YOU WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME

Dearly Beloved, YOU WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME “For you shall expand to the right and to the left, and your descendants will inherit the nations, and make the desolate cities inhabited. Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore” (Isaiah 54:3-4 NKJV). Once again, I welcome you to the New Year. As my family and I prayed for you on the first day of the year, I pray again that in this New Year, you shall increase in all ramifications; you shall inherit the nations; you will overcome what used to be insurmountable in your life; you will not be ashamed; you will not be disgraced; and you will forget your past shame and disappointments this year in Jesus’ name. Amen. As it has become my tradition, my first message for the New Year will be based on these prayers as adapted from Isaiah 54:3-4. The Israelites were in exile because of their disobedience to God. Nonetheless, God did not abandon them. He had promised a “Suffering Servant” that would atone for their sin in the previous chapter. He was now promising them blessings, safety and peace under new covenant that He would make with them. This is a promise of a new covenant that was amplified in Jeremiah 31 and Ezekiel 36. Isaiah 54 is an anticipation of salvation and restoration of the people of Israel from the exile, though the promises in the chapter go beyond the people of Israel as they portray the climax of all of the covenant promises of God at the end of the age. The promises particularly in verses 3 and 4 have to do with restoration and expansion of the once-neglected people of God. Like a barren woman who used to bear much shame, but later has many promising children, the Lord promises to restore His people and turn their shame to honour and expand them in all ramifications. The positive turnaround will be so enormous that the people will no longer remember their shame. The Lord that we serve is a covenant-keeping God. He fulfilled these promises in the lives of the people of Israel. He fulfilled it when Jesus Christ came to this world. He fulfilled (and still fulfilling) it by sending the Holy Spirit to be our Comforter. Yes! The Lord that we serve is a covenant-keeping God. He has made a new covenant of eternal inheritance with as many people that believe in, and accept Jesus Christ – the Mediator of the new covenant – as their personal Lord and Saviour, and continue to abide in Him by obeying His commands. For such people, there is no more fear, shame, and frustration. He has promised as part of the covenant not to let you be ashamed. He has promised not to let you be disgraced. He has promised to make you forget the shame and disappointment of the past years. As we begin another year, you need to align yourself with this new covenant by deliberately giving your life to Jesus Christ who is the Mediator of the new covenant. If you have done so, I congratulate you. However, you need to rededicate your life to Him by serving Him more than how you have done so in the past years. You will not be put to shame this New Year. You will not be disgraced. You will not remember your past reproach again in Jesus’ name. Welcome to your year of new covenant! Once again, Happy New Year (2020)! In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). Prayer Point: Pray that you will align yourself with the new covenant in Jesus Christ so as not to be put to shame this year.