Series: Heaven Came Down Part 3: Joy (Bejeweled)
Sermon Text: Isaiah 60:1-4, 7-11
Isaiah 60:1-4, 7-11
Jesus’ Personal Mission Statement (Luke 4:16-21)
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.
4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.
7 Instead of your shame
you will receive a double portion,
and instead of disgrace
you will rejoice in your inheritance.
And so you will inherit a double portion in your land,
and everlasting joy will be yours.
8 “For I, the Lord, love justice;
I hate robbery and wrongdoing.
In my faithfulness I will reward my people
and make an everlasting covenant with them.
9 Their descendants will be known among the nations
and their offspring among the peoples.
All who see them will acknowledge
that they are a people the Lord has blessed.”
10 I delight greatly in the Lord;
my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up
and a garden causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness
and praise spring up before all nations.
Reflection Questions:
Open in prayerful reflection on Isaiah 61:11.
Where in your life do you need the “oil of joy” instead of mourning?
Read through Isaiah 61:1-4, 7-11 aloud. First, read it slowly, as if savoring the words. Second, read it excitedly, as if bringing an announcement of good news.
Go through the text and make a list of all the “gifts” that are given by God (i.e. “a crown of beauty” v 3, “a robe of his righteousness” v 10). How is joy a gift from God? What makes it different from grief? Different from happiness?
Describe a time when you restored something (a relationship, a house, a business, etc). What do you think is the relationship between restoration and joy? Is joy the cause or result of restoration?
If 61:1-2a are Jesus’ mission statement (read Luke 4:16-21 if you want to see it), what does that tell you about Jesus? What does it tell you about his family, the church?
How do we live out the work of joy-filled restoration and renewal in our homes, neighborhoods, county and church?
Pray: Where do you need God’s work of restoration? Where do you see the need for restoration in your world? Ask God for personal restoration and for strength to address the need.
Daily Reading
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