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We are all excited about new things – Aren’t you? Of course you are! We are all wired to appreciate the new. God wants to give us new. Are you looking for new?
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Hello, and welcome to redemption church in Plano, Texas. I am pastor Chris Fluitt and I am glad to be here to share the word with you today. Whether you are watching online or in person, thank you very much for being with us today.
We are in a brand new sermon series we are calling All Things New.
All Things New
- Don’t you just love that OLD car smell?
- I love it when I hear the countdown 3-2-1 Happy Old Year!
- Of
course you have heard that 40 is the OLD 20… 60 is the OLD 40…
Orange is the OLD black…
We have all heard this right? Of course not.
People are always attracted to new things rather than old things. Remember this the next time you hear someone ask…
- Is that a new dress?
- I just bought a new car!
- I’m starting a new job.
People are hard wired to be attracted to new.
God is also really into new things.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV2011) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
In John 3 Jesus tells us about a new birth…
John 3:3 (NIV2011) Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. ”
John 3:4 (NIV2011) “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked…
Nicodemus didn’t understand. Jesus gives a brand new birth that does away with the old.
Revelation 21:4 (NIV2011) ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Revelation 21:5 (NIV2011) He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”
All Things New
If you are into new things, then I have great news for you. God is going to make all things new.
If you are looking for something new today, then you need to look to God.
Jesus brings us new things
Jesus brings us new things.
There are many scriptures in the gospels where people marveled at Jesus. They say things like…
- We have never seen anyone do the things He has done.
- We have never heard anyone speak with such authority and knowledge of Scripture.
- Those closest to Him, his disciples often asked “What kind of man is this? Even the winds & waves obey him.”
In other words, when people saw Jesus they saw something brand new. When He spoke they heard something new. When they were near Him they felt something new.
Jesus brings us new things! Do you understand how difficult it is to bring something new that no one has ever experienced before?
The wise king Solomon says in Ecclesiastes 1:9…
Ecclesiastes 1:9 (NIV2011) What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.
If you will allow me to paraphrase the king…
- People are all the same.
- They tell us the latest celebrity is the greatest of all time… the g.o.a.t.… that is until they tell us the next celebrity is the greatest of all time.
- They never change.
- Once a *fill in the blank always a *fill in the blank*..
- Every politician says they are going to fix the problems of the previous politician.
- They promised to change, but we know it is only a matter of time before they fall back into their habit.
Ecclesiastes 1:9 (NIV2011) What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.
I remember a class I took in college called Jazz improvisation. I remember the instructor early on in the semester played his trumpet over some jazz changes. He absolutely ripped it, and said that it
He said.. “I didn’t play anything new. Everything I played was something I had played before or some other musician had played before. This lick I played here – Miles Davis played that all the time. This chord outline I played here is one I heard John Coltrane play all the time. It is awfully hard to play something new.”
Do we understand how difficult and rare it is to actually experience something new? It caused king Solomon to cynically say there is nothing new under the sun. …but Solomon had never seen Jesus. Jesus did truly NEW things.
Jesus
was beaten with the cat of 9 tails whip at least 39 times, and never
uttered a word.
Jesus hung on a cross & prayed for those who
nailed him there.
Jesus died, was buried, and rose again.
Jesus brings us new things
Solomon
said – “what has been will be again.” There will never be
another like Jesus.
Solomon said – “what has been done will
be done again.” Sorry king. There will never be another who did
what Jesus did.
Solomon said – “there is nothing new under
the sun.” King, you would speak differently king if you could have
experienced the Lord Jesus Christ. He brings NEW things into the
world.
And the risen Christ spoke to His disciples and told them to wait in Jerusalem for something new. In Acts 1:4 he told them to wait “for the promise of the father.”
Jesus does something new in Acts chapter 2
Over the course of this sermon series I want to reveal 4 NEW things that Jesus gives us in Acts 2. Let’s quickly take a look.
Acts 2:1-2 (NIV2011) When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Acts 2:3-4 (NIV2011) They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
This was new! These people were born again. They experienced the New Birth of the Holy Spirit.
