12/28/2024
Moving from 2024 to 2025 – Embracing
New Beginnings in Christ
Reading: Isaiah 43:16-21
16 This is what the Lord says—he who made a way through the
sea, a path through
the mighty waters,17 who drew out the
chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together,
and they lay there, never
to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick: 18 “Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
19 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.
20 The wild animals honor me,
the jackals and the owls,
because I provide water in
the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen,21 the
people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.
Introduction:
Bull’s
Eye: Charlie Brown and Lucy went out a target shooting with a bow and arrows.
Charlie Brown would the arrow first and once the arrow landed on the wall, he
would run out there and draw a circle around it. Lucy was furious,
"Charlie Brown, what are you doing?" Charlie said, this way I will
never missed the Bulls eye.
As we stand on the threshold of a new year, moving from 2024 to 2025, we
are given an opportunity to reflect on what has passed and to look forward to
what God is preparing for us. The transition from one year to the next often
stirs feelings of hope, anticipation, and even apprehension. We think about our
personal goals, our spiritual journey, and the challenges we've faced.
- What are some of the
challenges that we faced this year 2024?
- What is our victorious
plan?
But, more importantly, it’s a moment to hear the voice of God, who is
continually at work making "all things new."
The prophet Isaiah speaks to the Israelites, reminding them that God is
doing something new—something better, something beyond what they have known
before. As we move from one year to the next, we too are invited to step into
that newness, trusting that God is already at work in our lives and our world.
- We are encountering
something that we have never encountered before—2025
- 2025 is new and lets
make that a threshold for new things in our lives
1. Forgetting the Former Things – Embracing a New Mindset (Isaiah 43:18)
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past."
The first instruction God gives us as we move into 2025 is to forget the
former things. This doesn’t mean we erase the past from our memory, but it
means
- we do not allow the
past to dictate our present or future.
- We often carry
baggage from 2024—whether it's mistakes, regrets, disappointments, or even
successes that have caused us to become complacent.
- We do not let our
past make the decision for our future
- Let NOT your past
limit the choice of our future
- Our past is static
while our future is dynamic
o
We can not do anything about our past while our future is dynamic, and we
can live it dynamically
- Moving on to new
things is embracing growth
- Live NOT in your
past but learn from it
o
Where are we today is because of our past BUT we can take those experiences
as lessons and make our future better by allowing God to work in our lives.
- Isaiah 43:18-19, the
Israelites were reminded not to dwell on their past failures or even their past
victories, because God was about to do something new.
Paul drives home the similar
idea on moving forward:
Philippians 3:13-14, Brothers
and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one
thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the
goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in
Christ Jesus.
In 2024, maybe you faced challenges that left you discouraged. Perhaps
you encountered failure, sickness, or loss. Or maybe the year was marked by
achievements that now make you feel like you've reached a plateau. God’s Word
today calls us to let go of both the weight of the past and the false security
of past accomplishments. We must shift our focus from what was to what is to
come.
Application:
- What are the
"former things" in your life that you need to forget?
- Are there past
mistakes or regrets that are hindering your progress in Christ?
- Do you find
yourself holding on to past victories, making you complacent in your
faith?
God is calling you to move forward. It’s time to release the things that
have held you back and open your heart to what He is doing in this new season.
2. God is Doing a New Thing – Embracing New Opportunities (Isaiah 43:19)
"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive
it?"
God is not only asking us to forget the past; He is also actively doing
something new. This is a promise that stretches beyond our present
understanding. He is constantly at work, shaping and reshaping our lives, our
church, and the world. In 2025, there will be new opportunities for growth, new
challenges to overcome, and new ways God will reveal His glory.
The new thing that God is doing might look different than we expect.
Sometimes, we wait for something dramatic and obvious, but often, God's new
work starts in quiet, unseen ways. He might be calling you to step into a new
ministry, to forgive a long-standing hurt, to take a step of faith you’ve been
hesitant to take, or to see your circumstances through a new lens of hope and
possibility.
Application:
- Are you open to
the "new thing" God is doing in your life, even if it doesn’t
look like you imagined?
- Are you willing
to step out in faith, even if you don’t yet see the full picture?
- How can you
embrace God's new opportunities for growth in your relationships, career,
or ministry?
The new thing God is doing might require you to take risks, to step out
of your comfort zone, or to trust in His timing and provision. But the promise
is clear: He is making a way where there seems to be no way.
3. God is Making a Way – Trusting His Guidance (Isaiah 43:19)
"I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the
wasteland."
