WEBVTT

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 Good morning, everyone. Please open your Bibles to Isaiah 42.

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!

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 Isaiah 42.

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 We're taking a little break from our studies in 2 Corinthians.

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 We're going to go back to that in the new year, so we can look forward to that.

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 But over these next few weeks, we're going to be looking specifically at chapter 42 of Isaiah.

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 On your Bibles, it may have a heading, The Servant of the Lord.

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 They're traditional readings leading up to Christmas to help us to prepare for Christmas and the coming of Christ.

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 So we're going to be looking at Isaiah 42 over three Sundays.

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 This morning, we're going to look at the first nine verses as we prepare ourselves for Christmas as it approaches.

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 So let's read, and then we're going to pray, and then we'll look at God's Word together.

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 Isaiah 42, verse 1.

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 Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight.

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 I will put my spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations.

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 He will not shout or cry out or raise his voice in the streets.

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 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out.

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 In faithfulness he will bring forth justice.

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 He will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth.

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 In his teaching, the islands will put their hope.

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 This is what God, the Lord says, the creator of the heavens, who stretches them out,

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 who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it,

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 who gives breath to its people and life to all those who walk on it.

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 I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness.

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 I will take hold of your hand.

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 I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people

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 and a light for the Gentiles,

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 to open eyes that are blind,

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 to free captives from prison,

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 and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.

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 I am the Lord.

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 Lord, that is my name.

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 I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.

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 See, the former things have taken place,

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 and new things I declare.

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 Before they spring into being,

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 I announce them to you.

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 Well, let's pray together.

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 Our Father God, we come to you as the creator God,

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 the maker of heaven and earth,

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 the God who gives us breath and gives us life.

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 And so we come humbly before you,

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 asking that you will speak to us through your word,

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 and you would help us to see your servant in all his glory,

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 and that as we gaze in wonder,

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 we may be transformed more into his likeness.

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 We pray this for our good,

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 and for the glory of God.

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 In Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 We interrupt this program with some breaking news.

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 Today, world leaders met and have agreed a peace plan

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 that will mean the end of all wars forever.

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 Each country will be provided with financial security

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 and political equality.

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 Freedom will be enjoyed by all.

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 Fear will be confined to the past.

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 Would you believe it?

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 It sounds great.

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 We would love it to be true.

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 But could it actually happen?

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 Well, 800 years before the birth of Jesus,

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 there was some earth-shattering, world-breaking news.

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 God, through the prophet Isaiah,

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 made an announcement.

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 Verse 1.

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 Here is my servant.

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 And look at the end of verse 1.

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 And he will bring justice to the nations.

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 Wow.

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 Is it really true?

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 Who is this promised servant?

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 Well, we're going to look at three things from this text.

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 The servant's call,

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 the servant's mission,

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 and the servant's identity.

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 Call, mission, and identity.

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 So first of all, the servant's call.

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 Look at verse 1.

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 Look, listen.

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 Here is my servant.

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 And two things will mark out this servant from everyone else.

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 First, this servant has been sent from God.

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 Look at verse 1.

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 Here is my servant who I uphold,

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 my chosen one.

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 This is no ordinary person.

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 This is God's appointed servant.

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 Verse 5.

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 This is what the Lord says.

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 The creator of the heavens,

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 who stretches them out,

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 who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it,

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 who gives breath to its people,

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 and life to those who walk on it.

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 I, the Lord,

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 have called you.

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 God, who created the world,

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 who rules the universe,

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 who sustains each person,

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 has chosen

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 and called forth his servant.

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 But more than that,

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 this servant

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 has been empowered

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 by God.

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 Did you see that at the end of verse 1?

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 I will put my spirit

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 on him.

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 At the creation of the world

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 in Genesis 1, verse 3,

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 we read that the spirit

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 was hovering over the waters.

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 He was there with creation power.

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 Well, it's that same creation power

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 that is now given

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 to his servant.

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 That is immense power.

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 The power to speak things

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 into existence.

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 So God has sent

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 and empowered his servant.

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 Why?

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 Look at the end of verse 1.

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 To bring justice

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 to the nations.

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 You see,

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 if I can turn the page,

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 I'll tell you.

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 this is a servant

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 for the peoples

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 of the world.

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 This is world-breaking news

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 for all the nations.

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 This is God's chosen one,

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 my servant

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 in whom I delight,

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 my chosen one

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 whom I uphold.

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 He is my treasured one,

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 my loved one.

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 Can you see the glory

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 behind this world-breaking news?

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 God is giving of his best.

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 He is giving of all

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 that he has.

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 We can say

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 he is giving of himself.

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 Giving his servant

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 to a world

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 that is broken.

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 To a people

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 who have persistently

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 squeezed

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 and pushed God out.

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 God announces

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 to the world,

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 here is my servant.

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 He intervenes

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 with kindness

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 and mercy.

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 So that's

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 the servant's call.

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 But what will

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 this servant

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 do?

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 Second,

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 what is the servant's

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 mission?

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 Well,

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 there's two parts

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 to his mission.

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 First,

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 he will bring

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 justice

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 with gentleness.

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 Look at the end

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 of verse 1 again.

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 He will bring

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 justice

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 to the nations.

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 Middle of verse 3,

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 in faithfulness,

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 he will bring

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 forth

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 justice.

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 He will not

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 falter

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 or be discouraged

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 till he establishes

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 justice

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 on earth.

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 death.

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 The recent

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 petrol bombing

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 of a house

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 in Offaly

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 that we all

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 saw about

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 on the news

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 was brutal

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 and sad.

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 Four-year-old

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 Tighe and his

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 Aunt Mary

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 killed.

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 The family

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 cries

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 for justice.

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 And of course,

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 that cry

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 for justice

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 goes out

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 around the world

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 every day

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 in a million

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 of ways.

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 the people

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 of Palestine

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 and Ukraine.

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 And we feel

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 it in our own

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 hearts as

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 wrong and hurts

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 have been done

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 to us.

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 We long

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 for justice.

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 You see,

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 justice implies

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 two things.

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 It's the punishment

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 of wrongs,

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 but it's also

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 the restoring

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 of rights.

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 It's literally

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 restoring order

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 where there is

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 disorder.

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 it's putting

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 things back

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 to the way

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 God intends

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 things to be.

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 It's a world

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 where there is

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 no longer

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 any need

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 for justice

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 because

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 everything

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 is put

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 right.

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 God's

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 chosen

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 servant

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 will bring

00:11:28.660 --> 00:11:29.420
 justice.

00:11:30.540 --> 00:11:31.160
 He will be

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 faithful

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 and not

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 fail.

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 He will

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 not rest,

00:11:35.400 --> 00:11:35.980
 verse 4,

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 until he

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 establishes

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 justice

00:11:39.519 --> 00:11:40.559
 on earth.

