Please find below my teaching notes to Pt. 2 of the Series, ” Brand New”- The God of Brand New. (c) 2013, Terry Broadwater. For more information contact info@gccnetwork.org.
Last week was the introduction to this teaching series and to GCC’s theme for the year, “Brand New!”
Note Isaiah 43:18-19 (The Message) “Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands.”
Talked about what may be worn out, not wanted, or a waste of your time/life and asking God what needs to be replaced, renewed, or brand new (note the “Prayer Card”)
Today I want to answer the question: “What, or better yet, WHO makes Brand New possible?”
Isaiah 43:1-9 “But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom; I gave Ethiopia and Seba in your place. Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you. “Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will gather you and your children from east and west. I will say to the north and south, ‘Bring my sons and daughters back to Israel from the distant corners of the earth. Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them.’” Bring out the people who have eyes but are blind, who have ears but are deaf. Gather the nations together! Assemble the peoples of the world! Which of their idols has ever foretold such things? Which can predict what will happen tomorrow? Where are the witnesses of such predictions? Who can verify that they spoke the truth?”
Let’s look at this passage in reverse, starting with vv. 5b-9, then finish with vv. 1-5a!
BRAND NEW is POSSIBLE because GOD PREDICTS it!
I will gather you and your children from east and west. I will say to the north and south, ‘Bring my sons and daughters back to Israel from the distant corners of the earth. Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them.’” Bring out the people who have eyes but are blind, who have ears but are deaf. Gather the nations together! Assemble the peoples of the world! Which of their idols has ever foretold such things? Which can predict what will happen tomorrow? Where are the witnesses of such predictions? Who can verify that they spoke the truth?”
Have you ever had a prediction or a promise not come true? Think “Mayans”
- What does this cause? Doubt, skepticism, and cynicism!
- The “prophetic” can often be viewed with doubt, skeptically, or cynically!
- But the promise, the prediction, the prophesy is only as credible as the one making it!
So, why can you trust God when he makes a prediction or a promise?
- Because God will never predict or promise anything that he doesn’t intend to make happen!
- Because God’s predictions/promises are predicated on his character!
- Because God has a proven track record (note vv. 1-5)!
BRAND NEW is POSSIBLE because GOD PROVIDES for it!
“But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom; I gave Ethiopia and Seba in your place. Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you. “Do not be afraid, for I am with you.
Did you know the Bible is the narrative of God providing for and doing “something new?”
- The “Genesis” is a NEW CREATION/BEGINNING!
- The “New Testament” is a NEW COVENANT (Agreement/contract/commitment)!
- The “Revelation” is a NEW COURSE/VISION! (Rev. 21:5)
Did you know that because God “formed” you he refuses to “forsake” you?
- Impact #1: God refuses to let you be “branded” by “bondage!” (2 Cor. 5:17)
- Impact #2: If God is “with you” that no matter what is “on the way” or “in the way” God will “make a way” to bring you into the something new he has promised!
- Impact #3: Because of Impact #2 you don’t have to fear the future!
Yes, “something brand new” may mean crossing rivers or going through the flames to experience it, but if God has called you by name; if he has ransomed you at the greatest price possible; if you are precious to him, honored and loved by him, then what God promises and predicts he provides for!
PERSONAL APPLICATION
- What is the “something new” that God is predicting or promising for me?
- What do I need to do or overcome to prove God’s credibility; doubt, skepticism, cynicism, fear… ?
- Consider the “something new” you need and what it my take…
I need a new beginning…
I need a new commitment…
I need a new vision…
TERRY BROADWATER 