Great Expectations
Isaiah 54:1-8
This sermon has been written using an outline from Colin Coombs. I added my own to it as well. Sincerely, Steve Boldin
Two hunters got a pilot to fly them into the far north for elk hunting. They were quite successful in their venture and bagged six big bucks. The pilot came back, as arranged, to pick them up.
They started loading their gear into the plane, including the six elk. But the pilot objected and he said, "The plane can only take four of your elk; you will have to leave two behind."
They argued with him; the year before they had shot six and the pilot had allowed them to put all aboard. The plane was the same model and capacity. Reluctantly, the pilot finally permitted them to put all six aboard. But when the attempted to take off and leave the valley, the little plane could not make it and they crashed into the
wilderness.
Climbing out of the wreckage, one hunter said to the other, "Do you know where we are?"
"I think so," replied the other hunter. "This is just about the same place where we crashed last year."
Someone has said: "Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is called insanity"
Sometimes we get into a spiritual routine in church. And we don’t know how to get out of it.
Well, I know who can get us out of it folks, its GOD! What expectations do we have of Him for our church this next year? If we ask this question though, we better be ready to ask what expectations does God have of us.
God uses us to accomplish His will and purpose here on earth. Jesus said, “Greater things than these shall you do because I go to the Father.”
We can’t do it in our own strength either. We need the power of the Holy Spirit. He equips us to be His witnesses. In Acts 1:8 he says, “And you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you, and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
God wants to do a mighty work in our midst, right here at New Hope Baptist Church.
I. We Must Desire Enlargement.
1 Chronicles 4:10 says, “And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.”
A. Desires are granted as we delight in the Lord. Psalm 37:4 says, “Take delight in the Lord and He will give you your heart’s desire.”
B. Desires are granted as we put faith in the Word of God.
Mark 11:24, “Therefore I say unto you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” John 14:13-14, “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”
Let’s put this principle to the test. John 14:12 says, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” Do you believe that with every ounce of your soul? Then we can do the work of the Father here in Camp Verde, Amen! We put our faith in the Word of God!
God said it and that settles it!
C. Desires are granted as we seek the Lord wholeheartedly.
2 Chronicles 14:15 says, “And all Judah rejoiced at the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and sought Him with all their soul; and He was found by them, and the Lord gave them rest all around.”
Jeremiah 29:11-13 says, “11For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” You don’t need an astrologer or a psychic, listen to the Word of God, Amen! “12Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
Psalms 119:105 says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”
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.