00:11:41.579 --> 00:11:42.620
 Every evil

00:11:42.620 --> 00:11:43.079
 act,

00:11:43.459 --> 00:11:44.579
 every unkind

00:11:44.579 --> 00:11:45.139
 word,

00:11:45.539 --> 00:11:46.439
 every jealous

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 thought

00:11:47.039 --> 00:11:47.860
 will be

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 punished

00:11:48.639 --> 00:11:50.259
 and every

00:11:50.259 --> 00:11:51.099
 wrong will

00:11:51.099 --> 00:11:51.959
 be righted

00:11:51.959 --> 00:11:52.719
 and every

00:11:52.719 --> 00:11:53.439
 loss

00:11:53.439 --> 00:11:54.500
 will be

00:11:54.500 --> 00:11:55.139
 restored.

00:11:57.039 --> 00:11:57.879
 But look

00:11:57.879 --> 00:11:58.360
 how this

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 justice

00:11:59.079 --> 00:12:00.519
 will come.

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 The servant

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 will bring

00:12:03.399 --> 00:12:04.279
 justice

00:12:04.279 --> 00:12:05.600
 with

00:12:05.600 --> 00:12:06.679
 gentleness.

00:12:07.759 --> 00:12:08.179
 Look at

00:12:08.179 --> 00:12:08.799
 verse 2.

00:12:10.000 --> 00:12:10.419
 He will

00:12:10.419 --> 00:12:11.319
 not shout

00:12:11.319 --> 00:12:12.500
 or cry

00:12:12.500 --> 00:12:12.959
 out

00:12:12.959 --> 00:12:14.500
 or raise

00:12:14.500 --> 00:12:15.120
 his voice

00:12:15.120 --> 00:12:15.539
 in the

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 streets.

00:12:17.399 --> 00:12:17.919
 Well compare

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 that to the

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 noisy voices

00:12:19.879 --> 00:12:20.699
 of the world

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 leaders today.

00:12:22.360 --> 00:12:22.980
 Those with

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 power

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 shout

00:12:24.039 --> 00:12:25.019
 people down

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 and silence

00:12:26.299 --> 00:12:26.939
 the voice

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 of the needy.

00:12:27.779 --> 00:12:29.039
 They look

00:12:29.039 --> 00:12:29.759
 to dominate

00:12:29.759 --> 00:12:30.559
 and promote

00:12:30.559 --> 00:12:31.059
 their own

00:12:31.059 --> 00:12:31.539
 agenda.

00:12:32.220 --> 00:12:32.839
 But here

00:12:32.839 --> 00:12:33.519
 we have

00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:34.360
 a servant

00:12:34.360 --> 00:12:35.980
 who is

00:12:35.980 --> 00:12:36.679
 different.

00:12:37.720 --> 00:12:38.379
 Verse 3.

00:12:39.500 --> 00:12:40.399
 A bruised

00:12:40.399 --> 00:12:41.139
 reed

00:12:41.139 --> 00:12:42.279
 he will

00:12:42.279 --> 00:12:43.159
 not break

00:12:43.159 --> 00:12:44.740
 and a

00:12:44.740 --> 00:12:45.399
 smouldering

00:12:45.399 --> 00:12:45.899
 wick

00:12:45.899 --> 00:12:47.339
 he will

00:12:47.339 --> 00:12:48.319
 not snuff

00:12:48.319 --> 00:12:48.779
 out.

00:12:50.059 --> 00:12:51.379
 A rotting

00:12:51.379 --> 00:12:51.919
 reed

00:12:51.919 --> 00:12:52.740
 by a river

00:12:52.740 --> 00:12:53.779
 is so easily

00:12:53.779 --> 00:12:54.539
 snapped,

00:12:54.740 --> 00:12:55.179
 isn't it?

00:12:55.559 --> 00:12:56.419
 Just by the

00:12:56.419 --> 00:12:57.360
 squeeze of a

00:12:57.360 --> 00:12:58.019
 hand that is

00:12:58.019 --> 00:12:58.980
 broken in two

00:12:58.980 --> 00:12:59.980
 and thrown

00:12:59.980 --> 00:13:01.120
 away because

00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:02.000
 it's of no

00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:02.580
 use.

00:13:03.659 --> 00:13:04.320
 The same

00:13:04.320 --> 00:13:04.980
 is true of

00:13:04.980 --> 00:13:05.840
 a smouldering

00:13:05.840 --> 00:13:06.500
 flickering

00:13:06.500 --> 00:13:07.759
 candle with

00:13:07.759 --> 00:13:08.419
 the slightest

00:13:08.419 --> 00:13:09.620
 puff of air.

00:13:10.180 --> 00:13:10.419
 It is

00:13:10.419 --> 00:13:11.460
 extinguished

00:13:11.460 --> 00:13:12.340
 and discarded.

00:13:12.860 --> 00:13:13.440
 It's got

00:13:13.440 --> 00:13:14.000
 no

00:13:14.000 --> 00:13:15.139
 purpose.

00:13:17.720 --> 00:13:18.279
 Now isn't

00:13:18.279 --> 00:13:18.960
 that how we

00:13:18.960 --> 00:13:20.000
 often feel

00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:20.460
 in this

00:13:20.460 --> 00:13:20.980
 broken

00:13:20.980 --> 00:13:22.539
 and disordered

00:13:22.539 --> 00:13:23.060
 world?

00:13:24.200 --> 00:13:24.860
 Life's

00:13:24.860 --> 00:13:25.759
 experiences

00:13:25.759 --> 00:13:26.700
 have battered

00:13:26.700 --> 00:13:27.100
 us so

00:13:27.100 --> 00:13:28.660
 much we

00:13:28.660 --> 00:13:29.620
 feel like

00:13:29.620 --> 00:13:29.900
 that

00:13:29.900 --> 00:13:30.500
 rotting

00:13:30.500 --> 00:13:31.200
 reed

00:13:31.200 --> 00:13:32.620
 with no

00:13:32.620 --> 00:13:33.580
 strength to

00:13:33.580 --> 00:13:34.220
 stand.

00:13:35.660 --> 00:13:36.180
 Don't you

00:13:36.180 --> 00:13:37.300
 feel like a

00:13:37.300 --> 00:13:37.800
 flickering

00:13:37.800 --> 00:13:38.460
 candle

00:13:38.460 --> 00:13:39.840
 barely

00:13:39.840 --> 00:13:41.080
 staying

00:13:41.080 --> 00:13:41.700
 alight?

00:13:43.080 --> 00:13:43.879
 Crushed

00:13:43.879 --> 00:13:45.320
 and weak

00:13:45.320 --> 00:13:46.920
 and broken?

00:13:48.220 --> 00:13:48.960
 Fearing that

00:13:48.960 --> 00:13:49.460
 the next

00:13:49.460 --> 00:13:50.200
 disappointment

00:13:50.200 --> 00:13:51.080
 or trial

00:13:51.080 --> 00:13:52.080
 will finish

00:13:52.080 --> 00:13:52.580
 us off

00:13:52.580 --> 00:13:53.240
 for good?

