God Is Doing a New Thing in Our Church

Isaiah 43:19

English Standard Version Chapter 43

Behold, I am doing a new thing;

now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?

The Question

The Lord’s question to His people is a question of whether or not they have the ability to perceive and receive what He is doing as being from Him

Do we have eyes to perceive it, or do we go to rebuking it because we think it’s of the devil?

The question is all about our perception

Jesus is all about testing us on how we read/perceive/critically think

Luke 10:26

English Standard Version Chapter 10

He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?”

Our Quandry

We often confuse Preference with Principle

We co-mingle what we’re comfortable with, as if they are commands

Keep an open mind

Isaiah 43:18

English Standard Version Chapter 43

Remember not the former things,

nor consider the things of old.

Remember, premises can become traps

Colossian 2:8

English Standard Version Chapter 2

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

Masters of Change William Boast (Executive Excellence Publishing, 1997)

Fossil records have been discovered in Colorado that show that dinosaurs and cockroaches lived in that same area at the same time.

The dinosaurs became extinct, but the cockroaches survived and are still here. Why? The more complex a thing/system church is, the less it is able to make adjustments in times of change, turmoil, and upheaval.

Mark 7:13a

English Standard Version Chapter 7

thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down.

Engagement Time

Read Acts 11:1-18

What was the problem that was upsetting the church’s status quo? (vv2-3)

In what way was Peter indicating how this paradigm shift was initiated? (vv7-10)

Peter’s defense of what happened in Caesarea, what was the determining factor for him to know what the Lord’s will was? (vv15-16)

Why were all able to glorify God in vv17-18?

1 Chronicles 12:32a

English Standard Version Chapter 12

Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do

We must be those who keep our eyes on the horizon and on the Holy Spirit, so that we notice patterns that lead to principles.

Our Quest

Based upon what we see in Acts 11, our perception is both subjective AND objective:

Subjective aspects of perception are

Knowing His voice (vv7-9, 12) - cultivated by spending time with Him, knowing what the Spirit sounds like

Recognizing His work (v15)

Objective ways of perceiving the work of God is by knowing the Word of God (v16)

When the Lord forces us to shift our paradigms of how church is supposed to be, we have to hold on to certain bedrock principles that can serve as our grid.

Is this Christ-centered?

Is this Bible-based?

Is this Spirit-directed?

Is this Kingdom-oriented?