Today’s message is intended to help us balance God’s ancient paths with the His new things. God clearly states, “I change not,” and then changes a ton of stuff with the ministry of Jesus and the new covenant.
As you read this message, prepared for our Zone 1 Church family in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, will you ask God for BOTH the ancient paths and the new things of the Spirit?
Ancient Paths and New Things
Thus says the LORD: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.
Jeremiah 6:16
1. Notice in this passage there are at least two roads.
2. God invites you and I to stand by the roads. Get close. Seek understanding.
3. Look. Take a closer look. Observe. Just because we have sight doesn’t mean we have vision.
4. Ask other travelers, “Where are the ancient paths and the good way?”
5. Then walk in that ancient good way!
6. Your soul will find rest.
Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
Isaiah 43:19
It is clear. God is the God of the ancient path and of the new things!
The principles of God never change. (The ancient path)
The methods from God do change. (The new things)
As a general rule, older people change too little. (The ancient path)
As a general rule, younger people change too much. (The new things)
When a change initiative is in process, you can ask some new thing questions.
1. Are we doing something in a way that hinders today’s generation from coming to Christ for salvation?
2. Are we doing something that met a need yesterday, but that need is now gone?
3. Does our change initiative capture the sense of what God is currently doing on the earth? In Africa? In Burkina Faso? In Zone 1 Church?
4. Are we willing to follow the fresh leading of the Holy Spirit?
When a change initiative is in process, you can ask some ancient path questions.
1. Are people being genuinely saved?
2. Are people being genuinely baptized in the Holy Spirit?
3. Is the Bible being preached without compromise?
4. Are people becoming more like Jesus?
In Jeremiah 6:16 the people told God “No! We will not walk in the ancient good way.”
Today let’s unite together as one congregation before the Lord and respond differently than Jeremiah’s generation!
“Yes, Lord! We will walk in your ancient ways AND we will embrace the new things of the Holy Spirit too!”