No Weapon Formed Shall Prosper

"No Weapon Formed Shall Prosper" – Isaiah 54:13-17 A “weapon formed” is one fashioned for the purpose of doing harm; and there is no weapon more forged than the tongue. But the promise of Isaiah 54 is that no plan, attack, strategy or accusation can hinder God's purpose for His servants. The message walks through the five verses: all thy children shall be taught of the LORD — which Jesus quotes in John 6:45; in righteousness shalt thou be established, for security rests on the righteousness He grants; whoever gathers against thee shall do it without Him; God made the smith and created the waster, and nothing escapes His control; and no weapon shall prosper, for this is the heritage of the servants of the LORD. It closes with Romans 8:28-31 and Philippians 1:6: God governs every circumstance for the good of those who love Him, and He who began the good work will perfect it.

I. Salvation comes from the LORD, not because we earned it.

A. Make it a habit to read the Word every day.

1. Our sayings are almost always picked up here and there.

2. A righteous person must understand and know, to be wise in these times.

II. What a formed weapon is.

A. A weapon made and designed for the purpose of doing harm.

1. There is no weapon more forged than the tongue; that is why it must be mastered.

2. This earth gives only so much, and then says: enough, now you will pay.

B. No plan, attack, strategy or accusation will hinder God's purpose.

1. Nothing can destroy the one who prays and keeps himself for God; he may suffer, but not be destroyed.

2. Only one person allows it: I will not allow God's purpose for my life to be hindered.

3. There will be trials and opposition, but those weapons will have no final victory.

C. It is a general promise to the people, not an individual one.

1. Only the Holy Spirit knows what is in your willing and in your doing.

2. The Word reaches where there are hearers with a ready heart.

III. All thy children shall be taught of the LORD (v. 13).

A. The greatest blessing is not material prosperity: it is that God Himself instructs.

1. He instructs by the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures, and so our speech, mind and heart change.

2. The one we should take after is Christ; the one we should take after least is ourselves.

3. Jesus quotes it in John 6:45: every one that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh unto me.

B. If all will be taught of God, we must open the ear with a meek spirit.

1. We ourselves must take off the mask and be honest with ourselves.

2. Each one will give account to God and each one decides where he is going.

3. It frightens us to know ourselves; but the only one who can harm you is you.

IV. In righteousness shalt thou be established (v. 14).

A. If God teaches us because we are His children, He equips us with righteousness.

1. Righteousness does not come from your principles or from what your mind dictates: it comes from God.

2. The security of God's people rests on the righteousness He grants, if we open the heart.

3. Though threats exist, the believer lives without being ruled by fear.

B. Each new day comes with opportunities: life is one, and as you live it you enjoy it or embitter it.

V. Whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall (v. 15).

A. God does not promise the absence of opposition, but does not approve it nor let it prevail.

1. Schemes that are devised will not last.

2. Who covers the righteous? The LORD; and there is a vast world of angels on their side.

VI. I have created the smith and the waster (v. 16).

A. God declares His absolute sovereignty: nothing escapes His control.

1. He knows and governs even those who make weapons and those with power to destroy.

2. The smith does not deform metal: he forms a weapon, because one must defend oneself.

3. Foolishness is the absence of knowledge; the one who lives in God understands the times.

B. Spiritually, what remains is to prepare.

1. We are not here to live pampered: we are here to live as spiritual warriors.

2. Without spiritual preparation come the days of tears, of shame and of humiliation.

3. We are fragile vessels; the One who sustains us is the sovereign God.

C. There are those with power to destroy by what they sow in another.

1. “They told me this”: either you destroy that, or it destroys you.

2. Since God sees it all, He always forewarns us of the care we must take.

VII. No weapon formed against thee shall prosper (v. 17).

A. It does not mean the absence of trials, but that no attack will frustrate God's purpose.

1. Sleep in peace, and in the morning go to prayer, to be the people of the battle.

2. The one who sees evil coming already prepared says: this is not so, and that is that.

3. If you want to punish yourself, you will be your own victim.

B. “Every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn.”

1. False accusations will not have the last word: God defends His own.

2. To be taught of God there are two obligations: to read the Bible and to pray.

3. True peace comes from living under His direction.

C. “This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD.”

1. The heritage includes defense, vindication, being lifted up, and salvation that comes from God.

2. Teach your children to seek God and to have His name in their mouths.

3. In you are the treasures or the potholes: they are in oneself.

VIII. All things work together for good (Romans 8:28-31; Philippians 1:6).

A. Paul does not say all things are good, but that God makes them work for good to those who love Him.

1. Often it is God shaping our life, for we are like matches that catch fire at anything.

2. Trials and sorrow strengthen faith, form character and fulfill His eternal purpose.

3. Character is the qualities one uses in life to do good to another.

B. The purpose is not a comfortable life, but to make us conformed to the image of His Son.

1. Christ's character is love, holiness and obedience; and to love is not to be given to, but to give oneself.

2. Predestinated, called, justified and glorified: salvation depends on God's faithfulness.

3. He who began the good work will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

C. “If God be for us, who can be against us?”

1. It does not mean there will be no enemies, but that no opposition will keep God from His purpose.

2. What He fulfilled in your life He will fulfill in your children's and your grandchildren's.

3. We are not stars on this earth: we are servants; therefore we must not live devastated.