8/7/2019 A New Thing is About to Happen

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A N EW T HING IS ABOUT TO H APPENISAIAH 43: 16-22

PASTOR JOJO BORTOLOTTI

I NTRO :

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 sameold, 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 Jordanand build another place.

They had came to a realization that the place was too small, uncomfortable, restricted, andthey 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 thingsand do not dwell on the past.

God is making a point. History has to do with the past, life has to do with thefuture.

A. Some of you today, are paralyzed because of a tragedy, adisappointment or failure, and you are not able to move on. Yourestuck in a bad experience that filters everything else that happens inyour life.

I remember a lady that went to her lawyers and askedonce again to sue her ex-husband; the reason is that hecontinues to manipulate her child against her. When thelawyers asked how long ago the divorce was, she said 17 yearsago. They asked her how old her son was, she said 33. She didnot let go of the past. She was stuck.

Remember David that fasted, prayed and mournedafter 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 stopus from getting to a new level, but also to be stuck in our victories.

8/7/2019 A New Thing is About to Happen

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When Jesus took John, Peter and Jacob to the mountain andallowed them to have a glimpse of His glory, (transfiguration)the first thought that came to Peter was to build 3 tents to staythere, 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: Im doing a new thing! Nowit springs up, do you not perceive it?

God can do big things, but its not the only way God can work. Theconnotation 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. Dont 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 manshand.

III. To get to a new place we must accept new possibilities. In verse 17: Im 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 somebodyelses life that will be a blessing to me.

We must rejoice with somebody elses blessing because than I will see theline moving and my time is coming.

The lady in the Chinese church. She got my check but God had my blessing.