00:13:55.379 --> 00:13:56.340
 Well here

00:13:56.340 --> 00:13:56.860
 we have

00:13:56.860 --> 00:13:57.759
 a gentle

00:13:57.759 --> 00:13:58.800
 servant

00:13:58.800 --> 00:14:00.740
 who comes

00:14:00.740 --> 00:14:01.220
 with the

00:14:01.220 --> 00:14:01.780
 strength

00:14:01.780 --> 00:14:02.139
 and the

00:14:02.139 --> 00:14:02.580
 power

00:14:02.580 --> 00:14:03.560
 of God

00:14:03.560 --> 00:14:04.240
 himself.

00:14:05.700 --> 00:14:06.580
 He comes

00:14:06.580 --> 00:14:07.440
 to strengthen

00:14:07.440 --> 00:14:08.160
 the weak

00:14:08.160 --> 00:14:09.639
 and fan

00:14:09.639 --> 00:14:10.180
 into the

00:14:10.180 --> 00:14:10.680
 flame

00:14:10.680 --> 00:14:12.200
 those with

00:14:12.200 --> 00:14:12.920
 smouldering

00:14:12.920 --> 00:14:13.680
 lives.

00:14:14.700 --> 00:14:15.220
 God's

00:14:15.220 --> 00:14:15.740
 chosen

00:14:15.740 --> 00:14:16.280
 servant

00:14:16.280 --> 00:14:17.520
 comes with

00:14:17.520 --> 00:14:18.460
 awesome

00:14:18.460 --> 00:14:19.120
 power

00:14:19.120 --> 00:14:19.519
 power

00:14:19.519 --> 00:14:20.779
 but he

00:14:20.779 --> 00:14:21.500
 comes with

00:14:21.500 --> 00:14:22.399
 gentleness

00:14:22.399 --> 00:14:23.519
 not to

00:14:23.519 --> 00:14:24.379
 trample on

00:14:24.379 --> 00:14:24.799
 people.

00:14:25.279 --> 00:14:25.720
 He uses

00:14:25.720 --> 00:14:26.440
 his power

00:14:26.440 --> 00:14:27.460
 to restore

00:14:27.460 --> 00:14:28.600
 and renew

00:14:28.600 --> 00:14:29.320
 those who

00:14:29.320 --> 00:14:29.960
 are broken

00:14:29.960 --> 00:14:31.259
 and crushed.

00:14:32.860 --> 00:14:34.519
 This is

00:14:34.519 --> 00:14:35.460
 the servant's

00:14:35.460 --> 00:14:35.919
 mission.

00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:37.700
 He brings

00:14:37.700 --> 00:14:38.560
 justice

00:14:38.560 --> 00:14:40.039
 with

00:14:40.039 --> 00:14:40.899
 gentleness.

00:14:40.899 --> 00:14:41.299
 grace

00:14:41.299 --> 00:14:43.620
 but there's

00:14:43.620 --> 00:14:44.039
 a second

00:14:44.039 --> 00:14:44.659
 part to

00:14:44.659 --> 00:14:44.919
 his

00:14:44.919 --> 00:14:45.319
 mission.

00:14:47.679 --> 00:14:48.480
 He will

00:14:48.480 --> 00:14:48.779
 give

00:14:48.779 --> 00:14:49.419
 grace

00:14:49.419 --> 00:14:50.639
 for the

00:14:50.639 --> 00:14:51.100
 hopeless.

00:14:52.659 --> 00:14:53.059
 Let's

00:14:53.059 --> 00:14:53.360
 pick it

00:14:53.360 --> 00:14:53.639
 up in

00:14:53.639 --> 00:14:53.980
 the middle

00:14:53.980 --> 00:14:54.399
 of verse

00:14:54.399 --> 00:14:54.860
 6.

00:14:58.419 --> 00:14:58.980
 God

00:14:58.980 --> 00:14:59.480
 speaking

00:14:59.480 --> 00:15:00.000
 to his

00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:00.319
 servant

00:15:00.319 --> 00:15:00.959
 says I

00:15:00.959 --> 00:15:01.639
 will keep

00:15:01.639 --> 00:15:02.000
 you

00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:03.120
 and will

00:15:03.120 --> 00:15:03.819
 make you

00:15:03.819 --> 00:15:04.539
 to be a

00:15:04.539 --> 00:15:05.000
 covenant

00:15:05.000 --> 00:15:06.240
 for the

00:15:06.240 --> 00:15:06.639
 people.

00:15:07.939 --> 00:15:08.340
 Now to

00:15:08.340 --> 00:15:08.799
 make a

00:15:08.799 --> 00:15:09.199
 covenant

00:15:09.200 --> 00:15:10.580
 is to

00:15:10.580 --> 00:15:11.100
 commit

00:15:11.100 --> 00:15:12.060
 to a

00:15:12.060 --> 00:15:12.900
 relationship

00:15:12.900 --> 00:15:14.420
 where two

00:15:14.420 --> 00:15:15.060
 people or

00:15:15.060 --> 00:15:15.860
 two parties

00:15:15.860 --> 00:15:17.280
 make promises

00:15:17.280 --> 00:15:18.340
 to one

00:15:18.340 --> 00:15:18.740
 another.

00:15:19.680 --> 00:15:20.240
 Just like

00:15:20.240 --> 00:15:20.780
 a wedding

00:15:20.780 --> 00:15:21.820
 the soon

00:15:21.820 --> 00:15:22.240
 to be

00:15:22.240 --> 00:15:23.040
 husband and

00:15:23.040 --> 00:15:23.720
 wife make

00:15:23.720 --> 00:15:24.460
 a promise

00:15:24.460 --> 00:15:25.580
 to commit

00:15:25.580 --> 00:15:26.160
 to each

00:15:26.160 --> 00:15:26.480
 other.

00:15:27.400 --> 00:15:28.060
 Or like

00:15:28.060 --> 00:15:28.720
 the members

00:15:28.720 --> 00:15:29.120
 of a

00:15:29.120 --> 00:15:29.480
 church

00:15:29.480 --> 00:15:30.460
 members

00:15:30.460 --> 00:15:31.220
 promise

00:15:31.220 --> 00:15:32.500
 to commit

00:15:32.500 --> 00:15:33.080
 to each

00:15:33.080 --> 00:15:33.400
 other.

00:15:34.160 --> 00:15:34.580
 That's what

00:15:34.580 --> 00:15:35.180
 it means

00:15:35.180 --> 00:15:35.860
 to make

00:15:35.860 --> 00:15:36.580
 a covenant.

00:15:37.280 --> 00:15:37.840
 Now God

00:15:37.840 --> 00:15:38.480
 had entered

00:15:38.480 --> 00:15:39.279
 into covenant

00:15:39.279 --> 00:15:39.779
 with his

00:15:39.779 --> 00:15:40.220
 people.

