, no.
 The man for 38 years waiting for the pool.
 My experience with an enemy on food.

IV. To get to the next level praise must be a lifestyle.

 In verse 20: “the wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls.”
 God provides water, not for the animals but for his people. But His people
did not praise Him.
 Ungrateful people are never going to experience a new blessing or a new
level.
 The syrophoenician women, I will praise you in advance.

V. Going to the next level means that you understand that it does not need to
begin with you in order to bless you.
 In verse 20, God reminds us that He can be doing something in somebody
else’s life that will be a blessing to me.
 We must rejoice with somebody else’s blessing because than I will see the
line moving and my time is coming.
 The lady in the Chinese church. She got my check but God had my blessing.