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Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth, shall you not know it ? I will even make a road in the wilderness and streams in the desert [Isaiah 43:18,19]. It is the promise that comes to you from God, at the beginning of this new year, and as you step into the first month of it. And may the grace of God take you from where you are in life, to the place where He needs you to be, as you are led into all truth to experience His peace and freedom, as His word comes to its fulfillment in your life. Not intentionally pondering or dwelling in the things of the past that can in no way be productively remedied, is the first step that you need to take in order to see what is new in your life. God, in the words of the prophet, wants you to shift your focus, in order to expect something new in faith, for genuine faith always involves expectation.
What is the new thing ?
It may seem like an oxymoron, for the new comes to you as you focus on what has already happened in the past, when in the fullness of time God gave His Son, to die on the Cross, as a ransom for your sins and mine, and the sins of the whole world. And today, it can bring about a new way of thinking, a new perspective in you, that can radically alter your future to see you lifted up for the glory of God. For, it may be the old rugged Cross, but the grace of God is new every morning, to reveal to you truth that is fresh and new concerning it, and a life time is not sufficient to understand or experience what really happened on the Cross. For, on the Cross, and through the Cross, Christ has inaugurated a new thing that is eternal and everlasting.
The NEW thing – the NEW way :
It is the new and greater way, through which you can approach the presence of God, the Holy of Holies. It is through Christ, through His Blood, and the veil of His flesh that was offered up as the one perfect sacrifice, that has perfected forever those who draw near to Him in faith, and receive from Him the good and perfect gift, that He has prepared for you this year. It is what the writer of the book of Hebrews describes in his epistle, Therefore brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the Blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He has consecrated for us, through the veil that is His flesh [Hebrews 10:19,20]. It is the sacrificial law of the Old Testament that stands replaced now, for it is the sacrifice of praise that we offer up to God, and our bodies as a living sacrifice. The moral law of the Old Covenant still stands, forbidding you from committing murder, adultery, lying, stealing and coveting, and to worship the true and Living God only. Worship of idols in this respect, is replacing anything with the place that Christ needs to take in your heart and in all your life. It could be your job, your family, or any person, activity that usurps it.
The civil law of the old covenant that addressed matters concerning properties and possessions is still applicable too, but according to the modalities of this day; the principles of the law still remain, for God is a God of justice and mercy. And it is why payment of right and due wages, without withholding it from the people who work for you is very important, for when it is not done by you, it becomes something that is very wrong in the sight of God. The labourer has the right to cry out for his wages, and his plea will then be taken up by the Lord Himself. But what you do not need now is the blood of bulls and goats to approach His Holy Presence, for you have now a new and living way through the Blood of Christ, and the veil of His flesh, through what He has accomplished for you already on the Cross of Calvary. It is the knowledge of the truth that all that needs to be done has already been done by Christ on the Cross, the truth that is majestic and new in your life and mine as we revel in the fruit of the Cross !
It is a new dimension of the truth of Calvary that comes to you this day, that all that you need has already been taken care of by the Lord. It includes all that you will ever need for this new year that you are entering into, and it is the truth that with a new and fresh understanding of it, can liberate you to walk in freedom and liberty all through this year. It is after accomplishing all that you will ever need in the year of 2019, that He has brought you into it. And this has always been God’s principle, seen even in his creation of the first man, Adam, who had everything that he needed created and prepared for him, even as he arrived on the scene, to be blessed, be fruitful and multiply. And, the words of God saying, ‘Let us make man in our own image’, implies a plurality that includes Eve who was also what Adam needed being in built in him to then become a ‘bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh’. And when that is your knowledge and experience of the truth of what has been accomplished on the Cross, you will certainly not worry about tomorrow, or be anxious about anything, as Paul declares in his letter to the Philippians, even though the people around you, may misunderstand it to be carelessness on your part.
