Isaiah 54-Sing Series

SING

ISAIAH 54

JANUARY 13, 2008

PLEASE HEAR THIS STATEMENT…

FOR MOST THINGS IN LIFE WHAT WE SEE, WHAT WE CAN TOUCH, WHAT IS THERE BEFORE US, IS REALITY.

I SEE THIS PULPIT, YOU CAN’T TELL ME ITS NOT THERE BECAUSE I’M TOUCHING IT.

I SEE YOU SITTING IN THE PEWS, YOU ARE REAL, YOUR ARE ALIVE.

PINCH YOU NEIGHBOR AND TELL THEM THE PINCH ISN’T REAL, IT WAS JUST IMAGINED - GO AHEAD SEE WHAT HAPPENS

I REPEAT, MOST THINGS IN LIFE THAT CAN BE TOUCHED OR SEEN IS OUR REALITY.

HOWEVER IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD THIS PRINCIPLE IS NOT ALWAYS TRUE.

IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD WHAT IS, IS NOT ALWAYS WHAT IS. WHAT WE SEE IS NOT ALWAYS THE WAY THINGS ARE

IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD WHAT GOD SAYS IS REALITY, NOT WHAT WE PERCEIVE OR TOUCH YOUR HANDS

AS A MATTER OF FACT, WHAT GOD SAYS SHOULD ALWAYS CARRY MORE WEIGHT THAN WHAT WE CAN TOUCH OR SEE.

IT’S WHAT HEBREWS 11 CALLS, FAITH.

FAITH IS WHAT? THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR AND THE CONVICTION OF THINGS NOT SEEN.

IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD WE CAN REJOICE IN WHAT IS NOT BECAUSE IF GOD SAID IT, IT WILL BE EVEN IF IT IS NOT YET.

PLEASE TURN WITH ME TO IS. 54.

TODAY WE BEGIN A SERIES IN IS. 54. IT WILL BE A 5 OR 6 WEEK SERIES.

LET ME GIVE YOU A BRIEF INTRODUCTION INTO THE CONTEXT OF THIS CHAPTER.

TO DO THIS WE NEED TO LOOK AT IS. 53. CHAPTER 53 IS THE PROPHECY OF THE WORK OF JESUS CHRIST

V2 – HE GREW UP… JESUS LEFT HEAVEN FOR US

V4 – HE TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES… SIN SHAME & SICKNESS ARE DEFEATD IN THE WORK OF THE CROSS.

V12- HE BORE THE SIN OF MANY & MADE INTERCESSION FOR THE TRANSGESSORS… I’M SAVED, BORN AGAIN & SET FREE.

NOW WE COME TO CHAPTER 54.

PLEASE NOTICE THE VERY 1ST THING SAID AFTER WE HAVE THE PROPHECY OF THE WORK OF JESUS ON THE CROSS.

WHAT DOES THE WORD SAY?

SING O BARREN WOMAN… (NIV & KJV)

NAS SAYS, SHOUT FOR JOY O BARRON ONE…

DO YOU SEE IT? DO YOU HEAR THE VOICE OF GOD? DID YOU HEAR THE COMMAND, IN SPITE OF WHAT REALITY MAY BE SAYING?

THERE ARE NO CHILDREN. THERE IS NO SOFT, SWEET SMELLING INFANT TO HOLD.

THE ARMS ARE EMPTY, THE MOTHER’S BREAST IS NOT NURSING HER CHILD BECAUSE THERE IS NO CHILD.

AND YET, THE HOLY SPIRIT THROUGH THE PROPHET ISAIAH SAYS TO SING AS THOUGH THERE ARE CHILDREN.

THE HOLY SPIRIT COMMANDS THRU THE PROPHET IS. TO SHOUT FOR JOY JUST AS IF THE CHILD WAS BORN.

WHY? BECAUSE THE FATHER HAS DECLARED THE CHILDREN ARE COMING.

MORE ARE THE CHIDLREN OF DESOLATE THAN THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY BORE CHILDREN.

PRESENT REALITY SAYS, THERE IS DESOLATION, BUT TODAY I DECLARE TO YOU THOSE DAYS ARE OVER AND THE BLESSING OF THE LORD IS GOING TO BE FAR GREATER THAT YOU CAN IMAGINE.

IN THE PAST WE HAVE BORNE CHILDREN. IN THE PAST THE BLESSING OF GOD HAS BEEN UPON THIS WONDERFUL CHURCH.

EVEN DURING THE TIMES OF STRUGGLE & WHEN SOME FELT LIKE A BARREN WOMAN GOD HAS BEEN FAITHFUL.

BUT TODAY WE START FROM A DIFFERENT PERPECTIVE. TODAY WE START REJOICING FOR WHAT GOD WILL DO.

WE DON’T CARE THAT WE CAN’T SEE IT ALL RIGHT NOW. WE ONLY CARE THAT GOD SAID IT’S COMING.

LOOK, YOU HAVE A CHOICE. YOU CAN VIEW THIS MESSAGE AS SOMETHING THAT ANY NEW PASTOR WOULD SAY OR YOU CAN VIEW IT AS A WORD FROM GOD TO A PEOPLE WHO HAVE REMAINED FATHFUL IN SPITE OF STRUGGLE & GOD IS GOING TO BLESS THE PEOPLE.

I CHOOSE TO BELIEVE THE LATTER.

MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE SAVED THAN IN YEARS GONE BY.

MORE BELIEVERS ARE GOING TO EXPERIENCE THE TRUE ABUNDANT LIFE THAN IN YEARS GONE BY.

MORE BODIES ARE GOING TO BE HEALED THEN WE HAVE SEEN IN A LONG TIME.

MORE RELATIONSHIPS ARE GOING TO BE RESTORED THEN IN DAYS PAST.

MORE MISSIONARIES ARE GOING TO COME OUT OF THIS CHURCH THAN EVER THOUGHT POSSIBLE… LOCAL & GLOBAL.

WE DON’T SEE IT YET, WE CAN’T TOUCH IT YET, BUT GOD SAID IT & THAT SETTLES IT.

SO TODAY WHAT IS OUR JOB? OUR JOB IS TO SING & REJOICE IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD.

LET ME ASK YOU THIS… WHY WOULD GOD TELL HIS PEOPLE TO REJOICE & SING & SHOUT WHEN THERE DOESN’T SEEM TO BE ANYTHING TO REJOICE & SING & SHOUT FOR? – HE TOLD THE BARREN TO REJOICE

THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO REASONS.

1. PRAISE TAKES OUR ATTENTION OFF OUR CIRCUMSTANCE & PUTS IT ON GOD.

TELL ME IF I AM TELLING YOU THE TRUTH.