WEBVTT 00:00:00.260 --> 00:00:04.919 All right, would you take the Word of God with me and turn to 2 Corinthians chapter 5. 00:00:05.480 --> 00:00:15.380 We will read the theme verse for our new series this morning, verse 17, 2 Corinthians 5, 17. 00:00:21.219 --> 00:00:28.839 So the theme for this new series is new life, a fresh beginning with Jesus. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:33.859 New life, a fresh beginning with Jesus. 00:00:33.859 --> 00:00:46.899 I think it's very appropriate that we begin a series like this on this topic on the same day that we dedicate two new babies and we have two young people getting baptized. 00:00:48.960 --> 00:00:54.579 And so I really had initially planned on just preaching this one sermon on this theme. 00:00:54.579 --> 00:01:04.400 And as I began to research and pray and study and put this sermon together, the Lord kind of showed me this is more than just one sermon. 00:01:04.539 --> 00:01:10.159 This is a theme that I believe God has for us to dive into and study as a church. 00:01:10.560 --> 00:01:13.980 So new life, a fresh beginning with Jesus. 00:01:14.620 --> 00:01:16.400 Would you stand with me if you're able to? 00:01:16.400 --> 00:01:22.780 And let's read the Word of God together, 2 Corinthians chapter 5 and verse 17. 00:01:26.360 --> 00:01:28.340 I'm reading out of the Christian Standard Bible. 00:01:28.340 --> 00:01:33.439 If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 00:01:34.740 --> 00:01:36.840 The old has passed away. 00:01:38.240 --> 00:01:41.480 And see, the new has come. 00:01:41.480 --> 00:01:59.280 Hold your finger there if you would and turn over to Romans chapter 6 and verse 4. 00:01:59.580 --> 00:02:01.980 Or if you'd just like to look at the screen, that's fine as well. 00:02:02.520 --> 00:02:03.480 Romans 6, 4. 00:02:03.480 --> 00:02:24.500 We say something along those lines when we baptize on Sundays. 00:02:24.500 --> 00:02:35.319 Just as Jesus was raised from the dead, we get to bring them up out of the water so they too can walk in new life. 00:02:35.979 --> 00:02:42.060 I believe that every one of us can be touched by this new life. 00:02:42.460 --> 00:02:51.939 Regardless of your age, your background, your current situation, we are all in need of a fresh beginning with Jesus. 00:02:52.159 --> 00:02:52.819 Let's pray together. 00:02:52.819 --> 00:02:57.079 God, I pray that you would give us that fresh beginning starting this morning. 00:02:59.519 --> 00:03:00.919 I'm in need of it, Lord. 00:03:03.879 --> 00:03:09.819 Sometimes we wake up and the ground of our life feels dry and cracked and parched. 00:03:10.500 --> 00:03:14.359 And we need an outpouring of your Spirit. 00:03:15.879 --> 00:03:18.419 God, we are thirsty for you. 00:03:20.199 --> 00:03:21.599 Pour out your water. 00:03:21.599 --> 00:03:23.919 Pour out your Holy Spirit. 00:03:24.579 --> 00:03:25.419 Fill us. 00:03:26.259 --> 00:03:30.120 And give us that new, fresh beginning with you. 00:03:30.199 --> 00:03:31.060 We'll give you the glory. 00:03:31.299 --> 00:03:32.000 In Jesus' name. 00:03:32.159 --> 00:03:32.359 Amen. 00:03:32.740 --> 00:03:33.780 You may be seated, church. 00:03:34.259 --> 00:03:36.959 I apologize for some of the formatting on the screens. 00:03:37.419 --> 00:03:39.280 This is not how it looked on my computer. 00:03:39.620 --> 00:03:42.740 But sometimes on my computer, it doesn't always translate that way to the screen. 00:03:42.799 --> 00:03:43.840 So I apologize for that. 00:03:43.840 --> 00:03:47.039 I'll try to get that fixed up before next Sunday. 00:03:47.039 --> 00:03:50.439 But this is the theme that I want to talk about this morning. 00:03:50.560 --> 00:04:01.259 We're not going to have the traditional point one, point two, but just kind of themes that I hope we can grasp and God can use to really touch your heart as he has mine on this. 00:04:01.259 --> 00:04:03.719 A new thing. 00:04:03.719 --> 00:04:05.399 Do you see it? 00:04:05.599 --> 00:04:07.840 Would you turn with me to Isaiah chapter 43? 00:04:08.859 --> 00:04:10.379 Isaiah chapter 43. 00:04:10.379 --> 00:04:16.579 We're going to do a little bit of Old Testament flipping pages this morning. 00:04:17.300 --> 00:04:20.699 So go to Isaiah chapter 43. 00:04:21.699 --> 00:04:25.540 And we're going to begin in verse 1. 00:04:25.540 --> 00:04:31.260 Give you a minute to get there. 00:04:31.340 --> 00:04:35.360 Isaiah 43 and verse 1. 00:04:38.939 --> 00:04:41.020 Now this is what the Lord says. 00:04:41.840 --> 00:04:43.160 The one who created you. 00:04:45.360 --> 00:04:48.840 And the one who formed you. 00:04:50.660 --> 00:04:53.080 So understand what's happening here. 00:04:53.079 --> 00:04:56.019 God reminding us who he is. 00:04:56.099 --> 00:04:57.479 The creator of all that is. 00:04:57.699 --> 00:04:58.759 The creator of us. 00:04:58.879 --> 00:05:04.560 The creator who formed us even before we had taken life and physical appearance. 00:05:05.000 --> 00:05:05.759 God knew us. 00:05:05.839 --> 00:05:06.579 He formed us. 00:05:06.819 --> 00:05:08.039 He planned out our steps. 00:05:08.599 --> 00:05:12.299 So this is kind of the background for what we're talking about here. 00:05:12.899 --> 00:05:14.759 Now we're not going to take the time this morning. 