Dear Brothers and Sisters, Prayer will be held at the Brown Barn.

Last week, In Isaiah chapter 44, we were brought into the courtroom, and the idol factory. Now, in chapter 45:1-17, Isaiah brings us into the political control room of the universe where God discloses His absolute mastery of all nations, political movements and leaders. He is the mastermind behind everything, for behind the kings of the earth, is always the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He raises up kings and puts them down. He moves them to and fro for His own glory. As Daniel reported, “nothing can stay His hand.” Further, we encounter one of the truly jawdropping verses in the whole bible that most people cannot believe. In verse 7 we learn that when He wants to create peace, He does so. Most people are fine with that. but they are not fine with this: when He wants to create calamity you get calamity.
In this chapter, God is revealing His plans to His people by prophesying an event that takes place after the 70 years of captivity in Babylon – liberation at the sword of Cyrus of the Medo Persian Empire.

God is proclaiming that there is light after the darkness of the chastisements of captivity. They were put into captivity for rejecting His law and disregarding the Sabbath. He did judge them. He did hurt them. But His chastisements were not simply punitive, but they were also restorative. He has broken them in order to restore them as Isaiah declares in 45:17, “Israel shall be saved by the Lord With an everlasting salvation; You shall not be ashamed or disgraced Forever and ever.”

Remember the Father Daughter Retreat May 1-2… We will be giving you details next week.

The songs we will be singing are listed below:

Rejoice, the Lord Is King
Rejoice, the Lord is King
Your Lord and King adore!
Rejoice, give thanks and sing and triumph evermore.
Lift up your heart; lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

Jesus, the Savior, reigns
The God of truth and love;
When He had purged our stains, He took His seat above.
Lift up your heart; lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

His kingdom cannot fail;
He rules o’er earth and heav’n.
The keys of death and hell are to our Jesus giv’n.
Lift up your heart; lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

He sits at God’s right hand,
The Church’s great High Priest,
And all his enemies are placed beneath His feet.
Lift up your heart; lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

Rejoice in glorious hope!
Our Lord, the Judge, shall come
And take His servants up to their eternal home.
Lift up your heart; lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
Amen

Psalm 115:1-11
Not to us, Lord, not to us, But to Your name glory give,
For Your steadfast love and grace, For Your conv’nant faithfulness.
Why should heathen nations say, “Where now is their mighty God?”

But our God in heaven is; He does all that pleases Him;
Their gods are of sliver, gold, Fashioned by the hands of men:
They have mouths but do not speak; They have eyes but do not see;

They have ears but do not hear, Noses have but do not smell;
They have hands but do not touch; They have feet but do not walk;
In their throat they make no sound. Such, all who them make and trust.

Israel, trust in the Lord – He’s their help and He’s their shield!
Aaron’s house, trust in the Lord – He’s their help and He’s their shield!
Who the Lord fear, trust the Lord – He’s their help and He’s their shield!
Amen

All The Way My Savior Leads Me
All the way my Savior leads me
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt his tender mercy
Who through life has been my guide
Heavenly peace, divinest comfort
Here by faith in him to dwell
For I know what e’er befall me
Jesus doeth all things well
For I know what e’er befall me
Jesus doeth all things well

All the way my Savior leads me
Cheers each winding path I tread
Gives me grace for every trial
Feeds me with the living bread
Though my weary steps may falter
And my soul a thirst may be
Gushing from the rock before me
Lo, a spring of joy I see
Gushing from the rock before me
Lo, a spring of joy I see

All the way my Savior leads me
O the fullness of his love
Perfect rest to me is promised
In my Father’s house above
When my spirit clothed immortal
Wings its flight to realms of day
This my song through endless ages
Jesus lead me all the way
This my song through endless ages
Jesus lead me all the way

Like a River Glorious
Like a river glorious is God’s perfect peace,
Over all victorious in its bright increase;
Perfect, yet it floweth fuller ev’ry day,
Perfect, yet it groweth deeper all the way.

Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest,
Finding, as he promised, perfect peace and rest.

Hidden in the hollow of his blessed hand,
Never foe can follow, never traitor stand;
Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care,
Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there.

Ev’ry joy or trial falleth from above,
Traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love.
We may trust him fully all for us to do;
They who trust him wholly find him wholly true.

All I Have Is Christ
I once was lost in darkest night
Yet thought I knew the way.
The sin that promised joy and life
Had led me to the grave.
I had no hope that You would own
A rebel to Your will.
And if You had not loved me first
I would refuse You still.

But as I ran my hell-bound race
Indifferent to the cost
You looked upon my helpless state
And led me to the cross.
And I beheld God’s love displayed
You suffered in my place
You bore the wrath reserved for me
Now all I know is grace.

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life

Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone
And live so all might see
The strength to follow Your commands
Could never come from me.
Oh Father, use my ransomed life
In any way You choose.
And let my song forever be
My only boast is You.

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life