THERE IS HOPE FOR YOU (ME)

THERE IS HOPE FOR YOU (ME)

TEXT: ISAIAH 54:4

INTRODUCTION: Isaiah prophesied before the Babylonian Captivity. By his prophetic mantle, he prophesied that Judah will suffer shame and humiliation that would make her lose every hope of restoration. Using the imagery of the reproach associated with youths, widows and divorcees, Isaiah showed the severity of their sufferings. God will however restore their glory again.

 

The objective in this message is to reassure us that there is still hope for us whatever we are going through today.

 

I.  WE SHALL FORGET THE SHAME OF OUR YOUTHS—ISAIAH 54:4a “…" Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth….” (NIV)

 

a. The shame associated with Israel’s youth in this verse could refer to her suffering in Egypt.

 

i. Israel could be seen as in her youth at this time because as a national community she was still like a virgin. She entered into a betrothal when she was redeemed by God, and became His youthful wife through a covenant of love when the law was given at Sinai (Jer.2:2; Ezek. 16:60).1

 

ii. Like Israel, we also enter into a betrothal with God when we confess Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We must however note that engage is not marriage. Our relationship with Jesus will only be consummated into a marriage union if we keep our garments pure till He returns—Rev.19:17

 

b. Given the severity of the Babylonian captivity; Judah would forget the pleasure she enjoyed in the days of her ‘honeymoon’ with Jehovah. God will however restore His people and they will not remember the shame associated with their past anymore.

 

i. This is also true in our today experiences. In the days of

trouble, we tend to remember only the troubles of our past. In the days of enjoyment also, we forget that we have ever suffered.

 

ii. May the Lord cause us to forget all our past sufferings and shame!

 

II.  THE   REPROACH   OF   WIDOWHOOD   WILL   NOT   BE REMEMBERED—ISAIAH 54:4b “…You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.”

 

a. Following the analogy given above (of Israel being in her youth in Egypt, and as married at Sinai); the most appropriate period of her widowhood was during her Babylonian captivity.2

 

i. This is not because God (her husband) was dead, but because other nations treated them as a widow for whom no one will avenge. The prophet assured them that with what God will do in their lives, they will not remember the reproaches of their widowhood anymore.

 

ii. We also face situations where life metes to us ‘widowhood-kind-of’ sufferings—with nobody anywhere to help. God who restored the glory of Israel will also restore our glory.

 

b. Using the NIV rendering, Isaiah identified four qualities in God that makes Him the most reliable husband (Isaiah54:5)

 

i. Their husband is their “Maker”—He made them in the first place and could remake them into a more pleasant bride.

 

ii. Their husband is by name “the Lord Almighty”—He can do anything to restore them.

 

iii. Their husband, who double share as their redeemer is “the Holy One of Israel”. Given His holy nature, He will not treat Them unjustly or allow any man to treat them unjustly.

 

iv. Their husband is called “the God of all the earth”. No nation on earth can stop His restoration agenda for His people.

 

 

c. Like the Israelites, we are here assured that our husband (God) is not dead, and cannot die. By His intervention in our lives, those who treated us as widows will realize that our Redeemer lives (Job19:25-27).

 

III.  THE DIVORCEE SHALL BE RESTORED

 

a. The imagery of divorce between God and His people usually illustrates their unfaithfulness and God’s punishment to them. In some cases, it shows God’s people divorcing Him to follow other men (gods). Other times, it shows God sending them away because of their gross unfaithfulness (e.g. Babylonian captivity).

 

b. Isaiah further shows that though Israel’s captivity was occasioned by their unfaithfulness to her husband, God will restore her again—Isaiah 54:6-8.

 

c. The implication of this is that even if our sufferings are results of our unfaithfulness to God; He wishes to restore us to Himself. All we need to do is to come to Him in repentance and we will find hope again in Him.

 

CONCLUSION: This message has come to reassure us that there is hope for us. Even if our condition is like that of a helpless youth, widow or a divorcee, we can trust God for a restoration!

 

PRAYERS:

 

1. Pray for restoration and renewal of relationship with God in any way we have been living as unfaithful bride or a divorcee.

 

2. That God will respond to every shame and reproach of our lives as He responded to the shame and reproaches of Israel’s youthfulness and widowhood.

GOD IS ABLE (Part 1)

THINGS CAN GET BETTER

TEXT: ISAIAH 54:1-3

INTRODUCTION: Many people die before receiving their miracles because of loss of hope. When we lose hope, we tend to conclude that nothing more could be achieved in our situation.

This message is coming to us today to make us know that it is just too early to given up. Things Can Still Get Better .

