—— Pastor Josh Baker | "It's A New Season" | (follow along) | Aug. 4, 2024

• Isaiah 43:19
  • ↪ 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.
• When God says to forget the former things, he's saying don't dwell on them too much. Don't dwell on the past. Focus on the new thing, focus on the thing He is doing in the future.
• (Now it springs forth) He is saying he's already begun.
• (I will make a way in the wilderness) He's going to do what we thought wasn't possible. When there was no way, he paved a path.
• (I will make rivers in the desert) Even in desolate and barren places, there's going to be provision you weren't expecting.

WHAT IS A SEASON?

• Regular definition: A time of year. A natural time or occasion. A time characterized by circumstance or feature.
• Spiritual definition: A period of time where circumstances or conditions shape our spiritual growth and strengthen our walk with God.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT SEASONS?

• Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
  • ↪ For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.
• We must get back on our feet whenever we get knocked down because God has purpose for each of us.
• Genesis 8:22
  • ↪ While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.
• God sustains us.

MENTALITY MATTERS

• What you speak over yourself will affect you 10x more than what someone else says about you.
• Philippians 4:13
  • ↪ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
• If God has called you to something, you can do it. He will give you the strength you need and sustain you.

HOW YOU MANAGE ONE SEASON WILL AFFECT HOW YOU ENTER THE NEXT

• Do what God is telling you to do in each season.
• Proverbs 20:4
  • ↪ Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest.
    • Manage every season well so that I can step into the next season ready to recieve what God has for us.
    • You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.
    • The reward of the next season depends on the steward of the previous season
    • You cannot harvest if you do not sow. (d. to plant seeds)

WHAT IS GOD SAYING ABOUT THIS SEASON?

• Ezekiel 32:25-28
  • ↪ “I will make with them a covenant of peace and banish wild beasts from the land, so that they may dwell securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. And I will make them and the places all around my hill a blessing, and I will send down the showers in their season; they shall be showers of blessing. And the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield its increase, and they shall be secure in their land. And they shall know that I am the Lord, when I break the bars of their yoke, and deliver them from the hand of those who enslaved them. They shall no more be a prey to the nations, nor shall the beasts of the land devour them. They shall dwell securely, and none shall make them afraid.”
• What does this verse mean? It speaks of promise.
• God is talking to his people and he's saying "I'm bringing you into a season of safety, abundance, and blessings."
• These things don't come for nothing. He says "I make the places around my hill a blessing". That's speaking in proximity. It means the closer you are to God, the more the blessings are there. The blessing comes from walking close to him, walking in holiness with him, and spending time in his presence. The further you are from the hill, the further you are from the blessing.
• God is calling us to lean into prayer.
• God is calling us to lean into prioritizing him
• The new season is designed to break the yolk of the old season
• Ezekiel 34:27
  • ↪ They will know that I am the LORD, when I break the bars of their yoke and rescue them from the hands of those who enslaved them.

❝I CAN SEE A CLOUD❞

• 1 Kings 18:42-46
  • ↪ So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel. And he bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees. And he said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” And he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” And he said, “Go again,” seven times. And at the seventh time he said, “Behold, a little cloud like a man's hand is rising from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.’” And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and he gathered up his garment and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.