Some thoughts I had concerning the New Year. A New Year or just Another Year? A Reformed life or a Transformed life? God is offering you something New and Improved, not something refurbished. I hope you enjoy the article and are blessed.
SOMETHING NEW FROM GOD
JANUARY 2, 2012
Here are some thoughts I had while I was thinking about my New Years message.
Throughout history, God has promised His children many New things. Here is a partial list of those New Things, with Scripture passages I hope you find a blessing.
NEW Year, or just ANOTHER Year. God promises NEWNESS, not simply IMPROVEMENT. It is God doing MIRACLES, not simply us doing BETTER. It is Divine TRANSFORMATION, not simply human REFORMATION. God offers us something new.
GOD OF NEW BEGINNINGS
God has always taken the initiative in redeeming a fallen humanity. Man is unable to lift himself from his fallen condition, but by faith we can have a new beginning. The first day of a new week (the 8th day), the family of Noah (8 people) are indications that God is the God of new beginnings.
NEW THING/COVENANT (TESTAMENT)/KINGDOM/WINE SKIN/BODY
God has promised to do a New Thing for His people, whenever they were in need. God has given a New Thing to His people in the past, He is doing a New Thing with the Church today and will do a New Thing in the Millennium and in Eternity The New Thing today includes the New Covenant (grace by faith instead of law); a New Kingdom (a heavenly kingdom for all men, through the Church rather than an earthly kingdom through Israel); Wine Skins (the new abode of the Holy Spirit is the individual believer in the Church, not the nation of Israel); Christ gave His body in sacrifice and now resides in the body of believers, the Church.
New Thing
Numbers 16:30
(30) But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD.
Isaiah 42:9
(9) Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
Isaiah 43:19
(19) 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 48:6
(6) Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it? I have shewed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them.
New Covenant (Testament)
Jeremiah 31:31
(31) Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
Mark 14:24
(24) And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.
1 Corinthians 11:25
(25) After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
2 Corinthians 3:6
(6) Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
Hebrews 8:8
(8) For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
Hebrews 8:13
(13) In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
Hebrews 9:15
(15) And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
Hebrews 10:20
(20) By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Hebrews 12:24
(24) And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel
New Kingdom
Mark 14:25
(25) Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.
Romans 16:25-27
(25) Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
(26) But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
(27) To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. Written to the Romans from Corinthus, and sent by Phebe servant of the church at Cenchrea.
New Wine/Wine Skins
Mark 2:21-22
(21) No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse.
(22) And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.
New Body
Ephesians 2:15
(15) Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
NEW HEART/LIFE/MAN
The New Thing God does in the world is called salvation, which includes regenerating men who are dead in sins and trespasses, forgiving men of their sins, adopting them into His family, cleansing them from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit and empowering them by His Spirit to keep His commandments and do that which is pleasing in His sight. This is accomplished by giving a new heart, new life and making the person into a new man.
New Heart
Ezekiel 11:19
(19) And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:
Ezekiel 18:31
(31) Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
Ezekiel 36:26
(26) A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
New Life
Romans 6:4
(4) Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Romans 7:6
(6) But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
New Creation
2 Corinthians 5:17
(17) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Galatians 6:15
(15) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
New Man
Ephesians 4:24
(24) And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Colossians 3:10
(10) And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
NEW COMMANDMENT
Though man is not saved by keeping the moral law of God (since man is inherently unable to keep the law of God), the moral law of God is still in effect. God has given us a New Law or Commandment, the Law of Love. Those who are regenerated by the life giving power of the Holy Spirit are enabled to love God with the whole heart and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Those who love God, keep His commandments (Jn. 14:23-24), and love is the fulfilling of the law (Ro. 13:8, 10). This New Commandment is also known as, The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus (Ro. 8:2), The Law of Liberty (Ja. 1:25; 2:12), The Royal Law (Ja. 2:8).
John 13:34
(34) A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
1 John 2:7-8
(7) Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.
(8) Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
NEW SONG
With the new relationship and new spiritual condition, God gives man a new viewpoint and attitude filled with joy and hope; He gives us a New Song. The things that make us sing are new and holy. We not only sing for joy, we sing with praise and adoration for our Savior. We sing a song that never gets old or loses its meaning. Our song should be New (fresh) every day because His mercies are new every morning and His compassions fail not.
Psalms 33:3
(3) Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.
Psalms 40:3
(3) And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
Psalms 96:1
(1) O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.
Psalms 98:1
(1) A Psalm. O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.
Psalms 144:9
9) I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.
Psalms 149:1
(1) Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.
Isaiah 42:10
(10) Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.
Revelation 5:9
(9) And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
Revelation 14:3
(3) And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
NEW NAME
A name introduces and designates a person. Along with our new bodies, God will give us new understanding concerning our own status and glory and we will also have a fuller understanding and appreciation of His glories and identity. He will give us a new name and He will tell us a new name for Himself.
Isaiah 62:2
(2) And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.
Revelation 2:17
(17) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
Revelation 3:12 (2/2)
(12) Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
NEW HEAVENS/EARTH/JERUSALEM
After God destroys this world by fire, He will give us our eternal home, untainted by sin or infirmity.
Isaiah 65:17
(17) For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
Isaiah 66:22
(22) For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.
2 Peter 3:13
(13) Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Revelation 3:12 (1/2)
(12) Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
Revelation 21:1-2
(1) And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
(2) And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
ALL THINGS NEW
The eternal, Divine order of life will encompass everything. Our whole existence will be beyond anything we can even imagine.
