A Powerful Servant is Coming

A Powerful Servant is Coming

Acts 8:32-34 (NKJV) - The place in the Scripture which he read was this: “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He opened not His mouth. 33 In His humiliation His justice was taken away, And who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.” 34 So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?”


Israel needed comfort after Isaiah revealed the great judgment of God.


Israel needed comfort after Isaiah revealed the great judgment of God.

Babylon would destroy Jerusalem and take them into captivity. (Isa 39:5-7)


Isaiah 39:5-7 (NKJV) - Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord of hosts: 6 ‘Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and what your fathers have accumulated until this day, shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left,’ says the Lord. 7 ‘And they shall take away some of your sons who will descend from you, whom you will beget; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’”


Israel’s restoration was also spoken of through Cyrus. (Isa 44:28)


Isaiah 44:28 (NKJV) - Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, And he shall perform all My pleasure, Saying to Jerusalem, “You shall be built,” And to the temple, “Your foundation shall be laid.”’


These events while unparalleled in human history would pale in comparison to the coming servant.


These events while unparalleled in human history would pale in comparison to the coming servant.

We need to see the incredible power of the word of God and how He works His ways. (Isa 44:6-8)


Isaiah 44:6-8 (NKJV) - “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God. 7 And who can proclaim as I do? Then let him declare it and set it in order for Me, Since I appointed the ancient people. And the things that are coming and shall come, Let them show these to them.


8 Do not fear, nor be afraid; Have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one.’”


I challenge the unbeliever and the believer alike to look into this powerful message.



To the human eye that child born in a manager seemed less than insignificant.



To the human eye that child born in a manager seemed less than insignificant.

You need to look again at what the servant of God can do.

The Fullness of Time

This servant was for a time in the shadow of God’s hand. (Isa 49:1-2)


Isaiah 49:1-2 (NKJV) - “Listen, O coastlands, to Me, And take heed, you peoples from afar! The Lord has called Me from the womb; From the matrix of My mother He has made mention of My name.


2 And He has made My mouth like a sharp sword; In the shadow of His hand He has hidden Me, And made Me a polished shaft; In His quiver He has hidden Me.”


He was like a concealed weapon, hidden from the enemy until the right time.


He was like a concealed weapon, hidden from the enemy until the right time.

Satan was a willing tool in his own demise. What he thought was a victory was a defeat! (Heb 2:14; 1 Cor 2:7-8)


Hebrews 2:14 (NKJV) - Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,


1 Corinthians 2:7-8 (NKJV) - But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.


This is the significance of the “mystery” in God’s plan. (Eph 1:9-10)


Ephesians 1:9-10 (NKJV) - having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.


Mystery- “the content of that which has not been known before but which has been revealed to an in-group or restricted constituency”



This mystery has now been revealed!



This mystery has now been revealed! Consider the power of reveling Jesus at this

time. (Gal 4:4-5)


Galatians 4:4-5 (NKJV) - But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.


The hypocrisy and ultimate destruction of Israel was obvious.


From the earlier captivity Jews were scattered all over the world and would be a base for the spread of the gospel. (Rom 1:16-17)


Romans 1:16-17 (NKJV) - For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”


The Roman government would provide a common government and language as well as a great transportation system. Paul used this to a great advantage.


The roman government would provide a common government and language as well as a great transportation system. Paul used this to a great advantage.

How did the world respond to this servant?

The apparent failure

The ministry of Christ appeared a failure. (Isa 49:3-4)


Isaiah 49:3-4 (NKJV) - “And He said to me, ‘You are My servant, O Israel, In whom I will be glorified.’ 4 Then I said, ‘I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and in vain; Yet surely my just reward is with the Lord, And my work with my God.’”


John summarized His reception among the people of God. (John 1:10)


John 1:10 (NKJV) - He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.


Jesus could look out from the cross and see what appeared to be a failure. (Psa 22:1-2, 6-8)


Psalm 22:1-2 (NKJV) - My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning? 2 O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; And in the night season, and am not silent.


Psalm 22:6-8 (NKJV) - But I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised by the people. 7 All those who see Me ridicule Me; They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, 8 “He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him; Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!”


At any time men would have said that what they saw with their eyes would amount to nothing. Jesus’ own family struggled with this. (Jn 7:3-5)


John 7:3-5 (NKJV) - His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. 4 For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” 5 For even His brothers did not believe in Him.


Jesus knew success would only come one way, in the glorification of God.


Jesus knew success would only come one way, in the glorification of God.

Jesus is called Israel in verse 2 because he was closely identified with that nation and would deliver that nation. (Isa 49:2, 5)


Isaiah 49:2 (NKJV) - And He has made My mouth like a sharp sword; In the shadow of His hand He has hidden Me, And made Me a polished shaft; In His quiver He has hidden Me.”


