Sermon Central
-
The Focus And Ministry Of God’s Messiah Series
Contributed by T.j. Conwell on May 18, 2025 (message contributor)
Summary: God gives us a very clear, very distinct picture of the Messiah's purpose, relationship to Him, and what He will be responsible for doing. The challenge for us today is: will we receive this completed work to restore our relationship with a God who has never stopped loving us?
Isaiah, Part 17
The Focus and Ministry of God’s Messiah
Isaiah 42:1-9
Dismiss kids for Children’s Church and Nursery
Introduction
- Welcome to Seasons! We are so glad you have chosen to worship with us!
- Last week, we saw a unique proclamation challenging us about who God is
-- KNOW: God is not fooled by our selfish offerings of holiness (Isaiah 1:13)
-- Instead, we are called to draw closer to Him because of who He is
-- It’s in worship that are prepared to make our life about serving Him
- Today, we are just going to let this text marinate without much introduction
-- My challenge: Allow this to rest on you; encourage you to read the wk. devo.
- Read Isaiah 42:1-9 / PRAY
Point 1 – The Messiah will be God’s Servant
- The direction here is simple: “Look” (KJV: Behold) (v1)
-- EX: Pay attention, do not miss this, understand what you are being shown!
-- My Messiah is My chosen one; I’m pleased by Him … But chosen for what?
-- Completing the ministry God has given Him: restoration of our relationship
- He will be appointed by God … not of human inspiration
• This is the part that many often overlook when trying to “find God”
• They look for human “goodness” which is not what He offers
• Doesn’t have our preferences, likes, needs, wants, feelings, etc.
- He is God’s chosen: possessing only Godly characteristics we needed modeled
-- This is why He is so inflexible in John 14:6 – see: there is no other way!
- He will possess God’s very presence: He will have God’s Spirit given to Him
-- Pause: Need us to not roll past this without highlighting the importance of it
- The next time you’re in a debate about the Bible not having the word, “Trinity”
-- Or, about God being three persons who reflect His likeness … look at v1:
• God the Father (is speaking) – these are His words given to us
• See: the Messiah will be chosen by God (RE: this event after Jesus’ baptism: Matthew 3:17, “And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”)
• Have PUT my Spirit upon Him – materially placed on Him (by the Father)
o Physical verb used: Hebrew: nathan; to give, to put
- KNOW: The bible doesn’t need to use the word “Trinity” for it to be true!
-- Trinity is a word; Webster’s defines: “a group of three people or three things”
-- BUT! It is the key component of who God is which is given here
- God says the Messiah will bring ‘justice’ with Him (shown in teaching / life)
-- Don’t miss: the word justice (mishpat) is used three times in vv1, 3, 4
- It’s His very nature to demonstrate the justice of God; to bring about change
• His justice is what convicts us of our need for salvation (consider the Law)
• When we examine our life, we are either working for God or against God
• This is His ministry: Justice will establish His kingdom & redeem mankind
-- See the emphasis that God speaks (re-read v1) …
Point 2 – The Attributes of the Messiah
- He will be peaceful -- not boisterous, not threatening, and not divisive (v2)
• He will not come to setup divisions and drive people apart
• SEE: People who do this and claim to be Christlike miss this truth!
• He does not come to start a war – but rather to bring God’s living example
- SIDE: Even people who claim to “be him” today miss this truth
-- Messiah comes to bring people to the Father not to himself (Koresh, Jones, etc.)
- FACT: He will not lead from a place of human emotion or expectation!
-- Ephesians 2:14, “For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.” (REF: Gen 3:15, enmity with God)
- He will be compassionate – a nature of love, mercy, understanding (v3)
-- His life will have a simple focus: pastoral care (compassion for others)
-- Note the reference to not crushing “weakest reed” or “flickering candle”
-- This is a specific reference to the spiritually, physically, or morally weak
- Once a reed is bruised, damaged, or weakened - it becomes useless
-- It cannot be repaired, restored, or even used for what it was intended
- Don’t miss the Messiah’s reaction to it: He won’t discard it as useless
• The woman with the issue of blood would’ve been a bruised reed
