He’s doing a new thing. | Pastor Steven Furtick

Summary

In this inspiring message, the speaker encourages viewers to embrace the new ways God is working in their lives, beyond past expectations. Drawing from biblical stories, they explain how challenges like the wilderness can transform into blessings. The speaker emphasizes that God’s faithfulness remains unchanged, even when His methods differ. People are urged to let go of old patterns and trust that their best days are ahead. God is always making a way, whether through barriers or in the wilderness, and His provision will come when least expected.

Takeaways

• 😀 God often works in unexpected ways, and sometimes the greatest barrier to perceiving His work is the expectation that He will act as He did in the past.
• 😀 When first becoming a Christian, God's messages felt more immediate and personal, but as time goes on, God calls us to dig deeper and engage with His word on a more profound level.
• 😀 God's faithfulness is not bound to a specific form or method. We must move beyond old patterns and expectations to embrace the new ways God is working.
• 😀 Our past experiences with deliverance can become a hindrance to receiving new blessings, especially when God shifts His approach.
• 😀 Many people grow up with a religious mindset that values endurance through hardship, but God is now calling us to a freedom that embraces joy and gratitude in His presence.
• 😀 In the wilderness, what was once a barrier (like water) can become a blessing, as God's provision transforms what once seemed like an obstacle into sustenance and growth.
• 😀 God turns difficult situations into opportunities for growth—He turns pain into power, shame into grace, and struggles into blessings.
• 😀 The wilderness is not necessarily about physical deprivation, but about feeling lost or purposeless. Even in these times, God will provide what you need in unexpected ways.
• 😀 God’s ability to make a way is not confined to past methods. We are often called to trust in His creative power to make a way even in difficult, seemingly impossible circumstances.
• 😀 Instead of focusing on how God will deliver, focus on who He is—God is the Creator, the King, and the Waymaker. His methods may change, but His character remains constant.
• 😀 The greatest barrier to blessings is not what's ahead of us, but what’s behind us. We often get stuck in past experiences, thinking our best days are behind us, but God is always working on something new.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the speaker’s message?

The main theme of the speaker’s message is that God is doing a new thing in people’s lives, and believers should not be bound by the past or their previous experiences of God's work. The speaker emphasizes that God can transform barriers into blessings, and encourages people to trust in God's faithfulness despite changes in how He works.

Why does the speaker mention the story of the Red Sea?

The speaker references the story of the Red Sea to highlight that while God once made a way through the waters, in the present, God may choose to work differently. Instead of parting waters, He may provide a way in the wilderness, showing that God’s methods can change while His faithfulness remains constant.

What does the speaker mean by 'forget the form that it came in'?

The phrase 'forget the form that it came in' means that believers should not expect God to always work in the same way as He did in the past. They should embrace new ways God may choose to act, even if those ways are unfamiliar or different from previous experiences.

How does the speaker describe the wilderness in relation to faith?

The wilderness is described as a metaphorical place of emotional or spiritual uncertainty, where people may feel disconnected or unclear about God’s presence. The speaker reassures that even in such wilderness moments, God is still at work and will bless individuals in those very places.

What is the significance of the speaker's statement 'What was the barrier is now the blessing'?

The statement emphasizes that challenges and obstacles, which once seemed like barriers to progress or freedom, can become the very means through which God brings blessings. The speaker suggests that God can transform hardship or difficulty into something that ultimately benefits believers.

What does the speaker mean by 'I don't have to know how, if I know who'?

This statement reflects the idea that faith in God doesn’t require knowing the specific details of how God will act or provide a solution. What matters is knowing who God is—His identity as the Creator and King—trusting that He will make a way regardless of how it may unfold.

Why does the speaker warn against being 'stuck in a beta blessing'?

The speaker warns against being stuck in a 'beta blessing' to highlight that people may become overly focused on past blessings or ways God worked, which limits their ability to receive new, greater blessings. Being 'stuck' in the past can prevent them from experiencing the 'upgrade' God has in store.

What is the significance of the speaker's reference to being 'empty-nesters'?

The reference to 'empty-nesters' serves as an example of people who may feel that their purpose or calling is over after certain life transitions (like children leaving home). The speaker encourages these individuals, reminding them that God is still doing a new thing in their lives and their calling is not finished.

How does the speaker connect the concept of 'new things' with God's faithfulness?

The speaker connects 'new things' with God’s faithfulness by reassuring that even when things change, God's character remains the same. Though God may work in new or unexpected ways, His faithfulness endures, and He continues to guide and bless His people through all circumstances.

How does the speaker suggest people should respond to God's new ways of working?

The speaker suggests that people should embrace the new ways God is working, lifting their hands and hearts in freedom and faith. Instead of clinging to the past or old forms, they should trust in God’s continued faithfulness and openness to His new moves in their lives.