But God is a God of foreknowledge, and whatever a redeemed man needs has already been provided through the Cross. And, it needs to be the truth with which you overcome the worrying thoughts that the devil may try to plant in your mind. The law in the Old Testament was one in which blessings coming to you hinged on you keeping the law in its entirety, and it is something that no human being on earth can do. And, the curse list that is the result of disobedience is in fact longer than the list of blessings! But where it all turns around is in the revelation that the Old Testament law and the yearly sacrifice for sins that it entailed was all a shadow of the Cross, where by one sacrifice your sins are removed forever. And it is the glorious difference between the old and the new covenant. The old was where your sins were forgiven when you forgave the sins of others. But in the new covenant, you forgive because Christ has forgiven your sins on the Cross. God never asks you to do what He has not done in you and for you, is the truth that liberates and empowers you, as you look at the wonder of the Cross. Before you ever gave anything, He has given His very own Son for you. And, then He says, ‘Give and it shall be given unto you’. He has lavished His love upon you that you maybe called a child of God. And it is then that He bids you to love your neighbour as yourself. And every book in the Old Testament, beginning with [Genesis 3:15], the Law and the prophets, the psalms and the historical books all majestically point to the Messiah, who was one day going to come to redeem them from the slavery and bondage of sin. The people of the Old Testament, were under the law, and in the fullness of time God sent His Son, to redeem those who were under the law, through the finished work of the Cross.
The ‘new’ perspective :
And it is why there needs to be a new perspective in you now, in your outlook of life, even as you start at the Cross, where all that you and has already been accomplished by the Risen Lord, and your Living Redeemer. When it is about your sickness, you need to begin at the Cross, where by His stripes you are healed. When it is about your financial well-being, it is when you start at the Cross, that you will see the new thing, for God is able to make all grace abound toward you, so that you will have all sufficiency at all times for every good work [2 Corinthians 9:8]. And knowing grace begins with the Cross, where He became poor, so the through His poverty you may become rich [2 Corinthians 8:9]. Christ became sin on the Cross, so that you and I can become the righteousness of God in Him; He became a curse on the Cross, so that you can be blessed in Him.
And, therefore, if you desire to get everything right this new year, start with the Cross and what has been already accomplished for you through it. It is the new light that comes to you through His grace that is new each day. Our sin took the Lord to the tomb. But grace takes us from the tomb to the throne, where He is seated at the right hand of God, to be heirs and co heirs with Him forever! Even though we were dead in our sins, God made us alive together with Christ by grace you have been saved And raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus [Ephesians 2:5,6]. He gives you the irresistible grace that makes you respond positively in faith, and as a result salvation becomes your living experience. Paul explains how it all happens within you, and on the Cross, by explaining the significance of the torn veil. But their minds were blinded, for until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the old testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. But even to this day when Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away [2 Corinthians 3:14-16].
The revelation of the ‘new’ :
There was a veil separating the Holy of Holies and the people who could not come beyond a certain point into the presence of God in worship, for sin separates you from God, and it was when Christ became the ransom for our sins that humanity witnessed a glorious miracle, when the veil of separation in the temple was torn. And it was torn from the top to the bottom, indicating so very clearly, that salvation is a gift that comes to you from God above, and you can do nothing at all to earn it. The veil is removed the day you were saved by grace, through the Cross enabling you to see clearly, the Lord Jesus Christ, into the glory of whom you are transformed from glory to glory, through the Lord who is the Spirit. And it is only Christ the Bridegroom, who can remove the veil that covers a person’s heart, until they are saved, for their minds are darkened and unable to see the light of truth that is in Christ which can transform their lives, to see what is new, the beauty of salvation in their lives.