00:05:14.860 --> 00:05:19.539 We don't have the kind of time to read through both chapters, Isaiah 43 and 44. 00:05:19.540 --> 00:05:25.860 So we're just going to bounce through these chapters and really highlight the parts that are applying to what we're studying today. 00:05:26.420 --> 00:05:28.080 This is what the Lord says. 00:05:29.800 --> 00:05:30.960 The one who created you. 00:05:31.439 --> 00:05:32.800 The one who formed you. 00:05:33.420 --> 00:05:34.420 Do not fear. 00:05:34.980 --> 00:05:36.840 For I have redeemed you. 00:05:37.700 --> 00:05:39.900 I have called you by your name. 00:05:40.340 --> 00:05:41.759 You are mine. 00:05:42.220 --> 00:05:46.780 Man, what an amazing promise and reminder that we belong to Jesus. 00:05:47.200 --> 00:05:47.439 Right? 00:05:47.439 --> 00:05:54.459 No matter what else is going on in your life, God says, it's okay because you are mine. 00:05:55.259 --> 00:05:56.819 Don't ever forget that, church. 00:05:57.560 --> 00:06:00.420 Over and over again, he calls us little children. 00:06:01.519 --> 00:06:02.699 That he is the father. 00:06:03.259 --> 00:06:06.420 And that special relationship, that special bond is there. 00:06:06.500 --> 00:06:08.279 He says, you are mine. 00:06:08.920 --> 00:06:13.800 And then he says, when you pass through the waters, I will be with you. 00:06:13.800 --> 00:06:17.360 The rivers will not overwhelm you. 00:06:17.819 --> 00:06:19.160 Jump down to verse 16. 00:06:19.420 --> 00:06:20.720 This is what the Lord says. 00:06:21.120 --> 00:06:25.660 Who makes a way in the sea and a path through the raging waters. 00:06:25.780 --> 00:06:26.400 Verse 18. 00:06:26.759 --> 00:06:29.500 Do not remember the past events. 00:06:30.460 --> 00:06:31.060 Hold on a minute. 00:06:31.139 --> 00:06:31.819 What's he talking about? 00:06:32.580 --> 00:06:35.819 Pay no attention to things of old. 00:06:35.819 --> 00:06:43.839 How many of y'all are in the latter half of your life? 00:06:44.500 --> 00:06:45.819 Whatever that looks like. 00:06:46.740 --> 00:06:48.819 We're not going to put a number on it, okay? 00:06:50.939 --> 00:06:54.439 You've got some things of old to look back on, don't you? 00:06:54.439 --> 00:06:59.879 I do, and I'd like to think I'm still in the first half of my life. 00:06:59.959 --> 00:07:00.240 We'll see. 00:07:00.319 --> 00:07:00.699 I don't know. 00:07:01.199 --> 00:07:03.420 I don't know how long God's going to let me live on this earth. 00:07:04.660 --> 00:07:06.279 Of course, we don't really know that. 00:07:06.379 --> 00:07:09.819 But some of us have a lot more things to look back on than others. 00:07:10.699 --> 00:07:15.420 So why is God telling us, do not remember the past events. 00:07:15.839 --> 00:07:18.100 Pay no attention to things of old. 00:07:18.339 --> 00:07:19.579 Well, we've got to keep reading. 00:07:19.579 --> 00:07:26.219 If we stopped there, say, man, you need to move on and never remember anything that happened in the past. 00:07:26.339 --> 00:07:27.859 Well, that's crazy, isn't it? 00:07:28.300 --> 00:07:30.159 So let's see what God means by this. 00:07:30.500 --> 00:07:31.139 Verse 19. 00:07:31.459 --> 00:07:36.199 Look, I am about to do something new. 00:07:37.899 --> 00:07:39.339 Something new. 00:07:39.899 --> 00:07:42.079 Even now, it is coming. 00:07:42.779 --> 00:07:44.299 Do you not see it? 00:07:44.699 --> 00:07:45.560 Verse 19. 00:07:45.560 --> 00:07:52.839 Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. 00:07:54.280 --> 00:08:00.680 Now jump over to verse 20. 00:08:01.019 --> 00:08:01.600 Verse 20. 00:08:01.680 --> 00:08:01.800 Ready? 00:08:03.240 --> 00:08:06.279 I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert. 00:08:08.459 --> 00:08:14.120 I provide water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert. 00:08:14.199 --> 00:08:15.040 He says it twice. 00:08:16.439 --> 00:08:18.600 Verse 19. 00:08:19.240 --> 00:08:20.939 And then again in verse 20. 00:08:21.120 --> 00:08:22.079 So he repeats himself. 00:08:22.519 --> 00:08:24.319 This is something we're supposed to pay attention to. 00:08:25.379 --> 00:08:27.220 This is something that's supposed to grab our attention. 00:08:27.439 --> 00:08:27.620 Ready? 00:08:28.240 --> 00:08:30.680 Verse, end of verse 20. 00:08:30.980 --> 00:08:34.059 To give drink to my chosen people. 00:08:35.139 --> 00:08:38.419 I think that's a really, really important line. 00:08:38.960 --> 00:08:42.120 To give a drink to my chosen people. 00:08:42.120 --> 00:08:49.700 You understand there are themes throughout scripture where God is compared to water. 00:08:49.700 --> 00:09:00.560 Most often the Holy Spirit is the member of our triune God, the Trinity, God the Father, Son, and Spirit all together as one God. 00:09:00.559 --> 00:09:07.079 Most often the Holy Spirit is the person of the Trinity who is compared to water. 00:09:07.080 --> 00:09:10.700 So it's really interesting. 00:09:10.700 --> 00:09:17.240 It's interesting that way back here in the Old Testament, before we ever really get introduced to the Holy Spirit. 00:09:17.379 --> 00:09:20.720 Though there are certainly mentions of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament. 