God With Us – Week 3

THE NOT SO HAPPY HOLIDAYS

CONTEXT:

ISAIAH 61:

¹The 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,
³and 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.

THE HOPE BEYOND YOUR HURT

1. Jesus is with you in

GOOD NEWS: He turns brokenness into BEAUTY

“…to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes …” (v. 3)

2. Jesus is with you in

GOOD NEWS: He turns mourning into JOY

“… joy instead of mourning” (v. 3)

3. Jesus is with you in

GOOD NEWS: He turns despair into PRAISE

“… a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair” (v. 3)

FINAL THOUGHT: