Great Expectations

II. We must prepare for enlargement.

Isaiah 54:2-3 says, “2Enlarge 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. 3For you shall expand to the right and to the left, and your descendants will inherit the nations, and make the desolate places inhabited.”

Isaiah chapter 53 speaks of the sacrifice of Christ on Calvary

Isaiah chapter 55 speaks of the ‘Gospel Call’, and the promised blessing upon God’s Word.

Isaiah chapter 54 speaks of the Church in preparation for the

enlargement.

The flourishing of the church is Christ’s glory, and that exaltation of Him which was the reward of His humiliation: it was promised Him that He should see His seed in Isaiah 53:10, “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When you make His soul and offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.” And this chapter 54 is the explication of that promise.

A. ENLARGEMENT IS ACTIVE PREPARATION (NOT PASSIVE).

Isaiah 54:2 Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back [this involves active

participation]

B. ENLARGEMENT IS ENCOMPASSING A GREATER AREA

Isaiah 54:2 lengthen your cords,

3. ENLARGEMENT IS REMAINING STRONG

Isaiah 54:2 strengthen your stakes

Enlargement does not ‘just happen’, but comes as a result of active preparation; enlargement does not mean becoming weaker, but remaining strong as a result of the preparation.

III. TRUE ENLARGEMENT COMES FROM GOD

A. ENLARGEMENT OF STEPS - STABILITY

II Samuel 22:37 You have made a wide path for my feet to keep them from slipping. [NLT]

2. ENLARGEMENT OF HEART

I Kings 4:29 God gave Solomon great wisdom and understanding, and knowledge too vast to be measured.[NLT]

God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore [NKJV]

3. ENLARGEMENT OF LOCATION

Psalm 118:5, “I called on the Lord in distress; the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.”

Pay attention because this is a word of knowledge that the Lord gave me this week.

In Haggai 2 God asks who is left among you who saw this temple in it’s former glory? And how do you see it now? In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing? Well, God’s going to do something new. He promises in Haggai 2:9, “The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘And in this place I will give peace’, says the Lord of hosts.”

Close with Isaiah 54:10.