Isaiah 49:5 (NKJV) - “And now the Lord says, Who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, To bring Jacob back to Him, So that Israel is gathered to Him (For I shall be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, And My God shall be My strength),


Jesus wanted only one thing, to glorify God. (John 7:18; 8:50-51)


John 7:18 (NKJV) - He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.


John 8:50-51 (NKJV) - And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges. 51 Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.”


How was Jesus able to face the cross? He wanted only one thing! (John 12:27-33)


John 12:27-33 (NKJV) - “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.”


29 Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.” 30 Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake.


31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” 33This He said, signifying by what death He would die.


What could God do with us if we would have that mind?

The rejected and despised castaways

Jesus was to bring back and reunite Israel. (Isa 49:5)


Isaiah 49:5 (NKJV) - “And now the Lord says, Who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, To bring Jacob back to Him, So that Israel is gathered to Him (For I shall be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, And My God shall be My strength),


How could that be? Consider the Assyrian disaster, the Babylonian captivity and the soon to be destruction of Jerusalem?


Jesus accomplished this in the establishment of the church. (Acts 15:13-17)


Acts 15:13-17 (NKJV) - And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me: 14 Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:


16 ‘After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up; 17 So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the Lord who does all these things.’


James is quoting this verse as fulfilled. (Amos 9:11-12, 14)


Amos 9:11-12 (NKJV) - “On that day I will raise up The tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, And repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins, And rebuild it as in the days of old; 12 That they may possess the remnant of Edom, And all the Gentiles who are called by My name,” Says the Lord who does this thing.


Amos 9:14 (NKJV) - I will bring back the captives of My people Israel; They shall build the waste cities and inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them; They shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them.


This is the ultimate Israel, the spiritual kingdom of God.


Jesus would unite Jew and Gentile! (Isa 49:6)


Isaiah 49:6 (NKJV) - Indeed He says, ‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’”


The first seemed utterly impossible. This verse tells us that is nothing compared to what God will do through His servant!


The first seemed utterly impossible. This verse tells us that is nothing compared to what God will do through His servant!

Consider the struggle of having Jew and Gentile together. (Gal 2:11-16)


Galatians 2:11-16 (NKJV) - Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; 12 for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.


13 And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?


15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.


The greatest display of the power of God is in the changing of men’s hearts.


The greatest display of the power of God is in the changing of men’s hearts.

Jesus was a hated reject of the world. (Isa 49:7)


Isaiah 49:7 (NKJV) - Thus says the Lord, The Redeemer of Israel, their Holy One, To Him whom man despises, To Him whom the nation abhors, To the Servant of rulers: “Kings shall see and arise, Princes also shall worship, Because of the Lord who is faithful, The Holy One of Israel; And He has chosen You.”


This is no surprise to those who read the Bible. (1 Pt 2:7-8)


1 Peter 2:7-8 (NKJV) - Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,” 8 and “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.


Jesus did not come in a way to impress men with their artificial standards.



Men were often offended in the presence of this servant.



Men were often offended in the presence of this servant.

Even his enemies recognized that Jesus played no favorites. (Mk 12:14)


Mark 12:14 (NKJV) - When they had come, they said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?


His followers would also be hated rejects of the world. (Isa 49:8-9)


Isaiah 49:8-9 (NKJV) - Thus says the Lord: “In an acceptable time I have heard You, And in the day of salvation I have helped You; I will preserve You and give You As a covenant to the people, To restore the earth, To cause them to inherit the desolate heritages;


9 That You may say to the prisoners, ‘Go forth,’ To those who are in darkness, ‘Show yourselves.’ “They shall feed along the roads, And their pastures shall be on all desolate heights.


They would be in prison to sin and in darkness without hope.


They would be in prison to sin and in darkness without hope.

When they followed this servant they would be opposed and attacked. (Jn 15:18-21)


John 15:18-21 (NKJV) - “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.


20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.


Please do not try to impress the world. You will put out your light in the process and join with our enemies in destroying the work of God.

The impossible highway

People will come to God from places that were considered unreachable. (Isa 49:11-13)


Isaiah 49:11-13 (NKJV) - I will make each of My mountains a road, And My highways shall be elevated. 12 Surely these shall come from afar; Look! Those from the north and the west, And these from the land of Sinim.” 13 Sing, O heavens! Be joyful, O earth! And break out in singing, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted His people, And will have mercy on His afflicted.


Access to God for a sinful man seems impossible!



Jesus built that bridge through His sacrificial death.



Jesus built that bridge through His sacrificial death.

The gospel makes it possible for people at anyplace and at any time to serve Him. (Mt 28:18-20)


Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV) - And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.


Have you seen this servant?


Have you seen this servant? What would a servant of this servant be

like?


Have you seen this servant? What would a servant of this servant be

like? Is the glory of God our goal?

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A Powerful Servant is Coming