00:15:40.639 --> 00:15:41.279
 All through

00:15:41.279 --> 00:15:42.019
 the Old

00:15:42.019 --> 00:15:42.519
 Testament

00:15:42.519 --> 00:15:43.019
 there was

00:15:43.019 --> 00:15:43.740
 this promise

00:15:43.740 --> 00:15:44.800
 I will

00:15:44.800 --> 00:15:45.539
 be your

00:15:45.539 --> 00:15:46.200
 God

00:15:46.200 --> 00:15:47.840
 and you

00:15:47.840 --> 00:15:48.440
 will be

00:15:48.440 --> 00:15:49.300
 my people.

00:15:50.300 --> 00:15:51.039
 But the

00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:51.960
 problem was

00:15:51.960 --> 00:15:52.560
 the people

00:15:52.560 --> 00:15:53.539
 kept breaking

00:15:53.539 --> 00:15:54.740
 their promise

00:15:54.740 --> 00:15:55.560
 and if you

00:15:55.560 --> 00:15:55.879
 were to

00:15:55.879 --> 00:15:56.800
 read Isaiah

00:15:56.800 --> 00:15:57.659
 chapters 1

00:15:57.659 --> 00:15:58.340
 to 39

00:15:58.340 --> 00:15:59.340
 you would

00:15:59.340 --> 00:15:59.940
 see that

00:15:59.940 --> 00:16:00.440
 all the

00:16:00.440 --> 00:16:01.000
 way through.

00:16:01.500 --> 00:16:01.840
 So when

00:16:01.840 --> 00:16:02.200
 God

00:16:02.200 --> 00:16:03.000
 confronts

00:16:03.000 --> 00:16:03.279
 them

00:16:03.279 --> 00:16:04.399
 he says

00:16:04.399 --> 00:16:04.980
 this

00:16:04.980 --> 00:16:06.120
 Isaiah

00:16:06.120 --> 00:16:06.759
 24

00:16:06.759 --> 00:16:07.680
 verse 5

00:16:07.680 --> 00:16:08.779
 the earth

00:16:08.779 --> 00:16:09.920
 is defiled

00:16:09.920 --> 00:16:10.620
 by its

00:16:10.620 --> 00:16:11.080
 people

00:16:11.080 --> 00:16:12.340
 they have

00:16:12.340 --> 00:16:13.200
 disobeyed

00:16:13.200 --> 00:16:13.840
 the laws

00:16:13.840 --> 00:16:15.340
 violated

00:16:15.340 --> 00:16:16.519
 the statutes

00:16:16.519 --> 00:16:17.759
 and have

00:16:17.759 --> 00:16:18.399
 broken

00:16:18.399 --> 00:16:19.519
 the

00:16:19.519 --> 00:16:20.399
 everlasting

00:16:20.399 --> 00:16:21.519
 covenant.

00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:23.759
 You see

00:16:23.759 --> 00:16:24.860
 just like

00:16:24.860 --> 00:16:25.659
 people of

00:16:25.659 --> 00:16:26.060
 old

00:16:26.060 --> 00:16:27.080
 we can

00:16:27.080 --> 00:16:28.019
 never keep

00:16:28.019 --> 00:16:28.860
 our promise

00:16:28.860 --> 00:16:30.139
 to love

00:16:30.139 --> 00:16:30.720
 God

00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:31.759
 with all

00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:32.420
 our heart.

00:16:32.419 --> 00:16:34.120
 we always

00:16:34.120 --> 00:16:34.799
 wander

00:16:34.799 --> 00:16:35.879
 and so

00:16:35.879 --> 00:16:36.559
 we need

00:16:36.559 --> 00:16:37.099
 somebody

00:16:37.099 --> 00:16:37.899
 who will

00:16:37.899 --> 00:16:38.759
 come alongside

00:16:38.759 --> 00:16:39.419
 us

00:16:39.419 --> 00:16:40.079
 and who

00:16:40.079 --> 00:16:40.759
 will actually

00:16:40.759 --> 00:16:41.679
 stand in

00:16:41.679 --> 00:16:42.219
 for us

00:16:42.219 --> 00:16:42.899
 to represent

00:16:42.899 --> 00:16:43.439
 us

00:16:43.439 --> 00:16:44.360
 and that's

00:16:44.360 --> 00:16:44.899
 what this

00:16:44.899 --> 00:16:45.259
 servant

00:16:45.259 --> 00:16:45.939
 will do.

00:16:46.500 --> 00:16:47.259
 In grace

00:16:47.259 --> 00:16:47.839
 he will

00:16:47.839 --> 00:16:48.459
 make the

00:16:48.459 --> 00:16:49.019
 promises

00:16:49.019 --> 00:16:50.120
 on our

00:16:50.120 --> 00:16:50.819
 behalf

00:16:50.819 --> 00:16:52.139
 so that

00:16:52.139 --> 00:16:52.860
 the covenant

00:16:52.860 --> 00:16:54.699
 is never

00:16:54.699 --> 00:16:55.879
 broken.

00:16:57.679 --> 00:16:58.539
 Now the

00:16:58.539 --> 00:16:59.480
 question is

00:16:59.480 --> 00:17:00.959
 who will

00:17:00.959 --> 00:17:01.500
 the servant

00:17:01.500 --> 00:17:02.159
 do this

00:17:02.159 --> 00:17:02.559
 for?

00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:05.039
 Well he

00:17:05.039 --> 00:17:05.559
 will do

00:17:05.559 --> 00:17:06.059
 it for

00:17:06.059 --> 00:17:06.740
 the hopeless

00:17:06.740 --> 00:17:08.119
 and the

00:17:08.119 --> 00:17:08.579
 helpless.

00:17:09.859 --> 00:17:10.539
 Let's read

00:17:10.539 --> 00:17:11.099
 again from

00:17:11.099 --> 00:17:11.440
 the middle

00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:11.839
 of verse

00:17:11.839 --> 00:17:12.220
 6.

00:17:12.779 --> 00:17:13.019
 God

00:17:13.019 --> 00:17:13.740
 speaks to

00:17:13.740 --> 00:17:14.259
 his servant

00:17:14.259 --> 00:17:14.819
 I will

00:17:14.819 --> 00:17:15.640
 keep you

00:17:15.640 --> 00:17:16.740
 and will

00:17:16.740 --> 00:17:17.380
 make you

00:17:17.380 --> 00:17:17.980
 to be a

00:17:17.980 --> 00:17:18.339
 covenant

00:17:18.339 --> 00:17:18.819
 for the

00:17:18.819 --> 00:17:19.299
 people

00:17:19.299 --> 00:17:20.859
 and a

00:17:20.859 --> 00:17:21.240
 light

00:17:21.240 --> 00:17:21.740
 for the

00:17:21.740 --> 00:17:22.339
 Gentiles.

