{"id":2746,"date":"2023-01-06T19:39:44","date_gmt":"2023-01-06T19:39:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=2746"},"modified":"2023-01-13T19:40:02","modified_gmt":"2023-01-13T19:40:02","slug":"8-january-2023-a-crown-of-beauty-instead-of-ashes","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=2746","title":{"rendered":"8 January 2023: a crown of beauty instead of ashes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:31% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"615\" height=\"340\" src=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/20230108.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2747 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/20230108.jpg 615w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/20230108-300x166.jpg 300w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/20230108-24x13.jpg 24w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/20230108-36x20.jpg 36w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/20230108-48x27.jpg 48w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 615px) 100vw, 615px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-090a7876-6b6f-475f-bd24-2fdf9d5343ad\"><strong>Bethel Baptist Church<br>Worship Service @ Home<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-090a7876-6b6f-475f-bd24-2fdf9d5343ad\"><strong>8 January 2023<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-black-color has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color has-text-color has-background\" href=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=2742\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"15\" height=\"10\" class=\"wp-image-1006\" style=\"width: 15px;\" src=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow.png\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow.png 120w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow-24x16.png 24w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow-36x24.png 36w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow-48x32.png 48w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 15px) 100vw, 15px\" \/> <strong>Previous Service<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-black-color has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color has-text-color has-background\" href=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=2758\"><strong>Next Service<\/strong> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"15\" height=\"10\" class=\"wp-image-1007\" style=\"width: 15px;\" src=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow.png\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow.png 120w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow-24x16.png 24w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow-36x24.png 36w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow-48x32.png 48w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 15px) 100vw, 15px\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Welcome<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#f8e9c8\"><em>\u201cThe Lord clothes us with garments of salvation and righteousness, making us His Bride. He gives us His Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts, all for His glory and praise, Amen!\u201d<br><\/em><br>Stella<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Worship<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"I Worship You, Almighty God There is none like you  Sondra Corbett with Lyrics   YouTube\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/CWZi3ImzArM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption><sup>I Worship You, Almighty God There is none like you &#8211; Sondra Corbett&nbsp;<\/sup><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Word<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Please read: <\/strong>Isaiah 61:1-4<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>\u2026to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes \u2026 <\/p><cite>Isaiah 61:3<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>In the OT people wore sackcloth and ashes in certain situations,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(1) an outward sign of repentance e.g. Jesus refers to Tyre and Sidon (both targets of prophetic denunciation in the OT &#8211; Isaiah 23; Ezekiel 28:20-23) who would have repented in <strong>sackcloth and ashes<\/strong> (Matt. 11:21);<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(2) In times of national disaster, e.g. when an edict was passed by the King to destroy all the Jews,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on <strong>sackcloth and ashes<\/strong>, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly.<\/p><cite>Esther 4:1<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>(3) We might add a third point for ashes also remind us of our mortality (cf. Genesis 3:19; Ecclesiastes 3:20).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beauty for ashes is a beautiful reflection on what change Jesus Christ can bring about in any person\u2019s life, even in a nation\u2019s life, in these three circumstances above, and even in what we may regard as the worst of circumstances. He turns them around for His glory and praise and for our great blessing, beauty for ashes. Jesus, Himself, referred this passage to Himself:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord\u2019s favour.<\/p><cite>Luke 4:18-19<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>We are to pray and act:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>(a) for this to take place<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loosen the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter&nbsp;\u2013 when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?<br><br>Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say: here am I.<\/p><cite>Isaiah 58:6-9:<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>And<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>(b) to ask for the same anointing<\/strong>, (Luke 11:11-13).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let us finish by reading the verses in Isaiah surrounding our text which Jesus also fulfilled:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>To <strong>comfort<\/strong> all who <strong>mourn<\/strong>, and <strong>provide for<\/strong> those who <strong>grieve<\/strong> in Zion&nbsp;\u2013 to bestow on them a crown of <strong>beauty<\/strong> instead of <strong>ashes<\/strong>, the oil of <strong>joy<\/strong> instead of <strong>mourning<\/strong>, and a garment of <strong>praise<\/strong> instead of a spirit of <strong>despair<\/strong>. <\/p><cite>Isa 61:2, 3<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>May 2023 be a year in which we experience more of the Lord\u2019s beauty in our lives in place of the ashes of mourning, sin, pain, fear, injustice, hatred, bitterness, abuse, rejection, loneliness, despair, and that we bring beauty in place of ashes in the lives of those we meet, Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Quote of the week<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#f8e9c8\"><em>\u201cOf one thing I am perfectly sure; God\u2019s story never ends with ashes\u201d <\/em><br><br>E. Elliott<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Verse<\/strong><strong> of the week<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>And the God of all grace, who called you&nbsp;to His eternal glory&nbsp;in Christ, after you have suffered a little while,&nbsp;will Himself restore you and make you strong,&nbsp;firm and steadfast. <\/p><cite>1 Pet. 5:10<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Let\u2019s Pray<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Heavenly Father, may 2023 be a year in which Your Church experiences abundantly more of Your beauty, and immeasurably more of Your Spirit; for Your glory and for the blessing of the world &#8211; beauty for ashes &#8211; in and through the altogether lovely one, Jesus Christ, Amen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome \u201cThe Lord clothes us with garments of salvation and righteousness, making us His Bride. He gives us His Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts, all for His glory and praise, Amen!\u201dStella Worship Word Please read: Isaiah 61:1-4 \u2026to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes \u2026 Isaiah 61:3 In the OT people &#8230; <a title=\"8 January 2023: a crown of beauty instead of ashes\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=2746\" aria-label=\"Read more about 8 January 2023: a crown of beauty instead of ashes\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2746","page","type-page","status-publish"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2746","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2746"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2746\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2762,"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2746\/revisions\/2762"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2746"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}