00:09:21.180 --> 00:09:26.460 But Jesus, God the Father, has not yet sent down the Holy Spirit to be with us. 00:09:26.460 --> 00:09:29.080 That's something they were all looking forward to. 00:09:30.900 --> 00:09:32.720 But he gives little references. 00:09:33.379 --> 00:09:36.400 He gives little peeks and glimpses of what's coming. 00:09:37.280 --> 00:09:41.000 He says, I will give a drink to my chosen people. 00:09:41.519 --> 00:09:45.660 The people I formed for myself will declare my praise. 00:09:45.900 --> 00:09:48.680 Now, jump down to verse chapter 44. 00:09:49.200 --> 00:09:50.100 Chapter 44. 00:09:50.100 --> 00:09:54.920 Hang on. 00:09:55.740 --> 00:09:56.840 And verse 2. 00:09:58.840 --> 00:10:00.360 This is the word of the Lord. 00:10:01.019 --> 00:10:01.720 Your maker. 00:10:02.320 --> 00:10:04.279 The one who formed you from the womb. 00:10:04.820 --> 00:10:08.879 Kind of begins similarly to how he did in chapter 43, right? 00:10:09.840 --> 00:10:12.440 Reminding you, this is the word from God. 00:10:12.580 --> 00:10:14.100 I'm the one who chose you. 00:10:14.259 --> 00:10:15.740 I'm the one who formed you. 00:10:16.240 --> 00:10:17.300 I'm your maker. 00:10:17.300 --> 00:10:19.980 He says, he will help you. 00:10:20.100 --> 00:10:20.820 Verse 3. 00:10:21.300 --> 00:10:25.019 I will pour water on the thirsty land. 00:10:25.860 --> 00:10:27.980 Streams on the dry ground. 00:10:28.340 --> 00:10:31.940 I will pour out my spirit on your descendants. 00:10:32.080 --> 00:10:32.740 Listen, church. 00:10:33.060 --> 00:10:36.240 And my blessing on your offspring. 00:10:36.720 --> 00:10:38.899 They will sprout among the grass. 00:10:39.840 --> 00:10:44.879 Like poplars, trees by flowing streams. 00:10:44.879 --> 00:10:48.779 Do you understand what he's saying here? 00:10:50.800 --> 00:10:52.600 Look at that last verse again. 00:10:52.940 --> 00:10:54.759 Isaiah, every eye in the room if you can. 00:10:54.840 --> 00:10:55.920 There's Bibles in front of you. 00:10:56.180 --> 00:10:57.019 Every eye in the room. 00:10:57.159 --> 00:10:58.720 Look on with somebody next to you. 00:10:58.779 --> 00:10:59.240 Here we go. 00:10:59.500 --> 00:11:00.779 It's kind of on the screen here. 00:11:01.320 --> 00:11:04.740 Isaiah 44 and verse 3. 00:11:04.740 --> 00:11:12.100 I will pour water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground. 00:11:12.460 --> 00:11:19.799 I will pour out my spirit on your descendants and my blessing on your offspring. 00:11:19.799 --> 00:11:22.159 You know what that looks like? 00:11:23.079 --> 00:11:24.179 That's what it looks like. 00:11:28.799 --> 00:11:30.539 We just saw two more this morning. 00:11:32.099 --> 00:11:36.919 Can I tell you we've got about four more lined up for the next couple of months? 00:11:36.919 --> 00:11:37.919 Yeah. 00:11:38.919 --> 00:11:39.399 Yeah. 00:11:40.579 --> 00:11:42.159 And they're not all children either. 00:11:43.159 --> 00:11:44.779 There's some teenagers jumping in. 00:11:45.500 --> 00:11:47.179 There's even adults starting to get involved. 00:11:47.659 --> 00:11:48.199 Say, you know what? 00:11:48.259 --> 00:11:48.899 I need to be baptized. 00:11:48.899 --> 00:11:53.860 God is doing something new. 00:11:55.439 --> 00:11:59.579 That's why he says, don't look back at the past. 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:03.740 Now, look back at the past to thank God for what he did back then. 00:12:03.740 --> 00:12:13.840 But don't keep looking back at the past and remembering the glory days of old and kind of wistfully thinking, man, I miss how it used to be. 00:12:14.200 --> 00:12:14.620 No, no, no. 00:12:14.960 --> 00:12:17.320 God's saying, I'm going to do something new. 00:12:17.759 --> 00:12:18.919 I'm still alive. 00:12:19.279 --> 00:12:20.440 I'm still working. 00:12:20.799 --> 00:12:21.860 I'm still God. 00:12:22.080 --> 00:12:23.080 I'm still mighty. 00:12:23.340 --> 00:12:24.419 I'm still powerful. 00:12:24.680 --> 00:12:25.940 I'm still life changing. 00:12:26.200 --> 00:12:27.740 I'm still transformational. 00:12:28.039 --> 00:12:29.200 I am still great. 00:12:29.379 --> 00:12:30.460 I am still mighty. 00:12:30.460 --> 00:12:32.120 I am still greater than you. 00:12:32.120 --> 00:12:37.759 And there are still young people who are seeing that, whose eyes are being opened and saying, you know what? 00:12:37.879 --> 00:12:38.600 Sign me up. 00:12:39.259 --> 00:12:40.639 I want to be one of God's children. 00:12:42.419 --> 00:12:52.500 And I want to get in the water like Jesus did and be baptized and testify to everybody that I have made the decision to follow Jesus. 00:12:54.039 --> 00:12:55.440 That's what that looks like. 00:12:55.440 --> 00:13:02.020 He says, I'll pour out my spirit on your descendants. 00:13:02.860 --> 00:13:06.140 I'll pour out my blessing on your offspring. 00:13:06.980 --> 00:13:08.300 Y'all, that's what that looks like. 00:13:09.080 --> 00:13:12.920 So, God's doing a new thing. 00:13:13.580 --> 00:13:15.720 The question is, do you see it? 00:13:16.580 --> 00:13:17.740 Do you see it? 00:13:17.740 --> 00:13:20.100 John 4, 14. 00:13:20.720 --> 00:13:25.620 Whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty again. 