SERMON NOTES WITH APPLICATION - "SPRINGING FORTH" PT II - REVELATION 21:1-5 (MSG)

Series: ENGAGING THE HOLY

“SPRINGING FORTH” – PT II - Revelation 21:1–5 (MSG)

Year Theme: HIGH AND LIFTED UPMonthly Focus: Sitting With the Vision — Revisiting What We Believe, Our Core Values, and Our Affirmation of Faith so God's vision can mature in us as we mature into it.

BIG IDEA (For Everyone)

God's vision doesn't simply change where we are—it changes how we stand.

John's vision of the New Creation invites us to examine our spiritual position. Before God can bring us into the fullness of His promises, He often moves us out of old positions, challenges how we are currently positioned, and finally establishes us in the position where His purposes can flourish. Vision is not merely seeing something new—it is allowing God to reposition our hearts, minds, relationships, and lives until we are ready to live what He has promised.

You cannot spring forth into God's future while remaining permanently positioned in yesterday.

1. OUT OF POSITION (vv. 1–2)

What's Happening?

John sees something astonishing:

"I saw Heaven and earth new-created."

The old order has passed away. Heaven and earth are no longer separated. God is creating something entirely new.

Before something new can emerge, something old must release its hold.

Often, we become comfortable with positions that once served us but can no longer carry us into God's future. God lovingly disrupts those positions—not to punish us—but to prepare us.

God often moves us out before He moves us forward.

Cliff Note (Plain Talk)

Sometimes feeling uncomfortable is evidence that God is repositioning you.

Growth often begins when your old position no longer fits your new purpose.

Practical Applications

Christian:Ask God what old habits, assumptions, or comforts He is asking you to release.

Non-Christian:Personal growth often requires leaving behind ways of thinking that no longer serve your future.

Gen Z / Millennials:Don't mistake transition for failure. Sometimes being "between seasons" is exactly where transformation begins.

Professionals:Career growth often requires learning new skills, embracing new responsibilities, or stepping outside familiar roles.

Families:Healthy families periodically adjust how they communicate, support one another, and solve problems.

Black Community Word:Our history has often required us to move beyond positions that others attempted to impose upon us. Every generation has had to imagine new possibilities while refusing to be permanently defined by old limitations. Springing forth requires the courage to leave behind narratives that no longer reflect God's vision for our lives.

This Week:Ask yourself: "Where have I become comfortable in a position that God may be asking me to outgrow?"

2. INTERROGATING YOUR POSITION (vv. 3–4)

What's Happening?

Then John hears the voice from the throne:

"Look! God has moved into the neighborhood..."

God's presence changes everything.

The old questions begin to lose their power.

The old fears begin to fade.

The old grief begins to heal.

When God comes near, we are invited to examine where we are spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and relationally.

Vision requires honest self-examination.

Before we mature into God's promises, we must ask ourselves difficult questions:

Where am I standing?

What is shaping my thinking?

Am I living from fear—or from faith?

God's presence invites honest reflection, not condemnation.

Cliff Note (Plain Talk)

You cannot change what you refuse to examine.

Growth begins when you honestly evaluate where you're standing.

Practical Applications

Christian:Invite the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal where you need healing, forgiveness, or renewed faith.

Non-Christian:Regular self-reflection helps you make intentional choices instead of living on autopilot.

Gen Z / Millennials:Don't allow social media, public opinion, or comparison to determine your identity or direction.

Professionals:Successful leaders consistently evaluate their decisions, motivations, and blind spots.

Families:Create safe spaces where honesty, listening, and accountability are welcomed.

Black Community Word:Our communities have long practiced honest self-examination—not to dwell on pain, but to strengthen resilience, deepen hope, and prepare for the next generation. Healing requires both truth-telling and hope-filled action.

This Week:Spend time asking God, "Where am I standing that no longer reflects who You are calling me to become?"

3. IN POSITION (v. 5)

What's Happening?

God declares:

"Look! I'm making everything new."

Then He tells John:

"Write it all down."

Once John has seen the vision, heard God's promise, and experienced God's presence, he is now positioned to participate in God's work.

Vision is not complete until it becomes responsibility.

Being "in position" means living in alignment with God's promises before they are fully visible.

Faith doesn't wait for the future to arrive.

Faith positions itself today.

Position yourself where God's promises can find you prepared.

Cliff Note (Plain Talk)

God's promises are dependable—but we must position ourselves to live them.

Vision grows when preparation meets obedience.

Practical Applications

Christian:Align your daily habits with the future God is calling you toward.

Non-Christian:Success usually belongs to people who consistently prepare before opportunity arrives.

Gen Z / Millennials:Don't wait until everything is perfect. Begin building the life you're praying for today.

Professionals:Position yourself through continuous learning, integrity, and faithful preparation.

Families:Build routines today that create the future you hope your family will experience tomorrow.

Black Community Word:Our ancestors often positioned themselves long before opportunities appeared. They built churches before there was equality. They educated children before systems welcomed them. They purchased land, started businesses, organized communities, and invested in generations they would never meet. Their positioning became our inheritance. Our positioning today becomes someone else's future.

This Week:Take one intentional action that positions you closer to the vision God has placed in your heart.

BIG PICTURE TRUTH

God's vision always involves repositioning.

Sometimes He calls us:

• Out of Position—leaving behind what no longer serves His purpose.

• Interrogating Our Position—honestly examining where we stand.

• Into Position—aligning ourselves with His promises.

As we sit with the vision, we discover that vision is not merely something God gives us to accomplish.

It is something God uses to transform us.

The vision matures in us.

Then we mature into the vision.

FINAL WORD

So…

Come out of every position that no longer serves God's purpose for your life.

Have the courage to honestly interrogate where you are standing today.

Position yourself to receive, steward, and live the promises God has already declared.

As we begin this month of Engaging the Holy, remember that sitting with the vision is not passive.

It is the sacred work of allowing God to reposition your thinking, deepen your faith, strengthen your character, and prepare your spirit for what comes next.

Dream Big.

Because God's vision is always greater than your current position.

Decide to Become.

Because God is preparing you before He promotes you.

Demonstrate Your Power.

By living today as someone already positioned for the future God is creating.

Because when you are rightly positioned in God...

You don't simply wait for new things to happen.

You become the kind of person through whom God brings new things into the world.