Is40:3-11 Seek (2/3)

# SEEK
## Isaiah 40:3-11

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# What will it be like to **see** God?

[###](#/outline "secret")

>>>
+ 1 TURN: **repent**
+ 2 SEEK: **encounter** living God

---
[3](# "ref")
A voice of one calling:

“In the wilderness **prepare** 
the way for the **Lord**; 
make **straight** in the desert 
a highway for our **God**.

[Isaiah 40:3 (NIV) (p.1/6)](# "ref")

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[4](# "ref")
Every **valley** shall be raised up, 
every **mountain** and hill made low; 
the **rough** ground shall become level, 
the **rugged** places a plain.

[5](# "ref")
And the **glory** of the Lord will be revealed, 
and **all** people will see it together. 
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

[Isaiah 40:4-5 (NIV) (p.2/6)](# "ref")

---
[6](# "ref")
A voice says, “**Cry** out.” 
And I said, “What shall I cry?”

“All **people** are like grass, 
and all their **faithfulness** 
is like the flowers of the field.

[Isaiah 40:6 (NIV) (p.3/6)](# "ref")

---
[7](# "ref")
The grass **withers** and the flowers **fall**, 
because the **breath** of the Lord blows on them. 
Surely the people are grass.

[8](# "ref")
The **grass** withers and the **flowers** fall, 
but the **word** of our God endures forever.”

[Isaiah 40:7-8 (NIV) (p.4/6)](# "ref")

---
[9](# "ref")
You who bring **good news** to Zion, 
go up on a high **mountain**. 
You who bring good news to Jerusalem, 
**lift up** your voice with a shout,

lift it up, do not be **afraid**; 
say to the towns of Judah, 
“**Here is your God!**”

[Isaiah 40:9 (NIV) (p.5/6)](# "ref")

---
[10](# "ref")
See, the Sovereign Lord comes with **power**, 
and he rules with a **mighty** arm. 
See, his **reward** is with him, 
and his **recompense** accompanies him.

[11](# "ref")
He tends his flock like a **shepherd**: 
He **gathers** the lambs in his arms 
and **carries** them close to his heart; 
he **gently leads** those that have young.

[Isaiah 40:10-11 (NIV) (p.6/6)](# "ref")

---

## Seek [(Is40)](https://mobile.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Is40&version=NIV "ref")
1. **Prepare** the Way [(v3-5)](https://mobile.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=is40.3-5&version=NIV "ref")
1. We Are But **Grass** [(v6-8)](https://mobile.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=is40.6-8&version=NIV "ref")
1. **Behold**, Your God! [(v9-11)](https://mobile.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=is40.9-11&version=NIV "ref")

---

“In the wilderness **prepare** 
the way for the **Lord**;

make **straight** in the desert 
a highway for our **God**.

[Isaiah 40:3 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ 3 *straight highway*: herald of King
+ John the Baptist (Mk1:1-8)

---

**John** the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, 
preaching a baptism of **repentance** 
for the **forgiveness** of sins.

[...] [5](# "ref")
**Confessing** their sins, 
they were **baptized** by him in the Jordan River.

[Mark 1:4-5 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ **repent** ⇒ confess
+ forgiveness ⇒ **baptised**
+ **after** me comes:
  + point to **Jesus'** authority

---

And the **glory** of the Lord will be revealed, 
and **all** people will see it together.

For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

[Isaiah 40:5 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ 5 *all people* (flesh) *will see*
+ God is Judge of all, not just Chrstns
+ not **choice** of religions

---

Therefore God **exalted** him to the highest place

[...] [10](# "ref")
that at the name of **Jesus** 
**every knee** should bow, 
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

[11](# "ref")
and **every tongue** acknowledge 
that **Jesus Christ** is **Lord**, 
to the glory of **God** the Father.

[Philippians 2:9-11 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ **humbled** self, **obedient** to death
+ **every** knee will bow:
  + either in **joy** or **fear**

---

# Am I **prepared** to see Jesus?
# Do I prepare **others**?

>>>
+ e.g., prepared for **marriage**:
  + no dating ≤22, but married ≤25

---

## Seek [(Is40)](https://mobile.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Is40&version=NIV "ref")
1. Prepare the Way [(v3-5)](https://mobile.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=is40.3-5&version=NIV "ref")
1. **We Are But Grass** [(v6-8)](https://mobile.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=is40.6-8&version=NIV "ref")
1. Behold, Your God! [(v9-11)](https://mobile.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=is40.9-11&version=NIV "ref")

---

“All **people** are like grass, 
and all their **faithfulness** 
is like the flowers of the field.

[Isaiah 40:6 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ 6 *faithfulness*: chesed, covenant love
+ our **love** runs out quickly

---

The grass **withers** and the flowers **fall**, 
because the **breath** of the Lord blows on them. 
Surely the people are grass.

[Isaiah 40:7 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ 7 *breath* (Spirit) *of the Lord blows*
  + (2Th2:8 overthrow lawless one)
  + (2Pe3:10-12 elements burned up)

---

The **grass** withers and the **flowers** fall, 
but the **word** of our God endures forever.”

[Isaiah 40:8 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ quoted in 1Pet:

---

Now that you have **purified** yourselves 
by **obeying** the truth so that 
you have **sincere** love for each other,

love one another **deeply**, from the heart.

[1 Peter 1:22 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ **born** again though **Word**
+ **unhypocritical** love

---

# Is my love **fading** like a flower,
# or **enduring**, deep, from God's **Word**?

>>>
+ **enduring**, un-hypocritical, deep,
+ born through **God's Word**?

---

## Seek [(Is40)](https://mobile.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Is40&version=NIV "ref")
1. Prepare the Way [(v3-5)](https://mobile.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=is40.3-5&version=NIV "ref")
1. We Are But Grass [(v6-8)](https://mobile.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=is40.6-8&version=NIV "ref")
1. **Behold, Your God!** [(v9-11)](https://mobile.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=is40.9-11&version=NIV "ref")

---

You who bring **good news** to Jerusalem, 
**lift up** your voice with a shout,

lift it up, do not be **afraid**; 
say to the towns of Judah,

“**Here is your God!**”

[Isaiah 40:9 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ 9 *bring good news*: from battle (2Sa18)
  + Ps captive captivity
  + (52:7-8 lovely feet, watchmen)
  + *do not be afraid*:
  + *behold*: hinneh, voila, tada

---

See, the Sovereign Lord comes with **power**, 
and he rules with a **mighty** arm.

See, his **reward** is with him, 
and his **recompense** accompanies him.

[Isaiah 40:10 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ 10 arm: *reward* + *recompense*
  + (62:10-12)

---

He tends his flock like a **shepherd**: 
He **gathers** the lambs in his arms 
and **carries** them close to his heart; 
he **gently leads** those that have young.

[Isaiah 40:11 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ 11 arm: tender
  + *tend* (to pasture) + *gently lead*
  + *gather* + *carry*
  + Ps23:1-3

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# Do I believe the gospel is **good news**?

>>>
+ if so, then what am I **afraid** of?

---

You who bring **good news** to Jerusalem, 
**lift up** your voice with a shout,

lift it up, do not be **afraid**; 
say to the towns of Judah,

“**Here is your God!**”

[Isaiah 40:9 (NIV)](# "ref")

---