Isa 54:1-8"Sing, O 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.
"Enlarge the place of your tent,stretch your tent curtains wide,do not hold back;lengthens your cords,strengthen your stakes.For you will spread out to the right and to the left;your descendants will dispossess nations & settle in their desolate cities.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& remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.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.The Lord will call you back as if you were a wife deserted & distressed in spirit -a wife who married young, only to be rejected, "says your God.
For a brief moment I abandoned you,but with deep compassion I will bring you back.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.
v.9b - 10
...so now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again.
though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed,
yet My unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,"
says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
v. 17
no weapon forged against you will prevail,
and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.
This IS the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
and this IS their vindication from me.
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Luke 4 -5:11
Luke 4: Tempted BUT never sin:
Becoming an example for Us in times of tests: Jesus Himself being put thru' test & becomes an overcomer of sin
types of tests:
1. (v.3-4) pressured to live on "how I feel (e.g. hungry, busy, tired, lazy) /food/work instead v.s living on God's word (life of FAITH) and worshipping Him"
2. (v. 5-8) pressured to establish our own kindom of Gods (e.g. pride of life) v.s. being /buiding the Kingdom of God/ worshipping for God
3. (v. 9 - 12) pressured to put Lord to test > doubting the sovereignty of God in our lives/ word of God spoken about our lives
4. (v. 22, 24, 28-29) discouragements/ anger/ rejection/ inacceptance / abandonment from people close to us/around us of walking in what God calls us to do (will of God: v.18-19, 21) overcoming by THE POWER OF SPIRIT (v.14) - HE WALKED RIGHT THROUGH THE CROWD AND WENT ON HIS WAY (v.30).
Using The Authority& Power of God - Teaching(v.31) , Delieverance (v.33-37; 41), Healing (v.38-40)
Solitary Time with God: Jesus' Recharging Time ALONE to 'get the Good News'
1) Getting the perspective right > Our Purpose in life: preaching the gd news of kingdom of God to others - &
2) setting boundary to protect our solitary time with God, so you'll have Good News to preach/share!!!
>>> Good News is not just some verses written in bible BUT daily word of God speaking to you; word of God working in your life
Know that HARVEST wld come in when you hear God's word and move in obedience & faith!!!
v.5:4-5
aft hearing God's word: God'll choose you to be the FIRST to put out into deep water BY FAITH (aft you've work whole day without seeing result) and let down the nets for a catch.
>>> "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. BUT because YOU SAY SO, I WILL LET DOWN THE NETS." v.5
when they(Jesus & Simon) had done so, THEY CAUGHT SUCH A LARGE No. of fish that THEIR NETS BEGAN TO BREAK.(and had to signaled to their partners to come and help them, they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink).
>>Knowing that we've encountered the Lord when such miraculous catch happens... not by might, not by strength, but by power of the Holy Spirit!
DROPPING all things & follow Him!
From now on, we will catch fisher of men! (promise of God spoken)
They pulled their boats up on shore (whatever they were doing before meeting God) & left everything & follow Him.
