God is Doing a New Thing Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. (Isaiah 43:18, 19)

What is God doing? In these last days, his purpose is for his church to arise and shine in His glory (when we learn to really live our full potentials as the body of Christ)

ARISE [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you–rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and dense darkness [all] peoples, but the Lord shall arise upon you [O Jerusalem], and His glory shall be seen on you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. (Isaiah 60:1-3)

He is making a way for us in the desert, He is giving us directions, He is leading us to a place of rest He is making streams in the wasteland, He is refreshing us, He is healing us so that we can live and bear fruits

What do we need to do in order to see God work new things around us? We need a higher level of faith and obedience Matthew 14:29-31 “Come,” he (Jesus) said. Then Peter god down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

2. We need to get serious in our relationship with God Romans 4:20-21 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.

Genesis 22:12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”

3. Be willing to lay aside and surrender some of our comfortable lifestyle in order to follow the Lord "Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me." (John 12:24-26)

"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom." (Luke 12:32) Peter said to him, “We have left everything to follow you!” “I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age and in the age to come, eternal life.” (Mark 10:28-30)

Conclusion: This 2014, God wants us to see Him do new things in our midst. In order for us to see these things: - We need to get a higher level of faith and of obedience - We need to get serious in our relationship with God - We need to be willing to surrender our comfort zones to follow the Lord