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.
WHEN OUR ATTENTION IS FOCUSED ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES IT BECOMES ABOUT ME.
I DON’T HAVE ANY CHILDREN. I DON’T SEE THE BLESSING OF THE LORD. I FEEL BARREN & DEPRESSED.
WHEN CIRCUMSTANCES RISE UP SO DOES THE ATTENTION UPON OURSELVES.
OH BUT WHEN WE CAN SING, WHEN WE CAN SHOUT, WHEN WE CAN REJOICE, ITS NOT ABOUT ME, ITS ABOUT HIM.
LOOK AT HABAKKUK 3:17-18
17 Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
IT’S NOT ABOUT WHAT I SEE,
IT’S NOT ABOUT WHAT I HAVE,
IT’S NOT ABOUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO ME.
IT IS ALL ABOUT HIM!
HE IS WORTHY REGRDLESS OF WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES SAYS.
THERE IS ANOTHER REASON GOD TELLS US TO PRAISE EVEN THOUGH WE DON’T SEE THE BLESSING YET.
2. THERE IS POWER IN PRAISE TO CONFUSE THE ENEMY
FOR THE SAKE OF TIME I WON’T READ IT, BUT LOOK AT II CHRONICLES 20:17-23
JUDAH IS UP AGAINST INSUMANTABLE ODDS. DEFEAT SEEMED INEVITABLE.
BUT JEHOSPHAHT SENDS OUT THE WORSHIPPERS. NOT THE WARRIORS, THE WORSHIPPERS.
AS THE PEOPLE SING & PRAISE GOD THE ENEMY IS CONFUSED & THEY ACTUALLY TURN AGAINST EACH OTHER.
PRAISE CONFUSES THE ENEMY. HE CAN’T HANDLE IT.
WHEN GOD’S PEOPLE LIFT UP THE NAME OF JESUS, SATAN SCRAMBLES. THE PRAISE IS LIKE A SCREAMING HORN IN HIS EAR & HE DOES EVERYTHING HE CAN TO GET AWAY.
DOES ANY ONE HERE CARE TO SEND THE ENEMY RUNNING?
DOES ANYONE HERE CARE TO CONFUSE SATAN?
THEN LETS PRAISE BECAUSE THE BLESSING OF THE LORD IS STANDING IN THE WINGS & WE WILL SEE MORE THEN WE HAVE IN THE PAST.
WE ARE NOW GOING TO SING & SHOUT.
WE ARE NOW GOING TO GET OUR ATTENTION OFF OF OURSELVES & OUR CIRCUMSTANCES & WE ARE GOING TO FOCUS ON THE LOVER OF OUR SOUL.
WE ARE NOW GOING TO SING & REJOICE & CONFUSE THE HATER OF OUR SOUL.
ARE YOU READY? LET’S REJOICE.
