TD Jakes - Children of the Promise (03/12/2021)
Believers are children of promise like Isaac, born not by human strength or fleshly effort but by God's powerful word overriding weak and barren circumstances. Using Abraham's two sons as an allegory for the two covenants, Paul urges the church to cast out bondage to law (Hagar/Ishmael) so that grace and promise (Sarah/Isaac) can flourish freely.
Children of the Promise
God's promise is so strong that it does not matter how weak the circumstances are. When God gets ready to make something happen, He can make it happen. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of the promise.
You have it because God's promise was greater than your weakness. In fact, He said, "My strength is made perfect in your weakness." He will not give it to you until you give up on yourself, until you understand that it is Him doing it and not you.
As long as you have strength, you will lean on it. God waits until your body is dead, until you are impotent, until you cannot produce—and then there is no doubt that if it had not been for the Lord, you could not do it.
There is somebody right now who, in your own strength, does not have the resources, money, relationships, connections, or background. Yet God keeps talking to you about something He is going to do. You are a child of the promise.
What Births Us Is Truth
"My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you." What births us is truth, understanding, theology—not just joining church, singing, or thinking fondly about God.
Paul desires to be present and change his voice because he stands in doubt of them. "Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons: one by a bondwoman, the other by a free woman."
He of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; he of the free woman was by promise. These things are an allegory for the two covenants: one from Mount Sinai, gendering to bondage (Agar); the other, Jerusalem above, which is free, mother of us all.
Rejoice, Thou Barren
It is written: "Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath a husband."
Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise—not born under legalism, law, rituals, bondage. The only reason Sarah had a child is because God said so. She was too old, past childbearing; Abraham's body was as good as dead.
Abraham's body weak, Sarah's body weak—but God's promise strong. Your conditions do not have to be right for God to bring the promise to pass. That is why Sarah got Hagar as surrogate—but Hagar was bondwoman, so Ishmael born under bondage.
Ishmael Always Comes Before Isaac
Bringing the church under law is making children of promise into children of bondwoman. Ishmael comes before Isaac. That which is of the flesh comes first—only a sign that Isaac is coming.
Do not be so frustrated with Ishmael that you miss Isaac on the way. You had an Ishmael relationship, job, position—you thought that was it, but it turned out not to be. Separation came—but Ishmael is sign Isaac is coming.
Mount Sinai before Mount Calvary: old covenant before new. Hagar ran away, God sent her back to submit—then later Sarah says put out bondwoman and son because Ishmael mocked Isaac.
Cannot Coexist: Flesh and Promise
The two boys—old and new covenant—cannot live together. Ishmael mocks Isaac. Abraham bonded to Ishmael, but God says hearken to Sarah's voice.
You cannot have children of flesh and promise coexisting—one will mock the other. In Galatian church, same mocking between law teaching and grace teaching—almost came to blows.
God sets precedent: cannot mix together. Put out Ishmael, bondwoman and son—symbolizing move to new order, New Testament church.
We Are Children of Promise
"Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise." Everything we have is because God promised it—not timing, conditions, economy, government, or our righteousness.
God's strength perfect in weakness—waits until we give up self-strength. Somebody watching: no resources, yet God speaks promise. He does not want it through flesh, talents, connections—waits until shut down, then births child of promise.
You are not looking to womb, groom, resources—but to God to birth it.
Put Out the Bondwoman
Somebody grieving loss—God says put out bondwoman and son; trust for child of promise. Dilemma of early church: not allow past (law) to contaminate Calvary's move—blood of Jesus enough.
Mount Calvary stronger than Mount Sinai. Filled with Holy Spirit—no longer need Old Testament shadows teaching New Testament truth.
Our foundation weak—anybody teaches anything, we amen—because we do not rightly divide Word. Grace enough; Calvary enough; Jesus' sacrifice enough—no polluting with Sinai.
Struggles Are Part of the Walk
Does not mean irresponsibility—just no longer bound to flesh. Struggles part of Christian walk—stop judging others in struggle.
Paul: when I would do good, evil present; wretched man—who delivers? He presses toward mark. We all struggle—wrestling stage before peace, like Jacob.
Before Calvary, Gethsemane: not my will, but Thine. Ultimately put away bondwoman—her children not heirs with promise children.
Grace sufficient to birth what you need even when barren. God quickening ministries, businesses—shaking to life in barrenness.
Sing, Thou Barren
Sing, thou barren—though you thought further by now at 35, 40, 50. Struggle over—put out bondwoman because we are children of promise.
Mocking is stage, not state—ultimately surrender, God gets victory, sets us free.
Barrenness in world—empty churches, calendars—perhaps God wants attention. Surrender.
When I became man, put away childish things—causes Christ formed in you.
May Christ be formed in you—strength to put away old, decide Calvary better than Sinai, Isaac better than Ishmael, promise better than flesh.
Prayer for Revelation and Release
Prayer: Boldly to throne—lay Ishmaels, legalism. Holy Spirit spoke what needed—eyes open, revelation, faith quickened. Some wrestle, some release—have Your way.
If blessed, reach out—let me hear. I pray with you—I've wrestled too, will again at every uncertainty. Joy teaching Word house to house—faith comes by hearing Word of God.