It is He even now who can remove the veil of doubt and fear, and the pain of past bitter experiences, that could be hindering the joy of the ‘new’ in your heart. The symbolism of it can be seen even in a Christian marriage ceremony, where it is the bridegroom who lifts the veil that covers the face of the bride as she enters in. And Jacob may been duped on account of it by Laban, a deceiver greater than his own self ! But, even now there are people who are weeping in front of the wailing wall in Israel, all because the veil that is covering their hearts, preventing them from seeing the truth of what is ‘new’, that has already come into the world through Christ. They continue to wait for the coming of the Messiah, but you and I have experienced the new and glorious difference of His first coming in our hearts. And we now await His second coming, with thousands and thousands of His angels in glory, to be gathered up and be with Him forever and ever in endless life. He has already accomplished it all on the Cross; the veil has been torn into two from the top to the bottom. But how does it all practically apply in your life ? There are three aspects to this profound truth, as the writer to the Hebrews sets forth, in the word of God, to encourage you to walk in the path that will see you enjoy the ‘new thing’ in your day to day life, in the grace that comes to you anew each day .
1. Drawing near to God :
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water [Hebrews 10:22]. You can now draw near to God, into His presence to receive help from Him, and to hear from Him. Now when two or three are assembled in His Name, the Lord is there in their midst. And, you have a God who has promised never to leave you or forsake you. He has engraved you in the palm of His hand. In faith therefore, upon a God who remains faithful forever, you need to draw near to Him with confidence and a conviction that results in courage in order to receive the ‘new thing’ that He has made available for you. When there is no conviction, there will be a lack of courage in doing the things of God. And, the man who puts his hand on the plough, only to turn back, cannot be His disciple is the Lord’s sober word of caution to you and I.
It is then that you need to remember that over your mortal hand upon the plough rests the immortal Hand of the One who has made you and formed you, to strengthen you and bless the work of your hand, and it is how you prosper. It is the conviction that gives you the confidence to receive, for the double minded person will be unstable in all his ways and unable to receive anything from the Lord [James 4:8]. And for some people, it takes a long time to be prepared to receive, for twenty years ago the message of the Cross would have been foolishness to them. But for those who have experienced it in their lives, to share the ‘new thing’ with others who are still blinded by the devil, the conviction needs to be there that the Lord who transformed them has also prepared the heart of the one with whom he shares the good news of the gospel, to receive it. For, it is His word that you are speaking to those who are still in darkness. And, God’s word in your mouth has the same power, as it does when He Himself is speaking it, and will never return void, without accomplishing the purpose for which it is sent.
When double minded you need to purify your heart to become single minded, and be focused upon God through the water of His word, is how the writer to the Hebrews explains the answer to it. Therefore, even if you find yourself confused and double minded the word of God encourages you by saying that conviction will yet come, and that God will speak into your heart, to dispel all your doubt and confusion. The Lord will never give up on you. He will not snuff out a dimly burning wick, is how the prophet Isaiah describes it so beautifully. It is how He nurtures you, as the disciples on the road to Emmaus, who were so despondent and plagued with doubts discovered. For, the Lord Himself joined them to explain to them the truth of God from the scriptures. And at the end of it all, as they later recollected among themselves, ‘Were not our hearts burning like fire, as He spoke with us ?’, is how they put it in words.
It is what He will do even in your heart and mine when doubts arise owing to a disconnect between the word that God has spoken to you, and the circumstances that you find yourself in that maybe quite contrary. He is the God who takes you from being a dimly burning wick to be a glorious fire, rising up to shine, for His glory is upon you. It is the devil, who will try to put doubts in you, and fear is nothing but putting your faith in the devil. Ever so often, it is the truth that you and I doubt, and it is the lies of the enemy that is easier to believe. But all you need to do is to switch it around, to believe the truth, and doubt the lie! The thing that I feared most has happened, were the words of Job, as what happens in your thoughts often happens in your life. But then again when the word of God is the substance of your thoughts, you will indeed find it prevailing and overcoming all that the enemy tries to bring against you. The word will mightily prevail.
