God's Promises: Abundance and Renewal in Our Lives

 

Summary

In Isaiah 41:18, God declares, "I will open rivers in high places and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water and the dry land springs of water." This passage is a profound reminder of God's promises and His unwavering commitment to fulfill them. The "I will" statements of God are not mere words; they are declarations backed by His omnipotence, immutability, and faithfulness. Unlike human promises, which can be made in haste or under compulsion and often remain unfulfilled, God's promises are deliberate and certain. His "I will" is a testament to His eternal wisdom and power, ensuring that what He has spoken will come to pass.

The passage speaks to the trials faced by believers, both temporal and spiritual. In times of scarcity and need, God assures His people that He can provide abundantly, turning barren places into sources of life and sustenance. This promise extends beyond physical needs to spiritual dryness, where God can transform a parched soul into one overflowing with joy, faith, and love. The imagery of rivers, fountains, pools, and springs illustrates the richness and variety of God's grace, which can refresh and renew even the driest of hearts.

For those newly converted, this promise is a beacon of hope. God reaches out to the poor and needy, those who recognize their spiritual poverty and seek Him earnestly. Even when words fail and the heart is too burdened to speak, God hears the silent cries and responds with His life-giving presence. This divine intervention is not limited by one's circumstances or past; God's grace is available to all who turn to Him in faith.

Moreover, this promise is a call to action for the church and its workers. In a world where spiritual apathy and indifference seem prevalent, God can revive and transform communities through the faithful proclamation of the gospel. Ministers and congregations alike are encouraged to persist in their efforts, trusting that God will bring about a spiritual awakening and renewal.

Key Takeaways:

- God's "I will" statements are declarations of His omnipotence and faithfulness. Unlike human promises, God's words are deliberate and certain, backed by His eternal wisdom and power. When God says "I will," it is a guarantee that He will fulfill His promise. [02:55]

- In times of need, whether physical or spiritual, God promises to provide abundantly. He can turn barren places into sources of life, offering sustenance and renewal to those who trust in Him. This assurance extends to both temporal trials and spiritual dryness. [09:02]

- For the newly converted, God's promise is a source of hope and transformation. He reaches out to the poor and needy, responding to their silent cries with His life-giving presence. God's grace is available to all who seek Him earnestly, regardless of their past. [16:11]

- The church and its workers are called to persist in their efforts, trusting in God's ability to bring about spiritual renewal. In a world of apathy, God can revive communities through the faithful proclamation of the gospel, transforming hearts and lives. [25:28]

- A living church, filled with God's grace, can transform its surrounding community. As believers become springs of living water, they can impact their neighborhoods, bringing about change and drawing others to Christ. This transformation begins with prayer and earnest efforts to share the gospel. [32:55]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:17] - The Power of God's "I Will"
[01:43] - God's Deliberate Promises
[03:13] - Omnipotence Behind His Words
[04:25] - The Immutability of God
[05:51] - Faithfulness in Fulfillment
[07:09] - Applying the Promise to Trials
[09:02] - Spiritual Renewal in Dry Times
[11:07] - Rivers, Fountains, Pools, and Springs
[13:30] - God's Promise for Converts
[16:11] - Silent Pleas and Divine Response
[19:51] - Divine Interposition in Despair
[24:00] - Transforming the Community
[28:20] - The Role of the Church and Its Workers
[32:55] - A Living Church's Impact

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Isaiah 41:18

#### Observation Questions
1. What are the specific promises God makes in Isaiah 41:18, and how do they reflect His power and faithfulness? [00:17]
2. How does the sermon describe the difference between human promises and God's "I will" statements? [02:18]
3. What imagery is used in the sermon to illustrate God's provision during times of spiritual dryness? [09:02]
4. How does the sermon explain the significance of God's promises to those who are newly converted? [16:11]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. In what ways does the sermon suggest that God's promises can transform both physical and spiritual barrenness? [09:02]
2. How does the sermon interpret the role of the church and its workers in bringing about spiritual renewal in the community? [25:28]
3. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between God's promises and the believer's faith and trust in Him? [06:51]
4. How does the sermon address the challenges faced by believers in a world of spiritual apathy and indifference? [25:28]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt spiritually dry. How did you seek God's provision, and what was the outcome? [09:02]
2. How can you actively participate in your church's efforts to bring about spiritual renewal in your community? What specific actions can you take this week? [25:28]
3. Consider the promises God has made in your life. How do you remind yourself of His faithfulness during challenging times? [06:51]
4. For those who are newly converted, what steps can you take to support and encourage them in their spiritual journey? [16:11]
5. Identify an area in your life where you need to trust in God's "I will" promise. What practical steps can you take to strengthen your faith in this promise? [02:18]
6. How can you become a "spring of living water" in your community, impacting those around you with God's grace? [32:55]
7. What specific prayer or action can you commit to this week to help transform your neighborhood into a place of spiritual growth and renewal? [33:12]

Devotional

Day 1: The Certainty of God's Promises
God's promises are not like human promises; they are declarations of His omnipotence and faithfulness. When God says "I will," it is a guarantee that He will fulfill His promise. His words are deliberate and certain, backed by His eternal wisdom and power. This assurance provides believers with a solid foundation of trust, knowing that God's promises are unchanging and reliable. In a world where human promises often fall short, God's "I will" statements stand as a testament to His unwavering commitment to His people. [02:55]

Isaiah 55:10-11 (ESV): "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it."

Reflection: What is one promise from God that you find difficult to trust fully? How can you remind yourself of His faithfulness in this area today?