Revelation 21:5
(5) And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
Launch Out and Hold Fast,
Pastor David L. Gould
Here are some thoughts I had while I was thinking about my New Years message.
Throughout history, God has promised His children many New things. Here is a partial list of those New Things, with Scripture passages I hope you find a blessing.
NEW Year, or just ANOTHER Year. God promises NEWNESS, not simply IMPROVEMENT. It is God doing MIRACLES, not simply us doing BETTER. It is Divine TRANSFORMATION, not simply human REFORMATION. God offers us something new.
GOD OF NEW BEGINNINGS
God has always taken the initiative in redeeming a fallen humanity. Man is unable to lift himself from his fallen condition, but by faith we can have a new beginning. The first day of a new week (the 8th day), the family of Noah (8 people) are indications that God is the God of new beginnings.
NEW THING/COVENANT (TESTAMENT)/KINGDOM/WINE SKIN/BODY
God has promised to do a New Thing for His people, whenever they were in need. God has given a New Thing to His people in the past, He is doing a New Thing with the Church today and will do a New Thing in the Millennium and in Eternity The New Thing today includes the New Covenant (grace by faith instead of law); a New Kingdom (a heavenly kingdom for all men, through the Church rather than an earthly kingdom through Israel); Wine Skins (the new abode of the Holy Spirit is the individual believer in the Church, not the nation of Israel); Christ gave His body in sacrifice and now resides in the body of believers, the Church.
New Thing
Numbers 16:30
(30) But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD.
Isaiah 42:9
(9) Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
Isaiah 43:19
(19) 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 48:6
(6) Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it? I have shewed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them.
New Covenant (Testament)
Jeremiah 31:31
(31) Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
Mark 14:24
(24) And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.
1 Corinthians 11:25
(25) After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
2 Corinthians 3:6
(6) Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
Hebrews 8:8
(8) For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
Hebrews 8:13
(13) In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
Hebrews 9:15
(15) And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
Hebrews 10:20
(20) By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Hebrews 12:24
(24) And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel
New Kingdom
Mark 14:25
(25) Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.
Romans 16:25-27
(25) Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
(26) But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
(27) To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. Written to the Romans from Corinthus, and sent by Phebe servant of the church at Cenchrea.
New Wine/Wine Skins
Mark 2:21-22
(21) No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse.
(22) And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.
New Body
Ephesians 2:15
(15) Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
NEW HEART/LIFE/MAN
The New Thing God does in the world is called salvation, which includes regenerating men who are dead in sins and trespasses, forgiving men of their sins, adopting them into His family, cleansing them from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit and empowering them by His Spirit to keep His commandments and do that which is pleasing in His sight. This is accomplished by giving a new heart, new life and making the person into a new man.
New Heart
Ezekiel 11:19
(19) And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:
Ezekiel 18:31
(31) Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
Ezekiel 36:26
(26) A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
New Life
Romans 6:4
(4) Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Romans 7:6
(6) But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
New Creation
2 Corinthians 5:17
(17) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Galatians 6:15
(15) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
New Man
Ephesians 4:24
(24) And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Colossians 3:10
(10) And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
NEW COMMANDMENT
Though man is not saved by keeping the moral law of God (since man is inherently unable to keep the law of God), the moral law of God is still in effect. God has given us a New Law or Commandment, the Law of Love. Those who are regenerated by the life giving power of the Holy Spirit are enabled to love God with the whole heart and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Those who love God, keep His commandments (Jn. 14:23-24), and love is the fulfilling of the law (Ro. 13:8, 10). This New Commandment is also known as, The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus (Ro. 8:2), The Law of Liberty (Ja. 1:25; 2:12), The Royal Law (Ja. 2:8).
John 13:34
(34) A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
1 John 2:7-8
(7) Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.
(8) Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
NEW SONG
With the new relationship and new spiritual condition, God gives man a new viewpoint and attitude filled with joy and hope; He gives us a New Song. The things that make us sing are new and holy. We not only sing for joy, we sing with praise and adoration for our Savior. We sing a song that never gets old or loses its meaning. Our song should be New (fresh) every day because His mercies are new every morning and His compassions fail not.
Psalms 33:3
(3) Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.
Psalms 40:3
(3) And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
Psalms 96:1
(1) O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.
Psalms 98:1
(1) A Psalm. O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.
Psalms 144:9
9) I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.
Psalms 149:1
(1) Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.
Isaiah 42:10
(10) Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.
Revelation 5:9
(9) And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
Revelation 14:3
(3) And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
NEW NAME
A name introduces and designates a person. Along with our new bodies, God will give us new understanding concerning our own status and glory and we will also have a fuller understanding and appreciation of His glories and identity. He will give us a new name and He will tell us a new name for Himself.
Isaiah 62:2
(2) And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.
Revelation 2:17
(17) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
Revelation 3:12 (2/2)
(12) Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
NEW HEAVENS/EARTH/JERUSALEM
After God destroys this world by fire, He will give us our eternal home, untainted by sin or infirmity.
Isaiah 65:17
(17) For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
Isaiah 66:22
(22) For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.
2 Peter 3:13
(13) Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Revelation 3:12 (1/2)
(12) Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
Revelation 21:1-2
(1) And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
(2) And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
ALL THINGS NEW
The eternal, Divine order of life will encompass everything. Our whole existence will be beyond anything we can even imagine.
Revelation 21:5
(5) And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
Launch Out and Hold Fast,
Pastor David L. Gould
