Sermon Central
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Get Ready, It’s Here
Contributed by Howard Strickland on May 2, 2010 (message contributor)
Summary: Hear the setting, Barren... have not borne...have not labored... desolate. This was written as Israel was in her exile. Israel had been destitute, (disgraced as a woman without children.) However, the prophet calls for singing because the Lord had promise
This is dedicated to all of us who are seniors, to all of you who know seniors, and to all of you who will become seniors. It pays to be able to laugh about it when you are!
"WHERE is my SUNDAY paper?!"
The irate customer calling the newspaper office loudly demanded to know where her Sunday edition was.
"Madam," said the newspaper employee, "today is Saturday. The Sunday paper is not delivered until tomorrow, on SUNDAY."
There was a long pause on the other end of the phone, and then she was heard to mutter, "Well, that's why no one was at church today."
Get Ready, It’s Here Text: Isaiah 54:1-3
“Sing, O barren,You who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, You who have not labored with child! For more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married woman,” says the LORD. 2 “ Enlarge 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. 3 For you shall expand to the right and to the left, and your descendants will inherit the nations, And make the desolate cities inhabited.
Hear the setting, Barren... have not borne...have not labored... desolate. This was written as Israel was in her exile. Israel had been destitute, (disgraced as a woman without children.) However, the prophet calls for singing because the Lord had promised future fruitfulness.
Also, in this passage of scripture, salvation flows from the vindication of the suffering servant. Hear this, the promises in chapter 54 go far beyond the return from Babylonian exile.
These verses should be applied to the coming of Jesus Christ our Messiah, and also chapter 54 speak of the benefits of Jesus’ second coming as the bride groom.
*Isaiah 54:1NLT “Sing, O childless woman, you who have never given birth! Break into loud and joyful song, O Jerusalem, you who have never been in labor. For the desolate woman now has more children than the woman who lives with her husband,”says the Lord.
Verse 1 actually means, “what was once stopped up, and not producing is now flowing! (The suffering servant of Isaiah 53, has paved the way!)
I’m here to make an announcement, and a proclamation, “Salvation is here!”
In the last three weeks, 3 people have been born again. Also, there has been one recommitment to Christ.
Listen to Isaiah 62:4 Never again will you be called “The Forsaken City” or “The Desolate Land.” Your new name will be “The City of God’s Delight” and “The Bride of God,” for the Lord delights in you and will claim you as his bride.
Never again will you be called “The forsaken City” or “The Desolate land.”
As new birth occurs our joy level will rise! New birth, brings a dance, a praise, laughter, and then we will want to witiness more!
As I was walking around in my yard, the thought came to me, “flowers grow with the proper care, and when we do the right things, our church will forever grow.”
*Something that isn’t growing isn’t healthy!
In I Chronicles 4:9-10 We read about a man called, Jabez, Jabez in Hebrew, means curse. Jabezs’ mother almost died in child birth, so she named him ‘jabez.’ (curse) However, Jabez got hungry for God, and for change in his life. The scripture records him praying: *Expand my territory. *Bless me.
*Please be with me, in all I do. *Bring prosperity. *Bring protection - Verse 10 say’s, And God granted him his request.
When we do the right things: giving, loving, doing, worshiping, helping those in need. (God blesses with salvation!)
Verse 2 of Isaiah 54 says, Enlarge your house; build an addition. Spread out your home, and spare no expense!
Enlarge your heart; enlarge your thinking, make room for babies to be birthed! Pray this with me right now, “Lord, bring the lost!”
John 7:37-38NLT On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from the heart of anyone who believes in me.’”
Isaiah 54:3NLT For you will soon be bursting at the seams. Your descendants will occupy other nations and resettle the ruined cities.
Once again, you are called, “The City of God’s Delight” and “The Bride of God...
Go a little farther, listen to Isaiah 54:4-5NLT “Fear not; you will no longer live in shame. Don’t be afraid; there is no more disgrace for you.You will no longer remember the shame of your youth and the sorrows of widowhood. 5 For your Creator will be your husband; the Lord of Heaven’s Armies is his name! He is your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, the God of all the earth.