      I.            YOUR LIFE CAN BE MORE FRUITFUL

a.      Barrenness is one difficult situation we face in life. Whether it is connected to the fruits of wombs or ‘fruits of hands’; barrenness is such a difficult situation to grapple with.

b.     We are here reassured that God can cause the barren to break forth with singing by the reason of what He will do in their lives (Isaiah 54:1).

c.      God is able to make a fruitless and barren life very fruitful and productive—Isaiah 49:17-20

   II.            YOUR TENTS ARE EXPANDABLE—ISAIAH 54:2

a.      In the patriarchal age, most of the Israelites lived in tents. The tents were made of “hand-woven, three-feet-wide strips of dark goats' hair. When more family members needed to be accommodated, additional strips could be sown on.”[1]

b.     With this imagery of expandable tent; the prophet called the attention of his audience to the fact that their present dwelling place could be bigger.

                                                             i.      They were not to remain narrow-minded. If they could see the possibility of expanding their tents, it would be easier for them to see the possibility of having a better life.

                                                           ii.      In the same way, we must see the possibility of a better life if we must achieve it.

1.     It is only what the eyes of our minds can see that our hands can possess—Gen. 13:14

2.     If we can behold it, we can become it!

                                                        iii.      Develop a mental picture of a better you and you will achieve it.

III.            YOU CAN HAVE MORE THAN YOU CAN CONTAIN—ISAIAH 54:3

a.      Still using the patriarchal image of the tent, Isaiah shows that as a mother who has been blessed with many children, Zion will need a spacious tent to accommodate the increase the Lord will bring upon her.

                                                             i.      The captivity brought about desolation upon every family in Israel and upon Israel as a nation. Houses, palaces, companies, factories were all destroyed and rendered desolate. God here assured them that he could make them so numerous again.

                                                           ii.      The effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on our economy as a nation, church and family could be so overwhelming. God, however, is able to make us many times bigger and better.

b.     God so increased the sons of the prophets under the Leadership of Prophet Samuel that the place they dwelt could not take them. This led them into looking for a more spacious place by all means, that, those who did not have axes had to borrow, to ensure they create more rooms for their growth. 2 Kings 6:1-7

c.      God has promised to give us blessings beyond what we can contain if we can serve Him in absolute faithfulness—Malachi 3:10

CONCLUSION: Having seen that things could get better; I believe you don’t want to give up anymore. May the Lord strengthen our trust in Him and help us to continue to serve Him in absolute faithfulness until things get better for us!

PRAYERS:

1.     That God will revive our hope and trust in Him

2.     That God will help us to serve Him in absolute faithfulness so He will cause His good promises to come through in our life

3.     That God will cause us to be fruitful and productive in every area we need it beyond our imagination.

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[1] IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament, Copyright © 2000 by John H. Walton, Victor H. Matthews and Mark W. Chavalas. Published by InterVarsity Press. All rights reserved.)

The Professional Principles Of Financial Prosperity

Rev. Dr. G. K. Nwatu

TEXT: 1 Cor. 9:25; Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. (NIV)

Nobody celebrates a mediocre; you must be spectacular to be celebrated. To be spectacular as to be celebrated however, professionalism is not an option. Though His divine power has given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness; we may not make the best out of those things without playing our parts in most effective way.

The General Principles Of Financial Prosperity—Part 2: Diligence And Faithfulness

TEXT: PROV. 6:9-11; 9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man. (KJV)

In addition to some general principles discussed previously, diligence and faithfulness must also be given adequate attention. The demand of the principle of ‘diligence’ is that a man who desires to succeed financially must by all means resist the followings:

The General Principles of Financial Prosperity-Part 1

Unit Text: Luke 4:18, 19; "The Spirit of the Lord is on me,because he has anointed meto preach good news to the poor….”

General Principles are principles that have no respect of persons or religions. One thing about the principles in this category is that even the religious principles must be observed in addition to them for one to achieve successes. For instance, a faithful tither who does not observe the general principles for success can still

The Religious Principles of Financial Prosperity

Rev. G. K. Nwatu

TEXT: Hag 1:1-11, ; 2:15-19 Religious principles are principles that are connected to one’s religion. They are binding only on the adherents of such religion because they have released their faith and fate to it. Every religion has its own

The Principles of Financial Prosperity-Unit Introduction

Rev. Dr. G. K. Nwatu

Unit Text: Luke 4:18, 19; "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

Merriam Webster defines “Principle” as “comprehensive and fundamental law”; “the law or fact of nature underlying the working of an artificial device”. That is, something that must be in place for a thing (a device) to work. Successes and riches do not usually