An Expanding Church

AN EXPANDING CHURCH

The Lord wants His Church to be a people who have great expectation despite negative circumstances. Jesus has provided all we need in this hour to be triumphant. This sermon looks at gives lessons needed to walk in victory.

Isaiah 54:1-3 “Sing, O barren, you who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, you who have not labored with child! For more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married woman,” says the LORD. “Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; Do not spare; Lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes. For you shall expand to the right and to the left, and your descendants will inherit the nations, and make the desolate cities inhabited.

This verse exemplifies a faith living people who despite what might negatively appear in the natural see beyond that to the supernatural work of Christ.

The Context of this passage is the Cross – Isaiah 53 – the type is seen in Exodus 12 the Passover – where because of the blood – the redeemed – left Egypt with all the gold and silver – where delivered from slavery and bondage – and sustained by God on their journey to the wilderness – Psalm 105:37-42 He also brought them out with silver and gold, and there was none feeble among His tribes. Egypt was glad when they departed, for the fear of them had fallen upon them. He spread a cloud for a covering, and fire to give light in the night. The people asked, and He brought quail, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven. He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it ran in the dry places like a river. For He remembered His holy promise, And Abraham His servant.

Lessons needed to appropriate the finished work of Christ:

1. REPENT

Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

2 Chronicles 7:14 “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Joshua 3:5 And Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”

2. DECLARE THE PROMISE

Galatians 4:27 For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren, You who do not bear! Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor! For the desolate has many more children than she who has a husband.”

Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

John 10:10 “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Colossians 3 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

SING AND SHOUT – when? - After Is 52:13-53:12 who? – The barren - how – shout and joy – why? Children are coming – Christ is our husband

Enlarge = rabah = to increase, to bring into abundance, excel, exceed, be full of, to be great, to heap, multiply, be plentiful

Sing, enlarge the tent, and fear no more, this is in response to the work of Christ. His people do not participate in the Servant’s work; He did His work for them without their help. But now they have benefits they did not deserve or produce, and they are called to sing for joy. Like a woman who never went through labor but has the baby nevertheless, the people of God enjoy the work of their Savior in their behalf. God wants to bring increase into every area of your life – every area

• Sing – a breakthrough is at hand - faith - The woman was called to sing while still barren, without a child. Isaiah calls the people to sing, because God’s plan will come true. It is not just a song of HOPE but a song of FAITH - trusting what God has prophesied will come true. We sing because we have hope. We sing because we have a great future. We can rejoice in the midst of difficult circumstances because what God has promised will come true. The journey may be tough, but the end point is SURE –

Colossians 2:19…..all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.