00:13:25.919 --> 00:13:34.500 In fact, the water I will give him will become a well of water springing up within him into eternal life. 00:13:34.600 --> 00:13:36.320 What an incredible thought. 00:13:36.419 --> 00:13:39.980 What an incredible picture of what God does for us. 00:13:40.159 --> 00:13:42.539 And we see that happening all around us. 00:13:42.539 --> 00:13:52.240 Man, if you've ever been thirsty and you went and got a big old glass of ice water, or maybe like my dad when he used to work on ranches from my grandfather years ago. 00:13:52.480 --> 00:13:57.620 When he was growing up and he'd be riding fence line for all afternoon, the hot Texas summer. 00:13:58.099 --> 00:14:01.360 And then he would crack open a can of ice cold orange crush. 00:14:03.399 --> 00:14:05.799 And he's just like, man, I know it's not Gatorade. 00:14:06.519 --> 00:14:07.279 I know it's not water. 00:14:07.379 --> 00:14:08.919 I know it's not supposed to be thirst quenching. 00:14:08.919 --> 00:14:12.939 But let me tell you, that was the most satisfying beverage I've ever had in my life when I was thirsty. 00:14:13.519 --> 00:14:18.000 That ice cold orange crush when you're out in the hot Texas summers. 00:14:19.659 --> 00:14:25.939 If you've ever been so thirsty and you quenched your thirst, you know what that feeling is. 00:14:26.079 --> 00:14:33.599 And I can promise you, some of us in this room can testify there's an even greater feeling when you're spiritually dry, 00:14:33.600 --> 00:14:40.899 when you're spiritually thirsty, and then you taste the water that Jesus just described in John 4. 00:14:41.080 --> 00:14:46.519 Whoever drinks from that water that I will give him will never get thirsty again. 00:14:47.300 --> 00:14:51.580 So the question for you is, are you thirsty? 00:14:52.920 --> 00:14:54.040 Are you thirsty? 00:14:54.480 --> 00:14:55.399 Do you need a drink? 00:14:55.860 --> 00:14:58.800 Do you need a drink from the well that Jesus promises? 00:14:58.799 --> 00:15:02.099 Do you need some of that water in your life? 00:15:02.159 --> 00:15:02.759 Are you thirsty? 00:15:03.559 --> 00:15:04.740 Jesus is the water. 00:15:06.120 --> 00:15:07.359 He is the well. 00:15:07.679 --> 00:15:11.479 He is the water that will never run dry. 00:15:11.899 --> 00:15:16.000 You only get thirsty when you stop drinking that water. 00:15:16.359 --> 00:15:18.419 When you try to drink something else. 00:15:19.079 --> 00:15:22.419 When you drink from the water that this world will give you. 00:15:23.259 --> 00:15:27.419 And man, it might taste good at first, but the aftertaste is the worst. 00:15:28.799 --> 00:15:31.279 That run, I didn't even plan that. 00:15:33.079 --> 00:15:34.500 Isn't that true though? 00:15:34.899 --> 00:15:36.719 Man, Satan makes things look good. 00:15:36.839 --> 00:15:38.679 It might taste good at first. 00:15:38.740 --> 00:15:43.759 It might look good at first, but afterwards it's the worst, right? 00:15:44.279 --> 00:15:44.979 It is. 00:15:46.500 --> 00:15:53.019 Man, when Jesus gives you something to drink, you don't have to go chase anything else. 00:15:54.439 --> 00:15:56.279 There's nothing else that satisfies. 00:15:56.279 --> 00:16:00.480 So I'm asking you, are you thirsty? 00:16:01.819 --> 00:16:03.819 God is doing something new. 00:16:04.199 --> 00:16:07.919 Isaiah 43 and 44 describe this beautiful picture. 00:16:09.679 --> 00:16:12.339 And back then this was written for God's people Israel. 00:16:12.740 --> 00:16:16.759 But we understand now that there is no Jew or Gentile. 00:16:16.899 --> 00:16:19.819 There is no division between this anymore. 00:16:19.820 --> 00:16:27.400 We have all been under the cross of Jesus Christ, grafted in, brought in to the same family of God. 00:16:28.420 --> 00:16:32.520 So now we don't have to just look at the Old Testament and say, well, that's not for us. 00:16:33.580 --> 00:16:37.980 No, there's a reason God preserved his scriptures even into this church age. 00:16:37.980 --> 00:16:40.759 Where we gather together and we worship God. 00:16:41.519 --> 00:16:44.500 And man, God still loves his people of Israel. 00:16:45.220 --> 00:16:47.440 And they're going through it right now, aren't they? 00:16:48.680 --> 00:16:53.940 Y'all aware of the attacks from Iran last night on the Israeli people? 00:16:53.940 --> 00:16:59.600 Well, I don't know the reported damage of that yet. 00:16:59.740 --> 00:17:10.100 I know the Iron Dome system worked to some extent to protect some of the people in Israel over there from those missiles. 00:17:10.099 --> 00:17:14.259 But I hope you've already been praying for Israel. 00:17:15.619 --> 00:17:21.000 For all people over there that God would use this terrible conflict to be brought to him. 00:17:21.659 --> 00:17:26.259 But certainly we read in scripture that God has a special place in his heart for the people of Israel. 00:17:26.879 --> 00:17:33.659 And while they are in duress, as they have been for most of their history, we definitely need to pray for them. 00:17:33.660 --> 00:17:46.000 But as we read these prophecies, we read these promises, we read God's way of dealing with his people, 00:17:47.019 --> 00:17:52.560 we can then see God deals the same way with us. 00:17:53.620 --> 00:17:57.240 His beloved children, who he has brought in together. 