See, I am doing a new Thing

 

Philippians 1:12-14

The disillusion of looking to the past and not remembering this truth, the old is forever new.  This is especially true in the area of the spiritual!  Reading the verses listed above, it is easy to reflect on your life and have feelings of despair, when has my life or my circumstances been used to advance the gospel?  God sent the message of the gospel to the imperial guard, by using Paul’s imprisonment.   That is like sending a message to every Navy Seal, or our Special Opts in the United States military.  What was the message; Paul’s imprisonment is for Christ, he had a choice and his choice was prison and chains, so that the gospel of Christ reached Rome.

It was in weakness that Paul’s message reached the elite of the Roman military; it was in weakness that the Spirit of God invaded the imperial guard, Paul’s life served to advance the gospel.  While pondering these thoughts and understanding that the Spirit of God is always engaging my heart, a thought came into my mind, “See, I am doing something new.”  I stopped and I ask were did that thought come from, and I believe it came from the Holy Spirit of God.

God, from the beginning of what you and I call time; it must be stated it has no control on God, but you and I must have it on planet earth, just as we need day and night and seasons.  So from the beginning of time God has been sending this message and Isaiah the prophet led by the Spirit of God gave it to us often.  Isaiah tells us; “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.  See, I am dong a new thing! 

Much of my past has been broken promises, acts of unrighteousness and living to promote self, and God who spoke these words to that stubborn people of Israel, is speaking this to us, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.”  It is called the past for a good reason, it in the rearview mirror of our life, it is history, it is over, learn from it an ask God to forgive you, now it’s over.  It is time to take on the attitude of Paul, it is a new life, it’s time to put off the past, and it has no authority in your life.  It’s time to put on Christ, “and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”  (Ephesians 4:24)

If you are in agreement with the words spoken by Isaiah the prophet, “See, I am dong a new thing!”  Then my prayer for you and for me is that verse 14 is lived out in our life; “And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”   Let the Spirit make you a bold warrior who is advancing the gospel of Jesus Christ.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice