2. 3 A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way for the L ORD ; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.

3. 5 And the glory of the L ORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the L ORD has spoken.”

6. Doing Something New Isaiah 40 - 43 Preparing the way for something yet to come is difficult It can be hard to sell Noah building the ark Building the network for... God said, through Isaiah, a new way is being made ready

7. The old way was not producing results The people could not be good enough Sooner or later they failed and the old covenant required punishment for those failures

8. Isaiah 40 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the L ORD ’s hand double for all her sins.

9. God is going to smooth things out Make things straight Make things easier

10. 3 A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way for the L ORD ; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. 5 And the glory of the L ORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the L ORD has spoken.”

11. This new covenant was going to be based on... God managing the reward – not us Gentleness Shepherding

12. 10 See, the Sovereign L ORD comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. 11 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.

13. This covenant is not based on what we do It is based on what God will do, can do and has done A gentle savior who is fully in control

14. Isaiah 41 9 I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. 10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

15. 13 For I am the L ORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

16. Isaiah will now repeat the last two points This Messiah, this Emmanuel, this Lord will be... A servant leader Just Gentle

17. Isaiah 42 “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. 2 He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. 3 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;

18. He will not fail because he is in control Through Israel, He will make a way for the Gentiles And as a result we are free

19. 4 he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his law the islands will put their hope.”

20. 6 “I, the L ORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, 7 to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.

21. This new covenant will be different Many will not recognize God's goodness Many will see it as insufficient As not measurable Foreign

22. 16 I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.

23. Isaiah reminds Israel and us that we cannot save ourselves It is God who redeems God who calls And we are his

24. Isaiah 43 But now, this is what the L ORD says— he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

25. God is on control He reveals his new covenant – “Prepare the way” God saves God makes a proclamation and it is final Who is going to change God's mind?

26. 12 I have revealed and saved and proclaimed— I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses,” declares the L ORD, “that I am God. 13 Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it”?

27. Isaiah says it again... If you keep waiting for more rules, laws and regulations You are going to miss the new covenant It is compassionate, gentle, forgiving, full of grace and the reward is by Emmanuel, the Messiah, God in the flesh

28. 18 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.

29. God is in control That is why the Apostle Paul says these words: If God did the work Who is going to take away our reward?

30. Romans 8 31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all— how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

31. 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

32. I hope you have already experienced the new covenant Hopefully you have felt the presence of the gentle Savior Experienced the power of God as a servant leader And if you have, you want to serve him because with all his power God wants to gently serve, love and fill you with grace