YOU CAN WRITE A DIFFERENT STORY OF YOUR LIFE IN 2010
Reading: Isaiah 61:1-11
Randy Bataanon
The Living Word Christian Church in Kuwait
2009 was a history of suffering and disaster for many of us. The world went through recession. Swine flu hit the world. Many countries including Philippines have been hit by calamities such as super typhoons. Many of us lost our jobs. Many of our salaries were cut. Price of items went double. Our suffering may be the result of our own failures and a mistake that’s why we did not obtained God’s favor. Now question came to our mind; is there any good things coming for the year 2010? The writer of Psalms has the answer.
Psalm 30:5 His anger lasts only a moment, his goodness for a lifetime. Tears may flow in the night, but joy comes in the morning.
Yes there is hope for a brand new year. We can write an entirely different story of our lives in 2010. God is a forgiving God if we’ll just repent. The Year 2009 may be the night of weeping for many of us. But joy may come and 2010 may be the year of joy if we’ll just find God’s favor again in our lives.
In our scripture reading today from Isaiah chapter 61, the text is about the liberation of Israel from the years of captivity in Babylon. God speak to them through prophet Isaiah and assured them about the coming redemption and restoration which will result to rejoicing of His people. More than that, the promise talks also about the time of the coming of Messiah who is our savior Jesus Christ which will usher us to the year of grace, the year of renewal and year of celebration because of God’s favor for all.
Indeed, we can change the course of time for this year. We can obtain God’s favor in 2010 if we’ll just understand how to AQUIRED, COLLECT and TAKE it. (ACT)
1. ACQUIRED IT THROUGH REDEMPTION (VS 1-3)
a. Redemption from bondages v1
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,
A new story of our lives is possible because of what Jesus Christ did in the Calvary 2000 years ago. This year is a time of grace. God has already redeemed us from our captivity in sin. However, many of us don’t now about this good news of redemption. We don’t need to remain poor, broken hearted and prisoners of sin. We have to live up the new life that God has given us. In fact, the bible said in 2Cor. 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
b. Redemption from shame v2
Isa 61:2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favour and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,
Today is the year of God’s favor and grace. We can say goodbye to shame and fear. Our old life which is full of failures and mistakes brought us shame and disgrace. But this year is a different story if we’ll just grab the opportunity of God’s grace. We can repent from our sin and receive God’s forgiveness. The Year of the Lord’s Favor in Hebrew language means a general amnesty wherein they can obtain a great favor from God and people. In fact, they forgive debts of their neighbors during those years. We can also obtain God’s mercy in 2010. Repent and decide to live a new life in Christ.
c. Redemption from corruption v3
Isa 61:3 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. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendour.
The above verse talks about the 70 years captivity of Israel in Babylon wherein they literally put ashes on their head as sign of mourning. Those who captivated them required a song from them but they answered; Psa 137:4 How can we sing the songs of the LORD while in a foreign land?
Indeed, captivity brought corruption in our lives. Living under the bondage of vices and sin make us looking old and steal our happiness and joy. However, when God transferred us from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light, our countenance will shine out the glory of God. It produces fresh smiles on our faces as the light of hope shine in our heart.
2. COLLECT IT THROUGH RESTORATION (VS 4-9)
a. Restoration of broken lives v4
Isa 61:4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.
Have you ever seen a ghost town? It could be an abandoned place of ruined buildings without any inhabitants. Ruined cities are like ruined lives. There is no room for happiness there. What remain is sadness and broken hearts. But God has the power to restore broken lives. My life in the past was an example of it. I even broke my family apart because of sinful life. I can tell you how miserable it is to live a life apart from God. But God restore my life again. He renewed my heart and soul as He also restored my family. And I can tell you now the joy of being restored again to the family of God.
b. Restoration of God’s favor v5
Isa 61:5 Aliens will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.
Restoration of God and people’s favor is one of the benefits of renewed life. As our life change for the better, people notice the changes in us and they will restore their trust and confidence in dealing with us. Our past will become history and testimony of God’s power to change lives and they will glorify God because of His miracle in our lives.
c. Restoration of Gods calling v6
Isa 61:6 And you will be called priests of the LORD, you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast.
