Humans are not perfect - we all fail! We need God's perfect Word and His Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth. We all desperately need a Savior!
2. How has Christ "spoken tenderly" to you after a time of chastening?
Many times God has used my children to show me things about myself - both good and bad...But mostly He has shown me how much He loves me. His love is beyond anything I have ever known or seen here on earth, but it is very real. Even though God has shown me in part how big His love for me is, I cannot comprehend the fullness or the vastness of it.
3. What does the statement "God always cares more for our freedom than we do" mean to you?
The problem is that we do not know what true freedom is. There is a freedom that can only be found in Christ, and without this freedom we are really in bondage, even if we think we are free. So God, who knows and supplies the only true freedom, cares more about our true freedom, than we do, because we can be in bondage and not even know it.
4. In what ways do you see Jesus having fulfilled the promises in Isaiah 61:1-4?
Jesus has and is fulfilling the promises of Isaiah 61 in the following ways: (Scripture is Bold Italic, my comments are just Italic.)
Isaiah 61:1-4The spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
The Spirit of God is upon Jesus
The Spirit of God is upon Jesus
because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.
Jesus is anointed to preach the goodnews
Jesus is anointed to preach the goodnews
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
Jesus came to earth to heal the brokenhearted
Jesus came to earth to heal the brokenhearted
to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.
and to set the captives free
and to set the captives free
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God,
Jesus came to proclaim the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance,
Jesus came to proclaim the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance,
to comfort all who mourn
The Holy Spirit, is our comforter
The Holy Spirit, is our comforter
and provide for those who grieve in Zion -
Jehovah Rophe - The Lord Provides
Jehovah Rophe - The Lord Provides
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
We also know that Christ gives us a crown of beauty, the oil of gladness, and a garment of praise
We also know that Christ gives us a crown of beauty, the oil of gladness, and a garment of praise
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.
They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.
this last part is talking about us, what we will become through Christ and do through His power working in us.
this last part is talking about us, what we will become through Christ and do through His power working in us.
