Spot On With The Word

Isaiah 43. In order to really apprehend the new thing, you have to truly let go, so that your hand, your heart and your mind are truly free to receive what is the new potential that can be. Any time you see a new culture or social structure being established, the first generation than moves out of what previously existed and subsequently moves into a new structure, are referred to as pioneers. They blaze new trails They forge new roads and for this, they pay a heavy price. They must go into places where no one has been before. There is no road. There is no trail. They have no map. They will have to make a way, where there is no way. The second generation, those who are the children of the pioneers, are referred to as settlers. They are the ones who occupy the new territory. The new roads which were created by the pioneers can now be paved by the settlers which come after them. Settlers can educate themselves concerning this new way of life and this new society. They take the new land and they cultivate it. So you have pioneers who discover and settlers who cultivate. The following generation is usually referred to a citizen. Citizens are established they are beyond what has previously gone before. The new thing is all they have ever known. The one consistent thing about the later group of people is that they resist and resent change. They oppose change. They may be only two or three generations removed from pioneers who discovered and paid a hefty price. Sometimes the greatest obstacle you may face in your life is the part of you that has become comfortable with the way that things currently work. Have you noticed society is struggling with the idea that we might not be able to totally return to the way things were before? Perhaps that is not necessarily a bad thing. Ruts are not good. They kill creativity. There is something about shaking and pressure that forces us to dislodge ourselves from what was in order that we discover the potential of what can be. Pray to be totally free so that you can discover what you were designed to become!

In Isaiah Chapter 43, God gives us this encouragement and instruction. He says, “Remember not the former things, neither consider the things of old...” Some of “the things” that God was telling them not to remember were the good things that He had previously done. He is encouraging us to do the same today. Think about that. It is easier when someone tells us to forget the bad, the troubles, and the heartaches . After all, who wants to remember the agony? But God is also including the positive. No matter how wonderful any previous move of God might have been, we are not to hold onto that either. If we do, the greatest hinderance may be that our focus will only be on what He did for us in the past, rather than what He desires to do for us in the future. We are to always be grateful and appreciative, but for Him to do something new, we must turn our attention to the present moment. It seems like a paradox. We must let go and embrace at the same time. I believe that we are being asked to do that as individuals, and collectively as a nation. There are some antiquated ways of thinking that have become unfruitful and it is time to let them go. We must recognize that they are rooted in negative and primitive thought processes. They are no longer relevant. If we refuse let go of what was, we will never be free to embrace what could be. Many people miss out on experiencing the greatness that God intends for them, because they have learned to settle for something good. When God starts shaking up what you thought was good, hopefully you will be quick to reach for what is great. For us to reach the higher level, God may allow our circumstances to become uncomfortable or even unbearable. If God is shaking you, then do not be alarmed. It means that you are a candidate for something in your future that is greater. Repetition breeds familiarity. It is easy to copy a formula. Sometimes you must get out of the realm of formula and into the realm of faith. Forget the limitations of the past. Remember them no more. Now you are free! You are dislodged and enabled to run the race that is before you. You have barely touched and tasted the potential inside of you!

In Isaiah Chapter 43, God gives us this encouragement and instruction. He says, “Remember not the former things, neither consider the things of old. For behold, I do a new thing.” It is obvious that we are currently in a time of turmoil. Socially, economically, politically, and even racially, the world is crying out. It is apparent that we cannot continue to do things the same way. Clearly, we will never be able to go back to the way things used to be. The phrase we hear a great deal from almost everyone, is the “new normal.” People in general will embrace the concept of change, but it is hard to sell them on the actual changes that must be made. The idea of change is often much more appealing than the discipline of changing behavior. There is something inside the heart of man that craves and desires newness. Our mind however is comfortable with what is familiar, comfortable, and predictable. All through the scripture God admonishes His people to move forward and forget those things which are behind. REMEMBER NOT THE FORMER THINGS, BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO SEE THAT I AM DOING A NEW THING! The apostle Paul says in Philippians, that we are to “Forget those things that are behind and press forth toward the mark of the prize of the high calling which is in Christ Jesus.” We are told that If any man be in Christ, He is a new creation. Behold old things have passed away and now all things have become new. It may take us some time to learn how to release ourselves from what we have become attached to, in order that we may embrace the newness that God has for us. He is always moving us forward. We are to move from faith to faith. There is something new in front of us. God help us to let go of what is behind us.