00:17:58.240 --> 00:18:01.360 And so it's not inappropriate for us to say, okay, God, 00:18:01.359 --> 00:18:04.000 God, my ground is dry. 00:18:05.459 --> 00:18:06.819 I need your water. 00:18:07.619 --> 00:18:08.759 I need your streams. 00:18:09.740 --> 00:18:11.000 I need your help. 00:18:11.779 --> 00:18:13.699 God, I'm thirsty. 00:18:14.579 --> 00:18:15.799 I see you working. 00:18:16.159 --> 00:18:17.379 I see you moving. 00:18:17.859 --> 00:18:22.099 I see you pouring out your blessings on these generations coming up behind. 00:18:22.339 --> 00:18:24.339 I see the future laying out. 00:18:24.419 --> 00:18:27.299 But God, I don't want you to just put me out to pasture. 00:18:27.539 --> 00:18:28.939 I want to be a part of it. 00:18:28.940 --> 00:18:35.000 Throughout the New Testament, we see a beautiful picture of the church where the older are teaching 00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:39.380 the younger, where the older and the younger are working in harmony with one another, where 00:18:39.380 --> 00:18:40.779 they are serving one another. 00:18:41.080 --> 00:18:44.840 And it's not, hey, this was the old people's church and now it's the young people's church. 00:18:45.039 --> 00:18:46.740 No, it's all of our church together. 00:18:46.960 --> 00:18:50.759 But I can promise you that God will do something new. 00:18:51.580 --> 00:18:54.400 You can be part of it or you can miss it. 00:18:54.400 --> 00:18:57.140 God's doing something new. 00:18:58.519 --> 00:18:59.740 Do you see it? 00:19:01.240 --> 00:19:02.320 And are you thirsty? 00:19:03.060 --> 00:19:08.720 Have you been going and living life and going through the motions and doing the things and 00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:09.540 coming to church? 00:19:09.620 --> 00:19:10.940 Maybe you come on Sunday morning. 00:19:11.300 --> 00:19:13.160 Maybe you attend the Sunday night Bible study. 00:19:13.440 --> 00:19:15.220 Maybe you attend the Wednesday night Bible study. 00:19:15.320 --> 00:19:16.940 Maybe you serve in the children's ministry. 00:19:16.940 --> 00:19:22.519 Maybe you're worn out because you had D-Now weekend not too long ago and you were serving 00:19:22.519 --> 00:19:23.400 in the youth ministry. 00:19:23.600 --> 00:19:28.220 Whatever it is, whatever you've been doing, doing, doing for God and you've been trying 00:19:28.220 --> 00:19:32.380 to raise your children right and you've been trying to raise your grandchildren right, maybe 00:19:32.380 --> 00:19:33.400 that's your lot in life. 00:19:33.660 --> 00:19:35.740 Who knows what your situation is? 00:19:35.920 --> 00:19:36.940 You've been trying to be kind. 00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:37.820 You've been trying to be nice. 00:19:37.920 --> 00:19:41.779 You've been trying to do all the things and you're just running on empty. 00:19:42.160 --> 00:19:43.279 Running on empty. 00:19:43.279 --> 00:19:46.460 And you're thirsty. 00:19:47.879 --> 00:19:49.319 And God says, don't forget. 00:19:50.099 --> 00:19:51.019 I'm the water. 00:19:52.779 --> 00:19:54.819 You know the story of Mary and Martha, right? 00:19:56.779 --> 00:19:58.599 Jesus was there sitting in the room. 00:19:59.700 --> 00:20:02.220 Martha was the busybody trying to get everything done on time. 00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:04.039 Be a good host. 00:20:04.779 --> 00:20:07.819 And Mary's just like, hey, this is Jesus. 00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:09.879 I'm going to go listen to him. 00:20:10.519 --> 00:20:11.539 I'm going to go hang out with him. 00:20:11.879 --> 00:20:12.839 He's kind of the big deal. 00:20:13.279 --> 00:20:14.480 In this situation. 00:20:15.779 --> 00:20:16.839 Don't miss that. 00:20:17.339 --> 00:20:20.619 Don't miss Jesus in your Christian life. 00:20:21.660 --> 00:20:24.200 A fresh beginning with Jesus. 00:20:25.879 --> 00:20:30.779 Revelation 22 and verse 17 tells us this. 00:20:30.920 --> 00:20:33.420 Let the one who is thirsty come. 00:20:33.420 --> 00:20:39.400 Let the one who comes drink from the water of life freely. 00:20:39.880 --> 00:20:41.240 That's the part that got cut off. 00:20:41.600 --> 00:20:42.519 Sorry about that. 00:20:43.519 --> 00:20:45.720 Let the one who is thirsty come. 00:20:46.019 --> 00:20:49.920 And let anyone who comes drink from that water freely. 00:20:49.920 --> 00:20:51.620 Are you thirsty? 00:20:52.340 --> 00:20:53.279 Are you thirsty? 00:20:53.279 --> 00:20:58.559 So we're talking about new life. 00:20:58.559 --> 00:21:03.879 A fresh beginning with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 00:21:03.880 --> 00:21:12.820 Now I've told you, church, several times, that I strongly believe God has called our church into a season of prayer. 00:21:12.819 --> 00:21:13.819 The Sunday before Easter. 00:21:13.819 --> 00:21:18.539 The Sunday before Easter, we finished a series on the Lord's Prayer. 00:21:18.960 --> 00:21:19.700 The model prayer. 00:21:19.700 --> 00:21:29.580 And I believe that that is still applicable to what this new series is going to be about. 00:21:29.579 --> 00:21:35.279 From the children who are still in this room. 00:21:37.059 --> 00:21:39.720 To the middle schoolers, the high schoolers. 