Theme 2014: Experiencing God, Embracing People! Isaiah 43:18-19.

Theme 2014: Experiencing God, Embracing People!

Theme 2014: Experiencing God, Embracing People!

Isaiah 43:18-19Isaiah 43:18-19

“18 Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.

19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not

perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams

in the wasteland.” [TNIV]

“18 Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.

19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not

perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams

in the wasteland.” [TNIV]

Isaiah 43:18-19….Isaiah 43:18-19….

“The thief comes only to

steal and kill and destroy; I

am come that you might have

life, and have it the full

(abundantly).”

[TNIV]

John 10:10….John 10:10….

“18 Forget the former things;

do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new

thing! …..” [TNIV]

“18 Forget the former things;

do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new

thing! …..” [TNIV]

Isaiah 43:18-19….Isaiah 43:18-19….

We need to understand

that God is far more

interested in our future

than He is in our past!

We need to understand

that God is far more

interested in our future

than He is in our past!

The only person that

can ruin your life is

YOU!

Nobody can RUIN your

life without your

permission!

Nobody can RUIN your

life without your

permission!

You havea choice! You havea choice!

The Bible says that the starting point is to just be….

“A man who refuses to admit his mistakes can

never be successful. But if he confess and forsakes

them he gets another chance.”

[Message Bible]

“A man who refuses to admit his mistakes can

never be successful. But if he confess and forsakes

them he gets another chance.”

[Message Bible]

Proverbs 28:13….Proverbs 28:13….

We need to evaluateall our experiences.  

of ourlife’s experiencesand learn from them!  

“Have you experience so much

in vain – if it really was in vain.”

[TNIV]

“Have you experience so much

in vain – if it really was in vain.”

[TNIV]

Galatians 3:4….Galatians 3:4….

“You have experienced many things. Were all those

experiences wasted? I hope not.”

[Message]

“You have experienced many things. Were all those

experiences wasted? I hope not.”

[Message]

“You have suffered so much for

the gospel. Now are you going

to throw it all over board.”

I can hardly believe it.” [TLB]

“You have suffered so much for

the gospel. Now are you going

to throw it all over board.”

I can hardly believe it.” [TLB]

Galatians 3:4….Galatians 3:4….

Failures or disappointmentscan be our friend or our foe.

Failures or disappointmentscan be our friend or our foe.

You determine

if failure will be your

friend or foe by the way

you react to it!

You determine

if failure will be your

friend or foe by the way

you react to it!

that God allows or usesto shape our lives.

that God allows or usesto shape our lives.

#1. He usesPERSONAL

EXPERIENCESto shape you!

#1. He usesPERSONAL

EXPERIENCESto shape you!

#2. He usesVOCATIONAL & EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCESto shape you!

#2. He usesVOCATIONAL & EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCESto shape you!

#3. He usesSPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES

to shape you!

#3. He usesSPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES

to shape you!

#4. He usesPAINFUL EXPERIENCES

to shape you!

#4. He usesPAINFUL EXPERIENCES

to shape you!

What have I learned?

What are my assets?

Who can help me?

What have I learned?

What are my assets?

Who can help me?

The Bible says the key

to change is

The Bible says the key

to change is

“According to your faith

let it be done to you.” [TNIV]

“According to your faith

let it be done to you.” [TNIV]

Matthew 9:29….Matthew 9:29….

NOTa dead faith!

NOTa dead faith!

It is an affirmative faith

that takes positive action

coupled with the help of God

to change your life.

It is an affirmative faith

that takes positive action

coupled with the help of God

to change your life.

When we askfor somethingand expect toget nothing ….we get exactlywhat we expected, NOTHING!

When we askfor somethingand expect toget nothing ….we get exactlywhat we expected, NOTHING!

… having a pity party

… rehearsing the past

… regretting the past

… having a pity party

… rehearsing the past

… regretting the past

…get on with

the present and

the future!

…get on with

the present and

the future!

Whatever you focus ON tends to reproduce in your life!

Whatever you focus ON tends to reproduce in your life!

learn from the past

“act in faith” for the future

look to God for guidance

learn from the past

“act in faith” for the future

look to God for guidance

How do youget rid of fear or failure?