God is not only doing a new thing, but He is also making a way. The
Israelites were about to enter a new season, one that would require them to
trust God in the wilderness and in difficult circumstances. Similarly, as we
move from 2024 to 2025, we will face obstacles, challenges, and wilderness
experiences. But the promise here is that God is already making a way for us.
Whether you’re facing financial difficulties, relational struggles,
health challenges, or uncertainty about the future, the good news is that God
is making a way for you. He is creating pathways in places where you see no way
forward. He is providing streams of refreshment in barren places. God’s
guidance is constant, and His provision is sufficient.
Application:
- Are you
trusting God to make a way for you in your current situation?
- Do you believe
that even in the wilderness of life, God is already at work, preparing
your path?
- How can you
actively seek His guidance in the coming year, trusting that He is making
a way where there seems to be none?
As we transition into 2025, we must remember that God’s faithfulness has
never failed. He will continue to lead us, guide us, and provide for us in ways
that we cannot fully comprehend. Our role is to trust and follow Him, knowing
that He is already preparing the path.
4. Moving Forward with Faith – A Call to Action
As we look ahead to 2025, we are not just passive observers of God’s
work; we are active participants. God is inviting us to move forward with
faith, to trust that He will accomplish His purposes in us and through us. This
new year presents an opportunity for spiritual growth, for deepening our
relationship with Christ, and for making an impact in the world around us.
Here are some practical commitment steps for moving forward into 2025:
- Commit to Daily
continuous Prayer and Scripture Reading: Start each day by centering your
heart on God’s Word and seeking His direction from the scripture for the
day ahead.
- Set Spiritual
Goals: Reflect on your spiritual journey in 2024 and set goals for growing
in Christ in 2025.
- Growing in
holiness (Christ like)
- serving
others,
- expanding your
knowledge of the Bible,
- take
intentional steps to do good
- Embrace
Community: God has called us to live out our faith in community. Join with
fellow believers in worship, fellowship, and service in the coming year.
- Accountability
- Step Out in
Faith: Identify areas where God is calling you to take a step of faith
- whether that’s
taking on a new job,
- a new
relationship,
- a new
challenge.
- Who has a “Why”
in their lives has the ability to bear all the “what”
- When you
pursue what is meaningful, you will encounter purpose
- Concentrate
NOT on being right but on learning – being transformative
- Intentional in
setting your goal and going after it
Conclusion:
Elephant tied to a chair
Young man was at the Circus, and he
just happen to pass by where they kept the Elephants; he noticed that the
elephant is tied with a rope onto a chair. The rope is about a ¼ inch diameter.
This is a 1200 LBS elephant that is tied onto a chair. He thought, this is very
dangerous as the elephant, with no effort, can easily pull on the rope and get
away and it could be very dangerous to the crowd. As he was wondering this, one
of the trainers pass by, so the young man asked, “trainer, isn’t it dangerous
to just ties the elephant with a skinny rope to a simple chair? He can easily
get away?” The trainer explained: see young man, when this elephant was just a
baby, he was tied with the same rope to the same chair. Back then, he could not
get away. So the elephants have been mentally trained and conditioned that they
could not get away.
Oftentimes we are tied to a certain
condition and mentally enslaved to those things. Jesus has liberated us from
the chains of our past. "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."
As we move from 2024 to 2025, let’s embrace God’s invitation to forget
the former things and step into the new things He is doing. Let us trust that
He is making a way where there seems to be none, and let us move forward with
faith, knowing that God’s purposes are always greater than our own. The year
ahead holds infinite possibilities for those who trust in the God who makes all
things new.
Remember these:
-
David
would not be King David without Goliath
o There’s a purpose for
our struggle
-
Those
that cup their hands always hold more water thank those who clinch their fists
o Let’s be ready
o Let’s fix our hearts on
new desires, desiring only those of Christ
o Let’s develop new habits
to be Christlike characters
Let’s commit to walking into this new year with a renewed sense of hope,
purpose, and joy, trusting that God is already ahead of us, preparing the way.
He is doing a new thing, and we are invited to be a part of it.
Prayer:
Father, we thank You for the gift of a new year. We thank You that You
are the God who makes all things new. As we move from 2024 to 2025, we let go
of the past, trusting that You have great things in store for us. We open our
hearts to the new opportunities You are bringing our way, and we trust that You
are already making a way where there seems to be no way. Strengthen our faith,
guide our steps, and help us to live with purpose in the year ahead. In Jesus’
name, Amen.
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