I was once a missionary and bible school graduate before I fall into sin. I don’t have the choice but to abandon my ministry and find secular work to survive. Upon leaving Christian Ministry, I gradually adapt to the corrupt system of the world around me. Until God; in His unspeakable mercy caught me again. He restored my life, breaks the hold of darkness within me and enlightens my life. I don’t have any plan to involve in the ministry again. I was just happy that I found the right path and was delivered from the bondage of sin. But God has a different plan for my life. As He called Moses after 40 years of silence in the desert of Median, He renews also my calling. Now I was called again as a minister for God, humbled by His grace, honored by His changing power and empowered by the Holy Spirit of God.
e. Restoration of joy v7
Isa 61:7 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.
The loneliest place in the world is the place of bondage, prison and captivity. Those who live in there before, knows what I mean. But God can restore all that had been stolen by the enemy from us. Whether it is love, joy, family, relationship, property, reputation, peace of mind, health and all that the enemy has stole from us when we fall into sin.
A man once had a motorcycle accident in an isolated place in the Philippines. The victim called for help but instead of helping him, the people rob all his belongings including his motorcycle. Those people are incredibly heartless! The Devil is like those heartless people. Once we became his victim, he will steal everything from us. But God is our rescuer and healer. He can rescue our lives when no one else wants to help us. We can cry for His help and He will surely come. He is just a prayer away from us.
f. Restoration of God’s covenant v8
Isa 61:8 For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery and iniquity. In my faithfulness I will reward them and make an everlasting covenant with them.
When Adam and Eve fall into sin, they had broken their covenant with God. Sin is like a breach of contract. It breaks our covenant with God. But God is talking here of everlasting covenant written by the blood of the Jesus Christ. We can obtain this everlasting covenant by accepting Jesus Christ into our heart and making Him the savior and king of our lives. Then we will become adopted children of God and co-heirs of Jesus in His kingdom. The bible said in John 1:12 “But as many as received Him, He gave to them authority to become the children of God, to those who believe on His name,”
g. Restoration of God’s blessing v9
Isa 61:9 Their descendants will be known among the nations and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the LORD has blessed.
Sin is the cause of bankruptcy whether financially or spiritually. The story of Prodigal son is about financial bankruptcy. However, it is also a picture of our spiritual fall once we depart from our heavenly Father. Once repented and returned, the father in the story restore his right as a son including his possession. Of course, there are consequences because his mistakes lost half of their entire possession. However, the joy of being accepted in the family again brought more joy than any earthly properties. And we know that the riches of our heavenly father cannot be measured. We don’t have to fear bankruptcy in God.
As disobedience produce curse, obedience also produce blessing. Our Lord is not a sticky God. He want blessing for his people especially when those blessing give glory to His name.
3. TAKE IT THROUGH REJOICING (10-11)
a. As a result of redemption v 10
Isa 61:10 I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
People in captivity cannot sing the song of joy. It is only when our lives had been delivered by the grace of God that we can sing the song of praise and celebration.
b. As a result of restoration v 11
Isa 61:11 For as the soil makes the young plant come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.
From the heart of the unregenerate people spring up evil thoughts and actions, but restorations will produce righteousness from the heart as the love for God will naturally flows from within our spirit.
CONLUSION:
This year, let us experience Gods redemption and freedom from sin by accepting Jesus Christ as savior of our lives. Allow the Holy Spirit to restore and renew your hearts and mind day by day so that you can experience the real joy and the celebration of new life in Christ.
If you are already tired of living in fear and miserable life in the valley of ruined city called sin; you can still change your direction. Choose the right way, choose Jesus and you can write the different story of your life in 2010.
SHORT OULINE OF THIS SERMON
WRITING A DIFFERENT STORY OF YOUR LIFE IN 2010
Reading: Isaiah 61:1-11
1. ACQUIRED IT THROUGH REDEMPTION (VS 1-3)
a. Redemption from bondages v1
b. Redemption from shame v2
c. Redemption from corruption v3
2. COLLECT IT THROUGH RESTORATION (VS 4-9)
a. Restoration of broken lives v4
b. Restoration of God’s favor v5
c. Restoration of Gods Calling v6
e. Restoration of joy v7
f. Restoration of God’s covenant v8
g. Restoration of God’s blessing v9
3. TAKE IT THROUGH REJOICING (10-11)
a. As a result of redemption v 10
b. As a result of restoration v 11
