THE YEAR OF GOD’S FAVOR

TEXT: ISAIAH 61:1-7

This year God is giving us four promises for a new beginning.

1. The kingdom of God will.
2. Bind broken hearts.
3. Change.
4. Double blessings.

These promises will only happen by the creation power of the Holy Spirit. By the grace of God we have come into a new year 2024. When we look back to 2023, we see a year that was difficult nationally.

• The country and the world went through recession.
• Many people lost jobs.
• Many of our salaries were cut and shifts increased.
• Price of items went double with no increase in income.
• Tithes and offerings went down 40%.
• Last year was a year of suffering for many of you.

Despite the hard times, I thank God He brought us safe to this day.

We had difficulties but God was with us. He was Emmanuel and real Ebenezer for all of us.

As we stand in a New Year 2024, God is giving us four precious promises for the New Year 2024.

We need two things-God’s grace and God’s favor.

In Isaiah 61:7, “Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land and everlasting joy will be theirs.”

From Isaiah 40-65, the theme of the book of Isaiah is comfort and hope for God’s chosen people in Babylon captivity. Isaiah gives to them a message of restoration.

God was promising a new beginning of Jerusalem and its people.

Today, God is speaking to us in the midst of our troubles and difficulties God’s favor is with us and God is giving us a new beginning.

We have hope and comfort in the Lord. New beginning is a new creation. It is something new. The old system changes and new system starts-2^nd Cor. 5:17.

When GOD does something new in your life He starts to create something new.

Psalm 104:24-30, “When God sends His spirit they are created.” Read also Genesis 1:2-3; Job 33:4; John 6:63.

The Holy Spirit of the Lord will do a new creation. Let us see what the Holy Spirit will do for you in 2024.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD WILL GROW-Isaiah 61:1.

“The spirit of the sovereign Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.”

• God is giving us a big promise that the church is going to grow wide. Our church will see a revival and great growth.
• God will use every one here to preach the good news to the people.
• The church will grow spiritually, numerically and leadership.
• The church will proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.
• Many who are captive by the devil will be freed this year.
• The Holy Spirit is going to set the captives free.
• There will be deliverance for people with satanic forces, curses, bondages and networks.
• The Holy Spirit will cast out evil spirits.
• The kingdom will be enlarged in 2024.

BIND BROKEN HEARTS-ISAIAH 61:1.

“He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted”

• When the Holy Spirit comes He heals the broken hearted.
• If you are sitting with a broken heart this new year……
• If you feel that you have:-
• Not achieved anything.
• No job.
• No finances.
• Death of loved ones.
• Depressed and lonely.
• You feel life is a failure.
• God is going to provide for you in 2024 to bind your broken heart.
• God will restore what is lost, this year you will find peace.

THERE IS GOING TO BE CHANGE-Isaiah 61:3.

“And provide for those who grieve in Zion to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”

• When the Holy Spirit comes upon a person change happens.
• He makes things new, it will never be the same.
• Look at the change promised to you by God in 2024, if you will receive it by faith today!!

1. Beauty of ashes.

• In Bible days, people in the time of mourning and difficult lay in ashes.
• You become dirty and ugly, there is nothing beautiful about ashes.
• This verse means God will take your difficult, disgusting, depressed and horrible situations and give His beauty.
• The Holy Spirit is going to take out the ash out of you and make something beautiful out of you.

2. Joy for mourning.

• It says oil of joy for mourning.
• In Bible days, if a person is mourning he never put oil/cream in his face, to shave, no cutex, no spray, no tooth brush.
• The face was disfigured and rough.
• God is telling you that this year He is going to give you joy.
• The oil of joy is the Holy Spirit-Heb. 1:9.

3. Garment of peace.

• Garment is what covers people. What are you covered with today?
• Some people are covered with disappointment.
• Heaviness in your heart.
• God is saying that He will take off your garment of disappointment and cover you with the garment of praise.
• Garment changes your looks. Your outlook will change for better in 2024!!
• In 2024, God is promising you that He will fill you with beauty instead of ashes, joy for mourning and cover you with a garment of praise!!

THERE IS GOING TO BE DOUBLE BLESSINGS FOR YOU-Isaiah 61:7.

“Instead of their shame, my people will receive a double portion and instead of disgrace, they will rejoice in their inheritance, and so they will inherit a double portion in their land and the everlasting joy will be theirs.”

• When the Holy Spirit comes upon a person he receives blessings.
• This year God’s promise is you will experience a double portion of blessings for the struggles you went through in 2023.
• Understand that this is the work of the Holy Spirit and 2024 will be the year of God’s favor for you.
• People will favor you, destiny helpers are going to come your way this year, God’s Ravens are going to fly your direction with bread and meat, hot not from God’s kitchen.
• Your kerith is going to outflow to quench your thirst.
• God’s protection is going to be real, none of your enemies is going to find you-Psalm 91.
• Diseases and death are going to be kept away from you and yours.

CONCLUSION

• As we conclude, I want you to take back these 4 promises for 2024.
• The Kingdom of God is going to grow.
• Broken hearts are going to be bound.
• Positive changes are going to accompany your life.
• Double blessings are yours as a result of the work of the Holy Spirit.
• Let us worship and receive these blessings from God Almighty today.