Welcome to Andrews University Graduation Weekend! Kindly note that overflow seating is available today in the Youth Chapel.
I Will Do a New Thing
The Prayer: I Will Do a New Thing
Speaker
Dwight K. NelsonDwight Nelson served as lead pastor of the Pioneer Memorial Church on the campus of Andrews University from 1983 to 2023. During his time at Pioneer he spoke on the “New Perceptions” telecast, taught at the theological seminary and has written books, including The Chosen. He and his wife, Karen, are blessed with two married children and 2 granddaughters.
Offering
More In This Series
“The Prayer: ‘I Will Do a New Thing’”
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□ Isaiah 43:19; 44:3
- God: “I will do a new thing . . . for I will pour water on those who are and My Spirit on your children.” (Isaiah 43:19; 44:3)
- Sons of Korah: “Just like a deer that streams of water, my whole being you, God. My whole being for God, for the living God. When will I come and see God’s face?” (Psalm 42:1, 2 CEB)
- Ellen White: “Let your heart for the longing it has for God, for the living God.” (Christ’s Object Lessons 149)
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Janet Ledesma: “Thus, my prayer for us today is that our for God may never
cease to be unquenchable.” (5-13-13 email)
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□ Isaiah 66:8
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God calls His people “Zion” in the Old Testament and “” in the New
Testament—they are the “called out” or “chosen” ones.
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What God is declaring through Isaiah 66:8 is that as soon as Zion (the church) is in travail or in
labor, she will give birth to her .
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I.e., a new spiritual generation of children will not be birthed without or
laboring in the church.
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Paul: “My little children, for whom I in birth again until Christ is formed in you.”
(Galatians 4:19)
- NLT: “But oh, my dear children! I feel as if I am going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives.” (Galatians 4:19)
- for the revival of a university is like going through labor pains—it is “travailing” or before God on behalf of the young.
- But unless the community of faith invests significant spiritual energy to labor before God on their behalf, a new generation will not be spiritually .
- A prayer will not deliver a single child.
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Wesley Duewel: “The great need of our world, our nation, and our churches is people who know
how to prevail in prayer. Moments of pious wishes blandly expressed to God once or twice a day will bring little change on earth or among the people. Kind thoughts expressed to Him in five or six sentences, after reading a paragraph or two of mildly religious sentiments once a day from some devotional writing, will not bring the kingdom of God to earth or shake the gates of hell and repel the attacks of evil on our culture and our civilization [and our ]. . . . Prevailing prayer is holy work, fervent labor.” (Mighty Prevailing Prayer 20, 21)
- o Isaiah 43:22
- John Polkinghorne’s laser beam analogy
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Ellen White: “We are encouraged to pray for success, with the divine assurance that our prayers
will be heard and answered. ‘If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them’ (Matthew 18:19, 20). ‘Ask of Me, and I will answer your requests.’ The promise is made on condition that the prayers of the church are offered, and in answer to these prayers there may be expected a power than that which comes in answer to private prayer. The power given will be proportionate to the unity of the members and their love for God and for one another.” (9MR 303)
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“I will join you in praying every day this summer for God to fulfill His promise to do ‘a new thing’ in our midst this coming school year.”
Travail and Prevail with Jesus
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God calls His people “Zion” in the Old Testament and “” in the New
Pioneer Operating Budget
Author Melvin Santos Speaking: While shopping at Lowe’s hardware store one day, I saw a bird trapped inside the store that probably had entered through the outdoor garden section. Its wing seemed broken, it could not fly, and was perhaps too weak from days of not being able to eat. If left alone this bird would die.
I found a discarded box and went over to get the bird. I took that bird home and placed it in a makeshift birdcage and gave it water and food. The next day the bird was more alert and flapping its wings. I took it outside and opened the cage door. The bird slowly walked out and flew to the nearest tree.
I felt great that I was able to help one of God’s little creatures live another day! Jesus’ words, “Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds?” (Luke 12:24, NKJV).
Jesus wants us to trust Him because God the Father cares so much for us. God has placed the church to care for the broken hearted, to help the downtrodden, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and to share the love of Jesus through the various ministries it has set up.
—North American Division Stewardship Ministries
The Institute of Young Musicians for Christ is excited to be having a music camp at Pioneer Memorial Church! At our music camps young people ages 6-17 are offered an immersive, week-long musical experience. Our quality musical training—combined with fun, friends, and faith-building encounters— provides a truly incredible opportunity. The camp offers tracks for children 6-12 with or without musical experience and a track for teenagers with significant musical experience. To learn more and register, visit iymcsda.org/michigan. We hope to see you there!
Fight Your Way To A Better Marriage series by Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley
- March 29-State of Your Heart
- April 5-Safety
- April 12-The Reactive Cycle
- April 18-Personal Responsibility
- April 26-L.U.V.E. Talk
- May 3-Teamwork
Everyone is Welcome each Sabbath morning to join us in Pioneer Room 141 at 10:30 am,
From May 11–June 8, 2025, Maranatha Volunteers International will be working at Andrews University to update the Lamson Hall residential rooms and suite bathrooms. Please consider volunteering and letting your family and friends know of this opportunity. All individuals (including local) should sign up at the Maranatha website: https://maranatha.org/volunteer-opportunities/.