How do youget rid of fear or failure?

Not so muchthe absence of fear!

Not so muchthe absence of fear!

Moving aheadin spite ofyour fear!

Moving aheadin spite ofyour fear!

“Being afraid of peoplecan get you into trouble.”

“Being afraid of peoplecan get you into trouble.”

Proverbs 29:25….Proverbs 29:25….

“Fear of man is a dangerous trap, but to trust in God

means safety.”[TLB]

“Fear of man is a dangerous trap, but to trust in God

means safety.”[TLB]

“Refocus” our thoughts if

we want to change our life.

“Refocus” our thoughts if

we want to change our life.

to rethink the way

that we think

to rethink the way

that we think

to change our mind about

a number of issues

to change our mind about

a number of issues

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do

flows from it.” [TNIV]

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do

flows from it.” [TNIV]

Proverbs 4:23….Proverbs 4:23….

“Be careful how you think. Your life is shaped by your

thoughts.” [Good News]

“Be careful how you think. Your life is shaped by your

thoughts.” [Good News]

The way you THINK, determines

the way you FEEL.

The way you THINK, determines

the way you FEEL.

And the way you FEEL determines

the way you ACT.

And the way you FEEL determines

the way you ACT.

Romans 12:2….Romans 12:2….

“Do not be conform to the

pattern of this world, but be

transformed by the

renewing of your mind….” [TNIV]

“Do not be conform to the

pattern of this world, but be

transformed by the

renewing of your mind….” [TNIV]

Stop thinkingsome old patterns!

Stop thinkingsome old patterns!

To get a fresh start….To get a fresh start….

“LET GO” of those painful,

hurtful memories of shame

and guilt and other things.

“LET GO” of those painful,

hurtful memories of shame

and guilt and other things.

How do I get rid of a painful memory?

By replacing it!

How do I get rid of a painful memory?

By replacing it!

Stop focusing onwhat you don’t want &

start focusing onwhat you do want.

Stop focusing onwhat you don’t want &

start focusing onwhat you do want.

What’s the best thingto focus on?

What’s the best thingto focus on?

“But who delight in the law of the LORD and meditate on his

law day and night. They are like a tree planted by streams of

water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not

wither — whatever they do prospers.” [TNIV]

“But who delight in the law of the LORD and meditate on his

law day and night. They are like a tree planted by streams of

water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not

wither — whatever they do prospers.” [TNIV]

Psalm 1:2,3….Psalm 1:2,3….

• to be happy• to succeed in life

• to be happy• to succeed in life

2 Things everybody

wants in life….

2 Things everybody

wants in life….

The answer …. “meditating on God’s

Word.”

The answer …. “meditating on God’s

Word.”

“Meditating on God’s

Word” simply means

“rehearsing God’s Word in

our minds over and over.”

“Meditating on God’s

Word” simply means

“rehearsing God’s Word in

our minds over and over.”

As we fill our mind with

God’s Word, it begins to change our mind.

As we fill our mind with

God’s Word, it begins to change our mind.

We begin to SEE ourselves

as God does. We begin to SEE ourselves

as God does.

on Him. on Him. to help us succeed.

to help us succeed.

We can’t do it on our own!

We can’t do it on our own!

Success in the Christian life

is not trying harder,

BUT living smarter.

Giving God the control

of my life.

Success in the Christian life

is not trying harder,

BUT living smarter.

Giving God the control

of my life.

“So he said to me, ‘This is the

word of the LORD to

Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor

by power,

but by my Spirit,‘

says the LORD Almighty.’”[TNIV]

“So he said to me, ‘This is the

word of the LORD to

Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor

by power,

but by my Spirit,‘

says the LORD Almighty.’”[TNIV]

Zechariah 4:6….Zechariah 4:6….

“…. You will not succeed

by your own strength

or power but by My Spirit,

says the Lord….”

[Good News Bible]

“…. You will not succeed

by your own strength

or power but by My Spirit,

says the Lord….”

[Good News Bible]

Zechariah 4:6….Zechariah 4:6….

Will you have

a fresh start in life?

Will you have

a new beginning?

How can I have a fresh start?