Beauty For Ashes

Beauty for Ashes

Isaiah 61:1-4

1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

4 And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.

The first nine verses of this chapter present the Messiah and His people.

Jesus quoted this same Scripture in Luke 4:18-19.

The Spirit of the Lord was upon Jesus and He was anointed by God to preach good tidings unto the meek.

Jesus was sent to bind up the broken hearted, He was to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of prison to those who are bound.

This morning, God wants us to know that the Spirit of the Lord is upon us and He wants us to preach good tidings unto the meek.

Jesus was sent to bind up the broken hearted; we, through the Spirit of God, are to help those who are broken hearted.

Jesus proclaimed liberty to the captives and He opened the prison to those who were bound.

We as followers of Jesus, are proclaim liberty to the captives this morning and let them know that through Jesus they can be set free.

Isaiah 61:2

2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

This was the year of Jubilee as proclaimed in Leviticus 25:9.

The year of Jubilee took place every fifteen years, according to the Law of Moses.

We are to proclaim the acceptable year of our Lord and that is now because we are living in a time of grace.

We are to comfort all that mourn this morning.

Isaiah 61:3

3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

Beauty refers to a nuptical crown.

Wood ashes placed upon the head expressed mourning, a nuptical garland signifies gladness.

The trees of this verse are the redeemed of Isaiah 60:21.

Isaiah 60:21

21 Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.

No praise was given to the beautiful trees, but all praise will be given to their wondrous planter.

Isaiah 61:4

4 And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.

To assure the reality of these statements, they are repeated, the first and the third lines of this verse predict the rebuilding of the deserted cities.

The second and fourth lines foretell the fertility of the desolate fields.

This is talking about the coming Kingdom age where Jesus will set up His earthly Kingdom for a thousand years.

This verse is talking in a literal and material sense, but even more so is talking about a Spiritual reformation that will take place in the hearts and lives of believers.

The words build, raise and repair is being used in a physical sense, but there is going to be a spiritual renewal in the lives of the believers.

I have entitled this today:

Beauty for Ashes and here is the reason why:

Dream 8-6-08

I dreamed that Lester Sumrall and Billy Graham were both dying. Lester died and I knew that Billy was next. Billy died. All I could remember was something about the ashes.

Interpretation

Billy Graham is the greatest soul winner maybe of all time.

Lester Sumrall was a Pentecostal preacher who believed that God could.

Billy Graham was and still is a great soul winner for the Kingdom.

Lester and Billy both died and all I remember was something about the ashes.

Ashes mean remembrance.

We need to remember what they taught and not let it be forgotten.

The Spirit of the Lord was upon them for they were anointed by God to preach the Gospel.