00:21:40.919 --> 00:21:43.579 The men, women, single, married. 00:21:45.099 --> 00:21:45.699 Parents. 00:21:47.439 --> 00:21:48.000 Grandparents. 00:21:50.740 --> 00:21:51.259 Widows. 00:21:52.779 --> 00:21:55.339 Whatever your situation, your category is. 00:21:57.879 --> 00:21:58.980 We need you. 00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:02.279 This church needs you. 00:22:03.519 --> 00:22:05.679 I'm coming up on my one year anniversary here. 00:22:06.699 --> 00:22:11.480 I told the search committee before they hired me that I really wanted to come in and learn. 00:22:12.379 --> 00:22:13.099 Learn the people. 00:22:13.460 --> 00:22:14.059 Learn the area. 00:22:14.779 --> 00:22:16.019 Learn the history of this church. 00:22:16.439 --> 00:22:17.419 Just learn the situation. 00:22:18.539 --> 00:22:20.759 And that's pretty much what I've spent my first year doing. 00:22:21.919 --> 00:22:23.179 Just learning all this. 00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:27.299 And after my first year, I still have a lot to learn. 00:22:27.299 --> 00:22:30.259 But I'll tell you this. 00:22:30.980 --> 00:22:37.139 I've learned that every person in this church is vital to this church continuing. 00:22:37.140 --> 00:22:44.440 When somebody begins to disengage, we feel it. 00:22:44.660 --> 00:22:46.540 You probably don't realize that. 00:22:48.040 --> 00:22:51.440 When you don't show up for a while, we miss you. 00:22:51.440 --> 00:23:00.420 When you're struggling, we all feel it. 00:23:02.340 --> 00:23:06.200 And that's why this church is described as a family. 00:23:06.200 --> 00:23:09.840 It's why God's church is described as a family. 00:23:10.640 --> 00:23:13.100 We all need each other. 00:23:13.099 --> 00:23:24.399 I believe that there are wonderful days ahead for our church. 00:23:25.000 --> 00:23:33.599 I believe that there's a generation of children and teenagers coming up who love Jesus. 00:23:33.599 --> 00:23:36.839 And they're getting saved. 00:23:37.559 --> 00:23:38.899 And they're getting baptized. 00:23:39.980 --> 00:23:41.559 And they're coming to D now. 00:23:43.059 --> 00:23:44.859 And they're going off to college. 00:23:45.679 --> 00:23:48.799 And they're making friends in college who love the Lord. 00:23:48.879 --> 00:23:51.759 And then they're bringing them back to serve in our D now. 00:23:52.879 --> 00:23:53.759 That's happening. 00:23:53.759 --> 00:24:01.180 There's incredible things happening in the life of our church right now. 00:24:02.640 --> 00:24:07.819 Not back 10 years ago, 20 years ago, 40 years ago. 00:24:08.480 --> 00:24:10.119 God's doing things now. 00:24:12.259 --> 00:24:13.460 And it's not to my credit. 00:24:14.019 --> 00:24:16.400 I haven't even been here long enough to take credit. 00:24:16.720 --> 00:24:16.940 Okay? 00:24:18.079 --> 00:24:23.640 I'm still just kind of going with what I was given, what I was handed, right? 00:24:23.759 --> 00:24:28.859 But God is working. 00:24:29.339 --> 00:24:31.480 And He's working through you. 00:24:32.579 --> 00:24:39.660 So I believe that for a church that's been around since 1876, 00:24:40.259 --> 00:24:44.160 we have the greatest future ahead of us 00:24:44.160 --> 00:24:49.720 that we could possibly ever imagine and that this church has ever seen. 00:24:50.359 --> 00:24:51.519 Why is that? 00:24:51.519 --> 00:24:55.579 Because God is not in the business of declining. 00:24:56.619 --> 00:24:59.400 God is not in the business of getting worse. 00:25:00.259 --> 00:25:02.259 God wants to get better. 00:25:03.139 --> 00:25:07.799 He's been bringing us step by step, stage by stage. 00:25:07.980 --> 00:25:10.220 And now He's got this group right here. 00:25:10.960 --> 00:25:14.720 And we're going to continue growing and doing better. 00:25:14.720 --> 00:25:19.220 And by God's grace, we're not going to die. 00:25:20.019 --> 00:25:25.440 This church, by the grace of God, will not die. 00:25:26.100 --> 00:25:27.400 We will continue. 00:25:27.940 --> 00:25:30.900 We will not just continue, but we will thrive. 00:25:30.900 --> 00:25:38.019 So I'm calling you to join me as we go with Jesus 00:25:38.019 --> 00:25:41.519 and have a fresh beginning in our church. 00:25:41.740 --> 00:25:43.700 New life for our church. 00:25:43.840 --> 00:25:45.040 And here's how it's going to work. 00:25:45.039 --> 00:25:51.139 Jonathan Edwards, one of the greatest pastors this nation has ever seen, 00:25:51.299 --> 00:25:52.839 lived many, many years ago. 00:25:53.200 --> 00:25:56.779 He said, when God is about to do a mighty new thing, 00:25:57.039 --> 00:25:59.779 He always sets His people praying. 00:26:00.539 --> 00:26:02.559 So church, that's what I'm calling you to do. 00:26:02.920 --> 00:26:05.079 All those people I mentioned just a moment ago, 00:26:05.299 --> 00:26:08.379 the singles, the marrieds, the old, the young, everybody in between, 00:26:08.380 --> 00:26:12.960 we need you to pray, to commit to praying, 00:26:13.700 --> 00:26:17.240 commit to praying for our church actively. 00:26:18.260 --> 00:26:22.220 Man, you might say, you are way overestimating my commitment level to this church. 00:26:22.920 --> 00:26:25.080 Say, no, no, no, you're here this morning. 