January 13, 2014 – Study the Scriptures with Ben Jennings

Sticks and stones can break your bones, but words can never hurt me.
What a lie.
I think the original intent of that statement was to try to get kids to not let teasing affect them. The truth is though that words hurt.

The more difficult truth is that my words have hurt others.

But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

The picture of the tongue that comes to mind is like a poisonous snake. It can inject poison and death where there is life. Have you ever seen words bring death?

Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

Here’s what is even worse- our words can, and sometimes do bring life. The same tongue that brings so much death can bring life too. How in the world do we keep from bringing death and make sure that our words only bring life?

Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. (James 3:8–14)

The way to deal with the tongue is to deal with the heart. God has to change our hearts to change our words. "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

Are your words bringing death? Ask God to change your heart!

God is Doing A New Thing

Isaiah 43::Dennis Jennings::Baptist Tabernacle::January 12, 2013

One of the things that we think about in the new year is what we are going to do, and what we did in the past year.

What did you see God do in you, through you, and around you in the last year?
* People saved.
* Marriages brought together.
* Broken relationships.

What if I told you that God has a new thing- a greater thing that He wants to do in you, for you, through you and around you this year?

If you continue to focus on the past then it may blur the future.

It’s hard to see what’s in front of us when we’re constantly looking behind us.

You think He’s been great in the past…You haven’t seen anything yet.

Truth:

Isaiah is talking to a united monarch.

But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. (Isaiah 43:1)
God created them and then made them into what they were, and paid the price for them and now lays claim to them.
According to oreintal custom, naming signifies ownership. YOU ARE MINE!

That is the context for verse 18.

Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen. This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise. (Isaiah 43:18–21)

1. God’s Plan in the new thing.

God is not done with you.
It’s a good thing to have history.

What does God mean when He says “I’m going to do something”?
God is already at work on your behalf. He is creating. He is building.

It’s not like the children of Israel had never seen God do things before:
v.15 and 16

I am the Lord, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King. Thus saith the Lord, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters; Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power; they shall lie down together, they shall not rise: they are extinct, they are quenched as tow. (Isaiah 43:15–17)

What is he talking about? Crossing the Red Sea.

As wonderful as it was….
“But remember not the former things…”
It’s ok to remember all that God has done, but it’s horrible to get stuck in it.

Dwelling on the old things can cause you to miss the new things.

What is the new thing that God was going to do?

Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:19)

The one who made dry land in the sea can make water in the dry land.

I’m going to make a place for you, I’ll show you the way, and I’ll provide the sustenance on the way.

2. God’s Purpose in the New Thing.

God wants to do a new thing to satisfy his people.

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. (Matthew 5:6)

God doesn’t create a desire in us that He is incapable of fulfilling.

1. God wants to do a new thing to glorify Himself.
  He knows that we were made to worship Him.

3. God’s Prospect of this new thing.

We have to realize man’s failure.

But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel. Thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy burnt offerings; neither hast thou honoured me with thy sacrifices. I have not caused thee to serve with an offering, nor wearied thee with incense. Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities. (Isaiah 43:22–24)

Their prayer life had stopped. Their praises and sacrifices had ended.
It’s sad to say, but it sounds like the average Christian today.

Why?
“But thou hast been weary of me, O Israel…”
The things of God have become old hat in your life.

It wasn’t a toy that they got bored with…It was Almighty God.

How do you know if you’re tired of God?
* Have you stopped praying?
* Have you stopped praising?
* Have you stopped giving?
* Have the things that used to excite you no longer excite you?

God hasn’t left us. He wants to do this new thing.