00:17:22.420 --> 00:17:22.720
 Well the

00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:23.539
 Gentiles were

00:17:23.539 --> 00:17:24.559
 the nations

00:17:24.559 --> 00:17:24.880
 of the

00:17:24.880 --> 00:17:25.220
 world

00:17:25.220 --> 00:17:26.180
 all people

00:17:26.180 --> 00:17:26.579
 groups

00:17:26.579 --> 00:17:27.059
 and all

00:17:27.059 --> 00:17:27.619
 languages

00:17:27.619 --> 00:17:29.339
 to open

00:17:29.339 --> 00:17:30.299
 eyes that

00:17:30.299 --> 00:17:31.019
 are blind

00:17:31.019 --> 00:17:32.139
 to free

00:17:32.139 --> 00:17:32.879
 captives

00:17:32.879 --> 00:17:33.660
 from prison

00:17:33.660 --> 00:17:34.599
 and to

00:17:34.599 --> 00:17:35.079
 release

00:17:35.079 --> 00:17:35.539
 from the

00:17:35.539 --> 00:17:35.940
 dungeon

00:17:35.940 --> 00:17:36.639
 those who

00:17:36.639 --> 00:17:37.160
 sit in

00:17:37.160 --> 00:17:37.720
 darkness.

00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:41.960
 What do

00:17:41.960 --> 00:17:42.619
 the blind

00:17:42.619 --> 00:17:44.500
 the captive

00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:45.339
 slave

00:17:45.339 --> 00:17:46.539
 and the

00:17:46.539 --> 00:17:47.180
 person in

00:17:47.180 --> 00:17:47.740
 the dungeon

00:17:47.740 --> 00:17:48.400
 all have

00:17:48.400 --> 00:17:48.980
 in common?

00:17:50.539 --> 00:17:51.059
 Well they

00:17:51.059 --> 00:17:51.559
 all need

00:17:51.559 --> 00:17:52.059
 help.

00:17:53.039 --> 00:17:53.819
 They can't

00:17:53.819 --> 00:17:54.599
 change their

00:17:54.599 --> 00:17:55.379
 situation.

00:17:55.920 --> 00:17:56.099
 Their

00:17:56.099 --> 00:17:57.240
 situation is

00:17:57.240 --> 00:17:57.700
 hopeless

00:17:57.700 --> 00:17:59.420
 helpless

00:17:59.420 --> 00:17:58.740
 and they

00:17:58.740 --> 00:17:59.420
 are helpless.

00:18:00.759 --> 00:18:01.200
 You see

00:18:01.200 --> 00:18:02.720
 verse 7

00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:03.480
 is a

00:18:03.480 --> 00:18:03.860
 picture

00:18:03.860 --> 00:18:05.140
 of all

00:18:05.140 --> 00:18:05.720
 of us.

00:18:06.640 --> 00:18:06.960
 We are

00:18:06.960 --> 00:18:07.940
 all blind

00:18:07.940 --> 00:18:08.640
 to our

00:18:08.640 --> 00:18:09.080
 need.

00:18:09.500 --> 00:18:09.620
 We are

00:18:09.620 --> 00:18:09.880
 all

00:18:09.880 --> 00:18:10.500
 captives

00:18:10.500 --> 00:18:11.140
 to self

00:18:11.140 --> 00:18:11.500
 and to

00:18:11.500 --> 00:18:11.759
 sin.

00:18:12.140 --> 00:18:12.360
 It is

00:18:12.360 --> 00:18:12.840
 like we

00:18:12.840 --> 00:18:13.259
 are living

00:18:13.259 --> 00:18:13.720
 in a

00:18:13.720 --> 00:18:14.240
 dark

00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:15.200
 dungeon.

00:18:15.860 --> 00:18:16.420
 We need

00:18:16.420 --> 00:18:17.100
 someone to

00:18:17.100 --> 00:18:17.580
 come and

00:18:17.580 --> 00:18:18.299
 open our

00:18:18.299 --> 00:18:19.240
 eyes to

00:18:19.240 --> 00:18:19.819
 set us

00:18:19.819 --> 00:18:21.019
 free and

00:18:21.019 --> 00:18:21.779
 release us

00:18:21.779 --> 00:18:22.299
 to be the

00:18:22.299 --> 00:18:22.920
 people that

00:18:22.920 --> 00:18:23.380
 God has

00:18:23.380 --> 00:18:23.920
 called us

00:18:23.920 --> 00:18:24.279
 to be.

00:18:24.680 --> 00:18:25.380
 And that is

00:18:25.380 --> 00:18:25.860
 what the

00:18:25.860 --> 00:18:26.500
 servant has

00:18:26.500 --> 00:18:26.980
 come to

00:18:26.980 --> 00:18:27.360
 do.

00:18:28.579 --> 00:18:29.059
 Just

00:18:29.059 --> 00:18:29.740
 flick on a

00:18:29.740 --> 00:18:30.160
 couple of

00:18:30.160 --> 00:18:30.880
 pages to

00:18:30.880 --> 00:18:32.259
 Isaiah 49.

00:18:34.819 --> 00:18:36.380
 Isaiah 49

00:18:36.380 --> 00:18:36.920
 and verse

00:18:36.920 --> 00:18:37.339
 8.

00:18:44.700 --> 00:18:45.759
 Here God

00:18:45.759 --> 00:18:46.400
 is again

00:18:46.400 --> 00:18:47.559
 speaking to

00:18:47.559 --> 00:18:48.460
 his servant.

00:18:49.819 --> 00:18:50.680
 We pick

00:18:50.680 --> 00:18:51.079
 it up at

00:18:51.079 --> 00:18:51.539
 the end

00:18:51.539 --> 00:18:52.019
 of verse

00:18:52.019 --> 00:18:52.539
 8.

00:18:54.220 --> 00:18:55.059
 I will

00:18:55.059 --> 00:18:55.779
 keep you

00:18:55.779 --> 00:18:56.960
 and will

00:18:56.960 --> 00:18:57.519
 make you

00:18:57.519 --> 00:18:58.120
 to be a

00:18:58.120 --> 00:18:58.480
 covenant

00:18:58.480 --> 00:18:58.960
 for the

00:18:58.960 --> 00:18:59.380
 people,

00:19:00.059 --> 00:19:01.240
 to restore

00:19:01.240 --> 00:19:02.100
 the land,

00:19:02.980 --> 00:19:04.360
 to reassign

00:19:04.360 --> 00:19:05.259
 its desolate

00:19:05.259 --> 00:19:06.100
 inheritance,

00:19:06.519 --> 00:19:07.340
 to put

00:19:07.340 --> 00:19:07.980
 everything

00:19:07.980 --> 00:19:08.880
 right again,

00:19:08.980 --> 00:19:09.720
 to restore

00:19:09.720 --> 00:19:10.259
 order,

00:19:10.759 --> 00:19:11.960
 to say to

00:19:11.960 --> 00:19:12.920
 the captives,

00:19:13.440 --> 00:19:14.299
 come out

00:19:14.299 --> 00:19:15.680
 and to

00:19:15.680 --> 00:19:16.460
 those who

00:19:16.460 --> 00:19:16.860
 are in

00:19:16.860 --> 00:19:17.539
 darkness,

00:19:18.819 --> 00:19:20.319
 be free.

