This ought to encourage us in the plan of God. We are not -Plan B- - we were in God's plan all along. We should rejoice and recognize the great standing we have in that Covenant of Peace that will never be removed. This ought to convict us in the work of God. We often can feel the barrenness spoken of here- we see little results for what seems to be endless work. God's word to use is- Rejoice childless one and unable to give birth- Burst into song and shout you who are not in labor- For the children of the desolate woman will be many, even more numerous than those of the woman who has a husband. Isaiah 54 is a passage about missions and we should be motivated and encourage that God is fulfilling the promise that the tent stakes should be driven deep and the enlarging the site of our tent. We must realize that embracing a Legalistic view of the work of God forfeits all of these promises- we must be resolute for the purity of the Gospel.

Five characteristics that reveal a gospel centered Dad.

The identity of the Christ demanded great miracles - and this account is the greatest of them-

A reminder about just how sinful sin truly is, how a sinner becomes free from the power of sin, and why believers will not live in a perpetually carnal state.

What does Scripture teach us about forgiving others-

The Compassion of Christ on the people was driven by an active love for them.

The affect of sin on all of humanity.

We must use recognize that Paul's approach was the approach of Christ- -appeal to their heart and seek to win their heart for Christ's sake.-we will not do this by the Law but by the Gospel. Too often we can seek to win others to our perspective or to our goals or our position - it must always be that we seek Christ formed in them, the hope of glory.

What does it mean to be called a child of God-