To live, is to be in movement. If you are alive, you are moving and constantly changing and adapting. If you don’t, you will be left behind. This is also true in the life of the believer. We are changed from glory to glory. You cannot change and simultaneously remain the same. Transition is a term that is used right before a woman gives birth. When the baby drops from the womb into the birth canal, they call that transition. If you feel the awkwardness of transition, rather than living with the uncertainty and anxiety governing your thoughts, you can choose to rejoice! If you are in transition, then something is about to be birthed in your life. It means that you are ready for the next level, whatever that may be. When the children of Israel were coming out of Israel, where they had been enslaved for over 400 years, God brings them through water. It was the Red sea. They were birthed through the water. They came of Egypt and went into the Promised Land. When Jesus is recognized as the lamb of God, He was baptized by John the Baptist and they were both standing in water. When Jesus meets the woman from Samaria that sets the stage for revival, He meets her at the well and speaks to her of living water. Water. Jesus told his disciples that out of their bellies would flow rivers of living water. When Davis fought Goliath, he reached into the water and pulled out five smooth stones. Water is fluid, it adapts to the container into which it has been poured. Sometimes it’s hard for us to remain flexible. Don’t be afraid to move to a greater level of faith in God. Be encouraged today to move from strength to strength.

Transition is a process of dislocating and relocating. Disconnecting and connecting may happen at the same time. Moving from one level of faith to another level of faith requires courage. There is no question about it. This is supposed to happen. We find this in the book of Romans. As believers we are never to be stagnant. One of the reasons we are in constant transition, is because we serve a God who is constantly moving. The One who is seated on the circle of the earth, is Himself constantly moving us forward. Everything God creates has movement in it. God is light. Science tells us that light moves at 186,000 miles per second. When God created man, He breathed life into him. Breathing has movement. It has a rhythm to it. The earth spins on its axis. Winds blow and rivers run. God promised His people that they would inherit a land that was flowing with milk and honey. There is constant movement and change. Do not be afraid of change. It probably will present anxiety. It challenges your comfort. When that occurs, then normalcy gets questioned. We resist change because we want to resist the anxiety that accompanies it. Remember that the God that has been with you this far, is the same God who is with you now, and will continue to be with you no matter what the future may hold. He promises to never leave us nor forsake us. He tells us to follow Him and get into His rhythm. Do not be afraid of movement.

It is clear that we are in a season of transition in our world. Likewise, throughout scripture God would lead His people from one season of maturity and possession, into another one. If you have lived long enough, you will recognize that life is a series of transitions. Childhood is followed by adolescences. You become a young adult and then you are an adult. For a period, you may be single and then choose to eventually marry and then have children. Life is a series of transitions and sometimes the process is very awkward. As a child you go from crawling to walking. You learn to take one step, then you may drop and scoot around until you develop the skill and coordination it takes to walk. Children need to be assisted with this process. They need to be helped through the transition. It is the same for you in your spiritual walk. God is with you in the process as you are changed from glory to glory. Leaving behind the familiar will be a prerequisite. You may not have arrived at the destination yet. You may not have yet mastered everything. Sometimes we learn by trial and error. if you find yourself in a season of transition then choose to rejoice! It is an indication that God is moving you from one level to a greater level. You do not have to figure everything out before you start the journey. In the Gospel of First John we are told that NOW we are the children of God. It does not yet appear what we shall be. Do not fret about tomorrow and what is unknown. Embrace the process. Keep moving forward. The God who was with you in the beginning, is the same God who will be with you every step of the way!

