Spiritual Travail For Souls

Isaiah 66:1-14 Spiritual Travail For Souls

I. The REALITY Of It

8 for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.

There must be travail before spiritual birth.

A. It is the Order of NATURE.

1. PHYSICALLY Gen 3:16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

2. SPIRITUALLY Gal 4:19“My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you”.

Ps 126:6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

B. It is the Observation of HISTORY.

Exodus 3:7 And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; 8 And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9 Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.

Jer 9:1 Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people

II. The RESULTS Of It - 8 she brought forth her children. - Spiritual LIFE!

A. Souls are BIRTHED 2 Cors 4:12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you

B. Saints are BLESSED

Isaiah 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied:

C. Sovereignty is BRANDISHED

8 for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. God did it!

“Salvation is of the Lord” – from start to finish!

III. The REQUIREMENT Of It - 8 as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth

A. Indifference brings DENUNCIATION.

God pronounced a curse upon a town in Naphtali that did not follow Barak against the Lord’s enemies - Judges 5:23 Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty.

B. Indifference brings DISTRACTION.

Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

C. Indifference Brings DEATH.

In Rev 2:4 Christ said to the Church at Ephesus Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Will you say with Rachel of old, “Give me children, or else I die!”