00:19:21.680 --> 00:19:22.460
 Let's go

00:19:22.460 --> 00:19:23.000
 back to

00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:24.000
 chapter 42.

00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:25.740
 you see,

00:19:25.740 --> 00:19:26.339
 this is

00:19:26.339 --> 00:19:27.799
 good news

00:19:27.799 --> 00:19:28.200
 for the

00:19:28.200 --> 00:19:28.680
 nations.

00:19:30.039 --> 00:19:30.400
 You see,

00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:30.960
 we live in

00:19:30.960 --> 00:19:31.460
 a world

00:19:31.460 --> 00:19:32.619
 where everything

00:19:32.619 --> 00:19:33.440
 is based

00:19:33.440 --> 00:19:33.900
 on the

00:19:33.900 --> 00:19:34.559
 strong,

00:19:34.740 --> 00:19:35.319
 the clever,

00:19:35.519 --> 00:19:36.180
 the wealthy.

00:19:36.880 --> 00:19:37.740
 We're always

00:19:37.740 --> 00:19:38.640
 measured by

00:19:38.640 --> 00:19:39.519
 our performance.

00:19:40.059 --> 00:19:40.480
 We're always

00:19:40.480 --> 00:19:41.339
 trying to hit

00:19:41.339 --> 00:19:41.839
 our own

00:19:41.839 --> 00:19:42.740
 standards and

00:19:42.740 --> 00:19:43.779
 everybody else's

00:19:43.779 --> 00:19:44.279
 standards.

00:19:44.680 --> 00:19:45.640
 But what if we

00:19:45.640 --> 00:19:46.859
 are so broken

00:19:46.859 --> 00:19:48.000
 and so

00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:48.819
 messed up

00:19:48.819 --> 00:19:49.559
 that we

00:19:49.559 --> 00:19:50.660
 can't reach

00:19:50.660 --> 00:19:52.140
 those standards?

00:19:52.140 --> 00:19:53.720
 what if we

00:19:53.720 --> 00:19:54.720
 can't perform

00:19:54.720 --> 00:19:55.660
 to where

00:19:55.660 --> 00:19:56.600
 God calls

00:19:56.600 --> 00:19:57.259
 us to be?

00:19:58.900 --> 00:19:59.320
 Well,

00:19:59.380 --> 00:19:59.759
 here we

00:19:59.759 --> 00:20:00.160
 have a

00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:00.520
 gracious

00:20:00.520 --> 00:20:01.140
 God

00:20:01.140 --> 00:20:02.540
 who comes

00:20:02.540 --> 00:20:03.020
 to us

00:20:03.020 --> 00:20:03.340
 in the

00:20:03.340 --> 00:20:03.960
 person of

00:20:03.960 --> 00:20:04.540
 the servant

00:20:04.540 --> 00:20:05.700
 to those

00:20:05.700 --> 00:20:06.100
 who are

00:20:06.100 --> 00:20:06.520
 hopeless

00:20:06.520 --> 00:20:07.400
 and helpless,

00:20:08.360 --> 00:20:08.980
 a servant

00:20:08.980 --> 00:20:09.440
 who will

00:20:09.440 --> 00:20:09.960
 say to

00:20:09.960 --> 00:20:10.220
 you,

00:20:10.660 --> 00:20:11.840
 I will

00:20:11.840 --> 00:20:12.640
 stand in

00:20:12.640 --> 00:20:13.160
 for you.

00:20:13.980 --> 00:20:15.080
 I will

00:20:15.080 --> 00:20:15.560
 take the

00:20:15.560 --> 00:20:16.200
 blame for

00:20:16.200 --> 00:20:16.820
 all of

00:20:16.820 --> 00:20:17.520
 your broken

00:20:17.520 --> 00:20:18.100
 promises

00:20:18.099 --> 00:20:18.240
 promises,

00:20:18.599 --> 00:20:19.359
 and you

00:20:19.359 --> 00:20:20.139
 can enjoy

00:20:20.139 --> 00:20:20.899
 a life

00:20:20.899 --> 00:20:22.959
 of unbroken

00:20:22.959 --> 00:20:23.759
 promises.

00:20:25.919 --> 00:20:26.980
 Here is

00:20:26.980 --> 00:20:27.819
 the servant's

00:20:27.819 --> 00:20:28.259
 mission,

00:20:29.059 --> 00:20:30.299
 who brings

00:20:30.299 --> 00:20:31.259
 justice with

00:20:31.259 --> 00:20:31.980
 gentleness

00:20:31.980 --> 00:20:33.599
 and brings

00:20:33.599 --> 00:20:35.500
 grace to

00:20:35.500 --> 00:20:36.159
 the hopeless.

00:20:39.240 --> 00:20:40.299
 So we

00:20:40.299 --> 00:20:40.699
 have the

00:20:40.699 --> 00:20:41.219
 servant's

00:20:41.219 --> 00:20:41.659
 call,

00:20:42.859 --> 00:20:44.019
 the servant's

00:20:44.019 --> 00:20:44.439
 mission,

00:20:44.440 --> 00:20:48.440
 identity,

00:20:48.440 --> 00:20:47.480
 and the

00:20:47.480 --> 00:20:48.200
 servant's

00:20:48.200 --> 00:20:48.920
 identity.

00:20:50.820 --> 00:20:51.740
 So who

00:20:51.740 --> 00:20:52.259
 is this

00:20:52.259 --> 00:20:52.620
 servant?

00:20:54.039 --> 00:20:54.740
 Well,

00:20:54.779 --> 00:20:55.240
 I think we

00:20:55.240 --> 00:20:55.759
 all know

00:20:55.759 --> 00:20:56.180
 who he

00:20:56.180 --> 00:20:56.559
 is,

00:20:57.440 --> 00:20:57.880
 and I

00:20:57.880 --> 00:20:58.600
 sure would

00:20:58.600 --> 00:20:59.380
 very much

00:20:59.380 --> 00:21:00.539
 like to

00:21:00.539 --> 00:21:01.100
 meet him.

00:21:02.120 --> 00:21:03.120
 But let's

00:21:03.120 --> 00:21:03.980
 take ourselves

00:21:03.980 --> 00:21:04.880
 through Scripture

00:21:04.880 --> 00:21:06.340
 and see who

00:21:06.340 --> 00:21:07.019
 this servant

00:21:07.019 --> 00:21:07.539
 is.

