No Holding Back: The Path of Restoration
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Sermon Notes
Reminder: The power of a promise is in its timing and substance.
Isaiah 54:1-8
“Sing, barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,” says the Lord. 2 “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. 3 For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities. 4 “Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood. 5 For your Maker is your husband— the Lord Almighty is his name— the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth. 6 The Lord will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit— a wife who married young, only to be rejected,” says your God. 7 “For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back. 8 In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord your Redeemer.
Isaiah 54:2-4
2 “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. 3 For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities. 4 “Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.
1. What is God directing us to do?
2. How is He calling us to do it?
3. What is holding us back?
1. What is God directing us to do?
Enlarge the place of your tent = Enlarge your vision.
God doesn’t give big vision to big people, He gives big vision to the most willing to follow Him! Big defines Him not us.Stretch your tent curtains wide = Stretch your faith.
We see the big win of vision as obtaining.
God sees the big win of vision as walking in faith with Him.Lengthen your cords = Lengthen your reach.
God doesn’t stare aimlessly into the refrigerator of our life trying to heat up something old. He’s up to something brand-new and to follow Him you are going to have lengthen your reach.Strengthen your stakes = Strengthen your resolve.
God’s hand is on your life. His promises for you doesn’t eliminate opposition, in fact it increases it. But if you strengthen your resolve by going deeper with God, you will experience a life more than you could have ever dreamed.
2. How is God calling us to do this?
No Holding Back!
When God makes a promise and lays out a path our best reaction is a whole-hearted response.
3. What do we have to overcome to follow His direction?
Fear is an emotion that stops motion; faith is a decision that creates motion. Fear is natural, faith is supernatural.
4 “Do not be afraid [exhortation]; you will not be put to shame [promise]. Do not fear disgrace; [exhortation] you will not be humiliated [promise]. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood [declaration].
An exhortation is a loud enthusiastic urging.
Humiliation is the fear of embarrassment due to a failure.
Shame is a deeper emotion. Shame speaks to who we are. Shame elevates “I failed” to “I am a failure.”
God’s message to Moses wasn’t “You da man”, it was I AM the Man.
