We Need A Miracle

Brief Comments on Isaiah 54:1-17

Especially Addressing “Why Are We Still Here?”

“The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray” (1Peter 4:7 NIV).

1- Why are we still here?

The world is still here ONLY because God still continues to hold all things together.

“He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17 NIV).

2- Why does the Church suffer from anxiety?

Prophetic ignorance robs the Church of anticipation and hope.

“We are given no signs from God; no prophets are left, and none of us knows how long this will be” (Psalm 74:9 NIV).

3- Why is the Church so unfruitful?

The Church’s unfruitfulness is due to not claiming its “covenant of peace” (Isaiah 54:10 NIV) heritage from the LORD.

“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” (Isaiah 54:1 NIV).

4- Should we prepare for an abundant harvest?

Yes, in the meantime, the Church should expect and prepare for a great harvest.

“Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes” (Isaiah 54:2 NIV).

5- Will the Church advance into foreign territory?

Yes, the discarded cities of former adversaries will be homes for your spiritual offspring.

“For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities” (Isaiah 54:3 NIV).

6- Will the Church experience the embarrassment of being unfruitful?

No, the former days will be forgotten.

“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” (Isaiah 54:4 NIV).

7- What husband to the Church will provide this offspring?

As the Church is the Bride of Christ (Revelation 19:7; 21:2,9), even so, restored Israel is the wife of Jehovah. God will bring forth offspring.

“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” (Isaiah 54:5 NIV).

8- Why will the LORD call back the deserted wife?

Only repentance will move God to call back His deserted wife. “And, if it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” (1Peter 4:18 NIV).

“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” (Isaiah 54:6 NIV).

9- Will God be angry with His beloved forever?

No. “His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5 NIV).

“For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back” (Isaiah 54:7 NIV).

10- Why would God be angry with His Church?

Because of sin. “Who handed Jacob over to become loot, and Israel to the plunderers? Was it not the Lord, against whom we have sinned? For they would not follow His ways; they did not obey His law” (Isaiah 42:24 NIV).

“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 54:8 NIV).

11- How long will God’s covenant with His beloved last?

Forever.

“To Me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again” (Isaiah 54:9 NIV).

12- What symbolizes God’s unfailing love to us?

Outside of the cross of Christ, the “everlasting hills” (Deuteronomy 33:15 NIV) God uses to remind us of His unfailing love.

“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” (Isaiah 54:10 NIV).

13- What other city resembles Isaiah’s description of the “afflicted city”?

New Jerusalem. “I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband” (Revelation 21:1-2 NIV).

“Afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted, I will rebuild you with stones of turquoise, your foundations with lapis lazuli” (Isaiah 54:11 NIV).

14- What aspects of the New Jerusalem correspond to Isaiah’s rebuilt Jerusalem?

“18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. 19 The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. 21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass” (Revelation 21:18-21 NIV).

“I will make your battlements of rubies, your gates of sparkling jewels, and all your walls of precious stones” (Isaiah 54:12 NIV).

15- What promise for God’s children can be claimed immediately?

The salvation, sanctification, education, and upbringing of the children of the godly can be claimed immediately. “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it” (Proverbs 22:6 NIV).

“All your children will be taught by the Lord, and great will be their peace” (Isaiah 54:13 NIV).

16- Are tyranny and terror only reserved to be taken away from some time other than ours?

No, faith can appropriate anything it can believe. “According to your faith let it be done to you” (Matthew 9:29 NIV).

“In righteousness you will be established: Tyranny will be far from you; you will have nothing to fear. Terror will be far removed; it will not come near you” (Isaiah 54:14 NIV).

17- Can God possibly prevent any enemy from overcoming us?

Yes. If we have been authorized to be victorious over Satan, then any enemy can be denied victory over us. “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7 NIV).

“If anyone does attack you, it will not be  My doing; whoever attacks you will surrender to you” (Isaiah 54:15 NIV).

18- Is God even in control of the enemy?

Yes, God is sovereign, but we must not relieve ourselves from cooperation with His Spirit.

“See, it is I who created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work. And it is I who have created the destroyer to wreak havoc” (Isaiah 54:16 NIV).

19- Will the weapons of the enemy be successful upon us?

No. Christ was crucified, but His death produced our life. Deacon Stephen was stoned by the Jews, but it produced the fruit of Saul of Tarsus. The ultimate prosperity or effectiveness of a weapon is its spiritual capability. “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28 NIV).

“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, declares the Lord” (Isaiah 54:17 NIV).