Prolonging The Days Of Christ Series

I am going to read from Isaiah 53:1-12

Title: Prolonging the Days of Christ

Theme: The Lord’s Messengers to the Next Generation

Introduction: Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22 give us the most vivid account of the crucifixion of Christ that can be found in the Word of God. Isaiah, seven hundred years before Christ was born, lets us see something of Jesus’ suffering, the sacrifice He made upon the Cross of Calvary. He also reveals to us a very special promise made from God to His Son.

If we allow the Holy Spirit to do a work in our hearts and remind us how it was our sin that put the perfect Son of God through such shame and misery, we would easily lay down those sins at the foot of the Cross, sins that so easily entangle us and hinder the work of Christ in our community. The New Testament holds at least two truths that must be grasped if we want to enjoy the presence of Christ in our lives and Holy Spirit empowerment in all we put our hands to. 1 John 1:8-10 says, "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word has no place in our lives."

Hebrews 12:1-3 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:1-3)

Let the Holy Spirit remind you of what was laid upon our Savior and Lord as I read Isaiah 53: 1-12, “Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered Him stricken by God, smitten by Him, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth, He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away. And who can speak of His descendants? For He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people He was stricken. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death, though He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer, and though the LORD makes His life a guilt offering, He will see His offspring and prolong His days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in His hand. After the suffering of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied; by His knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give Him a portion among the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He poured out His life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:1-12) Pray!

Propositions: I would like to propose to you that the church that gets used of God to carry the message of Christ on to the next generation has Christians who grasp the powerful truths found in this message.

Interrogative Sentence: Just what are those truths? Many understand that an undefiled mouth does not misuse the name of God or use filthy language. Many agree that undefiled ears do not find joy in gossip or unclean talk. Many agree that undefiled eyes do not feed upon pornography or the pleasures of this world. However, the Holy Spirit illuminated grasp the Biblical truths to what is really means to have a “Undefiled Mouth, Undefiled Ears and Undefiled Eyes.