New ministers of the Lord

ISAIAH   CHAPTER 61

Isaiah tells the people that the Lord appointed him to bring the good news to the poor and to comfort the brokenhearted and announce that the captives would be released and prisoners freed. The Lord said that the time of the Lord's favor had come and with it, the day of God's anger against their enemies. To all who mourn in Israel, he will give beauty for ashes, joy instead of mouring, praise instead of despair. For the Lord planted them like strong and graceful oaks for his own glory.

Now the people would help rebuild the ancient ruins and cities and shall revive them. All will be called priests of the Lord, ministers of God and all will inherit a double portion of prosperity and everlasting joy.

The Lord loves justice and hates robbery and wrongdoing. He will faithfully reward his people for their suffering and make an everlasting covenant with them. Their descendants will be known and honored among the nations and everyone will know they are a people the Lord has blessed. For the Lord is filled with joy and has dressed his servant like bridegroom in his wedding suit or a bride with her jewels. And his righteousness will be like a garden in early spring, filled with young plants springing up everywhere.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: In verse six, the Lord talks about the people becoming priests. In the old covenant, he ordained priests of Israel to stand between him and his people.  They brought God's word to the people and people's needs to God. Under the new covenant, all believers are priests of the Lord, reading his Word and seeking to understand it. Also confessing their sins directly to God and ministering to others.
Jesus quoted from this chapter in Luke 4:18,19.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY?
There was a momentous change to how we worship God, all set out in this chapter. In the past, prayers, confessions, readings from God, were all done by only priests. Now God has made a change that allows the people to read his Word and minister to others.

What a tremendous change- access to God! How we use this access in today's society speaks volumes for us. He is spelling it out for us- go and minister to others. This theme of minstering to others can be found throughout the Bible. Have you followed his word? Do you do your best to minister? Sometimes we put unrealistic expectations on how we minister. You don't always have to wade into the most oppressed country in the world. Sometimes people in your own area are oppressed in one way or another. Can you minister by serving at your area's food kitchen? Can you minister by giving a ride to the elderly? Can you give blood? Can you babysit so a young mother can run errands? These are all forms of ministering and give you the opportunity to spread the word of God. And he will give you unspoken joy!

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:



HEALTH: Pray for Gabe.


Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.


Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer and for her sister Wanda’s soul which went to heaven.


Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with a form of MS.


Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.


Pray for Gary Summers, my friend from church, who has cancer.


Pray for Judy’s husband who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Pray for her too, that she can deal with the side effects of his illness.


Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who is undergoing chemo for his prostate cancer. Update on Robert: he has one more treatment and then three months of waiting for his psat test to come back clean.


Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.


SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary


RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John


LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian


SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri, wildfires in Colorado. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.