Title: Let's look forward to a new job!!
Contents Dear friends, I was assigned to Daelim Church on March 16, last year. It has been exactly one year since I served the Lord and the body of the Lord with you. As I look back on the past year, I have gratitude and regret. We thank the Lord for being with us and guiding us in His grace. However, because of my lack of faith, we cannot experience the work of the Lord's revival. We are unable to become one in the vision and dream that the Lord gives us.
Dear brothers and sisters, what is the vision of our church? Those who live with clear goals and dreams do not easily weaken or grow old. A person with a clear goal, a philosophy, and a vision looks younger than his age because he lives dynamically and vigorously. On the other hand, a person who has no dreams and lacks motivation looks older than his age and grows old easily. A person with a dream and a vision is destined to win in the end no matter how harsh the environment.
The fact that he was born black in South Africa, a country of extreme racism, never killed Nelson Mandela's potential. Since the vision and dream of black liberation was always growing in his heart, no difficulties could block his path. Even his 27 years in prison did not take away his vision. He finally freed black people and became president of South Africa, resigning after rejecting requests to continue as president, dedicated to serving children and the poor. Dear saints, God always uses people with such a vision.
So is the church. Proverbs 29:18 says: “Where there is no vision, the people go wild, but blessed are those who keep the law.” You will use a church that has the vision and dream God has given you. We hope to become the Advent Church that fulfills God's work with the vision God has given us and the dream God has given us. I hope you will meet God through today's Word and have a vision and dream for our Advent Church through the message He gives.
First of all, today's text begins by introducing who the speaking God is. Verses 16-17. “I, the LORD, who made a way in the sea, a path in the midst of the great waters, who brought out chariots and horses, and the mighty men of the army, so that they fell at one time, and could not rise, but to be consumed, says the LORD. Who is the Jehovah you are talking about? The God who speaks is the One who saved Israel through the Exodus in the past. He is the God who made a way in the middle of the Red Sea, which blocked the way for the people of Israel. It is God who made a path through the great waters for his people to pass through. It is God who temporarily buried the Egyptian chariots, horses, and warriors in the Red Sea. It is God who has done such a terrific work as if an ordinary person extinguished a flickering lamp.
Who is God speaking to us today? We know him better than the Old Testament Israelites. Romans 8:32 introduces, “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us, how will he not also with him graciously give him all things?” It is God who gave His Son, Jesus, on the cross to die for us. He is the God who saved us from sin, from the devil, and from death through the death and resurrection of his Son. He is the God who promises to give everything with his Son.
Dear brothers and sisters, this Almighty and good God is speaking to us. So what is the message to us? Verses 18-21.
1. The first message is not to remember the past. (verse 18)
He says, “Remember the former things, and do not remember the things of the past.” Here, “a thing of the past” or “a thing of the past” refers to the history of the past. Specifically, it refers to the Exodus event. So what does it mean to not remember the past? This is a word that seems a little odd. This does not mean that we should completely forget the history of the past. This is because the God mentioned in verses 16-17 is introduced as the God of the Exodus, the past event.
What, then, does it mean to “remember the former things, and do not think of the former things”? It's saying don't get too attached to the past. Dear brothers and sisters, in reality, these words are a promise from God to do new things. Rather than focusing on the past, focus on the new things God will do now and in the future.
Dear saints, Israel, who heard this message through Isaiah, was in a national crisis. Ultimately, the country would be destroyed and they would be taken captive to Babylon. In these circumstances, instead of facing a crisis and seeking answers to problems, they held onto the past. While boasting of the great past, they complained and lamented the present. Being caught up in the splendid events of the past, they did not see or recognize the new works of God in the present and future.
Brothers and sisters, we too must remember the history of the past, but do not cling to it too much or make it an object of lamentation. We must not belittle or exaggerate past history personally or ecclesiastical. Don't get caught up in the past by saying, “It was good in the old days” or “It wasn’t like this in the old days.” Whether it is a history of failure or a history of success, we must learn a religious lesson from the history of the past. Through the history of the Exodus in the past, Isaiah realized the greatness and omnipotence of God and His love for his people. And we focused on how the same God is making a new work in the future. It is the same with our Advent Church. Don't talk too much about the past. Don't be too proud of the 50-year history. Faith is the present and the future rather than the past. May you discover what God wants you to do now through us.
2. The second message is to look at the new things God is doing. (verses 19-20)
God tells us not to focus on the past, but to look to the present and the future. Rather than complaining about the past or present, we should expect new things from God. It means to have a vision and a dream about what God will do. Verse 19. “Behold, I am doing a new thing, and now it will be revealed, do you not know it?” God can and will do new things in our lives, in our Adventist church, from now on.
Then, what is the new work that God will do from now on? Verses 19-20. “Surely I will make roads in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, and even the beasts of the field, the wild beasts and ostriches, will honor me, for I will make waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, my people, my chosen ones, to drink.” The new work that God will do is a new work that God will do in contrast to the events of the Exodus in the past. In the past, during the Exodus, God made a way through the sea and saved Israel. Now the same God will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. And God's people will drink from the river God has made in the wilderness and in the desert.
In the wilderness, the river in the desert is a figurative expression of the new work God will do. The wilderness is literally a wilderness where water is scarce. It is a desolate and rough place. The desert is worse. A desert is a place where nothing can grow. However, when a spring springs up and a river flows out of a place like this, everything changes. It is transformed into a place where flowers bloom and fruits abound. This is the vision and dream that God gives us.
Dear brothers and sisters, please think about how we can participate in the new work that God will do with the vision God has given us. It doesn't matter if our church is like a wilderness and our circumstances are like a desert. Because God is doing new things through us. A spring will spring up in the wilderness. The desert will change and rivers will flow. Dear saints, God's new work will be accomplished through us who are weak. God's new work can be accomplished through us, like the wilderness and the desert. If we do not participate, God will do it through someone else or in another way. Therefore, I hope you have a vision for the new work that God will accomplish.
Helen Keller, who has all the disabilities of her mouth, ears, and eyes, said, “Do you think there is any greater misfortune than being born blind?” To that question, he answered, “It is a greater misfortune to have eyes and to see but not to have a vision.” That's right. Those who do not have the vision and dream of God are the most unfortunate. Dear saints, possess the vision God has given you. I hope you can achieve the dream God has given you. A God-given vision can contain infinite possibilities. There may be some amazing things going on. May you have a vision in Jesus Christ. May you dream in Jesus Christ. Please be sure to become a person who fulfills dreams and a church where dreams come true. Because there is a promise in Romans 8:32. “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him also gift us all things?” He gives us a vision for everything, gives us dreams, and makes new things happen through us.
Dear brothers and sisters, God's new work has already been accomplished when we see it as a vision and a dream in our hearts and believe that it will happen. Now all that's left is to see what happens. I hope you believe it.
3. The third message is to sing the praises of God. (verse 21)
Possessing God's vision and dreams can change the level and quality of our lives. Indeed, as those who possess the vision of God, our thoughts and actions will change.
God is doing something new. But why are you doing something new? What is the purpose of God's new work? Verse 21. “This people I have formed for myself, that they may sing my praises.” Dear saints, this is the purpose of our life. The purpose of God's new work is to make us praise Him. I hope you believe that the purpose of our life is to sing the praises of God. That's right. The true purpose of us humans is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
Dear saints, those who possess the vision of God cannot lead a self-centered life seeking their own glory. Those who dream of God will live a God-centered life seeking the glory of God. We will live a life worthy of that vision and dream. When we sing the praises of God, when we seek the glory of God, the vision God has given us, the new work of God, comes true. It really is. God blesses those who please Him. Psalm 37:4. “Rejoice in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Ecclesiastes 2:26 also makes the same promise. “God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to those with whom he pleases, but to the sinner he gives labor to gather and build up to give to those who please God. This is also vanity, a chasing after wind.” God blesses those who please Him. But to those who seek their glory, only hard work is given. It is said that all that sinners have gathered through hard work will be transferred to those who please God. So, don't be in vain.
Brothers and sisters, it is our duty to praise and rejoice in God. Rejoice in God, even if we are in the desert. Praise. Then all blessings will be given to us. When we, Advent Church, have the God-given vision and seek the glory of God, not the boasting of men, when we please God only, not through human merit, and when we praise God and not the glory of men, God You will do amazing new things in the middle. He will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert for us to drink. Not only we drink, but even the wild animals living in the wilderness will drink water through us and give thanks to God. I hope you believe it.