Enlarging The Kingdom
Introduction
Enlarging the Kingdom
Isaiah 54:1-5
Isaiah chapter 53 speaks of the sacrifice of Christ on Calvary
Isaiah chapter 55 speaks of the ‘Gospel Call’, and the promised blessing upon God’s Word.
Isaiah chapter 54 speaks of the Church in preparation for the enlargement.
In this the Lord is talking to His people Israel as a Faithful Husband to His unfaithful wife. His bride had been disobedient and rebellious the Kingdom was divided - the Babylonians had captured them and made them slaves. God shares with His people that He wants to restore His people. Restore them to joy (an occasion for singing). He wants to restore them to fruitfulness (increasing their numbers therefore the need for more space).God also wants to restore His people’s confidence. As we look at this text today let us see what the Lord wants to restore us to as individuals, as a church and a nation.
Restored Joy (1)
Redeemer - of the Desolate (Gentiles) 53:5
Right Relationship - Fulfillment of the Law 53:6
Reason to Sing - Restored relationship 53:12
God wants to do a bigger work in your life. God has a bigger purpose. But for that to take place you must enlarge your capacity for God. The number one purpose God had in creating us was for us to know God in an intimate relationship. And the second reason God created us was to make himself known through us.
Restored Fruitfulness (2.3)
Expect Growth - Promise of future glory (3)
Local church - 70 percent of Grady Co. unchurched
Universal church - millions of lost people in the world - they need Jesus
Prepare for Growth - "enlarge the place of your tent"
Desire Growth
WE MUST HAVE A DESIRE FOR ENLARGEMENT
I Chronicles 4:10 Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request.
1. DESIRES ARE GRANTED AS WE DELIGHT IN THE LORD
Psalm 37:4. Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires.
Isaiah 58:14 then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob." The mouth of the LORD has spoken.
2. DESIRES ARE GRANTED AS WE PUT FAITH IN THE WORD OF GOD
Mark 11:24 Listen to me! You can pray for anything, and if you believe, you will have it. [NLT]
3. DESIRES ARE GRANTED AS WE SEEK THE LORD WHOLEHEARTEDLY
2 Chronicles 15:15 All Judah rejoiced about the oath because they had sworn it wholeheartedly. They sought God eagerly, and he was found by them. So the LORD gave them rest on every side.
Ps 119:106 I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws.
Build for Growth - "stretch forth" Make Room
Stretch out - expand
Spare not - expenses (cost something to to do something)
Lengthen thy cords - add on
Strengthen thy stakes - make it strong
In the Old Testament when a son took a wife, the son and the father added a room on the father’s house – a place for the son to bring his new bride. Families stayed together as a group – for protection, for production, and out of love. We saw the same principles in the First Church in Acts – they were devoted and committed to one another and to sharing the Gospel message of Jesus to the world. On the day of Pentecost – 3000 souls were added to the church. You talk about enlarging your tent, lengthening your cords and stretching your curtains.
Jesus came and died for our sins – enlarging the tent of God
Adopting us into the family of God!
Restored Confidence (4,5)
We lived in day where our confidence has been shaken. The economy is broken, the government will soon be bankrupt, our judicial system is corrupt – the church is floundering amidst the false religions of the day - the situation can become fearful.
God says “Fear Not” – trust in Me!
God says to us “With God nothing is impossible”
Paul wrote to us “I can do all things thru Christ who strengthens me”
Don’t be ashamed – I have forgiven you!
What forgiveness – what love – what a sacrifice
Get over your past!
Forget the past disappointments, failures and sins
The hardest person to forgive is yourself
Our adversary wants us to be defeated by our past failures and live in the past
But let us look at it even more closely in the New Testament –
Jesus said to His Disciples – I go to prepare a place for you –
Jesus is adding a room for us in the house of God
What a thought - the bridegroom is building a mansion for His bride! As the bride of Christ certainly we should be singing with the joy of His redemptive love, we should be faithfully enlarging our tents as we wait on the wedding day, and most assuredly we should live in great confidence in the promises of our Creator God and Our Redeemer!
Sing out the Good News - Jesus Saves!
Stretch out - Prepare for Growth
Pray for Growth
Prepare for Growth
Strengthen our Faith
Our Maker is thine husband - thy Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel
Natural Disaster - floods - tornadoes - hurricanes
In a scene in the movie Open Range, there is a flood down main street that shows a guy is running down the wooden side walks trying to catch up with a puppy that is being swept away in the current. Boss calls out to Charlie asking where the puppy is. Charlie risks his safety by plunging into the water and snatching the puppy to safety. If a person would take such a risk to rescue a dog - what should we be willing to risk for a human soul?