There was an incredible shift that took place in the prodigal son when he ended up far from home. It appeared that everything had come to work against him. Likewise, some of your greatest moments may take place in a context where it seems like your life is falling apart. After taking what was his and leaving his father’s house, his assets were wasted, and he found himself feeding swine for a living. When we are at our lowest points, we can still experience a turning point. Scripture teaches us that at this point, he came to himself. He had an “Aha!” moment. He remembered that his father had many hired servants. They had bread enough to spare, while he was literally perishing with hunger. There was a famine everywhere but in his father’s house. He went back home to his father and said, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and you. Please let me live as one of your servants. I am not even worthy to be called your son!” In the beginning, he was arrogant and demanding. In the beginning it was, “Father give me!” After he had suffered serious consequences he said, “Father, please make me.” He relinquished control. We must come before God, recognizing that He is the potter and we are the clay. He is the master architect. If you feel yourself drowning in the sorrow of what might have been, have the courage to return home and say, “Father, please make me.” Become connected, covered, and committed to the God who is your Creator. He who made you, loves you unconditionally. Turn your heart and your feet toward home today!

We have been considering the life of the prodigal son in the Gospel of Luke, the 15th chapter. The younger son approaches his father and demands his inheritance prematurely. He wanted control. After he received what was his, scripture teaches that he went to a distant country and he wasted it. He squandered it in riotous living. If you do not earn something there is a greater risk that you will be tempted to be foolish with those resources. If you do not understand the effort, it will not be as precious to you. As soon as he wasted the resources, there was a severe famine in the country and he began to be in need. God doesn’t give us everything we want whenever we want it. The Lord loves us enough to hold certain things in reserve. There are certain blessings we may receive in times of provision that are meant for us in times of trouble. The younger son had not lived long enough to understand the rhythm of life. The journey is full of mountains and valleys. There is wisdom in holding back some resources , so that there will be sustenance in times of lack. Don’t waste it all in a season of plenty. The Bible tells us that he joined himself to a citizen of another country. He had a job feeding pigs. It was so beneath him. He was reduced to feeding something that his culture deemed to be unclean. Don’t be in so much of a hurry that you wind up feeding what has nothing to do with your destiny. God will give you everything you need, exactly when you need it.

Today, we continue our study of the prodigal son, found in the Gospel of Luke, chapter fifteen. There was a wealthy man who had two sons. One of the sons had learned what was his, but he had not earned what was his. He knew that there was a portion of his father’s estate that fell to him. Sometimes knowledge can be dangerous. Not long after the son demanded, the father acquiesced. Soon after, the son set out for a distant country and there he began to squander his wealth. He wasted it. Lottery winners frequently lose it all because they are not prepared for the financial windfall of resources. When you do not know what to do with something, there will always be the opportunity to waste. We have been given so much as believers that if we are not careful, we will waste the blessings God has given us. Guard against letting life pass you by. Before you realize it, you may discover too late that you wasted what you should have appreciated. Your relationships, gifts, talents, and treasures are precious. Never fail to honor the God who gave them to you in the first place.

We are continuing on with our discussion about the story of the prodigal son. It is easy to waste what you did not earn. There is an important lesson in learning HOW to earn. If you don’t have the blood, sweat and tears invested in something, you are apt to treat it with less value. You may actually normalize it. There is a difference between people who grew up surrounded by great wealth, and those who grew up in hardship having to earn their wealth. Those who earn something are more likely to protect it, because they know the work that went into achieving it. In our current generation it appears that many young people have developed a sense of entitlement. It takes great discipline to not only protect what we have been given, but to respect it. RESPECT THE SWEAT! “Give me what belongs to me!” That statement clearly manifests the need to control. Right now, our world seems to be spinning out of control. We are living in a time of great uncertainty. The result is fear and anxiety. We don’t need to react to the circumstances. God desires that we trust Him. It is when our faith has been tried that it becomes clear how much we believe He is worthy of that trust. We may lack answers in the midst of crisis. That does not mean that God has abandoned us or that we are out of His will. Let’s not ever get to the place where we believe that we can do more with our gifts, talents and treasure, than the One who actually bestowed those blessings.