Structures Simple Living

Supply Sacrifices

Structures

Isaiah 53:10 - 54:3

Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him

and cause him to suffer,

and though the LORD makes his life an offering for sin,

he will see his offspring and prolong his days,

and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.

After he has suffered,

he will see the light of life

and be satisfied;

Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,

and he will divide the spoils with the strong,because he poured out his life unto death,and was numbered with the transgressors.

For he bore the sin of many,and made intercession for the transgressors.

‘Sing, barren woman,

you who never bore a child;

burst into song, shout for joy,

you who were never in labour;

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;

lengthen your cords,

strengthen your stakes.

For you will spread out

to the right and to the left;

your descendants will dispossess nations

and settle in their desolate cities.

The original Bible had no numbers or chapters.

Isaiah 54:1 follows Isaiah 53:12 without a break.

Prophecy can be read on more than one level:

1 Encouragement for Jewish exiles in Babylon

2 Death and resurrection of Jesus

and growth of the Church

Isaiah 53:11

After he has suffered,

he will see the light of life

and be satisfied;

The resurrection of Jesus

Isaiah 53:12

...he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors.For he bore the sin of many,and made intercession for the transgressors.

The purpose of the death of Jesus

Isaiah 54:1‘Sing, barren woman,

you who never bore a child;

burst into song, shout for joy,

you who were never in labour;

because more are the children of the desolate woman

than of her who has a husband,’

says the LORD.

A spiritual harvest

The Church begins

Hagar = slavery = old Jerusalem

Sarah = freedom = new Jerusalem (Galatians 4:25-27)

Isaiah 54:2

‘Enlarge the place of your tent,

stretch your tent curtains wide,

do not hold back;

lengthen your cords,

strengthen your stakes.

Structures for the spiritual harvest

Isaiah 54:3

For you will spread out to the right and to the left;

your descendants will dispossess nations

and settle in their desolate cities.

Future worldwide advance of the Church

Get the structures right!

The future growth and advance of the Church worldwide depends on...

us

getting the structures right.

What are the structures needed for growth?

‘Enlarge the place of your tent,

stretch your tent curtains wide,

do not hold back;

lengthen your cords,

strengthen your stakes. (Isaiah 54:2)

What are the structures needed for growth?

The metaphor of a tent is not primarily todo with church buildings!

Enlarge the place of your tent...

What are the structures needed for growth?

A tent is...

flexible

movable

impermanent

Enlarge the place of your tent...

What are the structures needed for growth?

Structures are all about people, not buildings.

training

sending

gathering

Enlarge the place of your tent...

What are the structures needed for growth?

Jesus

training spending time with disciples

sending preaching and healing

gathering meeting in synagogues

Enlarge the place of your tent...

What are the structures needed for growth?

Early Church

training devoted to apostles’ teaching

sending Saul and Barnabas from Antioch

gathering synagogues and homes

Enlarge the place of your tent...

What are the structures needed for growth?

training

lifelong learning

teachable spirit

humility

Enlarge the place of your tent...

What are the structures needed for growth?

sending

releasing people

identifying future leaders

trusting younger leaders

Enlarge the place of your tent...

What are the structures needed for growth?

gathering

for a purpose

leaving a legacy

transformed lives

Enlarge the place of your tent...

Spot the mistake:

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore always remember these good times and enjoy yourself as there will be no more pain because I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

(Matthew 28:18-20)

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• Remember these good times• Don’t dwell on past glories

• Enjoy yourself• Leave behind childish ways

• There will be no more pain• Persevere through pain

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Spot the mistake again:

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them everything I have commanded you.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

What did Jesus command his disciples to do?

Love each other. (John 15:12)

Heal the sick and tell people that the Kingdom of

God is near. (Luke 10:9)

Go and make disciples of all nations.

(Matthew 28:19)

What are the structures needed for growth?

Accountable relationships

Developing leaders

Welcoming attitudes – all nations

Enlarge the place of your tent...

StructuresThe most important part of

building for the future is...

not the physical building...

but preparing people

to disciple new believers.