00:21:08.019 --> 00:21:08.640
 We're given

00:21:08.640 --> 00:21:09.500
 a hint in

00:21:09.500 --> 00:21:10.220
 verse 9.

00:21:10.220 --> 00:21:12.519
 See,

00:21:12.680 --> 00:21:13.339
 the former

00:21:13.339 --> 00:21:14.200
 things have

00:21:14.200 --> 00:21:15.279
 taken place,

00:21:15.980 --> 00:21:17.100
 and new

00:21:17.100 --> 00:21:18.160
 things I

00:21:18.160 --> 00:21:18.940
 declare,

00:21:19.600 --> 00:21:20.500
 before they

00:21:20.500 --> 00:21:21.339
 spring into

00:21:21.339 --> 00:21:21.880
 being,

00:21:22.640 --> 00:21:23.460
 I announce

00:21:23.460 --> 00:21:24.740
 them to

00:21:24.740 --> 00:21:25.100
 you.

00:21:26.200 --> 00:21:27.059
 God is

00:21:27.059 --> 00:21:27.720
 saying through

00:21:27.720 --> 00:21:28.259
 Isaiah,

00:21:28.620 --> 00:21:29.100
 I am

00:21:29.100 --> 00:21:29.700
 announcing

00:21:29.700 --> 00:21:30.740
 what is

00:21:30.740 --> 00:21:31.440
 going to

00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:31.940
 happen

00:21:31.940 --> 00:21:33.720
 before it

00:21:33.720 --> 00:21:34.339
 happens.

00:21:34.759 --> 00:21:35.660
 I'm telling

00:21:35.660 --> 00:21:36.819
 you about

00:21:36.819 --> 00:21:37.819
 my servant

00:21:37.819 --> 00:21:39.019
 before the

00:21:39.019 --> 00:21:40.039
 servant comes.

00:21:40.220 --> 00:21:42.120
 and what

00:21:42.120 --> 00:21:43.019
 God promised

00:21:43.019 --> 00:21:43.579
 all those

00:21:43.579 --> 00:21:44.360
 years ago

00:21:44.360 --> 00:21:45.480
 has now

00:21:45.480 --> 00:21:47.039
 been revealed.

00:21:48.440 --> 00:21:49.200
 Look with

00:21:49.200 --> 00:21:49.420
 me,

00:21:49.519 --> 00:21:49.839
 please,

00:21:49.960 --> 00:21:50.660
 to Matthew

00:21:50.660 --> 00:21:52.339
 chapter 3.

00:21:53.380 --> 00:21:54.100
 Matthew's

00:21:54.100 --> 00:21:54.480
 gospel,

00:21:54.700 --> 00:21:55.500
 chapter 3.

00:22:05.900 --> 00:22:06.660
 Matthew

00:22:06.660 --> 00:22:07.579
 chapter 3,

00:22:08.180 --> 00:22:09.100
 starting in

00:22:09.100 --> 00:22:09.480
 at verse

00:22:09.480 --> 00:22:10.120
 16.

00:22:10.220 --> 00:22:10.779
 this is

00:22:10.779 --> 00:22:11.079
 the

00:22:11.079 --> 00:22:11.779
 baptism

00:22:11.779 --> 00:22:13.019
 of

00:22:13.019 --> 00:22:13.700
 Jesus.

00:22:15.700 --> 00:22:16.519
 And just

00:22:16.519 --> 00:22:16.920
 look at

00:22:16.920 --> 00:22:17.600
 the language

00:22:17.600 --> 00:22:18.100
 that is

00:22:18.100 --> 00:22:18.720
 used.

00:22:21.120 --> 00:22:22.120
 Chapter 3,

00:22:22.220 --> 00:22:22.860
 verse 16.

00:22:22.960 --> 00:22:23.440
 As soon

00:22:23.440 --> 00:22:24.079
 as Jesus

00:22:24.079 --> 00:22:24.480
 was

00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:25.200
 baptized,

00:22:26.059 --> 00:22:26.759
 he went

00:22:26.759 --> 00:22:27.259
 up out

00:22:27.259 --> 00:22:27.539
 of the

00:22:27.539 --> 00:22:27.960
 water,

00:22:28.960 --> 00:22:29.519
 and at

00:22:29.519 --> 00:22:30.279
 that moment

00:22:30.279 --> 00:22:31.059
 heaven was

00:22:31.059 --> 00:22:31.519
 opened,

00:22:32.519 --> 00:22:33.120
 and he

00:22:33.120 --> 00:22:33.880
 saw the

00:22:33.880 --> 00:22:34.799
 Spirit of

00:22:34.799 --> 00:22:35.319
 God

00:22:35.319 --> 00:22:36.480
 descending

00:22:36.480 --> 00:22:37.140
 like a

00:22:37.140 --> 00:22:37.539
 dove,

00:22:37.539 --> 00:22:37.599
 love,

00:22:38.099 --> 00:22:38.940
 and a

00:22:38.940 --> 00:22:39.240
 light

00:22:39.240 --> 00:22:39.940
 on him.

00:22:39.940 --> 00:22:41.720
 And a

00:22:41.720 --> 00:22:42.480
 voice from

00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:43.440
 heaven said,

00:22:44.240 --> 00:22:45.019
 this is

00:22:45.019 --> 00:22:45.759
 my son

00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:46.319
 whom I

00:22:46.319 --> 00:22:46.799
 love.

00:22:47.639 --> 00:22:48.079
 With

00:22:48.079 --> 00:22:48.519
 him

00:22:48.519 --> 00:22:49.740
 I am

00:22:49.740 --> 00:22:50.059
 well

00:22:50.059 --> 00:22:50.680
 pleased.

00:22:50.680 --> 00:22:56.160
 he

00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:56.160


00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:56.160


00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:56.160


00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:56.160


00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:56.160


00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:56.160


00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:56.160


00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:56.160


00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:56.160


00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:56.160


00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:56.160


00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:56.160


00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:56.160


00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:56.160


00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:56.160


00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:56.160


00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:56.160


00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:56.160


00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:56.160


00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:56.160


00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:56.160


00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:56.160


00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:56.160


00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:56.160


00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:56.160


00:22:56.160 --> 00:23:06.540
 Isaiah 42, the Spirit of God comes on Jesus with power and the Father echoes what Isaiah had said

00:23:06.540 --> 00:23:15.779
 and identifies Jesus as the servant. Look, this is my servant. This is my son whom I love, whom I

00:23:15.779 --> 00:23:25.519
 uphold. With him I am well pleased. I delight in him. In fact, as Jesus begins his ministry,

00:23:25.519 --> 00:23:36.940
 it becomes abundantly clear. Look at Matthew chapter 12. Matthew chapter 12.

00:23:36.940 --> 00:23:56.460
 And verse 15. As Jesus went about his ministry, let's pick it up in the middle of verse 15.