They were ALL filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues. Say amen if that sounds new to you!
The chapter goes on to tell us that these Spirit filled believers then spilled out into the street where there were many people who experienced this NEW thing. They began to ask questions like “What is this all about?” And Peter filled with the Spirit did something NEW… it had never been done before.
Acts 2:14 (NIV2011) Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.
Acts 2:15-16 (NIV2011) These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
Acts 2:17-18 (NIV2011) “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.
This New thing is a God thing! Then he tells them about Jesus! Jesus is the source of this new thing that is being poured out… if you want this New Spirit infilling you need to hear this News about Jesus.
Acts 2:22 (NIV2011) “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders
Notice that no one stops Peter and says… no we have never heard of Jesus. We didn’t know that He healed the blind and raised the dead… EVERYONE HAD HEARD OF JESUS AND WHAT HE HAD DONE. The amazing things He did were undeniable, yet there was more they needed to know.
Redemption, do you know about this Jesus? Have you heard the news of his miracles, wonders, & signs?
Acts 2:23 (NIV2011) This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.
Jesus was given to you and you helped put Jesus to death on the cross. Peter charges them with the death of Jesus.
Do you realize that you and I are responsible for his death? Do you know that it is our wickedness that hung Him on a cross. It was our sin… The things you have done wrong… the things you continue to do wrong… you may even have plans to do sinful things after this service… Jesus hung on the cross because of these things.
Acts 2:24 (NIV2011) But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of
Acts 2:36 (NIV2011) “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
God raised Jesus from the dead! This Jesus that YOU AND I crucified is Lord & Messiah. Jesus, the only one who could redeem us and make things right, we crucified Him.
In light of that bad news, who could use some good news?
Jesus does something new in Acts chapter 2
This is a brand new thing. It had never happened before. The Gospel was preached. The word Gospel means “good news.” The good news that Jesus Christ has come, that He died, was buried, yet rose again. This had never been preached before. This message had never been heard before.
This is New! This is Big! Do you understand this? This is a momentous occasion. And what follows is just as important.
Acts 2:37 (NIV2011) When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
These people heard the message of Jesus and they believed it. They were convicted by it. They felt it in their hearts. AND THEY ASKED WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO ABOUT IT.
Need something new? Believe the Message of Jesus
When Peter stood up and delivered the simple message of Jesus it created an opportunity to believe the message. This was NEW, the first time ever.
- Now people believed in God before this moment.
- People believed in the Word of God before this moment.
- People believed in prophets & miracles before this mom0ent.
But believing the message of Jesus in brand new!
What is in this message?
- You are sinner.
- Jesus died on a cross, was buried, but rose again.
- Even though you are a sinner you are loved by Jesus and He can redeem you.
Do you believe this message? Belief is the first step into new. Over the next 3 weeks we will talk about other steps into new, but today we are just focusing on this first step. Believe!
When you hear the Gospel of Jesus, and you believe the Gospel of Jesus, you receive Jesus.
When you hear the Gospel of Jesus, and you believe the Gospel of Jesus, you receive Eternal Life.
1 John 5:12 (NIV2011) Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
1 John 5:13 (NIV2011) I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
The moment you believe, is the moment you have the Son. The moment you have the son, is the moment you have life. The Life that Jesus gives is eternal life.
You can have eternal life right now. Do you believe?
Are you having trouble believing in Jesus? I want you to believe in Jesus.
I am not asking you to believe in a religion.
I am not asking you to believe every story in the Bible.
I am asking you to believe in Jesus. Believe this message. Believe that He really died for you. Believe that He can save you.
On this day where the Spirit was given and Jesus preached something new, 3000 souls were saved – They received that Jesus life. This message about Jesus can save you today. This day happened almost 2000 years ago… 2000 years is pretty old… but I want to tell you that when this same message is preached and believed – brand new things happen.
I am about to invite you to take a step from your seat and come talk to God. I want you to know there is a brand new Joy here waiting for you. Peace… Hope… Power… Calling/Purpose.
All you have to do is believe this simple message of Jesus. If you believe it I want you to come and see what new thing He can do in your life.