50.4 Rejoice In The Lord Always

Philippians 4:4-9

May you always be joyful in your union with the Lord.  I say it again: rejoice!

Show a gentle attitude toward everyone. The Lord is coming soon. Don't worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart.  And God's peace, which is far beyond human understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus.

In conclusion, my brothers, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable.  Put into practice what you learned and received from me, both from my words and from my actions. And the God who gives us peace will be with you.

50.3 Song Of Thanksgiving

Isaiah 12:1-6

A day is coming when people will sing,
"I praise you Lord!
You were angry with me, but now you comfort me
and are angry no longer.
God is my savior;
I will trust him and not be afraid.
The Lord gives me power and strength;
he is my savior.
As fresh water brings joy to the thirsty,
so God's people rejoice when he saves them."
A day is coming when people will sing,
"Give thanks to the Lord!
Call for him to help you!
Tell all the nations what he has done!
Tell them how great he is!
Sing to the Lord because of the great things
he has done.
Let the whole world hear the news.
Let everyone who lives in Zion shout and sing!
Israel's holy God is great,
and he lives among his people."

50.2 Joy Because of Deliverance

Isaiah 35:1-10

The desert will rejoice,
and flowers will bloom in the wastelands.
The desert will sing and shout for joy;
it will be as beautiful as the Lebanon Mountains
and as fertile as the fields of Carmel and Sharon.
Everyone will see the Lord's splendor,
see his greatness and power.

Give strength to hands that are tired
and to knees that tremble with weakness.
Tell everyone who is discouraged,
"Be strong and don't be afraid!
God is coming to your rescue,
coming to punish your enemies."

The blind will be able to see, and the deaf will hear.
The lame will leap and dance,
and those who cannot speak will shout for joy.
Streams of water will flow through the desert;
the burning sand will become a lake,
and dry land will be filled with springs.
Where jackals used to live,
marsh grass and reeds will grow.

There will be highway there,
called "The Road of Holiness."
No sinner will ever travel that road;
no fools will mislead those who follow it.
No lions will be there;
no fierce animals will pass that way.
Those whom the Lord has rescued
will travel home by that road.
They will reach Jerusalem with gladness,
singing and shouting for joy.
They will be happy forever,
forever free from sorrow and grief.

50.1 The Lord's Help Makes Us Joyful

Ezra 6:19-22

The people who had returned from exile celebrated Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month of the following year. All the priests and the Levites had purified themselves and were ritually clean.  The Levites killed the animals for the Passover sacrifices for all the people who had returned, for the priests, and for themselves.  The sacrifices were eaten by all the Israelites who had returned from exile and by all those who had given up the pagan ways of the other people who were living in the land and who had come to worship the Lord God of Israel.  For seven days they joyfully celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread.  They were full of joy because  the Lord had made the emperor of Asssyria favorable to them, so that he supported them in their work of rebuilding the Temple of the God of Israel.

49.5 The Lord Saves Israel

Psalm 105:1-10

Give thanks to the Lord,
proclaim his greatness;
tell the nations what he has done.
Sing praise to the Lord;
tell the wonderful things he has done.
Be glad that we belong to him;
let all who worship him rejoice.
Go to the Lord for help;
and worship him continually.
You descendants of Abraham, his servant;
you descendants of Jacob, the man he chose:
remember the miracles that God performed
and the judgments that he gave.

The Lord is our God;
his commands are for all the world.
He will keep his covenant forever,
his promises for a thousand generations.
He will keep the agreement he made with Abraham
and his promise to Isaac.
The Lord made a covenant with Jacob,
one that will last forever.

49.4 John's Humility

John 3:28-30

You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, "I am not the Messiah, but I have sent ahead of him." The bridegroom is the one to whom the bride belongs; but the bridegroom's friend, who stands by and listens, is glad when he hears the bridegroom's voice.  This is how my own happiness is made complete.  He must become more important while I become less important.

49.3 John Sends Disciples To Christ

Matthew 11:2-6

When John the Baptist heard in prison about the things that Christ was doing, he sent some of his disciples to him. "Tell us," they asked Jesus, "are you the one John said was going to come, or should we expect someone else?"

Jesus answered, "Go back and tell John what you are hearing and seeing: the blind can see, the lame can walk, those who suffer from dreaded skin diseases are made clean, the deaf hear, the dead are brought back to life, and the Good News is preached to the poor.  How happy are those who have no doubts about me!"

49.2 Jesus Is The Lamb To Be Followed

John 1:29-31

The next day John saw Jesus coming to him, and said, "There is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I was talking about when I said , 'A man is coming after me, but he is greater than I am, because he existed before I was born.' I did not know who he would be, but I came baptizing with water in order to make him known to the people of Israel."

49.1 John's Message

Matthew 3:7-12

When John saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to him to be baptized, he said to them, "You snakes-- who told you that you could escape from the punishment God is about to send? Do those things that will show that you have turned from your sins. And don't think you can escape punishment by saying that Abraham is your ancestor.  I tell you that God can take these rocks and make descendants for Abraham! The ax is ready to cut down the trees at the roots; every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown in the fire.  I baptize you with water to show that you have repented, but the one who will come after me will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.  He is much greater than I am; and I am not good enough even to carry his sandals.  He has his winnowing shovel with him to thresh out all the grain. He will gather his wheat into his barn, but he will burn the chaff in a fire that never goes out."

48.5 All The Nations Will Know Your Salvation

Psalm 67

God, be merciful to us and bless us;
look on us with kindness,
so that the whole world may know your will;
so that all nations may know your salvation.

May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you!

May the nations be glad and sing for joy,
because you judge the peoples with justice
and guide every nation on earth.

May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you!

The land has produced its harvest;
God, our God, has blessed us.
God has blessed us;
may all people everywhere honor him.

48.4 Prepare The Road For The Savior

Isaiah 62:10-12

People of Jerusalem, go out of the city
and build a road for your returning people!
Prepare a highway; clear it of stones!
Put up a signal so that the nations can know
that the Lord is announcing to all the earth:
"Tell the people of Jerusalem
that the Lord is coming to save you,
bringing with him the people he has rescued."
You will be called "God's Holy People,"
"The People the Lord  Has Saved."
Jerusalem will be called "The City That God Loves,"
"The City That God Did Not Forsake."

48.3 A Renewed World

Isaiah 61:4-7

They will rebuild cities that have long been in ruins.
My people, foreigners will serve you.
They will take care of your flocks
and farm your land and tend your vineyards.
And you will be known as the priests of the Lord,
the servants of our God.
You will enjoy the wealth of the nations
and be proud that it is yours.
Your shame and disgrace are ended.
You will live in your own land,
and your wealth will be doubled;
your joy will last forever.

48.2 The Mission Of The Savior

Isaiah 61:1-3

The Sovereign Lord has filled me with his spirit.
He has chosen me and sent me
to bring good news to the poor,
to heal the broken-hearted,
to announce release to captives
and freedom to those in prison.
He has sent me to proclaim
that the time has come
when the Lord will save his people
and defeat their enemies.

He has sent me to comfort all who mourn,
to give to those who mourn in Zion
joy and gladness instead of sorrow.
They will be like trees
that the Lord himself has planted.
They will all do what is right,
and God will be praised for what he has done.