00:23:56.460 --> 00:24:06.660
 A large crowd followed him and he healed all who were ill. Is not the promise of renewal

00:24:06.660 --> 00:24:15.000
 and restoration and putting right everything that is broken? Verse 16. He warned them not to tell

00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:22.740
 others about him. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah. Here is my servant

00:24:22.740 --> 00:24:31.180
 whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight. And I will put my spirit on him and he

00:24:31.180 --> 00:24:39.019
 will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not quarrel or cry out. No one will hear his voice in the

00:24:39.019 --> 00:24:47.220
 streets. A bruised reed he will not break. A smouldering wick he will not snuff out. Till he has brought

00:24:47.220 --> 00:24:59.519
 justice through to victory. In his name the nations will put their hope. Let's go back to Isaiah 42.

00:24:59.519 --> 00:25:14.599
 The spirit of God comes upon him in power. You see, Jesus is the gentle servant with power. He comes into

00:25:14.599 --> 00:25:24.599
 this earth to serve people like you and I. And he has done that supremely on the cross. As Jesus was led to

00:25:24.599 --> 00:25:35.359
 his death, he does not cry out. As he is mocked and beaten and stripped, his voice is not heard. On the cross,

00:25:35.519 --> 00:25:44.219
 Jesus is bruised and broken for us. On the cross, the life of Jesus is snuffed out and extinguished for

00:25:44.219 --> 00:25:52.699
 you and for me. Through his death, he establishes justice as he suffers for our sin and gives us his life.

00:25:52.700 --> 00:26:03.500
 With his blood that is shed, he makes a covenant that can never be broken. Here he comes with grace and

00:26:03.500 --> 00:26:15.900
 gentleness, with awesome power for the hopeless and the helpless. Here is my servant given for you.

00:26:15.900 --> 00:26:27.720
 How can we know this Jesus? How can we experience his gentle grace in our life?

00:26:29.720 --> 00:26:38.640
 There are three things that will help us to experience the gentleness and grace of our servant.

00:26:38.640 --> 00:26:55.460
 First, we are to look at the servant. Look at verse 1. Here is my servant, whom I uphold, who I lift up,

00:26:56.200 --> 00:27:08.540
 my chosen one in whom I delight. God is saying to us again, look at my son. Behold his power.

00:27:08.640 --> 00:27:19.120
 His majesty, his greatness, his glory. And how do we see him? Well, we open up the word and we gaze

00:27:19.120 --> 00:27:28.280
 afresh and we read the words of scripture like Isaiah 42 to meditate and reflect on who Jesus is,

00:27:28.440 --> 00:27:36.820
 to know him and to delight in him. Because this servant is for you, not against you. He will not

00:27:36.819 --> 00:27:47.779
 trample on you or crush you, but he will lift you up and restore you. See his son, the wonders of his grace.

00:27:47.779 --> 00:28:02.579
 Gaze and look at the servant. But not only must we look. We must also trust the servant. Look at verse 4.

00:28:02.579 --> 00:28:15.579
 He will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his teaching or in his word,

00:28:16.019 --> 00:28:25.159
 the islands, the nations will put their hope. You know the teaching that we listen to most of all,

00:28:25.160 --> 00:28:37.600
 the words that we most trust is our own word. The message is very simple. Listen to self. We always know

00:28:37.600 --> 00:28:46.360
 what's right and best, isn't that it? But no, God says, don't listen to yourself. Don't listen to the words

00:28:46.359 --> 00:28:58.519
 that come around you, but listen to the teaching of Jesus. Trust in his word because his teaching will not

00:28:58.519 --> 00:29:10.359
 crush you. It'll not snuff you out or break you. His word will heal you and restore you. So he says,

00:29:10.359 --> 00:29:23.919
 listen to my teaching and put your hope in him. Refresh your trust in the faithful servant. His words will

00:29:23.919 --> 00:29:34.379
 nourish you and feed you. They are good for your life. So let us together look at the servant. Let's trust

00:29:34.380 --> 00:29:48.400
 the servant. And then third, let us worship the servant. Look at verse 8. God is speaking. I am the Lord.

00:29:49.360 --> 00:30:01.620
 That is my name. I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols. That was true. God says,

00:30:01.619 --> 00:30:11.099
 I will not give my glory to another. You will not worship anybody else but me. But we know who the servant is.

00:30:12.219 --> 00:30:21.559
 The servant is God come in person. Jesus is God walking on this earth with flesh and bone.

00:30:22.939 --> 00:30:30.719
 So worshipping the Lord Jesus is not a contradiction. Time and time again, the New Testament writers

00:30:30.720 --> 00:30:42.640
 command us to praise God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. So the invitation is for us to come and worship

00:30:42.640 --> 00:30:53.839
 the servant afresh. We sing, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.

00:30:53.839 --> 00:31:08.119
 As we get close to this Christmas, I encourage myself and I encourage us all to look at the servant to trust his word

00:31:08.119 --> 00:31:20.199
 and to worship him in adoration. For he is a servant who has come to you in grace and gentleness

00:31:20.200 --> 00:31:32.100
 to renew and restore. Embrace God's chosen servant. Love him and you will not be disappointed.

00:31:33.100 --> 00:31:34.380
 Let's pray.

00:31:34.380 --> 00:31:34.380


00:31:34.380 --> 00:31:59.000
 What a marvelous and wonderful gift that you would break into this world by the person of your Son,

00:31:59.000 --> 00:32:12.720
 the God with all power and all authority to stoop so low, to serve us, to give his life for us,

00:32:13.279 --> 00:32:24.140
 that we might have life. Father, would you help us, please, to wonder afresh at Jesus.

00:32:24.140 --> 00:32:36.860
 By your Holy Spirit's power, help us not to trust our own words from within, but to trust your word to us,

00:32:38.140 --> 00:32:41.540
 knowing that from your word comes life itself.

00:32:41.539 --> 00:32:54.119
 And may we live lives of worship, of serving you and honoring you and speaking of you as we go into a world

00:32:54.119 --> 00:33:05.940
 desperately needing to know Jesus, the servant. Help us now, we pray. In Jesus' name. Amen.

00:33:05.940 --> 00:33:06.940
 Amen.

00:33:06.940 --> 00:33:07.940
 Amen.

00:33:07.940 --> 00:33:08.940
 Amen.

00:33:08.940 --> 00:33:09.940
 Amen.

00:33:09.940 --> 00:33:19.900
 Well, we are going to worship the servant as we sing this song together from the squalor of a borrowed stable.

00:33:19.900 --> 00:33:25.900
 So we come and worship him. Let's stand together as we sing.

00:33:25.900 --> 00:33:25.940
 Amen.

00:33:25.940 --> 00:33:25.940


00:33:25.940 --> 00:33:25.940


00:33:25.940 --> 00:33:25.940


00:33:25.940 --> 00:33:25.940


00:33:25.940 --> 00:33:25.940


00:33:25.940 --> 00:33:25.940


00:33:25.940 --> 00:33:25.940


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