00:26:25.860 --> 00:26:30.580 You made it a priority enough to show up and be here with God's people, 00:26:30.960 --> 00:26:33.520 worshiping God and listening to His word preached. 00:26:34.260 --> 00:26:35.720 So we need you too. 00:26:36.720 --> 00:26:38.220 Would you bow your heads right now with me? 00:26:38.380 --> 00:26:39.400 Let's start now. 00:26:39.560 --> 00:26:40.360 Let's start now. 00:26:41.160 --> 00:26:41.920 We need to pray. 00:26:42.620 --> 00:26:45.160 When God begins to do something new, 00:26:45.300 --> 00:26:47.020 He sets His people praying. 00:26:47.400 --> 00:26:49.340 So church, right now, we're going to do that. 00:26:49.680 --> 00:26:51.520 Before we close, we're going to start praying. 00:26:51.820 --> 00:26:53.280 And then I'm going to ask each of you 00:26:53.280 --> 00:26:59.340 to commit to pray weekly for our church. 00:27:00.660 --> 00:27:02.600 Hey, I'd love it if you prayed daily, 00:27:03.040 --> 00:27:06.640 but I'm going to ask you to commit, to promise to pray weekly. 00:27:06.640 --> 00:27:08.300 What does that look like? 00:27:08.380 --> 00:27:09.140 You need to pick a day. 00:27:09.620 --> 00:27:10.580 You need to pick a day. 00:27:10.660 --> 00:27:11.360 You need to pick a time. 00:27:11.420 --> 00:27:12.220 You need to put it on your calendar. 00:27:13.320 --> 00:27:14.540 I use my phone calendar. 00:27:14.660 --> 00:27:16.240 If you use your paper calendar, fine. 00:27:16.980 --> 00:27:18.220 Write a sticky note. 00:27:18.280 --> 00:27:18.840 Put it on your mirror. 00:27:18.900 --> 00:27:19.680 Whatever it takes. 00:27:19.680 --> 00:27:20.680 You need to pray. 00:27:20.680 --> 00:27:21.680 You need to pray. 00:27:23.060 --> 00:27:25.000 Find a day once a week. 00:27:25.100 --> 00:27:29.100 Find a time on that day when nothing else is going to conflict. 00:27:29.200 --> 00:27:30.380 If you've got to get up a little early, 00:27:30.480 --> 00:27:32.779 if you've got to do it right before you go to bed, 00:27:33.160 --> 00:27:35.620 say, I'm going to pray for my church. 00:27:36.519 --> 00:27:38.259 Y'all, I'm not demanding you do that. 00:27:38.320 --> 00:27:38.900 I'm asking. 00:27:39.360 --> 00:27:40.240 I'm asking you. 00:27:40.240 --> 00:27:45.299 And I believe the more people, the more of God's people that we have praying for this church, 00:27:45.400 --> 00:27:46.839 the more God's going to move. 00:27:47.240 --> 00:27:48.980 You heard from the search committee this morning. 00:27:49.400 --> 00:27:50.940 We want the right person here. 00:27:51.420 --> 00:27:54.120 We want somebody helping us in the area of youth and worship. 00:27:54.119 --> 00:27:59.619 We want to see our church brought to where God wants it to be, 00:28:00.419 --> 00:28:02.559 not where we want it to be. 00:28:03.779 --> 00:28:07.259 So to see that happen, we've got to pray. 00:28:09.619 --> 00:28:11.439 Bow your heads with me if you would. 00:28:12.479 --> 00:28:13.779 God, we pray right now. 00:28:16.279 --> 00:28:18.319 I don't want to ignore what you're doing. 00:28:19.839 --> 00:28:23.879 Just about every week, there's people coming up saying, 00:28:23.880 --> 00:28:25.180 I gave my life to Jesus. 00:28:26.220 --> 00:28:27.500 Saying, I want to be baptized. 00:28:28.800 --> 00:28:31.680 There is evidence of you working, Lord. 00:28:32.140 --> 00:28:34.720 This is not just the same old every week. 00:28:34.960 --> 00:28:37.500 This is not just the same old that it's always been. 00:28:37.740 --> 00:28:38.740 You're doing something. 00:28:39.060 --> 00:28:40.320 You're doing something new. 00:28:40.520 --> 00:28:42.720 And we would be wrong to ignore it. 00:28:43.660 --> 00:28:46.440 So God, teach us to pray. 00:28:47.540 --> 00:28:49.560 Teach us to come to you and say, 00:28:49.640 --> 00:28:51.540 God, we need you to do this. 00:28:51.539 --> 00:28:55.680 If we jump in and try to manage this and figure it all out, 00:28:55.799 --> 00:28:56.960 we're going to mess it up. 00:28:57.579 --> 00:28:59.200 But God, you need to step in. 00:28:59.379 --> 00:29:00.519 And you need to lead us. 00:29:00.539 --> 00:29:02.319 And you need to show us what we need to do. 00:29:02.559 --> 00:29:04.539 God, we've got all these young people getting baptized. 00:29:05.000 --> 00:29:07.480 We need to get them into discipleship programs 00:29:07.480 --> 00:29:10.759 that teach them what it means to be a follower of Jesus, 00:29:10.839 --> 00:29:14.000 not just dunk them in the water and then send them on their way. 00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:17.500 God, there's so much. 00:29:17.799 --> 00:29:21.880 This is all so much bigger than we as a church can handle. 00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:23.059 Everybody's got their families. 00:29:23.200 --> 00:29:24.279 Everybody's got their jobs. 00:29:24.420 --> 00:29:26.680 Everybody's got their busy life happening. 00:29:27.640 --> 00:29:29.940 And yet, you've called us together into this church. 00:29:33.839 --> 00:29:35.099 It's supposed to be a light. 00:29:35.839 --> 00:29:37.220 It's supposed to have an impact. 00:29:37.220 --> 00:29:39.620 And it is having an impact. 00:29:42.200 --> 00:29:43.539 But God, it's bigger than us. 00:29:44.420 --> 00:29:46.559 You're doing a new thing, and it can be a little scary. 