ACTS 19:20 in 2019 ! :
So the word of God grew mightily and prevailed [Acts 19:20]. And in this year 2019, let 19:20 in the book of Acts, be your powerful experience as you take hold of this word to Act upon it! Therefore draw near to God, through the word and your worship. They are the rudimentary factors in drawing close to God, and it is prayer that brings an intimacy and fellowship in your relationship with Him. For, you are His child forever, once you receive Christ as your Saviour into your heart. The Spirit enters in to dwell in you as a guarantee of your inheritance, giving you the right to call Him Abba Father. But, though your relationship as a child of God never changes, your fellowship with Him, and degree of closeness and intimacy with Him, is something that can change depending on your focus upon Him and prioritising in seeking Him and His Kingdom first.
It is where what the writer to the Hebrews cautions against is very applicable in your life and mine, as he warns against neglecting being physically present in a church worship regularly. For, it is the place where you receive encouragement and you are built up in your relationship with God. Not forsaking the gathering of saints as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching [Hebrews 10:25]. And the wonderful aspect, when it comes to the Loving Lord is that, we only need to ask, and the Heavenly Father gives without any reproach or condemnation. Therefore, even when it comes to asking for the inner strength and determination that you need in order to make it regularly to church and worship the True Living God, all you need to do is to ask! Worship does not necessarily need a huge congregation, or flamboyant music. All it needs is the presence of God and you. And let the worship begin! Sometimes people can find silence during the worship to be very disturbing, but it is in the silence that the still, small voice from God can begin to speak to you, to build you up and exalt you. There is nothing that can be compared to intimacy that comes in prayer and in fellowship with God as a congregation. Christ has done it all on the Cross. And you and I need to draw near boldly into the presence of God, and also hold fast to our confession of faith.
2. Hold fast your confession :
Holding fast to your confession until it becomes your possession, is the simple and wise counsel of God, when it comes to your response to all that Christ has accomplished for you on Calvary. Let us hold fast ou r confession without wavering, for He who promised is faithful [Hebrews 10:23]. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, says the psalmist. And the writer to the Hebrews also says how you can confidently declare what the Lord has said, and in the process walk without fear of what man can do to you, for He has promised never to leave you [Hebrews 13:5,6]. The intensity of the love and the tone with which He has promised never to leave you, can never ever be expressed in human terms. His grip on you is tighter than yours on His and it will never weaken. He is the Lord who is faithful even when we remain faithless. And lastly, in light of all that Christ has done for you, it requires on your part to consider others.
3. Being other centered :
And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works [Hebrews 10:24]. Sin is basically self centred selfishness, and it is certainly not from God. And, how do you learn to be other centred? You only need to go to the Cross, where the Saviour spoke forgiveness over the ones who wounded Him, concern over His mother, and compassion over the women who were crying over His agony. And the words of the apostle displays the creed that needs to be yours and mine too as we live our lives in the newness of the Cross, that has spoken blessing over you and I. I have been crucified with Christ; I no longer live, but it is Christ who lives in me; and the life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me [Galatians 2:20]. Start from the Cross to live God focused and other centred; and 2019 will be a blessed year for you. He has done it all for you on the Cross, where His thoughts were about you and I. And today it is the reality of the Cross that we experience in our lives.
‘NEW THING’ – the blessing of salvation :
The incomparable blessing of salvation is the ‘new thing’ that the Lord has prepared and given unto us. It is what we remember, receive and celebrate in the Holy Communion, acknowledging what He has done through His Body and His Blood, given for us on the Cross of Calvary. He has opened a new and living way to draw near to Him, in bold confession and with consideration for others, so that you and I are blessed, to be a blessing in the lives of others. Give thanks unto Him, for all that Christ has done for you on the Cross, and may your life be blessed as you appropriate in your life, by the power of His Spirit, all that God has done for you, in giving you His Son. May the ‘new thing’, the fullness of salvation, be your life’s experience, as, the word prevails mightily in your life, even as you act upon His word that comes to you, empowered by grace that takes you from where you are to where God wants you to be.
In the Name of Christ Jesus Amen.
