For unto us a child is born (4/4)

Until at last the Spirit is poured out on us from heaven… Isaiah 32:15

Until at last the Spirit is poured out on us from heaven. Then the wilderness will become a fertile field, and the fertile field will yield bountiful crops. Isaiah 32:15	Until a spirit from on high is poured out upon us, and the wilderness becomes an orchard and the fruitful field becomes a forest. Spirit pentecost
And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. Romans 5:5	Such hope will not be doomed to disappointment, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. hope heart Spirit

You must not exploit a widow or an orphan. If you exploit them in any way and they cry out to me, then I will certainly hear their cry. My anger will blaze against you, and I will kill you with the sword. Then your wives will be widows and your children fatherless. Exodus 22:22-24	You shall not oppress the widow or the orphan. If you mistreat them and they cry out to me for help, I will surely hear their cry, and my fury will burn and I will put you to death by the sword. Your wives will be widows and your children will be orphans. widows orphans
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” John 14:8	Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, it will be enough for us.” Father contentment
He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5	Not because of any righteous deeds on our part but because of his mercy, he saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. salvation Holy Spirit rebirth
Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? Matthew 26:53	Do you suppose that I cannot appeal to my Father for help and he will not immediately send me more than twelve legions of angels? protection Jesus angels
And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. 2 Peter 1:4	By these he has given us his precious promises, great beyond all price, so that through them you may escape from the corruption with which evil desires have infected the world and thereby may come to share in the divine nature. reward desires world
Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled. Romans 15:4	For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that by perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we may continue to have hope. Word of God encouragement hope
And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. Matthew 6:13	And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. temptation desires evil
And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 2 Corinthians 5:18	All this has been done by God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and entrusted us with the ministry of reconciliation. reconciliation evangelism
Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. 1 Timothy 6:17	Instruct those who are rich in this world’s goods that they should not be proud, nor should they trust in the uncertainty of riches but rather in God who richly provides us with everything we need for our enjoyment. money joy materialism
Give us today the food we need. Matthew 6:11	Give us this day our daily bread. prayer bread dependence
For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1	For everything there is a season, and a time for every activity under heaven. planning life heaven
The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18	Indeed, the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. salvation strength crucifixion
He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds. Titus 2:14	He gave himself for us in order to deliver us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people as his own who are eager to do good. sacrifice purification goodness
But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 1 John 1:9	However, if we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all wrongdoing. sin purification evil
No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us. John 1:18	No one has ever seen God. It is the only Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, who has made him known. Jesus Father nearness
So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. John 1:14	And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. And we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth. truth Jesus Word of God
And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. Romans 8:26	In the same way, even the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs that cannot be put into words. speaking Spirit prayer
For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. 1 Peter 2:21	This, in fact, is what you have been called to do, because Christ himself suffered for you and left an example for you to follow in his footsteps. suffering following calling
Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105	Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light to my path. Word of God light
For who is God except the Lord? Who but our God is a solid rock? Psalm 18:31	Indeed, who is God except the Lord? Who is the Rock besides our God? reliability God strength
For who is God except the Lord? Who but our God is a solid rock? 2 Samuel 22:32	For who is God except the Lord? Who is a rock aside from our God? reliability God protection
Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.” Acts 19:4	Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” baptism conversion faith
See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. 1 John 3:1	See what love the Father has bestowed on us, enabling us to be called the children of God, and that is what we are. If the world does not recognize us, that is because it did not know him. love Father children