00:29:48.940 --> 00:29:50.240 It can be a little different. 00:29:52.180 --> 00:29:54.299 The church 10 years from now in Henrietta 00:29:54.299 --> 00:29:56.400 might look a little different than it did 10 years ago. 00:29:56.400 --> 00:30:03.019 But we want it to look like what you have for it. 00:30:05.360 --> 00:30:06.500 Your will, not ours. 00:30:08.920 --> 00:30:10.700 So God, give everyone right now, 00:30:11.580 --> 00:30:13.580 every head in this room that's bowed, 00:30:13.660 --> 00:30:17.700 every mind that's thinking about you, 00:30:18.900 --> 00:30:23.640 thinking about your spirit speaking to them. 00:30:23.640 --> 00:30:27.280 And God, show each person the day, the time, 00:30:27.600 --> 00:30:30.700 when they will commit to pray for this church. 00:30:32.920 --> 00:30:37.540 Specifically, to pray that we would love God, 00:30:37.640 --> 00:30:38.700 that we would seek truth, 00:30:38.759 --> 00:30:40.400 and that we would serve people together. 00:30:42.380 --> 00:30:45.960 Specifically pray that we would be the church that you want, 00:30:46.200 --> 00:30:47.640 not the church that we want. 00:30:49.500 --> 00:30:50.540 Specifically pray 00:30:50.539 --> 00:30:54.779 that God would use me. 00:30:56.579 --> 00:30:58.240 Not just me, Pastor Sam, 00:30:58.339 --> 00:31:00.079 but me, every person in this room. 00:31:01.899 --> 00:31:03.220 Pray individually that, 00:31:03.359 --> 00:31:04.899 God, how can you use me 00:31:04.899 --> 00:31:07.779 to make a difference 00:31:07.779 --> 00:31:10.480 for your glory in this church? 00:31:10.579 --> 00:31:12.639 God, I want to be a part of something new. 00:31:12.700 --> 00:31:14.099 I don't want to be sitting on the sidelines. 00:31:14.920 --> 00:31:16.759 I don't want to be just thinking about the past. 00:31:16.759 --> 00:31:20.960 I want to be a part of the present and the future. 00:31:23.079 --> 00:31:24.879 Wherever you send off these young people, 00:31:25.759 --> 00:31:29.680 I know some of them will maybe go off to college 00:31:29.680 --> 00:31:30.599 and come back to Henrietta. 00:31:30.980 --> 00:31:33.539 I don't know what your plans are for these young people, 00:31:33.619 --> 00:31:34.900 but God, wherever you send them, 00:31:35.440 --> 00:31:36.859 let their lives be impacted, 00:31:37.019 --> 00:31:38.859 and let them make a massive difference 00:31:38.859 --> 00:31:39.960 wherever they go 00:31:39.960 --> 00:31:42.900 because of what you did in their lives in this church. 00:31:42.900 --> 00:31:45.300 church, we'll give you the glory for it. 00:31:47.600 --> 00:31:48.860 Church, with your heads bowed, 00:31:49.280 --> 00:31:51.060 are you willing to slip your hand up and say, 00:31:51.440 --> 00:31:53.100 I'm going to commit to a day and a time, 00:31:53.140 --> 00:31:54.220 you don't have to tell me right now, 00:31:54.400 --> 00:31:56.100 but I'm going to commit to a day and a time 00:31:56.100 --> 00:31:58.540 to pray for our church every week. 00:31:58.600 --> 00:31:59.640 Would you slip your hand up now? 00:32:00.200 --> 00:32:00.660 Thank you. 00:32:00.960 --> 00:32:01.480 Thank you. 00:32:02.180 --> 00:32:02.740 Thank you. 00:32:03.460 --> 00:32:04.740 Hands all across the room. 00:32:04.920 --> 00:32:06.160 That's between you and God. 00:32:06.300 --> 00:32:08.900 I urge you to find an accountability partner 00:32:08.900 --> 00:32:10.500 if you want to tell me when that time is. 00:32:10.500 --> 00:32:14.220 You want to tell your spouse, a friend, whoever it is, 00:32:14.440 --> 00:32:16.180 and just remind me, remind me, 00:32:16.259 --> 00:32:18.420 set an alarm on your phone, whatever it takes. 00:32:19.059 --> 00:32:22.319 Remind me to pray because prayer is the key. 00:32:22.480 --> 00:32:23.539 Prayer is so important. 00:32:23.740 --> 00:32:27.500 God, do something in our church and start right now. 00:32:28.079 --> 00:32:29.359 It's in Jesus' name we pray. 00:32:30.220 --> 00:32:30.660 Amen. 00:32:31.380 --> 00:32:33.200 If you need to do business with God this morning, 00:32:33.380 --> 00:32:35.900 they're going to come lead a verse of a song, 00:32:36.079 --> 00:32:37.480 but if you need to do business with God, 00:32:37.619 --> 00:32:38.660 you can come down here. 00:32:38.660 --> 00:32:40.299 You can come down and talk to me. 00:32:40.500 --> 00:32:41.680 You can slip off to the back. 00:32:41.759 --> 00:32:42.700 Whatever you need to do 00:32:42.700 --> 00:32:45.599 to pray over whatever God is working in your heart, 00:32:45.819 --> 00:32:47.180 you need to give your life to Jesus, 00:32:47.359 --> 00:32:48.680 as some of these young people have. 00:32:48.900 --> 00:32:49.859 You say, I know I'm a sinner, 00:32:49.960 --> 00:32:51.279 but I've never put my faith in Jesus, 00:32:51.440 --> 00:32:52.680 and I want to do that today. 00:32:52.880 --> 00:32:53.940 Then come down and talk to me. 00:32:53.980 --> 00:32:55.559 I'd love to have that conversation with you. 00:32:55.960 --> 00:32:59.180 But this is the time to have a moment with God 00:32:59.180 --> 00:33:00.880 and do business with Him. 00:33:01.099 --> 00:33:02.700 So take advantage of this time now. 00:33:02.700 --> 00:33:02.759 Amen.