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The year of the Lord’s Favour
Scripture: Isaiah 61:7
Introduction: By God’s grace we have come to the final minutes of the year 2009. I was glancing through the world events, events in the church, and events in many of your lives in 2009.
• The world went through recession.
• Many of us lost our jobs.
• Many of our salaries were cut, shifts increased.
• Price of items went double, no increase in income.
• Swine flu hit the world.
• Last year was a year of suffering for many of you.
But I thank God He brought us safe to this moment. We had difficulties but God was with us. When I was meditating on the events of 2009 and asked God for a promise of prophesy for 2010 and the Holy Spirit led me to Isaiah.
Isaiah 61:7 7 Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs.
Title is from verse 2 Isaiah 61:2 2proclaim the year of the LORD’s favour.
Subject: The Year of the Lord’s Favour. Isaiah 61
The background of this passage:
Isaiah means God saves.
Writings of Isaiah is comfort and hope for God’s chosen people in Babylonian captivity.
Isaiah comes with a message of restoration.
God is promising a new beginning for Jerusalem and its people.
God is speaking to us that in the midst of our troubles and difficulties God’s favour is with us and God is giving us a new beginning. We have hope and comfort in the Lord.
What is a New Beginning?
New Beginning is a New Creation. It is something new. The old system changes and new system starts.
2 Corinthians 5:17 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
When we accept Christ we become a new creation in the spirit. This new creation marks the start of a new beginning in our spiritual life. Now new beginning starts with a creation. When God does something new in your life he starts to create something new.
How new creation happens?
Creation is the work of the Holy Spirit.
In Psalm 104:24-30 the psalmist is speaking about the providence of God’s creation and see what he says.
Psalm 104:30 30 When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth. God’s spirit (Holy Spirit) is a spirit of creation.
Genesis 1:2-3 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. It was the Holy Spirit which did the creation in the beginning.
How are you and I created in the womb of our mother?
Job 33:4 4 The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
John 6:63 63The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing.
This same Holy Spirit is going to give us a new beginning and a new creation in 2010.
Isaiah 61:1 1The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me.
The Spirit of the Lord is on you, it is on me. The Holy Spirit of the Lord will do a new creation. Lets us see what Holy Spirit will do for you in 2010.
1. Kingdom of God will grow.
Isaiah 61:1a 1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.
This is God is speaking that the church will grow world wide. Bangalore will see a revival. City Harvest AG will see a great growth and revival. God will use everyone here to preach the good news to the people.
Isaiah 61:1c to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.
Many who are captive by the devil will be freed this year. The Holy Spirit is going to set the captives free. There will be deliverance for people with satanic forces, curses, bondages etc. The Holy Spirit will cast out evil spirits. The kingdom will enlarge.
2. Bind Broken Hearts.
Isaiah 61:1b He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted.
When the Holy Spirit comes He heals the broken hearted. If you are sitting with a broken heart this year end. If you feel you have:
• Not achieved anything.
• No peace in family.
• No job.
• No finances.
• Death of the loved ones.
• Depressed and lonely.
• You feel your life is a failure.
God is going to provide for you in 2010 to bind your broken heart. He will restore what is lost. In the next year you will find peace.
3. CHANGE.
Isaiah 61:3 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
When the Holy Spirit comes upon a person Change happens. It will make things new. It will never be the same. Let us see CHANGE promised by GOD.
• ‘Beauty for Ashes’ In Bible time people in the time of mourning and difficulty lay in ashes. You become dirty. There is nothing beautiful about ashes. See what God says: God will take your difficult, disgusting, depressed, and horrible situations and give you His beauty. The Holy Spirit is going to take out the ash out of you and make something beautiful out of you.
• ‘Joy for Mourning’ It says oil of joy for mourning. In Bible times when a person is mourning he never puts oil/cream in his face. The face looks disfigured and rough. But when a person is happy he puts oil in his face and it shines. God is telling this year He is going to give you joy.
The oil of joy is the Holy Spirit.
Hebrews 1:9 9You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.
• Garment of Praise. Garment is what covers people. What are you covered with emotionally today. Many of you are clothed with disappointment. Heaviness in your heart. God is telling you He will take out that garment and fill you with a new one, garment of Praise. Garment changes your looks. Your outlook will change in 2010.
In 2010 God is promising you that he will fill you with beauty instead of ashes, joy for mourning, and cover you with a garment of praise.
4. Double Blessings.
Isaiah 61:7 7 Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs.
When the Holy Spirit comes upon a person he receives blessings. This year God’s promise is you will experience a double portion of blessings for the struggles you went through in 2009. Tell it, “I am going to be blessed.” Yes the Holy Spirit is going to bless each and every one of you.
Understand all this is the work of the Holy Spirit and 2010 is ‘The year of the Lord’s Favour.’
Conclusion: As we stop I want you to take back these 4 promises for 2010.
1. The Kingdom will grow.
2. Bind Broken Hearts.
3. CHANGE.
4. Double Blessings.
This is the result of the Holy Spirit.
Let us worship and receive these blessings from God Almighty.
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