Joshua and Judges: The doctrine of leadership part 8 - The mind of the Servant Jesus Christ. Isa 42:1-4.

Title: Joshua and Judges: The doctrine of leadership part 8 - The mind of the Servant Jesus Christ. ISA 42:1-4.

 

Announcements / opening prayer:  

 

 

3. The Master's master principle: servant and slave of all.

 

Whatever position any of us have in the body of Christ, that position was appointed by God alone. If we try to force ourselves into another position, it won't fit well and it will be more like a struggle than a joyous work. It is far too difficult for us to attempt to be something that God has not called us to be.

 

JOH 15:16

"You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit

 

And this should give us great confidence. Any believer can truly say that he is what he is by the grace of God and that it was God who put him in his particular position and place.

 

He was not elected by a group or commissioned by a body, but only by the almighty and perfect appointment by God.

 

When Christ washed the feet of the disciples He stated that He gave them an example:

 

JOH 13:15

"For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.

 

This is the only time that Christ uses this word and it is fitting that the one time He verbally states Himself as an example is when He is performing a great act of servitude.  

 

Jesus possessed the spirit of servanthood and He desired to impart that same spirit to the disciples and so on to all in His body.

 

The body is to serve. It is not to be inspired to good behavior just in case someone is watching, but to actually possess His spirit of servanthood.

 

It's not enough to have the mere act of service. There must be proper motivation, desire, and energy. It must be done right and in a right way from a heart of joy. This is more than just the act of serving it is the spirit of servanthood.

 

LUK 22:24 And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest.

 

LUK 22:25 And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called 'Benefactors.'

 

LUK 22:26 "But not so with you, but let him who is the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as the servant.

 

LUK 22:27 "For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table, or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.

 

LUK 22:28 "And you are those who have stood by Me in My trials;

 

LUK 22:29 and just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I grant you

 

LUK 22:30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

 

In Isa 42 Jesus to come is given the title "My Servant." In it we read about the attitude and inner motive of Him, giving us a pattern.

 

The chapter starts with the Hebrew heen or "behold" but just before it there is another "behold" in which Jehovah is pronouncing sentence upon idolaters, which lies in great contrast to Jesus Christ, His Servant.

 

ISA 41:29 "Behold, all of them are false;

Their works are worthless,

Their molten images are wind and emptiness.

 

ISA 42:1 "Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold;

My chosen one in whom My soul delights.

I have put My Spirit upon Him;

He will bring forth justice to the nations.

 

There are a lot of idols in our world. They fall under the categories of wealth, pleasure, power, and fame. Within these categories are many images that are worshipped by man. In great contradistinction is the Servant of the Lord in the person of Christ. He did not serve lust, personal desire, any man, etc. but only served the Lord from the humble position of His humanity. As a Servant of Jehovah He was a Servant of all mankind.

 

As we know, Israel went after idols rather than serving the Lord. In chapter 41 they were called to be His servant, but they failed.

 

ISA 41:8 "But you, Israel, My servant,

Jacob whom I have chosen,

Descendant of Abraham My friend,

 

ISA 41:9 You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth,

And called from its remotest parts,

And said to you, 'You are My servant,

I have chosen you and not rejected you.

 

ISA 41:10 'Do not fear, for I am with you;

Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,

Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'

 

Where Israel failed to live up to this ideal, the Messiah would succeed.

 

The gracious purposes of God towards the whole human race, which were manifested even in the election of Israel, are brought by Him to their full completion.

 

ISA 42:1 "Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold;

My chosen one in whom My soul delights.

I have put My Spirit upon Him;

He will bring forth justice to the nations.

 

The inner workings of the Servant:

Dependence - He emptied Himself of the divine prerogative and became dependent on the Father to uphold Him.

 

We, through His finished work, have laid aside the old nature and we must consider it laid aside. We must lay aside every encumbrance and the sin nature that so easily entangles us. Our selfish motives and desires must be laid aside. We must not rely on our human abilities or energies. We must depend upon God to uphold us. Israel was told that they could depend upon Him.

 

ISA 41:11 "Behold, all those who are angered at you will be shamed and dishonored; Those who contend with you will be as nothing, and will perish.

 

ISA 41:12 "You will seek those who quarrel with you, but will not find them, Those who war with you will be as nothing, and non-existent.

 

ISA 41:13 "For I am the Lord your God, who upholds your right hand, Who says to you, 'Do not fear, I will help you.'

 

ISA 41:14 "Do not fear, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel;

I will help you," declares the Lord, "and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

 

ISA 42:1 "Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold;

My chosen one in whom My soul delights.

I have put My Spirit upon Him;

He will bring forth justice to the nations.

 

Approval - "in whom My soul delights." The Father took great delight in His Servant Jesus and that delight was reciprocated, for Jesus delighted to do the Father's will.

 

PSA 40:7-8

Then I said, "Behold, I come;

In the scroll of the book it is written of me;

I delight to do Thy will, O my God;

Thy Law is within my heart."

 

COL 1:9-10

that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;