Day 2: Abundant Provision in Times of Need
In times of need, whether physical or spiritual, God promises to provide abundantly. He can turn barren places into sources of life, offering sustenance and renewal to those who trust in Him. This assurance extends to both temporal trials and spiritual dryness, where God can transform a parched soul into one overflowing with joy, faith, and love. The imagery of rivers, fountains, pools, and springs illustrates the richness and variety of God's grace, which can refresh and renew even the driest of hearts. [09:02]

Psalm 107:35-36 (ESV): "He turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water. And there he lets the hungry dwell, and they establish a city to live in."

Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you feel barren or dry. How can you invite God to bring His life-giving presence into this area today?


Day 3: Hope and Transformation for the Newly Converted
For the newly converted, God's promise is a source of hope and transformation. He reaches out to the poor and needy, responding to their silent cries with His life-giving presence. God's grace is available to all who seek Him earnestly, regardless of their past. This divine intervention is not limited by one's circumstances or history; it is a testament to God's boundless love and mercy, offering a fresh start and a new life in Him. [16:11]

Ezekiel 36:26-27 (ESV): "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules."

Reflection: Reflect on a past burden or guilt that you have carried. How can you embrace God's promise of transformation and let go of this burden today?


Day 4: The Church's Role in Spiritual Renewal
The church and its workers are called to persist in their efforts, trusting in God's ability to bring about spiritual renewal. In a world of apathy, God can revive communities through the faithful proclamation of the gospel, transforming hearts and lives. Ministers and congregations alike are encouraged to continue their mission, knowing that God can bring about a spiritual awakening and renewal through their dedication and faithfulness. [25:28]

Acts 2:42-43 (ESV): "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles."

Reflection: How can you actively participate in your church's mission to bring about spiritual renewal in your community? What specific action can you take this week?


Day 5: Transforming Communities Through Living Water
A living church, filled with God's grace, can transform its surrounding community. As believers become springs of living water, they can impact their neighborhoods, bringing about change and drawing others to Christ. This transformation begins with prayer and earnest efforts to share the gospel. By embodying the love and grace of God, believers can become catalysts for change, inspiring others to seek the life-giving presence of God. [32:55]

John 7:38 (ESV): "Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'"

Reflection: Consider your role in your community. How can you be a source of living water to those around you, and what steps can you take to share God's love and grace with them today?

Quotes

"I will open rivers in high places and fountains in the midst of the valleys I will make the wilderness a pool of water and the dry land Springs of water you notice that in this verse the Lord twice says I will and in that respect this verse is in harmony with the rest of the chapter." [00:00:22]

"God never speaks under compulsion he is almighty God never speaks in a hurry he has infinite leisure God never speaks under excitement or persuasion that were not like a God his purpose is of old and his decree is from everlasting and the I will which is the mouth of the decree is a word that is spoken with wisdom and prudence." [00:02:18]

"Whenever God says I will you may be sure that he will perform it next when God says I will his resolution is supported by omnipotence you say I will but you cannot do what you have promised your will is good enough but you fail because of lack of the means you say I will yes I will but afterwards you have meekly to say I pray they take the will for the deed." [00:03:00]

"God never changes he is the same yesterday today and forever the thing that is gone out of his mouth shall never be reversed when he once says I will depend on this he still says I will until heaven and earth pass away it will still be I will he is too perfect to change for being perfect he cannot change." [00:04:51]

"God's people may be hungry and thirsty and their anxiety may be great your cupboard may be bare the flocks may be cut off from the fold and there may be no herd in the stall but God can feed you though you seek water and there is none he can open rivers in high places and fountains in the midst of the valleys." [00:07:35]

"Do you know what it is sometimes when spiritual things are at a very low ebb when you cannot find any joy and scarcely any hope when you look into your own heart and all seems as dry as the earth after a long autumn drought you have no power no strength scarcely any desire you sit down and say I'm afraid that I am no child of God." [00:09:12]

"God will for you my dear hearers who have been lately converted open rivers in high places and fountains in the midst of the valleys he will make your wilderness a pool of water and the dry land Springs of water who were these people to whom the Lord spoke well they were people who were poor and needy when the poor and needy seek water." [00:14:29]

"When they begin to seek Him when the poor and needy seek water can you expect God to bless you if you do not seek him your desires must be wide awake you must be longing after God you must cry in your heart I will return unto my god I will seek mercy at his hands I will plead with him that I may be his child." [00:15:43]

"God can make Springs of grace in you which shall begin to rise and bubble up at once and shall never cease to flow till you reach the throne of glory in a word no condition can be so bad but God can change it no sin can be so great but God can forgive it no garment of our life can be so stained but Christ can make it white." [00:22:59]

"God can soon change the condition of the plot of ground on which you are at work I may be speaking to one here who says mine is a very bad place to work in for I cannot get the people to come and hear the gospel there seems to be no spirit of hearing that is largely true at the present time." [00:24:00]

"Do not give up preaching my friend do not give up working you long for souls to be saved for God can suddenly give a love for his house and an eagerness to hear the gospel he can make the dry land springs of water and open rivers in high places only let all ministers preach the old gospel preach it earnestly and preach it simply." [00:25:20]

"A living Church in which God has made living Springs of grace to rise will soon turn the desert in which it is situated into quite a different region there is need for gracious work in all the neighborhoods in which any of us live and great need of it around this place how are we cursed with dens of infamy and vice all around this region." [00:32:55]

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Transcript
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